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Firstrade vs Public.com 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Firstrade
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
Public.com
3/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00 info
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

Firstrade comes out ahead overall for range of investments, thanks to a broader mix of account and trading choices. Both Firstrade and Public.com offer stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, options trading, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs. Firstrade also gives investors access to OTC stocks and mutual funds, while Public.com does not. Public.com, on the other hand, stands out for crypto trading, offering 66 coins, while Firstrade does not offer crypto at all. Neither broker supports forex, futures, or advisor services.

For investors who want a wider set of traditional market choices, Firstrade is the stronger fit. It earns 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #5 out of 14 brokers in StockBrokers.com’s comparison. Public.com is more limited in that category, with a 3.5-star rating and a #12 ranking. That difference is mainly due to Firstrade’s access to mutual funds and OTC stocks, which can matter for people building a more varied portfolio.

If your priority is general investing in stocks, ETFs, options, and retirement accounts, both brokers cover the basics well. If you want crypto exposure, Public.com is the better choice. If you want more traditional investment options, including mutual funds and OTC stocks, Firstrade offers the stronger account lineup.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes Yes
OTC Stocks Yes No
Mutual Funds Yes No
Options Trading Yes Yes
Futures Trading No No
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 66
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms & Brokers for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026

Trading platforms and tools

Firstrade and Public.com are both limited choices if you want a desktop trading app, since neither offers a downloadable Windows or Mac platform. Both brokers do provide a browser-based trading platform, but Firstrade has the edge for trading platforms and tools overall thanks to much stronger charting and watch list features. Firstrade offers 50 watch list columns, 102 technical indicators, 8 drawing tools, custom date ranges, and automated technical analysis on charts, while Public.com offers just 3 watch list fields, 15 indicators, and no drawing tools or custom chart date ranges. In StockBrokers.com’s platform rankings, Firstrade places #12 out of 14 brokers, while Public.com comes in at #14.

For everyday trading tools, Firstrade is the more feature-rich option. It does not offer paper trading, a trading journal, chart notes, historical trades on charts, or chart-based order editing, and Public.com also lacks those features. Even so, Firstrade gives traders more flexibility where it counts, especially for chart analysis and watch list management. Its SMA study also includes 6 customization fields, compared with none for Public.com, which can matter for users who like to fine-tune their charts.

Neither broker stands out as a top platform for active traders, and both receive the same low 1-star rating for trading platforms and tools. Still, Firstrade is the better pick if you want more charting options and more room to organize your market watch lists. Public.com keeps things simpler, but that simplicity comes with fewer tools for research and technical analysis.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) No No
Paper Trading No No
Watchlists - Total Fields 50 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies 102 15
Charting - Drawing Tools 8 0
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 1/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Accounts and Online Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps and Simulators for 2026

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Beginners and education

Comparing education at Firstrade vs. Public.com: both offer stock and options education, along with educational videos and webinars. Neither provides paper trading, quizzes, or tools to track your learning, and both lack mutual funds education. The big difference is topic coverage—Public.com also includes ETF and bonds education, while Firstrade does not.

How they stack up: StockBrokers.com rates Public.com 3.5 out of 5 stars for education, ranking 8th out of 14 brokers. Firstrade earns 2.5 out of 5 stars, ranking 13th out of 14. For most beginners who want wider topic coverage, Public.com has the edge. If you only need stock and options basics with video and webinar content, Firstrade can still work.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) No Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) No No
Education (Fixed Income) No Yes
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Education 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Trading Platforms and Brokerage Accounts for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

For mobile stock trading apps, Firstrade comes out ahead of Public.com overall. Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, stock alerts, custom watch lists, watch list column customization, after-hours charting, mobile options trading, and stock comparison tools. Firstrade adds more depth for active traders with streaming quotes, landscape chart viewing, mobile after-hours stock trading, and a much wider set of charting tools. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars for stock trading apps and ranks No. 8 out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while Public.com is rated 3 out of 5 stars and ranks No. 13.

Firstrade and Public.com both cover the basics well on mobile, but Firstrade offers more for users who want richer market data and chart analysis. Firstrade’s app includes 102 technical studies, compared with none for Public.com, and it also supports streaming quotes and landscape mode for charts. These features can matter if you like to track price moves closely or dig into chart patterns before placing trades.

Public.com still gives everyday investors a simple way to trade stocks from a phone, with the same iPhone and Android access, stock alerts, watch lists, and options trading support. However, it does not offer streaming quotes or landscape chart viewing, and it falls behind Firstrade in charting depth. Neither broker offers an Apple Watch app, live TV, or videos on demand, so the biggest difference is really in the strength of Firstrade’s mobile trading tools.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App No No
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 102 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2026

Fees

Firstrade and Public.com both make it easy to get started, with no minimum deposit and $0 stock trades and options contract fees. They also both charge $0 for IRA annual fees, options exercise fees, and options assignment fees. The biggest difference comes down to other charges: Public.com offers lower margin rates across the balances shown, while Firstrade is cheaper for account transfer fees and has no IRA closure fee. If you want the lower cost for borrowing on margin, Public.com stands out; if you care more about transfer costs and avoiding an IRA closure charge, Firstrade has the edge.

For regular investing, there is no pricing difference between the two brokers on the basics. Firstrade charges $0 for minimum deposits, stock trades, and options contracts, and Public.com does the same. That means either platform can work well for investors who mainly want to buy and sell stocks or trade options without paying commission fees.

Where the costs separate is in the extra fees that may matter later. Firstrade charges 12.25% on margin balances below $25,000, 12.00% from $25,000 to $49,999, and 11.50% from $50,000 to $99,999, while Public.com charges 4.90%, 4.90%, and 4.75% for those same ranges. On the other hand, Firstrade charges $55 for a partial ACAT transfer and $75 for a full transfer, compared with $100 for each at Public.com. Firstrade also has no IRA closure fee, while Public.com charges $150.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $150.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Stock Trading Platforms and Commission-Free Apps for 2026

Day Trading

When evaluating Firstrade and Public.com for day trading, neither firm provides specialized features often sought by active traders. Both platforms lack streaming time and sales for stocks, which can offer insights into market activity. They also don't provide streaming live TV, direct market routing, or ladder trading, which can be crucial for traders looking for market depth and various order execution options. Additionally, neither broker supports trading hotkeys, level 2 quotes, or basic and advanced strategy backtesting, all tools that can enhance a day trader's analysis and execution capabilities.

Furthermore, Firstrade and Public.com fall short in offering a short locator tool, which is useful for traders interested in short selling. Both platforms also do not offer order liquidity rebates, which could otherwise help in reducing trading costs for high-frequency traders. Given these limitations, traders who prioritize these specific tools and features for day trading might need to explore alternative platforms that cater more closely to their trading style and needs.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Streaming Time & Sales No No
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026

Market Research

Firstrade comes out ahead on market research, thanks to a wider range of tools and more helpful data for investors who want to dig deeper before making a trade. Both Firstrade and Public.com offer stock, ETF, OTCBB/Pink Sheets, and bond research, plus portfolio allocation by asset class. But Firstrade adds more value with mutual fund research, social media sentiment data, ESG research, downloadable PDF stock and ETF reports, and screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. That broader set of features helps explain why Firstrade earns a 4-star market research rating and ranks #6 out of 14 brokers, while Public.com is rated 2.5 stars and ranks #12.

For everyday stock and ETF research, both platforms give users the basics they need to compare investments and review market information. Where Firstrade stands out is in the extra layers of research support. It offers mutual fund research, which Public.com does not, and it includes downloadable research reports for stocks and ETFs, which Public.com lacks. Firstrade also provides stock research tied to social media sentiment and ESG data, giving investors more ways to evaluate a company beyond price and performance alone.

Public.com does cover the core areas of market research, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, and OTCBB/Pink Sheets, so it can still work for investors who only need simpler tools. However, it does not offer mutual fund research, screeners, social sentiment data, or downloadable PDF research reports for stocks or ETFs. If you want a broker with more built-in research features and more ways to find trade ideas, Firstrade is the stronger choice for market research.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Fixed Income Yes No
Research 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of Firstrade and Public.com, it's clear that Firstrade provides more options for users seeking basic banking services alongside their investment needs. Firstrade offers checking accounts, which Public.com does not, providing an added layer of convenience for users who want to manage their transactions. Furthermore, Firstrade provides debit cards, allowing for easy access to funds, whereas Public.com does not. Both platforms do not offer savings accounts or credit cards, keeping their focus primarily on investment services. Additionally, neither offers mortgage loans, which can be a consideration for those looking to integrate a wider array of financial services. Notably, Firstrade offers certificates of deposit (CDs), which can be appealing for those looking for a secure savings option, unlike Public.com, which does not offer CDs. Overall, Firstrade outshines Public.com in terms of banking offerings, making it a more versatile choice for those interested in an online broker with added banking features.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Checking Accounts Yes No
Savings Accounts No No
Debit Cards Yes No
Credit Cards No No
Mortgage Loans No No
Brokerage CDs Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Brokers with Checking Accounts for 2026

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Firstrade is better than Public.com. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 67.8%, while Public.com finished with a score of 56.0%.

Firstrade is a good choice for options traders and self-reliant investors due to its aggressive pricing model that completely eliminates per-contract fees on options. While it lacks asset classes like crypto and futures, it impresses with institutional-grade infrastructure, supporting complex account types like Trusts and Business IRAs and wide international accessibility.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Firstrade or Public.com?

Firstrade does not offer crypto trading, while Public.com does, giving investors access to digital assets on a single platform. Public.com supports 66 coins, compared with Firstrade’s 0 coins, making Public.com the better choice for traders seeking cryptocurrency exposure.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does Firstrade or Public.com offer IRAs?

Firstrade and Public.com both offer Traditional and Roth IRAs with $0 annual fees. However, Firstrade has a $0 IRA closure fee while Public.com charges $150, giving Firstrade the edge on exit costs.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Firstrade Public.com
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4/5 Stars N/A
Education 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 2.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots Firstrade Public.com
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Firstrade Public.com
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $0.000 $2.990
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $0 n/a
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) (Not offered) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $19.95 n/a
Margin Rates Firstrade Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 12.25% 4.90%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.00% 4.90%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 11.50% 4.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.00% 4.50%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 10.75% 4.50%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 8.85% 4.50%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 8.25% 4.25%
Account Fees Firstrade Public.com
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $150.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $55.00 $100.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $75.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Firstrade Public.com
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes Yes
OTC Stocks Yes No
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading No No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 66
Fixed Income (Treasurys) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) Yes No
Traditional IRAs Yes Yes
Roth IRAs Yes Yes
Advisor Services No No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order Types Firstrade Public.com
Order Type - Market Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop Yes No
Order Type - OCO Yes No
Order Type - OTO Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes No
Beginners Firstrade Public.com
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) No Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) No No
Education (Fixed Income) No Yes
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator Yes No
Investor Dictionary Yes Yes
Paper Trading No No
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading Apps Firstrade Public.com
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App No No
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes Yes No
Stock App Features Firstrade Public.com
Mobile Research - Market Movers Yes Yes
Stream Live TV No No
Videos on Demand No No
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watchlist (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watchlist (Streaming) Yes No
Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization Yes Yes
Stock App Charting Firstrade Public.com
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 102 0
Charting - Study Customizations Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes Yes
Trading Platforms Firstrade Public.com
Active Trading Platform N/A n/a
Desktop Trading Platform No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) No No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading No No
Trade Journal No No
Watchlists - Total Fields 50 3
Stock Chart Features Firstrade Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 102 15
Charting - Drawing Tools 8 0
Charting - Notes No No
Charting - Historical Trades No No
Charting - Corporate Events No No
Charting - Custom Date Range Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars No No
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles No No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations 6 0
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day Trading Firstrade Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales No No
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities No No
Ladder Trading No No
Trade Hot Keys No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research Overview Firstrade Public.com
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income Yes No
Portfolio Asset Allocation Yes Yes
Stock Research Firstrade Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports 1 0
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders Yes No
Stock Research - Social Yes No
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes No
ETF Research Firstrade Public.com
ETFs - Investment Objective Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis Yes No
ETFs - Ratings Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports Yes No
Mutual Fund Research Firstrade Public.com
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap Yes No
Options Trading Firstrade Public.com
Option Chains - Total Greeks 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Banking Firstrade Public.com
Bank (Member FDIC) No No
Checking Accounts Yes No
Savings Accounts No No
Credit Cards No No
Debit Cards Yes No
Mortgage Loans No No
Customer Service Firstrade Public.com
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes No
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes No
Overall Firstrade Public.com
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 2.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review Public.com Review
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