Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Merrill Edge vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Merrill Edge vs Public.com: choose Merrill Edge if you want a wider set of traditional investments and access to advice; pick Public.com if crypto and fractional shares are must-haves. Both support stock, options, margin, and OTC trading, and both offer Traditional and Roth IRAs; neither offers forex or futures. For Range of Investments, StockBrokers.com rates Merrill Edge 4 stars (ranked 7 of 14) and Public.com 3.5 stars (ranked 12 of 14).
Investment options: Merrill Edge offers stock trading, margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, and options trading, but no fractional shares, crypto, forex, or futures. Public.com offers stock trading, margin trading, options, OTC stocks, and fractional shares, plus crypto trading with 40 coins; it does not offer mutual funds, forex, or futures.
Accounts and services: Both Merrill Edge and Public.com provide Traditional and Roth IRA accounts. Only Merrill Edge adds advisor services, which can help investors who want guidance. Public.com does not offer advisor services. Choose Merrill Edge if mutual funds and advisory support matter; choose Public.com if access to crypto and fractional shares is a priority.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 40 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: For trading platforms and tools, Merrill Edge clearly outclasses Public.com. Both brokers only offer browser-based trading (no Windows or Mac desktop apps), and neither supports paper trading or a trading journal. However, Merrill Edge’s web platform delivers far more capability, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #7 of 14 with StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 1 out of 5 stars and ranks last at #14.
Platform access is similar on the surface—web only for both—but feature depth is not. Merrill Edge provides highly customizable watch lists with up to 285 columns versus just 3 at Public.com. You can adjust open orders directly on Merrill Edge charts, save multiple chart profiles, and fine-tune studies like a simple moving average with eight settings; Public.com lacks these options. Neither broker allows creation of custom studies, and both omit paper trading and a built-in trading journal.
Charting is where the gap widens most. Merrill Edge includes 105 technical indicators and 23 drawing tools, plus the ability to add notes, display past trades, show corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends), set custom date ranges, and surface automated chart patterns. Public.com offers 0 indicators and 0 drawing tools, and it does not support notes, trade markers, corporate event overlays, custom date ranges, or automated technical analysis.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 285 | 3 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 0 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Merrill Edge and Public.com both offer beginner-friendly education for investors, including lessons on stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds. Merrill Edge goes a step further with mutual fund education and interactive quizzes, while Public.com does not cover mutual funds and lacks quizzes. Both brokers provide educational videos and webinars, and neither offers paper trading or a way to track your learning progress.
In independent ratings, Merrill Edge earns 4 stars and ranks #6 out of 14 brokers for education on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 3.5 stars and ranks #8. Choose Merrill Edge if you want quizzes and mutual fund lessons alongside videos and webinars; pick Public.com if you’re focused on core topics like stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds without extra learning features.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
If you’re choosing between Merrill Edge and Public.com for a stock trading app, Merrill Edge is the stronger all-around pick for most investors. Both have iPhone and Android apps and support mobile options trading, but Merrill Edge earns a higher StockBrokers.com rating (4 vs 3 stars) and a better ranking (#9 of 14 vs #13 of 14). It also packs in more real-time tools and alerts that can help with everyday trading decisions. Neither broker offers an Apple Watch app.
On mobile features, Merrill Edge supports after-hours trading; Public.com’s after-hours availability wasn’t specified in the provided data. Streaming quotes are available on Merrill Edge but not on Public.com. Neither app includes streaming live TV or videos on demand. Merrill Edge offers stock alerts while Public.com does not. For watchlists, Merrill Edge lets you create custom lists, whereas Public.com does not; however, Public.com lets you customize watchlist columns, which Merrill Edge does not.
Charting is another clear differentiator. Merrill Edge supports landscape charts and multiple time frames, plus 34 technical studies. Public.com supports multiple time frames but not landscape view and lists zero technical studies. Both apps allow stock-to-stock comparisons on charts, and neither offers after-hours charting.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | No |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 34 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Bottom line in the Merrill Edge vs Public.com fees matchup: both offer $0 stock trades, but the winner depends on what you do most. Options traders may prefer Public.com for its $0 per‑contract pricing, while anyone who cares about transfer and closure costs may lean Merrill Edge thanks to $0 ACAT (account transfer) fees and a lower IRA closure fee. Merrill Edge also has a $0 minimum to get started, whereas Public.com requires $20.
Trading costs: stocks are commission‑free at both brokers. Options contract fees differ—Merrill Edge charges $0.65 per contract, while Public.com charges $0. Options exercise and assignment are $0 at both. For margin, Merrill Edge lists rates that vary by balance, while Public.com posts 5.65% below $25,000, 5.65% for $25,000–$49,999, and 5.50% for $50,000–$99,999.
Account fees: Merrill Edge has a $0 minimum deposit; Public.com’s minimum is $20. IRA annual fees are $0 at both. If you close an IRA, Merrill Edge charges $49.95 versus $150 at Public.com. For transfers, Merrill Edge charges $0 for both partial and full ACAT moves, while Public.com charges $100 for partial and $100 for full transfers.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $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 | $49.95 | $150.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
When weighing Merrill Edge against Public.com for day trading, there are some important differences to consider. Merrill Edge gives day traders the advantage of streaming time and sales for stocks, providing a continuous stream of transaction details, which Public.com does not offer. Furthermore, Merrill Edge offers Level 2 quotes, delivering more detailed market depth information that can be crucial for making informed trading decisions, while Public.com lacks this feature entirely.
Both platforms fall short in certain advanced trading functionalities, as neither offers direct market routing, ladder trading, or trading hotkeys for quick trade entries. Strategy backtesting is limited across these platforms as well, with Merrill Edge only supporting basic strategy backtesting, whereas Public.com does not offer this feature at all. Additionally, neither provides a short locator tool or order liquidity rebates, leaving room for growth in catering to professional day traders seeking a more comprehensive range of tools.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line in Merrill Edge vs Public.com market research: Merrill Edge is the stronger choice. It earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #4 of 14 at StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 2.5/5 and ranks #12. Merrill Edge offers wider asset coverage, downloadable analyst reports, ESG insights, portfolio allocation views, and multiple screeners. Public.com covers the basics with stock and ETF research plus OTC access, which can suit simple needs. If you want deeper research and tools across asset classes, pick Merrill Edge.
Coverage and reports: Both brokers offer stock and ETF research and both cover Pink Sheets/OTC. Only Merrill Edge adds research for mutual funds and bonds. Merrill Edge also provides three downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, plus PDF reports for ETFs and mutual funds; Public.com does not offer downloadable research. For values-focused investors, Merrill Edge includes ESG research, and neither broker offers social media sentiment research.
Tools and analytics: Merrill Edge lets you view portfolio allocation by asset class and includes screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds to surface trade ideas. Public.com lacks these portfolio views and does not provide screeners. These differences make Merrill Edge better for finding investments and managing a diversified portfolio.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Public.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 | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Research |
|
|
When considering banking features, Merrill Edge clearly outpaces Public.com, offering a wide array of financial products for its users. Merrill Edge provides comprehensive banking services such as checking and savings accounts, along with debit and credit cards, making it a versatile choice for personal finance management. Additionally, Merrill Edge customers have access to mortgage loans and certificates of deposit (CDs), providing multiple avenues for financial growth and investment. In contrast, Public.com does not offer any traditional banking services like checking or savings accounts, nor do they offer debit cards, credit cards, mortgage loans, or CDs. This makes Merrill Edge a more complete solution for individuals seeking an online broker that doubles as a banking institution.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Merrill Edge is better than Public.com. Merrill Edge finished with an overall score of 81.9%, while Public.com finished with a score of 56.0%.
Merrill Edge and its parent, Bank of America, make for a well-rounded offering, with $0 trades, robust research, reliable customer service; and its Stock Stories and Fund Stories are an industry standout. There are some gaps in investment offerings, including crypto and futures.
Online broker Merrill Edge does not offer crypto trading, while Public.com supports cryptocurrency trading.
Merrill Edge offers 0 coins for crypto trading, whereas Public.com offers 40 coins.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Merrill Edge vs. Public.com: both online brokers offer Traditional and Roth IRA accounts with $0 annual fees.
If you close an IRA, Merrill Edge charges a $49.95 closure fee, while Public.com charges $150.00.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
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| Review | Merrill Edge Review | Public.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
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| Trading Fees | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | N/A | $2.99 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | n/a | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $29.95 | n/a |
| Margin Rates | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | Varies | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | Varies | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | Varies | 5.50% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | Varies | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | Varies | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 5.05% |
| Account Fees | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $49.95 | $150.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | 40 | |
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | Merrill Edge | 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 | No | No | |
| Order Type - OTO | No | No | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
| Beginners | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | 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 | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Merrill Edge | 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 | No | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | No | No |
| Stock App Features | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | No | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | No | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 34 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Merrill Edge Market Pro | 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 | 285 | 3 |
| Stock Chart Features | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 8 | 0 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Merrill Edge | 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 | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | No |
| Stock Research | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 3 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | No | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | Merrill Edge | 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 | Merrill Edge | 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 | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Email Support | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
| Overall | Merrill Edge | Public.com | |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Merrill Edge Review | Public.com Review |
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