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Merrill Edge vs Public.com 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

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
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
Public.com
3/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

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 logoMerrill Edge
Public.com logoPublic.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 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

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

Trading platforms and tools

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 logoMerrill Edge
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 285 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies 105 0
Charting - Drawing Tools 23 0
Advanced Trading 3.5/5 Stars 1/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026

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Beginners and education

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 logoMerrill Edge
Public.com logoPublic.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 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms & Apps for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

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 logoMerrill Edge
Public.com logoPublic.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 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026

Fees

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 logoMerrill Edge
Public.com logoPublic.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

Day Trading

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 logoMerrill Edge
Public.com logoPublic.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 and Apps for 2026

Market Research

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 logoMerrill Edge
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 No
Screener - Fixed Income Yes No
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Banking

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 logoMerrill Edge
Public.com logoPublic.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

Winner

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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Merrill Edge or Public.com?

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

Does Merrill Edge or Public.com offer IRAs?

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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Merrill Edge Public.com
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 3.5/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Merrill Edge Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots Merrill Edge Public.com
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
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
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 3.5/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Merrill Edge Review Public.com Review
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