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tastytrade vs Public.com 2024

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

October 30, 2024

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

tastytrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.50 info
Public.com
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Investment options

When comparing investment options available for accounts at tastytrade and Public.com, tastytrade stands out slightly more robustly with a 4-star rating and an #11 ranking out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com. In contrast, Public.com earns a 3-star rating and ranks #15 in the same category. Both platforms cater to different investment needs, each offering its own strengths and weaknesses.

Tastytrade provides a comprehensive range of investment services, including stock, margin, fractional shares, options, futures, and crypto trading with four available coins. It does not, however, offer OTC stocks, mutual funds, or forex trading. Investors can benefit from additional account options, such as traditional and Roth IRA accounts with tastytrade, providing for further diversification and strategic long-term investment planning. Tastytrade’s wide variety of available trading options makes it an attractive choice for seasoned traders looking for deeper market participation.

On the other hand, Public.com offers some unique opportunities, such as trading OTC stocks and having a slightly broader selection of seven coins available for cryptocurrency trading. It supports stock, fractional shares, options, and crypto trading. Still, it lacks margin, futures, or IRA account options, which might be limiting for some investors. While Public.com may not offer advisor services or mutual funds, its provision for trading in OTC stocks can cater to niche interest areas that some traders may find beneficial.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes No
Fractional Shares info Yes info Yes
OTC Stocks info No Yes
Mutual Funds info No No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 4 7
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms & Brokers, 5 Best Futures Trading Platforms of 2024

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing the trading platforms and tools of tastytrade and Public.com, tastytrade stands out as the superior choice. It boasts a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #6 out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com, whereas Public.com garners a 2.5-star rating and ranks at #17. This distinction is largely due to tastytrade's comprehensive offerings, such as downloadable platforms for both Windows and Mac, extensive charting capabilities, and a robust set of 308 technical indicators, which significantly outshine Public.com's limited features.

Tastytrade offers a comprehensive suite of downloadable and browser-based platforms, providing traders with multiple avenues to access their services, including a Windows and Mac desktop application, which is notably absent at Public.com. Furthermore, tastytrade's watch lists feature can display 33 columns, significantly richer than Public.com's 3-column maximum. Charting on tastytrade is much more advanced, with 31 drawing tools and the ability to adjust open orders directly on the stock chart, compared to Public.com, which lacks drawing tools and such capability.

The ability to customize trading experiences on tastytrade further enhances its attractiveness. Traders can annotate charts, add index overlays, show historical trade data, and display corporate events directly on charts. Additionally, tastytrade offers customization options for SMA (Simple Moving Average) studies with 7 fields and the ability to create custom chart studies, features that Public.com does not support. These advanced functionalities make tastytrade a compelling choice for traders seeking a powerful trading platform with rich, customizable tools.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Paper Trading info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 33 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 308 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 31 0
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2024, Best Paper Trading Platforms of 2024

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Beginners and education

When it comes to providing educational resources for beginner investors, tastytrade and Public.com both offer a range of learning opportunities. Both platforms provide education on stocks, ETFs, and options, allowing new investors to understand key aspects of the investing world. However, they fall short in educating about mutual funds and bonds. While neither broker offers paper trading or educational quizzes, Public.com stands out with its offering of educational videos, providing a dynamic learning experience that tastytrade lacks. On the other hand, both platforms offer webinars to help users stay updated on market trends and strategies.

Despite Public.com's visual learning approach, tastytrade shines with an overall higher education rating of 4 stars compared to Public.com's 3 stars. It's also worth noting that on the StockBrokers.com education ranking, tastytrade is positioned at #8 out of 18 brokers, while Public.com is further down the list at #15. This suggests that, although both platforms support learning, tastytrade provides a more robust educational experience for beginners eager to increase their knowledge and skills in investing.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2024

Stock trading apps

When choosing between the stock trading apps offered by tastytrade and Public.com, it becomes apparent that tastytrade holds a slight edge both in functionality and user preference. Rated at 4.5 stars, tastytrade is highly favored compared to Public.com's 4-star rating. Furthermore, tastytrade stands higher in the ranks, positioned at #10 out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com, whereas Public.com is ranked at #14. This indicates a general preference for tastytrade due to its enhanced trading features and user experience.

Both tastytrade and Public.com facilitate stock trading through their iPhone and Android apps, though they do not extend their platforms to the Apple Watch. They each support mobile after-hours stock trading and options trading, which is essential for active traders. However, a key differentiator lies in tastytrade offering streaming quotes to keep investors informed in real-time, a feature absent in Public.com. On the customization front, while both apps allow the customization of watch list columns, tastytrade additionally lets users create custom watch lists, adding a layer of personalization that Public.com lacks.

For traders interested in advanced charting capabilities, tastytrade provides more comprehensive tools by offering after-hours charting and landscape mode chart views, neither of which is available with Public.com. Both apps do enable viewing multiple time frames on charts but offer no technical studies. Though Public.com allows users to display stock comparisons on charts, a feature not present with tastytrade, the broader customization and real-time features offered by tastytrade appeal to more experienced traders looking for a robust mobile trading experience.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info No No info
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2024

Fees

When evaluating tastytrade and Public.com, prospective investors will find notable differences and similarities in their fee structures. Tastytrade holds the advantage with a $0 minimum deposit and offers commission-free regular stock trades, yet it charges $0.50 per options contract. Conversely, Public.com requires a $20 minimum deposit but provides options trading at no cost per contract. Additionally, Public.com does not offer margin accounts, potentially limiting active traders looking for leverage options, which are offered by tastytrade with varying rates. Both platforms have matching fees for full and partial account transfers.

Tastytrade stands out with zero annual fees for IRA accounts but imposes a $60 closure fee, contrasting with Public.com which does not disclose specific IRA-related fees. Furthermore, investors utilizing margin accounts with balances under $25,000 will encounter an 11% charge with tastytrade, while Public.com completely lacks margin services, potentially appealing or unappealing depending on one's trading strategy. On the other hand, Public.com differentiates itself by charging no fees for options exercises and assignments, unlike tastytrade, which levies a $5 fee for both services.

Ultimately, the decision between tastytrade and Public.com might rest on an individual’s requirements for margin trading and preferences for options-related services. While tastytrade provides flexible margin rates and accommodates investors with $0 account minimums, Public.com offers a simplicity-focused approach with no fees on options contracts or exercises, appealing to traders who might prioritize straightforward, cost-effective trading platforms. Each broker delivers unique advantages, and prospective users need to consider their personal investment strategies and operational priorities.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00 info
Options (Per Contract) $0.50 info $0.00 info
Options Exercise Fee $5.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $5.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $60.00
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Free Stock Trading of 2024

Day Trading

When evaluating the day trading capabilities of online brokers, tastytrade and Public.com both offer unique features tailored to different types of investors. Tastytrade stands out by offering streaming live TV, providing traders with access to continuous market insights and analysis, a beneficial feature for those relying on timely information. Additionally, tastytrade supports ladder trading, allowing for a more detailed view of price movements, which can be advantageous for tracking and executing trades. Furthermore, tastytrade includes a short locator tool that lets users view the real-time availability of shares available to short, enhancing flexibility for traders looking to execute short selling strategies.

On the other hand, Public.com lacks some of the more advanced features suitable for dedicated day traders. It does not offer streaming live TV, ladder trading, or a short locator tool, which may limit users who rely on these functionalities for active trading. Both platforms do not offer streaming time and sales for stocks, direct market routing, trading hotkeys, level 2 quotes, or basic and advanced strategy backtesting. Additionally, neither provides order liquidity (maker/taker) rebates, making them potentially less appealing for high-frequency traders. Ultimately, tastytrade might better serve active day traders with its additional features, while Public.com could be more fitting for those with simpler trading needs.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2024

Market Research

When it comes to market research capabilities, tastytrade emerges as a slightly better choice compared to Public.com, although both platforms have limitations. Tastytrade scores 2.5 stars out of five and ranks #13 out of 18 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com receives 2 stars and ranks #17. This distinction reflects tastytrade's broader offerings, such as portfolio allocation capabilities by asset class, which are absent in Public.com.

Both tastytrade and Public.com provide essential research for stocks and ETFs, making them suitable for investors focused on these instruments. However, neither platform extends their research resources to Mutual Funds or Bonds, which may pose a limitation for users interested in a comprehensive research suite. Additionally, both platforms fail to offer downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds, as well as social media sentiment data and ESG research, leaving room for potential enhancement in their research tools.

A unique advantage of Public.com is its support for research in Pink Sheets / OTCBB, a feature not provided by tastytrade. Meanwhile, neither platform offers screeners for trade ideas across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds. These gaps underscore the focus on more conventional market research tools and suggest that while both platforms offer some valuable resources, users seeking advanced research capabilities might need to explore additional options.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info No No
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Research 2.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers tastytrade and Public.com, neither platform provides traditional banking services such as checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, or credit cards. Additionally, both tastytrade and Public.com do not offer CDs or mortgage loans, focusing instead on their core investment services without extending into comprehensive banking solutions. This side-by-side comparison highlights the absence of typical banking products at both tastytrade and Public.com, which may be a consideration for users seeking an all-in-one financial platform.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Public.com logoPublic.com
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
CDs info No No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Brokerages of 2024

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that tastytrade is better than Public.com. tastytrade finished with an overall score of 84.9%, while Public.com finished with a score of 72.9%.

Tastytrade isn’t for every investor, but its platform is ideal for frequent options and futures traders, offering efficient workflow, useful risk management tools, killer design, and online content that make you feel like you’re on a trading desk.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with tastytrade or Public.com?

Both tastytrade and Public.com provide crypto trading options; however, tastytrade offers 4 coins for crypto trading, while Public.com provides a broader selection with 7 coins available for users.

Dive deeper: Best Crypto Trading Platforms of 2024

Does tastytrade or Public.com offer IRAs?

Tastytrade offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, though it charges a $60 closure fee, whereas Public.com does not provide IRA accounts or charge related fees.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts of 2024

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating tastytrade Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 2.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review tastytrade Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots tastytrade Public.com
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand)
Research Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees tastytrade Public.com
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00 info
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info N/A $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee N/A info n/a
Options (Per Contract) $0.50 info $0.00 info
Futures (Per Contract) $1.25 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $0 n/a
Margin Rates tastytrade Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 11% Not offered
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 10.5% Not offered
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 10% Not offered
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 9.5% Not offered
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 9% Not offered
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 8.5% Not offered
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 8% Not offered
Account Fees tastytrade Public.com
IRA Annual Fee $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $60.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $75.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $5.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $5.00 $0.00
Investment Options tastytrade Public.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes No
Fractional Shares info Yes info Yes
OTC Stocks info No Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 0
Futures Trading info Yes No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 4 7
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 0 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 0 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info No info Yes
Bonds (Corporate) info No No
Bonds (Municipal) info No No
Traditional IRAs info Yes No
Roth IRAs info Yes No
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types tastytrade Public.com
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes info
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info No No
Order Type - OCO info Yes No
Order Type - OTO info Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners tastytrade Public.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info No Yes
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps tastytrade Public.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes No
Stock App Features tastytrade Public.com
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info No No info
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes Yes
Stock App Charting tastytrade Public.com
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 0
Charting - Study Customizations info No No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms tastytrade Public.com
Active Trading Platform info tastytrade n/a
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 33 3
Stock Chart Features tastytrade Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 308 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 31 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info No No
Charting - Study Customizations info 7 0
Charting - Custom Studies info Yes No
Day Trading tastytrade Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info Yes No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview tastytrade Public.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info No Yes
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Stocks info No No
Screener - ETFs info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes No info
Stock Research tastytrade Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 0 info
Stock Research - Earnings info No Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info No No
Stock Research - Social info No No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No No
ETF Research tastytrade Public.com
ETFs - Strategy Overview info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info No No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No
Mutual Fund Research tastytrade Public.com
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info No No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info No No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info No No
Options Trading tastytrade Public.com
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes No
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 20 4
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info Yes No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info Yes No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping info Yes No
Banking tastytrade Public.com
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service tastytrade Public.com
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall tastytrade Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 2.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review tastytrade Review Public.com Review
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