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TradeStation vs Public.com 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

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

TradeStation
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.80 info
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

TradeStation is the better fit for investors who want a wider mix of account investment choices, especially if they are interested in OTC stocks, mutual funds, and futures trading. It also earns a stronger Range of Investments score than Public.com, with 4 out of 5 stars and a #6 ranking out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com. Public.com still covers the basics well, including stock trading, margin trading, options trading, and retirement accounts, but its lineup is narrower overall, with a 3.5-star Range of Investments score and a #12 ranking.

Both TradeStation and Public.com offer stock trading, margin trading, options trading, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs. That means each broker can work for investors who want to buy and sell stocks and use tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Neither broker offers forex trading or advisor services, so those looking for one-on-one guidance or currency trading will need to look elsewhere.

The main differences come down to specialty investments. TradeStation supports OTC stocks and mutual funds, plus futures trading, but it does not offer fractional shares or crypto trading. Public.com, on the other hand, does offer fractional shares and crypto trading, including 66 coins, but it does not support OTC stocks, mutual funds, or futures. For investors choosing between TradeStation vs. Public.com, the decision may come down to whether they want more traditional market access or easier access to fractional shares and cryptocurrency.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) No Yes
OTC Stocks Yes No
Mutual Funds Yes No
Options Trading Yes Yes
Futures Trading Yes 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

For traders who want more ways to customize their setup, TradeStation is the stronger choice over Public.com for trading platforms and tools. TradeStation offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform, while Public.com only provides web access. TradeStation also includes paper trading, which is useful for practicing before risking real money, and it earned a 4-star rating and a #3 ranking out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com for this category, compared with Public.com’s 1-star rating and #14 ranking.

TradeStation also gives active traders far more charting and watch list features. Its watch lists support 341 fields, compared with just 3 at Public.com. On charts, TradeStation offers 294 technical indicators and 45 drawing tools, while Public.com offers 15 indicators and no drawing tools. TradeStation further stands out with tools that let users add notes to charts, view historical trades and corporate events, set custom date ranges, show chart patterns, save multiple chart profiles, and even create custom studies. Public.com does not offer these features.

Another key difference is order management and chart editing. TradeStation lets users adjust open orders directly on a stock chart and customize SMA studies with 12 fields, while Public.com does not support either feature. Neither broker offers a trading journal, but TradeStation clearly provides a fuller set of trading tools overall. For investors who value deeper analysis, more flexibility, and stronger platform options, TradeStation is the better fit.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Paper Trading Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields 341 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies 294 15
Charting - Drawing Tools 45 0
Advanced Trading 4/5 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

Public.com and TradeStation both give beginners access to stock and options education, plus on-demand videos and live webinars. Public.com goes further with ETF and bonds lessons, while TradeStation does not cover those. Neither broker teaches mutual funds, and you won’t find quizzes or tools to track learning progress on either one.

For hands-on practice, TradeStation stands out with paper trading; Public.com doesn’t offer a simulator. If your priority is wider topic coverage, Public.com is the better fit. Ratings reflect this: TradeStation earns 2 stars for education and ranks 14th of 14 brokers, while Public.com earns 3.5 stars and ranks 8th of 14, according to StockBrokers.com.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
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 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

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

Stock trading apps

For stock trading apps, TradeStation comes out ahead of Public.com overall. TradeStation is rated 4 stars and ranked #6 out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while Public.com is rated 3 stars and ranked #13. Both brokers give traders a mobile app on iPhone and Android, plus helpful features like stock alerts, custom watch lists, custom watch list columns, after-hours charting, multiple time frames for charts, and mobile options trading. Neither broker offers an Apple Watch app, live TV, videos on demand, or landscape chart viewing.

Where TradeStation stands out most is in market data and charting tools. Its mobile app includes streaming quotes, after-hours stock trading, and 45 technical studies for chart analysis, which can be useful for more active traders who want deeper research tools on the go. Public.com also supports after-hours charting and mobile options trading, but it does not offer streaming quotes or any technical studies in its mobile charting.

Public.com does have one charting feature TradeStation lacks: stock comparison overlays on charts. That said, if you want a stock trading app with stronger real-time data and more advanced chart tools, TradeStation is the better pick here. If you prefer a simpler mobile investing app and value chart stock comparisons, Public.com may still fit your needs.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
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 45 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2026

Fees

TradeStation and Public.com both make it easy to get started, since neither broker requires a minimum deposit and both charge $0.00 for regular stock trades. The biggest fee differences show up in options, margin, and retirement account costs. Public.com is cheaper for options trading, with no per-contract fee compared with TradeStation’s $0.80 per contract, and it also has lower margin rates across the listed balance tiers. For IRA investors, Public.com charges no annual fee, while TradeStation charges $35.00 per year. That said, TradeStation has a lower IRA closure fee at $50.00 versus $150.00 at Public.com.

Looking at other account charges, TradeStation and Public.com are both free for options exercise and assignment fees. If you need to move your account, Public.com is also less expensive for both partial and full ACAT transfers at $100.00 each, compared with $125.00 at TradeStation. These differences may matter more if you plan to trade options, use margin, or keep an IRA open for a long time.

Overall, Public.com tends to come out ahead on everyday trading costs and margin pricing, while TradeStation may appeal more to investors who care about the lower IRA closure fee. For most fee-sensitive traders, Public.com offers the lower-cost setup in this comparison.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.80 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee $35.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $50.00 $150.00

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

Day Trading

When comparing TradeStation to Public.com for day trading, it's clear that TradeStation provides a more comprehensive suite of tools for active traders. TradeStation supports streaming time and sales data for stocks, giving traders detailed, real-time information for decision-making. In contrast, Public.com does not offer this feature. Additionally, TradeStation allows direct market routing, ladder trading, and the use of trading hotkeys—all crucial functions for efficient day trading—while Public.com lacks these capabilities. TradeStation also supplies level 2 quotes, which provide insights into market depth, whereas Public.com does not.

Beyond the basic trading features, TradeStation offers both basic and advanced strategy backtesting, which lets traders refine their strategies before entering the market. Public.com, on the other hand, doesn’t provide any backtesting options. For those interested in short selling, TradeStation includes a short locator tool to help identify available shares to short, a tool absent from Public.com’s offerings. Lastly, TradeStation offers order liquidity rebates, providing traders with potential cost efficiencies that are not available with Public.com. For day traders seeking a platform rich with features, TradeStation appears to be the more comprehensive choice.

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

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026

Market Research

TradeStation and Public.com are both limited for market research overall, with each earning 2.5 out of 5 stars from StockBrokers.com. TradeStation holds a slight edge in the ranking at #11 out of 14 brokers, while Public.com sits close behind at #12. For most everyday investors, both platforms cover the basics, but neither stands out as a top choice for deeper research tools.

When it comes to stock and ETF research, both brokers offer the same core support. TradeStation and Public.com each provide stock research, ETF research, and data on Pink Sheets/OTCBB securities. Both also let users view portfolio allocation by asset class. However, neither broker offers mutual fund research, ESG research, social media sentiment tools, or downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds.

The main difference is in trade idea tools and bond coverage. TradeStation includes both a stock screener and an ETF screener, which can help users find potential trades more easily, while Public.com does not offer either screener. On the other hand, Public.com does provide bond research, while TradeStation does not. Since both platforms leave out several advanced research features, the better fit may come down to whether you value screeners or bond research more.

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

Banking

When evaluating the banking features of online brokers TradeStation and Public.com, it's clear that neither provides traditional banking services. Both TradeStation and Public.com lack basic banking offerings such as checking and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, or mortgage loans. Additionally, neither broker offers Certificates of Deposit (CDs). For individuals seeking comprehensive banking capabilities alongside their investment activities, alternative financial institutions may be worth exploring, as neither TradeStation nor Public.com caters to these specific banking needs.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Checking Accounts No No
Savings Accounts No No
Debit Cards No No
Credit Cards No No
Mortgage Loans No No
Brokerage CDs No 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 TradeStation is better than Public.com. TradeStation finished with an overall score of 68.4%, while Public.com finished with a score of 56.0%.

TradeStation is built for active traders, with the Windows and Mac-native TITAN X platform, volume-tiered options and futures pricing, and an MCP connection to Claude and ChatGPT.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with TradeStation or Public.com?

TradeStation does not offer crypto trading, while Public.com does, giving investors access to 66 cryptocurrencies. If crypto access is a priority, Public.com has a clear advantage over TradeStation in digital asset availability.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does TradeStation or Public.com offer IRAs?

In the TradeStation vs Public.com IRA comparison, both online brokers offer Traditional and Roth IRAs; TradeStation charges a $35 annual IRA fee with a $50 closure fee, while Public.com has no annual IRA fee but a $150 closure fee.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating TradeStation Public.com
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 2.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars N/A
Education 2/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TradeStation Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots TradeStation Public.com
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees TradeStation Public.com
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $0.005 $2.990
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $14.95 n/a
Options (Per Contract) $0.80 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) $1.75 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25 n/a
Margin Rates TradeStation Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 12.00% 4.90%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.00% 4.90%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 11.00% 4.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.00% 4.50%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 11.00% 4.50%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 6.50% 4.50%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 6.50% 4.25%
Account Fees TradeStation Public.com
IRA Annual Fee $35.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $50.00 $150.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $125.00 $100.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $125.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options TradeStation Public.com
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) No Yes
OTC Stocks Yes No
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading Yes No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 66
Fixed Income (Treasurys) No Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) No Yes
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) No No
Traditional IRAs Yes Yes
Roth IRAs Yes Yes
Advisor Services No No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order Types TradeStation 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 TradeStation 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) No Yes
Retirement Calculator No No
Investor Dictionary No Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading Apps TradeStation 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 TradeStation 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 TradeStation Public.com
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 45 0
Charting - Study Customizations Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons No Yes
Trading Platforms TradeStation Public.com
Active Trading Platform TITAN X n/a
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Trade Journal No No
Watchlists - Total Fields 341 3
Stock Chart Features TradeStation Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 294 15
Charting - Drawing Tools 45 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 12 0
Charting - Custom Studies Yes No
Day Trading TradeStation Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities Yes No
Ladder Trading Yes No
Trade Hot Keys Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv Yes No
Short Locator Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates Yes No
Research Overview TradeStation Public.com
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income No Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds No No
Screener - Fixed Income No No
Portfolio Asset Allocation Yes Yes
Stock Research TradeStation Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports 0 0
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders No No
Stock Research - Social No No
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings No No
ETF Research TradeStation Public.com
ETFs - Investment Objective No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings No Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings No Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis No No
ETFs - Ratings No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap No No
ETFs - PDF Reports No No
Mutual Fund Research TradeStation Public.com
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings No No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation No No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap No No
Options Trading TradeStation Public.com
Option Chains - Total Greeks 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Banking TradeStation Public.com
Bank (Member FDIC) No No
Checking Accounts No No
Savings Accounts No No
Credit Cards No No
Debit Cards No No
Mortgage Loans No No
Customer Service TradeStation 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 No No
Overall TradeStation Public.com
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 2.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 2/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TradeStation Review Public.com Review
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