Written by StockBrokers.com
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.
Bottom line: In the TradeStation vs. Public.com comparison for investment options, TradeStation comes out ahead. StockBrokers.com rates TradeStation 4.5/5 stars and ranks it #5 of 14 for Range of Investments, while Public.com earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks #13. Choose TradeStation if you want access to mutual funds and futures; pick Public.com if fractional shares and crypto (40 coins) are priorities. Both platforms support core needs like stocks, options, OTC stocks, and margin, and both offer Traditional and Roth IRAs. Neither supports forex or advisor services.
Product lineup at a glance: Both TradeStation and Public.com offer stock trading, options trading, OTC stocks, and margin. Only Public.com offers fractional shares and crypto, with 40 coins available. Only TradeStation offers mutual funds and futures. Neither broker offers forex trading.
Account considerations: Both brokers provide Traditional and Roth IRA accounts and do not offer advisor services. If you need futures and mutual funds under one roof, TradeStation fits the bill. If you want to start with smaller amounts via fractional shares and also trade crypto, Public.com is the better match.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
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 | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 40 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
Bottom line: TradeStation clearly beats Public.com for trading platforms and tools. TradeStation earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #3 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 2 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. If platform choice, deep charting, and practice trading matter to you, TradeStation is the stronger pick. Public.com is a simple option for basic web trading with minimal extras.
Platforms and core tools: TradeStation offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform. Public.com offers a browser-based platform only. Paper trading is available on TradeStation and not on Public.com. Neither broker provides a trading journal. TradeStation also delivers far more watchlist data (341 columns versus 3) and lets you adjust open orders right on a chart, which Public.com does not.
Charting and customization are where the gap widens. TradeStation includes 294 technical indicators, 45 drawing tools, chart notes, historical trades on charts, corporate events, custom date ranges, automated chart pattern detection, and the ability to save multiple chart profiles. It also offers 12 customization fields when editing a simple moving average and supports creating custom studies. Public.com offers none of these charting features (0 indicators, 0 drawing tools, no notes, no events, no profiles, no custom studies). For traders who rely on technical analysis and personalization, TradeStation stands out by a wide margin.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Public.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 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 45 | 0 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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TradeStation vs Public.com for investor education: both teach stocks and options and provide learning through videos and webinars. Public.com goes wider with ETF and bond education, while TradeStation does not cover those topics. Neither platform offers mutual fund education, quizzes, or tools to track your learning progress. A key difference is practice: TradeStation includes paper trading so beginners can try strategies without risking real money, whereas Public.com does not.
On quality, StockBrokers.com rates Public.com at 3.5 stars and ranks it #11 out of 14 for education, while TradeStation earns 3 stars and ranks #13. If you want broader topic coverage (stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds), Public.com is the better fit. If hands-on practice with a paper trading simulator matters most, TradeStation is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
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 |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When choosing a stock trading app, understanding the distinct features and user experiences offered by TradeStation and Public.com can guide potential investors to the right choice. TradeStation is generally rated higher, holding a 4.5-star rating and ranking eighth among 14 brokers. In contrast, Public.com has a 3.5-star rating and lands at the bottom of the ranking list. This suggests that TradeStation may offer more comprehensive tools and capabilities to satisfy various trading requirements.
Both TradeStation and Public.com provide apps for iPhone and Android devices, making them easily accessible on the most popular mobile platforms. However, TradeStation pulls ahead with several features tailored towards more active and detail-oriented traders. These include mobile after-hours trading, customizable watchlists, and 45 technical studies for charting, which cater to investors looking for detailed market data. Additionally, TradeStation's app allows mobile options trading and the ability to view multiple time frames for charting.
On the other hand, Public.com stands out for its user-friendly approach towards newer investors. While it doesn't offer as many advanced features as TradeStation, it does provide stock comparisons on charts, which can be a helpful tool for beginners. Moreover, both platforms fall short of providing Apple Watch apps or videos on demand. Ultimately, choosing between the two will depend on whether an investor prioritizes a high-rating, feature-rich environment, like TradeStation, or a more streamlined, user-friendly approach, as seen with Public.com.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 45 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
TradeStation vs. Public.com: If you want the lowest ongoing trading and margin costs, Public.com generally comes out cheaper, thanks to $0 options contracts, $0 options exercise/assignment fees, and notably lower margin rates across common balance tiers. TradeStation stands out for a $0 minimum deposit (Public.com requires $20) and a lower IRA closure fee, but Public.com’s $0 IRA annual fee and lower ACAT transfer charges may reduce long‑term costs for many investors.
For basic trading, both TradeStation and Public.com charge $0 for stock trades. Minimum deposit is $0 at TradeStation and $20 at Public.com. Options pricing is a major divider: TradeStation charges $0.60 per contract, while Public.com is $0 per contract. Margin borrowers will see a big gap: on balances under $25,000 and up to $49,999, TradeStation lists 12.5% vs. Public.com at 5.65%; from $50,000 to $99,999, TradeStation is 11.5% vs. Public.com at 5.50%.
Account and other fees also differ. TradeStation’s IRA fees are $35 annually and $50 to close; Public.com’s IRA annual fee is $0 but the closure fee is higher at $150. For transfers, TradeStation’s ACAT fees are $125 for partial and full, while Public.com’s are $100 for partial and full. Options exercise and assignment cost $14.95 and $5.95 at TradeStation, respectively, versus $0 for both at Public.com.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.60 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $35.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 | $150.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
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
|
Public.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 of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: both TradeStation and Public.com are light on market research, each earning 2 out of 5 stars from StockBrokers.com. TradeStation holds a slight edge—ranked #11 of 14 versus Public.com at #12—thanks to its built-in stock and ETF screeners and the ability to view your portfolio allocation by asset class. If you want more ways to sift for ideas and understand your holdings, TradeStation is the better pick; if you just need basic research, Public.com can suffice.
On coverage, the two brokers look similar: both offer research for stocks and ETFs, and both include Pink Sheets/OTC content. Neither provides research for mutual funds or bonds. Extras are limited across the board—no ESG research, no social media sentiment tools, and no downloadable PDF research reports (0 for stocks, and none for ETFs or mutual funds).
Tools are where TradeStation pulls ahead. It supplies stock and ETF screeners for generating trade ideas, while Public.com does not offer screeners. Neither platform includes mutual fund or bond screeners. Only TradeStation shows portfolio allocation by asset class, which helps investors see how their money is spread across categories. For idea generation and portfolio insight, choose TradeStation; for a simpler, research-light experience, Public.com fits the bill.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Public.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 | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Research |
|
|
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
|
Public.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 Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025
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 80.2%, while Public.com finished with a score of 69.6%.
TradeStation supports casual traders through its web-based platform and active traders through its desktop platform. We like the web-based platform and mobile app, but the flagship desktop platform could use a refresh.
In a TradeStation vs Public.com comparison for crypto trading, TradeStation offers no cryptocurrency access (0 coins), while Public.com supports crypto trading with 40 coins.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
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 2025
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | TradeStation | Public.com | |
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| Review | TradeStation Review | Public.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | TradeStation | Public.com | |
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| Trading Fees | TradeStation | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.01 | $2.99 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $14.95 | n/a | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.60 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $1.50 | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | n/a |
| Margin Rates | TradeStation | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.5% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.5% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.5% | 5.50% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.5% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 12.0% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 7.5% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 7.5% | 5.05% |
| 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 | $14.95 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $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 | Yes | |
| 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 | 40 | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | TradeStation | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
| 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 | TradeStation 10 | 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 | 0 | |
| 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 | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | No |
| 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 | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | TradeStation Review | Public.com Review |
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