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, TradeStation offers the wider menu for traditional and advanced traders, while Public.com shines for fractional shares and crypto access. For Range of Investments, StockBrokers.com rates TradeStation 4 out of 5 stars (ranked #6 of 14) and Public.com 3.5 out of 5 stars (ranked #12 of 14). Both brokers support Traditional and Roth IRAs, and neither provides forex or advisor services.
Both TradeStation and Public.com let you trade stocks, options, OTC stocks, and use margin. TradeStation adds mutual funds and futures, but it does not support crypto or fractional shares. Public.com skips mutual funds and futures, but adds fractional shares plus crypto trading with 40 coins.
Choose TradeStation if you want one platform for stocks, options, OTC stocks, mutual funds, and futures, and you don’t need crypto or fractional shares. Choose Public.com if fractional share investing and crypto are must-haves, and you’re fine without mutual funds or futures. Either way, you can open a Traditional or Roth IRA at both brokers.
| 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 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: TradeStation is the clear winner for trading platforms and tools. It earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #3 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 1 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. Active traders who want deep charting, desktop software, and flexible order control should choose TradeStation. Public.com suits simple, casual browsing and basic trading but lacks advanced features.
Platforms and core tools differ sharply. TradeStation offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac plus a browser-based platform; Public.com is browser-only with no desktop downloads. Paper trading is available on TradeStation but not on Public.com. Neither broker includes a trading journal. TradeStation lets you adjust open orders directly on charts, add notes, view historical trades, show corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends), set custom date ranges, detect chart patterns automatically, and save multiple chart profiles. Public.com does not offer these charting conveniences.
Charting depth and customization strongly favor TradeStation. Watchlists can display up to 341 columns on TradeStation versus 3 on Public.com. For technical work, TradeStation provides 294 indicators and 45 drawing tools, while Public.com offers none. Editing a simple SMA study on TradeStation exposes 12 customization fields compared to zero on Public.com. If you want to build your own custom studies, TradeStation supports it; Public.com does not. In short, TradeStation delivers advanced charting and workflow control, whereas Public.com keeps things minimal.
| 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 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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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
|
Public.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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
TradeStation vs Public.com: TradeStation is the better pick for most investors who want more features in a stock trading app. It earns 4/5 stars and ranks 6th of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Public.com has 3/5 stars and ranks 13th. TradeStation pulls ahead with streaming quotes, alerts, richer charting tools, and flexible watch lists; Public.com covers the basics but leaves out several tools power users value.
Apps and trading features: both offer iPhone and Android apps, and neither supports Apple Watch. TradeStation supports mobile after-hours trading; Public.com’s after-hours trading on mobile isn’t confirmed. Both offer mobile options trading. For market data and media, TradeStation streams real-time quotes while Public.com does not. Neither app includes live TV or on-demand videos. Alerts and watch lists differ: TradeStation supports stock alerts and lets you create custom watch lists; Public.com has no alerts and doesn’t allow custom watch lists, though both let you customize watch list columns.
Charting: TradeStation provides after-hours charting, multiple time frames, and 45 built-in indicators (technical studies). Public.com supports multiple time frames but lacks after-hours charting and has 0 built-in indicators. Neither app offers landscape charts. If you want to compare one stock to another on a chart, Public.com can do that, while TradeStation cannot. Overall, TradeStation suits users who want detailed charts and data on mobile, whereas Public.com may fit those who just need simple price checks and the occasional stock comparison.
| 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 2026
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 2026
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 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
If you care about market research, TradeStation edges out Public.com on features even though both earn 2.5 out of 5 stars. TradeStation is ranked #11 of 14 by StockBrokers.com, while Public.com is #12. Both cover stock, ETF, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB research, but TradeStation adds screening tools and a portfolio allocation view that Public.com lacks. Neither platform supports mutual fund or bond research, ESG or social-sentiment analysis, or downloadable PDF reports.
Research coverage is similar: TradeStation and Public.com both offer stock and ETF research and include Pink Sheets/OTCBB. Neither provides research for mutual funds or bonds. Downloadable PDF research reports are not available for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds on either platform.
Tools and idea generation set them apart. TradeStation offers stock and ETF screeners for finding trade ideas; Public.com does not provide screeners. Neither has screeners for mutual funds or bonds. For portfolio tracking, TradeStation lets you see allocation by asset class, while Public.com does not. Choose TradeStation if you want basic research plus screening and allocation views; pick Public.com if you only need straightforward stock and ETF research.
| 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 2026
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 a brokerage best known for its highly customizable trading platforms, advanced options and futures capabilities, and powerful tools designed for active and experienced traders.
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 2026
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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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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| Research |
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| Education |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | TradeStation Review | Public.com Review |
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