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Public.com vs TradeUP 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

November 13, 2026
  Fact Checked

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

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

Range of investments

For investors looking for a simple choice between Public.com and TradeUP, both brokers cover many of the same core account and trading needs. Each offers stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, options trading, and both traditional and Roth IRA accounts. Neither broker offers mutual funds, forex, futures, or advisor services, and both receive the same 3.5-star rating for Range of Investments. For overall availability, Public.com ranks #12 out of 16 brokers, while TradeUP ranks #15, which gives Public.com a slight edge in this category.

When it comes to differences, the biggest split is in crypto and OTC stock access. Public.com supports crypto trading with 66 coins available, while TradeUP does not offer crypto trading at all. TradeUP, however, does offer OTC stocks, which Public.com does not. This means Public.com may appeal more to investors who want a wider digital asset selection, while TradeUP may be a better fit for those who want access to OTC securities.

In short, Public.com and TradeUP are closely matched on most standard investment options, especially for stocks, options, margin, and retirement accounts. Public.com stands out for crypto trading and its slightly better Range of Investments ranking, while TradeUP stands out for OTC stocks. The better broker for you will likely depend on whether you value crypto access or OTC stock trading more.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes Yes
OTC Stocks No Yes
Mutual Funds No No
Options Trading Yes Yes
Futures Trading No No
Crypto Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 66 0
Range of Investments 3.5/5 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 trading platforms and tools, TradeUP comes out ahead of Public.com for most active traders and chart-focused users. TradeUP offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser platform, paper trading, and a much deeper set of market tools. Public.com, by contrast, only offers a browser-based platform and leaves out desktop downloads and paper trading. That difference shows up in the ratings too: TradeUP earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 16 brokers, while Public.com scores 1 star and ranks #16.

When it comes to charting, TradeUP gives traders more to work with. It includes 44 technical indicators, 8 drawing tools, the ability to add notes, view historical trades, display corporate events like earnings and dividends, show automated chart patterns, and save multiple chart profiles. Public.com is much simpler, with 15 technical indicators, no drawing tools, and none of those added chart features. TradeUP also lets users adjust open orders directly on a stock chart, which Public.com does not support.

TradeUP also stands out in watch lists and study settings. It offers 60 watch list columns compared with just 3 on Public.com, and its SMA study includes 8 customization fields versus none on Public.com. Both brokers do not offer trading journals, custom date ranges for charts, or custom chart studies, so there are still some limits on both sides. Even so, TradeUP provides the stronger overall trading platform experience for investors who want more tools, more chart options, and more flexibility.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) No Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields 3 60
Charting - Indicators / Studies 15 44
Charting - Drawing Tools 0 8
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 3.5/5 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

When it comes to beginner and investor education, Public.com has a clear edge over TradeUP. Public.com offers learning content for stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, along with educational videos and webinars, making it a better fit for new investors who want to build knowledge before placing trades. TradeUP, by comparison, does not offer stock, ETF, options, or bonds education, and it also lacks educational videos and webinars. The main education feature TradeUP does offer is paper trading, which can help users practice without using real money.

That difference is reflected in third-party ratings and rankings as well. Public.com earns 3.5 out of 5 stars for education and ranks #8 out of 16 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while TradeUP scores 1.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 16. Neither broker offers mutual fund education, educational quizzes, or a way to track learning progress, but Public.com is still the stronger choice overall for investors looking for more built-in educational support.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Education (Stocks) Yes No
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) No No
Education (Fixed Income) Yes No
Videos Yes No
Webinars Yes No
Education 3.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Trading Platforms for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

Public.com and TradeUP both give mobile traders the basics they need, and each offers iPhone and Android apps, mobile options trading, stock alerts, custom watch lists, customizable watch list columns, after-hours charting, and charts with multiple time frames. Both also let users compare stocks on charts, but neither broker offers an Apple Watch app, live streaming TV, video on demand, or landscape chart viewing. Overall, Public.com gets the edge for stock trading apps because it ranks higher with StockBrokers.com at #14 out of 16 brokers versus TradeUP at #16, even though both are rated about the same at 3 stars.

Where the two platforms start to differ is in market data and chart tools. TradeUP offers streaming quotes in its mobile app, while Public.com does not, which may matter to active traders who want faster price updates. Public.com, on the other hand, supports mobile after-hours stock trading, while TradeUP’s after-hours mobile trading feature is not clearly listed here.

Charting is another area where TradeUP stands out. Public.com offers no technical studies in its mobile charting tools, while TradeUP includes 27 technical studies, giving traders more ways to study price patterns and trends. If you want a cleaner app with core trading features, Public.com can work well; if you care more about chart tools and streaming quotes, TradeUP may be the better fit.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
TradeUP logoTradeUP
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 0 27
Mobile Trading Apps 3/5 Stars 3.0/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2026

Fees

Public.com and TradeUP both keep some of the most common investing costs simple: neither broker requires a minimum deposit, and both charge $0 commissions for regular stock trades and options contracts. They also both charge $0 for IRA annual fees, options exercise fees, and options assignment fees. Overall, the biggest difference comes down to margin rates and transfer or account-closing charges, where Public.com is often the lower-cost choice for margin, while TradeUP can be cheaper for IRA closure and ACAT transfer fees.

For margin borrowing, Public.com charges 4.90% on balances below $25,000 and from $25,000 to $49,999, then 4.75% for balances from $50,000 to $99,999. TradeUP charges 5.99% across those same balance tiers, so Public.com is less expensive in each case. That can matter if you expect to use margin regularly, since even a small rate difference can add up over time.

When it comes to other account charges, Public.com has a $150 IRA closure fee, while TradeUP charges $0. For account transfers, Public.com charges $100 for both partial and full ACAT transfers, compared with $50 for partial transfers and $75 for full transfers at TradeUP. If you plan to move an account or close an IRA, TradeUP may be the better fit on those specific fees, even though Public.com offers lower margin costs.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $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 $150.00 $0.00

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

Day Trading

When it comes to day trading tools, TradeUP has a clear edge over Public.com. TradeUP offers streaming time and sales for stocks, direct market routing, ladder trading, trading hotkeys, and level 2 quotes, all of which can help active traders move faster and make more informed decisions. Public.com does not offer these features, so it may be a better fit for casual investors than frequent traders who want more hands-on order entry and market data.

That said, neither broker currently offers basic or advanced strategy backtesting, a short locator tool, or order liquidity rebates. So while TradeUP is the stronger choice for day trading capabilities overall, traders looking for testing tools or short-selling support will not find those features at either platform.

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

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026

Market Research

For market research, Public.com comes out slightly ahead of TradeUP, though neither broker stands out as a leader. Both platforms let you research stocks, ETFs, pink sheets/OTCBB securities, and bonds, and both show portfolio allocation by asset class. Public.com earns a 2.5-star market research rating and ranks #13 out of 16 brokers, while TradeUP is rated 2.0 stars and ranks #16 out of 16.

In day-to-day use, the two brokers look very similar. Neither offers mutual fund research, stock research based on social media sentiment, ESG research, downloadable PDF research reports, or screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds. That means investors who want simple research coverage can use either platform, but those looking for deeper tools may find both options limited.

The biggest difference is that Public.com gets a slightly better overall market research score and ranking, which may make it the better pick for users who want a bit more in this area. Still, TradeUP offers many of the same basic research features, so the gap between the two is modest rather than dramatic.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks No No
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs No No
Research - Mutual Funds No No
Screener - Mutual Funds No No
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Fixed Income No No
Research 2.5/5 Stars 2.0/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing Public.com and TradeUP for banking features, the two platforms are very similar: neither one offers checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, credit cards, mortgage loans, or certificates of deposit (CDs). If you are looking for a broker that also provides everyday banking services, neither Public.com nor TradeUP currently includes those options. In short, both platforms are focused on investing rather than traditional banking products.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
TradeUP logoTradeUP
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 Accounts with Checking: Top Bank Brokers

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 16 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Public.com is better than TradeUP. Public.com finished with an overall score of 56.0%, while TradeUP finished with a score of 50.8%.

Public.com is a modern investing platform best known for its clean, user-friendly design, thematic investing features, and simple access to stocks, ETFs, and other assets.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Public.com or TradeUP?

Public.com offers crypto trading with access to 66 coins, making it a stronger choice for investors who want broad digital asset exposure. TradeUP does not offer crypto trading and supports 0 coins, so it may be better suited for users focused on other investment products.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does Public.com or TradeUP offer IRAs?

Both Public.com and TradeUP offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts, with no annual IRA fee, making either platform appealing for retirement investors seeking low ongoing costs.

However, TradeUP has the edge on account closure fees, charging $0.00 to close an IRA versus Public.com’s $150.00 closure fee.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026

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Compare

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Overall Rating Public.com TradeUP
Overall 3/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 3/5 Stars 3.0/5 Stars
Research 2.5/5 Stars 2.0/5 Stars
Customer Service N/A N/A
Education 3.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Public.com Review TradeUP Review
Broker Screenshots Public.com TradeUP
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Public.com TradeUP
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $2.990 $0.000
Mutual Fund Trade Fee n/a N/A
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) (Not offered) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee n/a N/A
Margin Rates Public.com TradeUP
Margin Rate Under $25,000 4.90% 5.99%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 4.90% 5.99%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 4.75% 5.99%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 4.50% 5.99%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 4.50% 5.99%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 4.50% 5.99%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 4.25% 5.99%
Account Fees Public.com TradeUP
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $150.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $100.00 $50.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $100.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Public.com TradeUP
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes Yes
OTC Stocks No Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading No No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 66 0
Fixed Income (Treasurys) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) Yes No
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) No No
Traditional IRAs Yes Yes
Roth IRAs Yes Yes
Advisor Services No No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 1
Order Types Public.com TradeUP
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 No No
Order Type - OCO No No
Order Type - OTO No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted No No
Beginners Public.com TradeUP
Education (Stocks) Yes No
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) No No
Education (Fixed Income) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes No
Retirement Calculator No No
Investor Dictionary Yes No
Paper Trading No Yes
Videos Yes No
Webinars Yes No
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading Apps Public.com TradeUP
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 No Yes
Stock App Features Public.com TradeUP
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) No Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization Yes Yes
Stock App Charting Public.com TradeUP
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 0 27
Charting - Study Customizations No Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes Yes
Trading Platforms Public.com TradeUP
Active Trading Platform n/a N/A
Desktop Trading Platform No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) No Yes
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Trade Journal No No
Watchlists - Total Fields 3 60
Stock Chart Features Public.com TradeUP
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 15 44
Charting - Drawing Tools 0 8
Charting - Notes No Yes
Charting - Historical Trades No Yes
Charting - Corporate Events No Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars No No
Charting - Automated Analysis No Yes
Charting - Save Profiles No Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis No No
Charting - Study Customizations 0 8
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day Trading Public.com TradeUP
Streaming Time & Sales No Yes
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities No Yes
Ladder Trading No Yes
Trade Hot Keys No Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research Overview Public.com TradeUP
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks No No
Screener - ETFs No No
Screener - Mutual Funds No No
Screener - Fixed Income No No
Portfolio Asset Allocation Yes Yes
Stock Research Public.com TradeUP
Stock Research - PDF Reports 0 0
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders No Yes
Stock Research - Social No No
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings No Yes
ETF Research Public.com TradeUP
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 No Yes
ETFs - Risk Analysis No Yes
ETFs - Ratings No Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap No No
ETFs - PDF Reports No No
Mutual Fund Research Public.com TradeUP
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 No 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 Public.com TradeUP
Option Chains - Total Greeks 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Banking Public.com TradeUP
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 Public.com TradeUP
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) No No
Phone Support (Current Customers) No No
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support No No
Overall Public.com TradeUP
Overall 3/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 3/5 Stars 3.0/5 Stars
Research 2.5/5 Stars 2.0/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Public.com Review TradeUP Review
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