Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity 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: Fidelity offers a wider mix of traditional investments and services, earning 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranking #2 of 14, while Public.com focuses more on simplicity and crypto variety, scoring 3.5 stars and ranking #12 of 14. If you want mutual funds, forex, and advisor help, Fidelity is the stronger pick. If you want an easy way to trade stocks, options, and a larger list of cryptocurrencies, Public.com stands out.
Both brokers support stock trading, options, margin, fractional shares, and OTC stocks, and both offer crypto trading. The big differences are in product depth: Fidelity offers mutual funds and forex, which Public.com does not. Neither platform supports futures. In crypto, Public.com lists about 40 coins, while Fidelity offers 3.
For accounts, both provide Traditional and Roth IRAs. Fidelity also offers advisor services; Public.com does not. In short, choose Fidelity for a fuller set of traditional investments and guidance, or pick Public.com if your priority is stock and options trading with broader coin access in crypto.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 3 | 40 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: For trading platforms and tools, Fidelity vs Public.com isn’t close. Fidelity earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 1 star and ranks #14. Fidelity offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac plus a capable web platform, along with deeper charting and planning features. Public.com is browser-only and far more limited. Note: neither broker supports paper trading or creating custom studies.
Platforms and workflow: Fidelity provides desktop apps for Windows and Mac; Public.com has no desktop app. Both offer browser-based trading. Fidelity includes a trading journal, while Public.com does not. Watchlists are far more flexible on Fidelity (92 columns) than on Public.com (3 columns). On Fidelity you can adjust open orders directly on a chart and save multiple chart profiles; Public.com lacks both.
Charting and analysis: Fidelity supplies 129 technical indicators and 38 drawing tools, plus the ability to add notes, show your past trades, display earnings/splits/dividends, set custom date ranges, and view automated chart pattern detection. Public.com offers none of these (0 indicators and 0 drawing tools, with no notes, historical trades, corporate events, custom ranges, or automated analysis). Even simple study edits differ: Fidelity’s SMA has five customization fields, while Public.com has none.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 92 | 3 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 0 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
A full-featured account for investing
Get up to $1K on new brokerage account*
Fidelity and Public.com both give beginners and growing investors an easy way to learn. Each covers stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, and both offer short videos and webinars to explain key ideas. Neither platform provides paper trading, so you’ll learn concepts without a practice account.
Where they differ: Fidelity goes deeper, adding mutual fund education, interactive quizzes, and tools to track your learning progress; Public.com does not include mutual fund lessons or quizzes and doesn’t track progress. Reflecting that gap, StockBrokers.com rates Fidelity 5 stars and ranks it #1 out of 14 brokers for education, while Public.com earns 3.5 stars and ranks #8. If you want the most complete, structured path, Fidelity is the stronger pick; if you prefer quick lessons inside a modern app, Public.com covers the basics.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: Fidelity’s stock trading app is the stronger pick for most investors and active traders. It earned 4.5/5 stars and ranked #3 of 14 on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com received 3/5 stars and ranked #13. Both brokers cover the basics on iPhone and Android, but Fidelity layers on far more market data, alerts, media, and charting tools that make day‑to‑day investing simpler and more informed.
Availability and trading: Both Fidelity and Public.com offer iPhone and Android apps; only Fidelity adds an Apple Watch app. Both support mobile options trading. Fidelity supports mobile after‑hours trading; Public.com’s after‑hours availability isn’t specified in our data. Market data and media differ sharply: Fidelity provides streaming quotes, streaming live TV, and videos on demand, while Public.com does not. For monitoring, Fidelity includes stock alerts and lets you create custom watch lists; Public.com doesn’t offer alerts or custom lists, though both let you customize watch list columns.
Charts and research: Fidelity’s app supports landscape charts, after‑hours charting, multiple time frames, stock‑to‑stock comparisons, and 128 technical studies. Public.com allows multiple time frames and stock comparisons, but lacks landscape view and after‑hours charting, and offers 0 built‑in technical studies.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 128 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Here’s the quick takeaway on Fidelity vs Public.com fees: Public.com is cheaper for options contracts ($0 per contract vs Fidelity’s $0.65) and has much lower margin interest rates, while Fidelity is friendlier on account-related charges with no minimum deposit and no fees for ACAT transfers or IRA closures. Both brokers offer $0 stock trades, $0 IRA annual fees, and $0 for options exercise and assignment. Public.com does add a $20 minimum to start and charges $100 for ACAT transfers (partial or full) and $150 to close an IRA, which can matter if you think you might move or close your account later.
Core trading and margin costs: Minimum deposit is $0 at Fidelity and $20 at Public.com. Stock trades are $0 at both. Options pricing differs—Fidelity charges $0.65 per contract, while Public.com charges $0. For margin interest, Public.com is lower across common tiers: under $25,000 balance is 5.65% at Public.com vs 12.575% at Fidelity; $25,000–$49,999 is 5.65% vs 12.075%; $50,000–$99,999 is 5.50% vs 11.125%.
Account and IRA fees: IRA annual fees are $0 at both. IRA closure is $0 at Fidelity vs $150 at Public.com. ACAT transfer fees at Fidelity are $0 for partial and full transfers, while Public.com is $100 for partial and $100 for full. Options exercise and assignment fees are $0 at both brokers.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $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 | $0.00 | $150.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
When comparing Fidelity to Public.com for day trading, Fidelity emerges as the more feature-rich choice, offering several tools and options that cater to active traders. Fidelity provides streaming time and sales for stocks, allowing traders to view real-time transactions and make informed decisions. It also boasts streaming live TV, direct market routing, and trading hotkeys for swift trade execution from your keyboard. The availability of level 2 quotes further enhances a trader's market view, while basic strategy backtesting allows for evaluating trading strategies. Additionally, Fidelity offers a short locator tool, which is essential for those looking to short stocks by providing real-time availability of shares. Despite missing features like ladder trading and advanced strategy backtesting, Fidelity's offerings create a well-rounded platform for day traders.
In contrast, Public.com focuses on providing a straightforward investment experience and doesn't cater much to day traders seeking advanced tools. The platform lacks features that Fidelity offers, such as streaming time and sales, streaming live TV, direct market routing, trading hotkeys, and level 2 quotes. Traders won't find any backtesting options or a short locator tool either. Consequently, while Public.com may be suitable for beginners or those interested in uncomplicated investing, it might not meet the needs of dedicated day traders requiring comprehensive tools to execute and test trading strategies.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: Fidelity is the stronger choice for market research than Public.com. According to StockBrokers.com, Fidelity earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 14 brokers, while Public.com earns 2.5 stars and ranks #12. If you want a wide range of research tools and reports, choose Fidelity; Public.com is better for quick, basic checks.
Both brokers offer stock and ETF research, and both cover Pink Sheets/OTCBB. Fidelity goes further with mutual fund and bond research, the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class, stock research using social media sentiment data, and ESG research—features Public.com does not provide. Fidelity also offers downloadable reports: seven PDF stock reports and PDF research for ETFs. Public.com does not provide PDF reports for stocks or ETFs. Neither offers downloadable PDFs for mutual funds.
For idea generation, Fidelity includes screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, while Public.com offers none. Investors who value in-depth research and tools will get more from Fidelity; Public.com suits those who only need the essentials.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking features of online brokers Fidelity and Public.com, there are some notable differences. Fidelity does not provide traditional checking or savings accounts, similar to Public.com, as neither offers these basic banking services. However, Fidelity stands out by offering both debit and credit cards, while Public.com does not offer either. Fidelity also provides mortgage loans, giving it an edge for those looking for broader banking options, whereas Public.com does not include mortgage services. For those interested in certificates of deposit (CDs), Fidelity has you covered, while Public.com does not offer CDs. Overall, Fidelity's range of banking services, including cards, loans, and CDs, gives it a more comprehensive offering than Public.com.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | 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 Fidelity is better than Public.com. Fidelity finished with an overall score of 92.5%, while Public.com finished with a score of 56.0%.
Fidelity is a value-driven online broker offering $0 trades, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools and an easy-to-use mobile app.
Comparing Fidelity vs Public.com for crypto trading: both brokers support cryptocurrency trading. Fidelity offers 3 coins, while Public.com offers 40, giving Public.com a much wider selection.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Fidelity and Public.com both offer Traditional and Roth IRAs with no annual fees. However, Fidelity charges a $0 IRA closure fee while Public.com charges $150, making Fidelity the more cost-effective option if you plan to close or transfer an IRA.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Advanced Trading |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Customer Service |
| N/A | |
| Education |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Fidelity Review | Public.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Trading Fees | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.00 | $2.99 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | n/a | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $32.95 | n/a |
| Margin Rates | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.575% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.075% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.125% | 5.50% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.075% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 10.825% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 8.500% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.250% | 5.05% |
| Account Fees | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $150.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | No | No | |
| Forex Trading | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 3 | 40 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 25 | 0 |
| Order Types | Fidelity | 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 | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | Yes | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | 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 | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
| Videos on Demand | Yes | 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 | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 128 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Active Trader Pro | n/a | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Journal | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 92 | 3 |
| Stock Chart Features | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 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 | 5 | 0 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | Yes | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | No |
| Stock Research | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 7 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | No | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | Fidelity | 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 | Yes | No |
| Overall | Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Advanced Trading |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Fidelity Review | Public.com Review |
Charles Schwab
Interactive Brokers
Fidelity
E*TRADE
Merrill Edge
TradeStation
tastytrade
Finviz
Stock Rover
Seeking Alpha
TipRanks
TrendSpider
Trade Ideas
TraderSync
TradingView
Tradervue
TradeZella