TradeStation vs Public.com 2025
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.
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.
When comparing TradeStation and Public.com, the choice largely depends on your individual investment preferences. TradeStation stands out with its extensive range of investment options, earning a rating of 4.5 stars and ranking 5th out of 15 brokers for its variety. This includes traditional stock trading, margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options trading, futures trading, and IRA accounts. Public.com, while ranked lower at 14th place with 3.5 stars, provides a more modern approach with features like fractional shares and crypto trading, offering access to 22 cryptocurrencies.
Both TradeStation and Public.com enable stock, margin, and OTC stock trading, making them versatile platforms for investors interested in direct stocks. However, mutual funds and futures trading are exclusive to TradeStation, providing a wider array of trading options for those interested in traditional investments. Public.com appeals to newer investors with its ability to trade fractional shares, a feature not available on TradeStation, making this platform more accessible for those looking to diversify portfolios without large capital.
Public.com further distinguishes itself by offering crypto trading, meeting the demands of investors eager to participate in the growing digital currency market, while TradeStation does not support crypto trading. Additionally, while TradeStation supports retirement planning with traditional and Roth IRAs, Public.com doesn’t offer these accounts, which might be a consideration for investors focused on long-term savings strategies. Both platforms, however, do not offer advisor services, suggesting they cater more to self-directed investors. This detailed comparison underscores the need for investors to evaluate which platform aligns with their specific investment goals and strategies.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares | 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 | 22 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025
In the realm of online trading platforms, TradeStation stands out as a powerhouse, earning a commendable 4.5-star rating for its comprehensive suite of trading tools. It ranks third among 15 brokers for its exceptional offerings. In contrast, Public.com is markedly less feature-rich, with a 2-star rating and a rank of 14th, indicating a basic platform experience. For serious traders or those who desire a broad variety of tools, TradeStation clearly offers a more advanced and fulfilling platform experience.
TradeStation provides an impressive array of tools for traders. Its platform includes a Windows desktop application, a browser-based interface, and a plethora of advanced charting capabilities, such as 294 technical indicators, 23 drawing tools, and the ability to customize and save multiple chart profiles. With features like adjusting open orders on stock charts, adding notes, and displaying corporate events, TradeStation caters to a detailed trading approach. Additionally, it supports paper trading, which allows users to practice their strategies before committing real funds.
Public.com, in comparison, offers a simpler, more streamlined user experience. It lacks desktop applications for both Windows and Mac but does provide a browser-based platform. However, it falls short in technical analysis features, offering no technical indicators or drawing tools. The watch list capabilities are also minimal, with only three data fields available. While it does allow index overlays on charts, it misses out on many other charting options, making it better suited for beginners or those not in need of a comprehensive trading toolkit.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
Paper Trading | Yes | No |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 341 | 3 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 294 | 0 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 0 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025
When comparing TradeStation and Public.com for beginner and investor education, both platforms provide valuable resources, but they cater to different needs. TradeStation offers education on stocks and options, supplemented with educational videos and webinars to aid learning. However, it lacks courses on ETFs and mutual funds, unlike Public.com, which offers ETF education. In addition, TradeStation stands out with its paper trading feature, allowing beginners to practice trading without real money, something Public.com does not offer.
Public.com edges out in its educational ranking with 3.5 stars compared to TradeStation's 3-star rating, according to user reviews. The wider variety of educational content available on Public.com, such as ETF insights, might appeal to new investors looking to broaden their investment knowledge. While neither platform offers learning progress tracking or educational quizzes, Public.com's slightly higher StockBrokers.com education ranking at #12 suggests a broader appeal for those seeking diverse learning opportunities alongside investment actions.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | No | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
Education (Bonds) | No | No |
Paper Trading | Yes | No |
Videos | Yes | Yes |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When choosing between TradeStation and Public.com for stock trading apps, it's clear that TradeStation emerges as the more feature-rich option. It scores higher with a 4.5-star rating and an 8th place ranking out of 15 brokers for its stock trading app, while Public.com holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 14th. With key features such as mobile after-hours stock trading, streaming quotes, stock alerts, and customizable watch lists, TradeStation provides a comprehensive platform for active traders. On the contrary, Public.com lacks several of these functionalities, making it a less versatile choice.
Both TradeStation and Public.com offer iPhone and Android apps, but neither has an Apple Watch app. For traders interested in options, both platforms support mobile options trading. However, TradeStation takes a step ahead with the inclusion of streaming quotes and after-hours charting, which are not available on Public.com. Additionally, TradeStation offers a significant advantage with its provision of 45 technical studies for mobile charting, whereas Public.com offers none.
Customizability also distinguishes the two apps, with TradeStation allowing for the creation and customization of watch lists and columns, while Public.com supports only column customization. Though neither app provides streaming live TV or videos on demand, TradeStation still manages to pack more useful features for the discerning trader. In contrast, Public.com does offer stock comparisons on charts, adding a layer of analysis that TradeStation does not. Despite this, the overall feature set of TradeStation seems to cater better to active traders who require more analytical tools and customizations.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
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 |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When comparing TradeStation and Public.com, it's essential to consider their account fees and charges to find the platform that best suits your needs. TradeStation offers no minimum deposit and free regular stock trades, which is similar to Public.com’s offering but with a $20 minimum deposit. However, when it comes to options contracts, TradeStation charges $0.60 per contract, while Public.com offers this feature at no cost. These factors make Public.com more appealing for options traders seeking a cost-effective platform.
Looking at margin rates, Public.com presents a more attractive option with lower rates compared to TradeStation across all margin balance tiers. For balances below $25,000, Public.com’s rate is 8.75%, significantly lower than TradeStation’s 13.0%. This trend continues with larger balances, where Public.com’s rates remain noticeably lower at 6.75% for balances between $50,000 and $99,999, offering better conditions for those looking to trade on margin. Additionally, Public.com does not charge for IRA accounts, whereas TradeStation has both annual and closure fees.
When it comes to transferring accounts, Public.com also proves to be more budget-friendly with fees of $75 for both partial and full Account Transfers (ACAT); TradeStation charges $125 for these services. Moreover, Public.com doesn’t charge for options exercises or assignments, unlike TradeStation, which imposes fees of $14.95 and $5.95, respectively. In summary, Public.com appears to be the more cost-effective option with its lower fees across various trading features and account services.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
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 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 |
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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
Streaming TV | No | No |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | 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 for 2025
When it comes to market research capabilities, both TradeStation and Public.com offer similar services with some distinctions. While both platforms provide stock and ETF research and allow access to Pink Sheets/OTCBB information, neither offers mutual funds or bonds research. Notably, TradeStation allows users to see their portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature that Public.com lacks. Both platforms do not provide research using social media sentiment or ESG criteria, and neither offers downloadable PDF research reports. Overall, with a rating of two stars each, and close rankings by StockBrokers.com, both TradeStation and Public.com provide comparable market research experiences.
TradeStation stands out slightly by offering a stock screener, which helps users generate trade ideas—a tool that Public.com currently doesn't offer. However, when it comes to research reports and additional screening tools for other investments like ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, neither platform delivers such resources, which may be a limitation for users seeking comprehensive market analysis.
Public.com and TradeStation share a similar standing in the financial research space, according to their StockBrokers.com rankings of 12th and 11th, respectively. With comparable features and limitations, investors may need to consider additional resources or tools for more extensive market analysis, particularly if they are seeking bonds or mutual funds research or prefer downloadable reports to guide their investment choices.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Screener - ETFs | No | No |
Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
Research - Bonds | No | No |
Screener - Bonds | No | No |
Research |
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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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Checking Accounts | No | No |
Savings Accounts | No | No |
Debit Cards | No | No |
Credit Cards | No | No |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
CDs | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 15 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.
TradeStation does not offer crypto trading, whereas Public.com allows users to trade 22 different cryptocurrencies, providing a diverse range of digital assets for investors.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
TradeStation offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with an annual fee of $35.00 and a $50.00 closure fee, whereas Public.com does not provide IRA accounts and therefore charges no associated fees.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5Overall Rating | TradeStation | Public.com | |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Customer Service |
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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 |
Broker Screenshots | TradeStation | Public.com | |
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Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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 | 13.0% | 8.75% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 13.0% | 8.75% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.5% | 6.75% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 12.0% | 6.75% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 12.0% | 5.75% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 7.5% | 5.75% | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 7.5% | 5.75% |
Account Fees | TradeStation | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $35.00 | ||
IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 | ||
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $125.00 | $75.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full) | $125.00 | $75.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $0.00 |
Investment Options | TradeStation | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares | No | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 0 | |
Futures Trading | Yes | No | |
Forex Trading | No | No | |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 | |
Mutual Funds (No Load) | 800 | 0 | |
Mutual Funds (Total) | 4000 | 0 | |
Bonds (US Treasury) | Yes | Yes | |
Bonds (Corporate) | Yes | Yes | |
Bonds (Municipal) | Yes | No | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | No | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | No | |
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 (Bonds) | No | No | |
Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
Investor Dictionary | No | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars (Archived) | 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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | No | No | |
Videos on Demand | No | No | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - 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) | No | No | |
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
Trade Journal | No | No | |
Watch Lists - 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 | 23 | 0 | |
Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
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 - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
Trade Hotkeys | 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 - Bonds | No | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Screener - ETFs | No | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
Screener - Bonds | No | No | |
Misc - Portfolio Allocation | Yes | No |
Stock Research | TradeStation | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | No | 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 - Strategy Overview | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No | No | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
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 - Strategy Overview | 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 - Basic View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Strategy View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Streaming | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Total Columns | 29 | 4 | |
Option Chains - Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Chains - Quick Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes | |
Option Probability Analysis | Yes | No | |
Option Probability Analysis Adv | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks | Yes | Yes | |
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Adv Analysis | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Rolling | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Grouping | Yes | No |
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 (Prospect Customers) | Yes | No | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | No | No |
Overall | TradeStation | Public.com | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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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 |