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TradeStation vs Public.com 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

February 20, 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.

TradeStation
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.60
Public.com
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

When deciding between TradeStation and Public.com, consider their diverse investment options based on your personal needs. TradeStation receives a higher rating and ranking for its range of investment options, offering tools for a seasoned investor looking to manage a wide portfolio, including stocks, margin trading, options, futures, and mutual funds, along with retirement accounts like traditional and Roth IRAs. On the other hand, Public.com provides unique opportunities for those interested in fractional shares and crypto trading but is limited in other areas, such as mutual funds and retirement accounts.

Both TradeStation and Public.com support stock and margin trading, giving investors a choice of platform when engaging in these traditional avenues. However, Public.com has an edge for those new to investing or wishing to diversify into smaller portions of high-value stocks with its fractional shares feature, as well as a broad selection of 22 cryptocurrencies for digital asset trading. While TradeStation does not offer cryptocurrencies, it can compensate serious traders with options, futures, and mutual funds purchases, along with over-the-counter (OTC) stocks.

For investors who are focused on retirement planning, TradeStation provides both traditional and Roth IRA account types, options that Public.com lacks. While neither platform offers advisor services, TradeStation's more comprehensive portfolio could offer a more self-reliant investor the ability to tailor their strategy across a wider asset selection. Overall, when choosing between TradeStation and Public.com, carefully weigh your preference for diverse investment offerings against the appeal of niche, modern trading opportunities.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 22
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025

Trading platforms and tools

If you're looking to choose between TradeStation and Public.com for your trading needs, it's essential to understand their key differences. TradeStation stands out as a highly rated platform with powerful tools and features suited for active traders. Meanwhile, Public.com is more centered around simplicity and accessibility, making it a potential fit for beginners who prefer straightforward solutions. While TradeStation is ranked #3 among trading platforms and tools by StockBrokers.com with a 4.5-star rating, Public.com finds itself at #15 with a 2-star rating, illustrating the contrast in user satisfaction and capability between the two.

TradeStation provides a Windows desktop application, along with a browser-based option, while Public.com is limited to a browser-based platform. TradeStation offers paper trading, a feature absent from Public.com, allowing users to practice strategies without financial risk. Additionally, TradeStation sets itself apart with over 294 technical indicators and 23 drawing tools for charting, enabling traders to perform detailed analyses and make informed decisions. In contrast, Public.com does not support these features, keeping its offerings simple with just three watchlist fields compared to TradeStation’s 341.

For traders seeking advanced charting features, TradeStation delivers with capabilities like adjusting open orders on stock charts, adding notes, and applying index overlays. It even includes options to display historical trades, corporate events, and automate technical analysis on charts. Furthermore, TradeStation allows users to customize SMA studies with 12 different fields and create custom chart studies, offering a tailored trading experience. Meanwhile, Public.com does not provide these in-depth customization options, making TradeStation the superior choice for those who prioritize comprehensive trading tools and charting functionality.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Paper Trading info Yes No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 341 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 294 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 23 0
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Dive deeper: 7 Best Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025

Featured Offers


5/5 Stars

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Beginners and education

TradeStation and Public.com both cater to beginners with a range of educational resources designed to help new investors understand the world of trading. TradeStation provides education on stocks and options, along with educational videos and webinars, and it offers a paper trading feature that allows users to practice trades without risking real money. However, it falls short in offering education on ETFs and mutual funds. Public.com also provides robust resources including education on stocks, ETFs, and options, accompanied by videos and webinars. However, Public.com lacks a paper trading feature, which might limit hands-on learning opportunities for some beginners.

While both platforms aim to educate new investors, Public.com edges out TradeStation with a slightly higher education rating of 3.5 stars compared to TradeStation's 3 stars. In terms of rankings by StockBrokers.com, Public.com occupies the 12th spot out of 16 brokers for education, while TradeStation comes in at 14th. Neither platform currently provides educational quizzes or progress tracking, which might be a consideration for those seeking a more guided learning experience. Overall, for beginners focused on a broader range of educational resources, Public.com may offer a slight advantage, but TradeStation’s paper trading is a valuable tool for practical learning.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info Yes No
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 3/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

In the world of stock trading apps, TradeStation shines with a comprehensive suite of features that cater to both experienced and new investors, earning a high rating of 4.5 stars. Meanwhile, Public.com offers a user-friendly experience but falls short in feature variety, earning a 3.5-star rating. TradeStation's robust toolset, including mobile after-hours trading and 45 technical studies for its mobile app charting, makes it a strong contender, ranking #8 out of 16 brokers. Public.com, however, places at #15, offering a simpler approach with basic capabilities suited for those prioritizing ease over complexity.

Both TradeStation and Public.com provide iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible to a broad range of users. They also support mobile options trading, and while neither offers an Apple Watch app or streaming live TV, TradeStation differentiates itself with features like streaming quotes and stock alerts, which are absent in Public.com. TradeStation also enables after-hours charting, creating custom watch lists, and customization of watch list columns—all powerful tools for active traders.

When it comes to charting capabilities, TradeStation offers a far superior experience with 45 technical studies and the ability to view multiple time frames, though it lacks the capability for stock comparisons in its app—something Public.com accommodates. However, Public.com does not provide any technical studies, which might limit the analytical capabilities for users seeking in-depth chart data. While Public.com offers the basic app functions needed for trading, TradeStation provides a more feature-rich environment that appeals to those looking for advanced functionalities and analysis tools.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes No info
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Technical Studies info 45 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

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 TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Options (Per Contract) info $0.60 $0.00 info
Options Exercise Fee info $14.95 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $5.95 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee info $35.00
IRA Closure Fee info $50.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

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

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When evaluating the market research capabilities of TradeStation and Public.com, neither platform stands out significantly ahead of the other. Both brokers provide research for stocks, ETFs, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB, but fall short when it comes to offering insights into mutual funds, bonds, and ESG factors. Additionally, neither provides downloadable PDF reports for stocks or ETFs, which limits their offerings for investors seeking in-depth research documents. While TradeStation does hold a slight edge by offering a stock screener for trade ideas, this is somewhat mitigated by the absence of options for ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. Consequently, both TradeStation and Public.com have been rated 2 out of 5 stars for market research by StockBrokers.com, with rankings of #11 and #12 out of 16 brokers, respectively.

TradeStation offers more tools for investors aiming to gauge their asset distribution, enabling users to see their portfolio allocation by asset class. In contrast, Public.com does not provide this feature, which might limit transparency for those looking to balance their investments across different types of securities. However, when it comes to using social media sentiment data and ESG research, neither platform currently incorporates these modern metrics into their offerings, leaving investors to seek these insights elsewhere.

For investors interested in generating trade ideas through screeners, TradeStation again holds a slight advantage by providing a stock screener. Public.com, on the other hand, does not offer any screener options, which might make it less attractive for investors looking to sift through a broad range of potential investments quickly. Despite these nuances, when it comes to comprehensive market research capabilities, both brokers currently occupy middle-ground with room for improvement in providing more varied and accessible research tools.

Feature TradeStation logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info No No
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Research 2/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

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 logoTradeStation
Public.com logoPublic.com
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
CDs info No No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 16 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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with TradeStation or Public.com?

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

Does TradeStation or Public.com offer IRAs?

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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating TradeStation Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars N/A
Education 3/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TradeStation Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots TradeStation Public.com
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 info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $0.01 info $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $14.95 n/a
Options (Per Contract) info $0.60 $0.00 info
Futures (Per Contract) info $1.50 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $25 n/a
Margin Rates TradeStation Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13.0% 8.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 13.0% 8.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 12.5% 6.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 12.0% 6.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 12.0% 5.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 7.5% info 5.75%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 7.5% info 5.75%
Account Fees TradeStation Public.com
IRA Annual Fee info $35.00
IRA Closure Fee info $50.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $125.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $125.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee info $14.95 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $5.95 $0.00
Investment Options TradeStation Public.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 0
Futures Trading info Yes No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 22
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 800 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 4000 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes Yes
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes Yes
Bonds (Municipal) info Yes No
Traditional IRAs info Yes No
Roth IRAs info Yes No
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types TradeStation Public.com
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes info
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes No
Order Type - OCO info Yes No
Order Type - OTO info Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners TradeStation Public.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info No Yes
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info No Yes
Paper Trading info Yes No
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps TradeStation Public.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes No
Stock App Features TradeStation Public.com
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes No info
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes Yes
Stock App Charting TradeStation Public.com
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 45 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms TradeStation Public.com
Active Trading Platform info TradeStation 10 n/a
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info Yes No
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 341 3
Stock Chart Features TradeStation Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 294 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 23 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range info Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info Yes No
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 12 0
Charting - Custom Studies info Yes No
Day Trading TradeStation Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info Yes No
Ladder Trading info Yes No
Trade Hotkeys info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info Yes No
Short Locator info Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates info Yes No
Research Overview TradeStation Public.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes No info
Stock Research TradeStation Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 0 info
Stock Research - Earnings info No Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info No No
Stock Research - Social info No No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No No
ETF Research TradeStation Public.com
ETFs - Strategy Overview info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info No No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info No No
ETFs - Ratings info No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No
Mutual Fund Research TradeStation Public.com
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info No No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info No No
Options Trading TradeStation Public.com
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes No
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 29 4
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info Yes No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info Yes No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping info Yes No
Banking TradeStation Public.com
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service TradeStation Public.com
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall TradeStation Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 3/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TradeStation Review Public.com Review
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