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TradeStation vs Public.com 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

March 11, 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 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 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

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 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: Best Online Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025

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Beginners and education

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 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

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 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 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 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 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.

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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