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Public.com vs Tradier 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

February 20, 2025

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

Public.com
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info
Tradier
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.35 info

Range of investments

When comparing Public.com and Tradier, each platform offers unique advantages for different types of investors. Public.com shines with its modern approach, offering features like fractional shares and a wider range of cryptocurrencies (22 coins available), making it appealing for new investors and those interested in digital assets. On the other hand, Tradier offers a more traditional range of investments, including mutual funds, futures trading, and IRA accounts, making it a better choice for those looking for traditional retirement accounts and diverse investment options. In terms of investment range, Tradier scores slightly higher with a 4-star rating versus Public's 3.5 stars, placing them at #11 and #15, respectively, among 16 brokers reviewed by StockBrokers.com.

Public.com provides a straightforward platform for trading stocks, margin, and options, along with the added benefit of OTC stock trading and access to cryptocurrencies. However, it lacks traditional investment options like mutual funds and does not support IRA accounts. This makes Public.com more suitable for younger investors who are comfortable with modern investment tools and interested in exploring newer asset classes like cryptocurrency.

Tradier, with its comprehensive offerings, caters to investors seeking a more conventional array of investment products. While it does not offer fractional shares, cryptocurrencies, or OTC stocks, it compensates with its availability of mutual funds, futures trading, and IRA account option. This positions Tradier as a favorable option for those focusing on retirement savings and traditional investment strategies, emphasizing a diverse portfolio grounded in time-tested financial instruments.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
Tradier logoTradier
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes No
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Mutual Funds info No Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 22 0
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

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

Trading platforms and tools

When deciding between Public.com and Tradier for your trading platform needs, it's important to evaluate both options to make the best choice for your trading strategies. Both platforms fall short in offering desktop trading solutions for Windows or Mac, as neither provides a downloadable version for those operating systems. However, they both offer browser-based trading platforms, ensuring accessibility across different devices. Tradier edges out slightly with its ability to provide paper trading and a more extensive selection of 95 technical indicators, which may be appealing for traders looking for advanced charting features. On the ranking front, Tradier slightly outpaces Public.com, with a rating of 2.5 stars compared to Public.com's 2 stars, according to StockBrokers.com’s evaluation.

Public.com, while user-friendly and straightforward in design, lacks depth in its chart customization options. It doesn’t support technical indicators or drawing tools, which could be a downside for users interested in in-depth technical analysis. The platform does, however, allow index overlays on charts—a feature absent in Tradier. Additionally, you can't save multiple chart profiles or conduct automated technical analysis on Public.com. Tradier compensates with the ability to show historical trades, add notes to charts, and customize simple moving averages (SMA) with seven customization fields.

Overall, when comparing both platforms, Tradier seems better suited for those who prioritize charting tools and technical analysis capabilities. Tradier also supports options like paper trading that are not available on Public.com, which may appeal to those looking to practice trading without the risk. Meanwhile, if you're looking for straightforward, browser-based trading with the addition of index overlays, Public.com remains an adequate choice. Keep in mind your unique trading needs when choosing between these two platforms to ensure the one you select aligns best with your trading goals.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
Tradier logoTradier
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No info
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No info
Paper Trading info No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 3 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 0 95
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 0
Platforms & Tools 2/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

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

Featured Offers


5/5 Stars

Up to $10K on new retirement account*

Beginners and education

When it comes to beginner and investor education, Public.com emerges as a more attractive option compared to Tradier. Public.com offers educational materials on stocks, ETFs, and options, supplemented by educational videos and webinars. This diverse range of resources caters to both newcomers and those looking to expand their knowledge in various investment areas. Public.com holds a 3.5-star rating for its educational offerings and is ranked #12 out of 16 brokers by StockBrokers.com for education, making it a solid choice for learners looking to understand more about the market.

On the other hand, Tradier does not provide educational content on stocks, ETFs, or options, leaving beginners with fewer resources to tap into. Though lacking educational videos and webinars, Tradier does offer paper trading, which can be a useful tool for gaining practical experience without financial risk. Nevertheless, its educational offerings are rated at 0 stars, and it ranks last among 16 brokers for education according to StockBrokers.com. Ultimately, for those prioritizing learning and educational resources, Public.com appears to be the more competent choice.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
Tradier logoTradier
Education (Stocks) info Yes No
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes No
Webinars info Yes No
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

When choosing between Public.com and Tradier for stock trading apps, both platforms offer unique features that cater to different trading preferences. Public.com and Tradier both deliver solid mobile app experiences with support for iPhone and Android devices, enabling mobile after-hours trading and options trading. Tradier edges out Public.com slightly due to its higher app rating of four stars versus Public.com's 3.5 stars on StockBrokers.com. Despite this, Public.com ranked just one place lower than Tradier, at 15th out of 16 brokers for stock trading apps, suggesting a fairly close competition.

The presence of streaming quotes on Tradier sets it apart, offering real-time data that's crucial for dynamic trading environments, although neither platform provides streaming live TV or videos on demand. Tradier also supports custom watch lists, adding a level of personalization, whereas Public.com allows customization of watch list columns, enabling users to tailor their viewing preferences more specifically. While neither app offers after-hours charting or landscape mode chart viewing, both facilitate multiple time frame viewing for comprehensive chart analysis.

On the charting front, neither Public.com nor Tradier offers technical studies, but users can compare stocks on charts in Public.com's mobile app—a feature not available with Tradier. As a result, those looking to closely analyze their stock portfolios may find Public.com’s stock comparison capabilities valuable despite Tradier’s edge in real-time streaming quotes and custom watch lists. Both trading apps have their strengths, making it critical for users to prioritize which features best suit their trading style and needs.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
Tradier logoTradier
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info No info No
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 0
Mobile Trading Apps 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When comparing Public.com to Tradier, potential investors will find that Public.com generally offers a more cost-effective solution for many types of account charges. This is evident in Public.com's lack of fees for stock trades and options contracts, as well as its more competitive margin rates for larger balances. Moreover, Public.com pulls ahead by not charging any annual fees for IRAs, making it an attractive option for those looking to grow their retirement accounts without extra costs.

Diving into specific charges, Public.com requires a minimum deposit of $20, in contrast to Tradier's no-minimum policy. However, both platforms allow regular stock trading free of charge, presenting an equal opportunity for stock traders. For those interested in trading options, Public.com again edges out Tradier by not charging any fees for options contracts, options exercises, or options assignments, whereas Tradier applies a $0.35 fee per options contract along with $9.00 fees for both options exercises and assignments. Additionally, Public.com offers lower interest rates on margin balances, particularly for balances ranging from $50,000 to $99,999, where the rate drops to 6.75% compared to Tradier's constant 9.5% for balances under $100,000.

Ultimately, the choice between Public.com and Tradier for online brokerage services depends largely on the user's specific financial preferences and trading habits. Public.com stands out with its lower fees in several key areas, particularly appealing to options traders and those managing larger margin balances. On the other hand, Tradier might attract users who appreciate zero minimum deposit requirements and do not mind paying a small fee for options trading and account management. For both platforms, fees associated with account transfers remain identical, ensuring comparable options for users potentially making transitions to other platforms.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
Tradier logoTradier
Minimum Deposit info $20.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 info $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 info $0.35 info
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $9.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $9.00
IRA Annual Fee info $30.00 info
IRA Closure Fee info $60.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When comparing online brokers Public.com and Tradier for day trading, both platforms surprisingly show similar capabilities—or lack thereof. Neither platform offers streaming time and sales for stocks, streaming live TV, direct market routing, ladder trading, trading hotkeys, or level 2 quotes. This absence of crucial day trading features renders both services less ideal for those seeking advanced tools and real-time market insights commonly needed for effective day trading strategies.

Additionally, Public.com and Tradier fall short in offering tools for strategy development and execution. Both platforms lack basic and advanced strategy backtesting, as well as a short locator tool to view real-time shortable shares. Furthermore, they do not provide incentives like order liquidity rebates, which can be an attractive feature for active traders. Overall, both platforms appear more suited to investors with simpler needs as opposed to those seeking comprehensive tools to optimize day trading performance.

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

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When comparing the market research offerings of Public.com and Tradier, both platforms provide some basic resources but neither excels in comprehensive research capabilities. Public.com takes a slight lead with its ability to offer research on Pink Sheets/OTCBB securities, which is a feature not available on Tradier. Additionally, both brokerages fall short in offering research tools such as ESG data, stock screener features, or downloadable PDF reports for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Consequently, Public.com and Tradier are rated 2 and 1.5 stars, respectively, for market research by StockBrokers.com, with Public.com being ranked 12th and Tradier 15th out of 16 brokers.

In terms of stock and ETF research, both Public.com and Tradier provide essential insights, though they don't extend their research tools to mutual funds or bonds. Public.com offers research capabilities for a wider scope of securities, including Pink Sheets/OTCBB, positioning itself slightly ahead of Tradier, which lacks this feature. Despite these offerings, both platforms lack the ability to analyze investments based on social media sentiment or ESG factors, limiting their appeal to investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis.

Neither Public.com nor Tradier offers advanced portfolio analysis, such as seeing portfolio allocation by asset class, which could help investors make more informed decisions. Also, the lack of stock, bond, ETF, and mutual fund screeners further limits their attractiveness for traders looking for specific investment opportunities. With these limitations, both platforms present a basic market research experience, which may suffice for novice investors but may not meet the expectations of more sophisticated traders seeking detailed insights and analysis tools.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
Tradier logoTradier
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info No 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 1.5/5 Stars

Banking

If you're examining the banking features of Public.com and Tradier, both platforms offer limited options in this area. Neither Public.com nor Tradier provides traditional banking services such as checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, or credit cards. Additionally, neither platform offers mortgage loans or certificates of deposit (CDs). Essentially, these online brokers focus on investing and trading services, not on serving your everyday banking needs.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
Tradier logoTradier
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 Public.com is better than Tradier. Public.com finished with an overall score of 69.6%, while Tradier finished with a score of 65.6%.

Public is easy to use and offers a fascinating array of investment options. Along with stocks, ETFs, and crypto, there are managed Treasury bill accounts and alternative investments, such as shares in comic books and Banksy art. On the downside, Public uses its refusal to accept payment for order flow as justification for some startlingly high fees and spreads.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Public.com or Tradier?

When comparing online brokers, Public.com stands out by offering crypto trading with access to 22 different coins, whereas Tradier does not provide any options for crypto trading.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Public.com or Tradier offer IRAs?

When comparing online brokers, Public.com does not offer traditional or Roth IRA accounts, whereas Tradier provides both options, albeit with a $30 annual IRA account fee and a $60 closure fee.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Public.com Tradier
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 2/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Customer Service N/A 3/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Public.com Review Tradier Review
Broker Screenshots Public.com Tradier
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 Public.com Tradier
Minimum Deposit info $20.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 info $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $2.99 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info n/a $30 info
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 info $0.35 info
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) $1.50 info
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info n/a $10
Margin Rates Public.com Tradier
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 8.75% 9.5%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 8.75% 9.5%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 6.75% 9.5%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 6.75% 9.5%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 5.75% 9.5%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 5.75% 9.5%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 5.75% 9.5%
Account Fees Public.com Tradier
IRA Annual Fee info $30.00 info
IRA Closure Fee info $60.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $75.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $9.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $9.00
Investment Options Public.com Tradier
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes No
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 0 4
Futures Trading info No Yes
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 22 0
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 0 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 0 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) info No No
Traditional IRAs info No Yes
Roth IRAs info No Yes
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Public.com Tradier
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes info Yes
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info No No
Order Type - OCO info No Yes
Order Type - OTO info No Yes
Order Type - Broker Assisted info No Yes
Beginners Public.com Tradier
Education (Stocks) info Yes No
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes No
Webinars info Yes No
Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Public.com Tradier
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 No Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info No No
Stock App Features Public.com Tradier
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info No info No
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info No No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info No Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes No
Stock App Charting Public.com Tradier
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 0
Charting - Study Customizations info No No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes No
Trading Platforms Public.com Tradier
Active Trading Platform info n/a TradeHawk
Desktop Trading Platform info No No info
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No info
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 3 3
Stock Chart Features Public.com Tradier
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 0 95
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 0
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades info No Yes
Charting - Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info No No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info No No
Charting - Study Customizations info 0 7
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Public.com Tradier
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Public.com Tradier
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes No
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Stocks info No No
Screener - ETFs info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info No info No
Stock Research Public.com Tradier
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 info 0
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes No
Stock Research - Insiders info No No
Stock Research - Social info No No
Stock Research - News info Yes No
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No No
ETF Research Public.com Tradier
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes No
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 Public.com Tradier
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 No 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 Public.com Tradier
Option Chains - Basic View info No Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info No No
Option Chains - Streaming info No No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 4 8
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 1
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis info No No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info No No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info No No
Option Positions - Grouping info No No
Banking Public.com Tradier
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 Public.com Tradier
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info No Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) info No Yes
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes No
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Public.com Tradier
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 2/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Public.com Review Tradier Review
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