Fidelity VS Public Trading Software

Key Differences Between Fidelity and Public.com for Trading & Investing

• Scope of Investment Products & Market Access: Fidelity offers a comprehensive range of investment options including U.S. stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, international securities, CDs, IPOs, and precious metals — making it well-suited for diversified portfolios and long-term investing. Public.com supports trading in stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, corporate bonds and some alternative assets — often appealing to investors interested in a simpler, more modern, mobile-first investing experience with exposure to newer asset classes like crypto.
• Platform & Trading Tools: Fidelity provides a robust trading platform (Fidelity Trader+), with real-time data, advanced charting, customizable layouts, margin trading, research tools from multiple independent providers, and access to deep analytics and screening. Public.com offers a user-friendly mobile/web interface focused on ease of use, commission-free trades, and simplicity — making it more accessible for beginners or casual investors rather than heavy active traders needing advanced tools.
• Fees, Commissions & Pricing Structure: For U.S. stocks, ETFs, and many options trades, Fidelity provides $0 commission trading online. Public.com also offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs, and options, making both platforms competitive for low-cost investing strategies.
• User Experience and Target Audience: Fidelity is suited for both casual investors and serious traders or long-term investors who value deep research, broad investment options, and robust infrastructure. Public.com is more oriented toward newer investors, mobile-first users, retail investors exploring diversified or alternative assets (including crypto), or those seeking a simple, intuitive interface without complex tools.
• Advanced Features & Long-Term Use Cases: Fidelity supports long-term portfolio building with access to mutual funds, international securities, retirement accounts, and deep research/analysis tools — making it ideal for wealth-building and diversified investing. Public.com emphasizes accessibility to modern investing themes (like crypto and alternative assets), flexible trading, and ease of use — appealing to investors looking for simplicity, experimentation, or a platform that matches a modern, mobile investing lifestyle.
• Strengths and Limitations: Fidelity’s strength lies in its breadth — comprehensive investment coverage, strong trading tools, institutional-grade research, and support for a wide variety of asset types. Public.com’s strength is simplicity, accessibility, and inclusion of more modern assets in a user-friendly package. Fidelity may feel overwhelming or overkill for beginners seeking simple trades. Public.com may lack the depth of research, breadth of asset types, or advanced tools some long-term or institutional-style investors require.