Public.com vs TD Ameritrade (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare Public.com and TD Ameritrade — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Data below reflects each vendor's official docs at time of writing. Pricing, features, and account terms can change; check the source of truth on each provider's site. Methodology →
The Short Version
Higher Rated
TD Ameritrade (4.4)
More Affordable
Public.com (Free)
Public.com
Commission-free social investing platform offering stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, and bonds with a built-in investor community and AI-powered insights.
TD Ameritrade
Legacy full-service brokerage now merged with Charles Schwab, offering commission-free trading, powerful tools, and extensive research.
Fee & Feature Breakdown
| Feature | Public.com | TD Ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.0 | ★ 4.4 |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Markets | stocks, etfs, options, crypto, bonds, alternatives | stocks, options, futures, forex, crypto |
| AI Analysis | ✓ | ✗ |
| Backtesting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paper Trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price Alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✗ | ✓ |
| Social Features | ✓ | ✗ |
| Broker Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Indicators | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automated Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Risk Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| News Feed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Education Content | ✓ | ✓ |
Broker Head-to-Head
Public.com targets newer investors seeking community-driven learning with a streamlined mobile experience and frictionless trading. TD Ameritrade (now integrated with Schwab) serves serious traders requiring advanced tools and institutional research. Public emphasizes accessibility and social learning; TD Ameritrade prioritizes analytical depth and platform sophistication. Both offer commission-free stock and ETF trades, but serve fundamentally different trader archetypes.
Public.com's strength lies in accessibility: its Alpha AI tool translates complex equities data into plain-language insights, democratizing analysis for beginners. Options contracts cost nothing at the entry point. TD Ameritrade's differentiator is thinkorswim—an industry-leading desktop and web platform with professional-grade technical charting, backtesting, and paper trading capabilities that Public lacks entirely. These features are non-negotiable for traders doing serious technical analysis.
Choose Public.com if you're establishing investment fundamentals, want zero-friction entry to stocks/ETFs/options, and value peer learning. Select TD Ameritrade if you require backtesting, paper trading, advanced charting, or detailed technical analysis—though note that new account registrations closed due to the Schwab merger, and options trades incur $0.65 per-contract fees despite the commission-free positioning.
Public.com: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Strong social community ideal for learning from other investors
- + Commission-free stocks, ETFs, and $0 per-contract options
- + Alpha AI tool provides accessible plain-language stock analysis
- + Competitive High-Yield Cash Account integrated with brokerage
- + Clean, intuitive mobile-first interface
Cons
- - No desktop/web charting tools for technical analysis
- - No paper trading or backtesting capabilities
- - Not suited for active traders needing advanced order types or futures
- - Premium pricing adds up compared to free alternatives
TD Ameritrade: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Commission-free stock and ETF trades
- + thinkorswim platform is industry-leading
- + Extensive research and educational content
- + Strong options trading capabilities
Cons
- - Now merged into Schwab — no new TD Ameritrade accounts
- - Options contracts still cost $0.65 each
- - Transition period caused some account disruptions