Fidelity vs Public.com: Which Broker Suits You?
Fidelity scores 4.6 and Public.com 3.4 out of 5 on our published methodology. Fidelity leads on Costs & Fees, Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support, and they tie on Asset Range. Both accept clients in the US.
Higher overall score
Fidelity
4.6/5
Best for: Low-cost US retirement investing
Read the full Fidelity review →Overall score
Public.com
3.4/5
Best for: Commission-free & social investing
Read the full Public.com review →Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| Fidelity | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options and funds, including zero expense-ratio index funds | Stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries and some alternative assets |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Stands out for | Zero-fee index funds and unusually deep retirement planning tools | Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades |
| Watch out for | Less suited to active derivatives trading than some rivals | A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription |
| Accepts clients in | The US | The US |
Is Fidelity cheaper than Public.com?
On our Costs & Fees score, Fidelity rates 5/5 against Public.com’s 4/5, so it is generally the cheaper of the two for the costs we assess: commissions, spreads, currency conversion and account fees. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, Fidelity or Public.com?
Fidelity is regulated by SEC, FINRA, SIPC; Public.com by SEC, FINRA, SIPC. Fidelity scores higher on our Regulation & Trust measure (5/5 against 3/5). Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, Fidelity scores 4/5 and Public.com 4/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account.
Who each one tends to suit
Fidelity
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost US retirement investing
- Stands out for
- Zero-fee index funds and unusually deep retirement planning tools
- Watch out for
- Less suited to active derivatives trading than some rivals
Public.com
- Tends to suit
- Commission-free & social investing
- Stands out for
- Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades
- Watch out for
- A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.