Public vs Tastytrade
By Jay Rocco, Chief Editor, FullStack Alpha. Updated . Prices checked on each vendor's own site.
Quick answer
Pick Public for AI chat assistant plus stock screener. Pick Tastytrade for portfolio tracking.
Key differences
- Broader feature set: Public (8 vs 5 core capabilities)
- AI chat assistant: Public (Only Public has it)
- API access: Public (Only Public has it)
- Mobile app: Public (Only Public has it)
Pick Public if
- You want to ask an AI questions in plain English
- You scan the market with filters every day
- Multi-asset investing in one app
- Connecting AI assistants via MCP
Pick Tastytrade if
- You want all your holdings in one view
- Options traders on a budget
- Futures and options commissions capped
- Stock and ETF trading with no fees
Side by side
| Feature | Public | Tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Stock screener | Yes | No |
| Broker connection | Yes | Yes |
| AI chat assistant | Yes | No |
| Options analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio tracking | No | Yes |
| Managed portfolios | Yes | No |
| Education | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | No |
| MCP / AI connector | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | No |
Plans
Public
- Investing account: Free account, commission-free trading
Tastytrade
- Account: No subscription; $0 stock commissions, $1 per options contract to open (max $10 per leg)
Questions people ask
What is the main difference between Public and Tastytrade?
Pick Public for AI chat assistant plus stock screener. Pick Tastytrade for portfolio tracking.
Which is cheaper, Public or Tastytrade?
Their entry prices are hard to compare because one does not publish a monthly price. Public: Free plan. Tastytrade: Free plan.
Do Public or Tastytrade have a free plan?
Both have a free plan.
Which is better for beginners?
Public is the friendlier start.
Which has better AI features?
Public goes deeper on AI with 2 AI features (AI chat assistant, MCP / AI connector).
Can I connect Public or Tastytrade to ChatGPT or Claude?
Public and Tastytrade offer an MCP server or official AI connector.
Is Public or Tastytrade better for active trading?
Public has more of the active-trading toolkit: alerts, scanning, signals and charts.
Should I use both Public and Tastytrade?
It can make sense. They overlap on only 4 core features, so one can fill gaps the other leaves.