Tradewink vs Public.com
Both ship an MCP server that brings AI to the markets. Public connects Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity to one broker — Public itself. Tradewink connects Claude, Cursor, VS Code, and Codex to its AI research and to paper trading in a simulator or a paper/sandbox broker account. Public subscriptions are paper-only; separately approved private beta accounts may submit live broker orders. Here's the honest side-by-side.
Tradewink details updated September 2026 · Competitor details last reviewed September 2026
Tradewink
Broker-agnostic AI researchAn MCP server plus AI trading research. Connects Claude, Cursor, VS Code, and any MCP client to Tradewink — order tools return a preview, need your explicit confirmation, and place paper trades only. Adds AI research, a trade journal, and Paper Autopilot in a simulator or a paper/sandbox broker account on top.
- Paper/sandbox accounts: Alpaca, IBKR, Tradier + more
- Works with Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex
- AI research + trade journal
- Research works whatever broker you use
- No real-money trading (paper only)
- Free tier; paid plans from $19/mo
Public.com
Broker with built-in MCPA commission-free US broker that ships an official hosted MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. Trade stocks, options, and crypto by chat — if your money is at Public.
- First-party MCP from the broker itself
- Stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, bonds
- Claude Desktop documented setup
- Only works with Public accounts
- Options chain depth flagged by reviewers
The Core Difference: Broker vs Broker-Agnostic
Public.com is a broker that has bolted an MCP server onto its own API. Great if your account is already at Public — Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity all reach it. To trade anywhere else you either open a second account at Public or look for a different tool.
Tradewink is not a broker. It's an AI research layer that works from whichever MCP client you prefer. Your funds stay at your own broker. Public plans are paper trading only: they connect paper or sandbox broker accounts (broker connections are limited to paper or sandbox accounts), and the MCP order tools only submit paper orders you explicitly confirm.
Neither model is better for every trader. If you want a single broker with AI baked in, Public is simpler. If you want AI research and paper trading alongside the broker you already trust, where you place any real trade yourself, Tradewink is the fit.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Tradewink | Public.com |
|---|---|---|
| Brokers supported via MCP | Paper/sandbox accounts only (Alpaca paper, IBKR paper, Tradier sandbox + more) | 1 (Public) |
| Works with Claude Desktop & Claude Code | ||
| Works with ChatGPT | ||
| Works with Perplexity | ||
| Works with Cursor | ||
| Works with VS Code / Copilot | ||
| Works with Windsurf, Cline & other stdio clients | ||
| OAuth 2.1 sign-in | ||
| AI research (multi-agent review in some workflows) | ||
| Trade journal + analytics | ||
| Paper Autopilot (simulator or paper/sandbox account) | ||
| Discord alerts | ||
| Research works whatever broker you use | ||
| Paper trading | ||
| Options & crypto (Tradewink: research and paper only) | ||
| Real-money trading | ||
| Holds customer funds (is the broker) | ||
| Free tier |
Bring Claude Research to Any Broker You Use
Connect Claude, Cursor, or VS Code to Tradewink research and paper trading — OAuth sign-in to Tradewink, no account migration. Paper trading only; broker connections are limited to paper or sandbox accounts.
Who Should Use What
Use Tradewink if you want:
- AI research without moving money from your broker
- Cursor, VS Code, or Codex support alongside Claude
- AI research with written reasoning, not just order entry
- An auditable journal for every paper trade
- Paper Autopilot for practice day-trading, not just chat
Use Public.com (alone) if you want:
- A single commission-free broker with built-in MCP
- To trade through Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity
- Long-term investing with bonds and high-yield cash
- To avoid juggling broker APIs yourself
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tradewink a replacement for Public.com?
No — Tradewink is not a broker, doesn't hold your money, and is paper trading only. It is an AI research layer; its Paper Autopilot runs signals in a simulator or a connected paper/sandbox broker account (Alpaca paper, Tradier sandbox, Interactive Brokers paper, TradeStation simulated, OANDA practice, NinjaTrader sim). broker connections are limited to paper or sandbox accounts. Public.com is a broker with its own first-party hosted MCP server, reachable from Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. Tradewink adds Claude-based research and paper trading without asking you to move your money; for public-plan users, any real trade is your own decision, placed by you at your broker.
How does the Tradewink MCP server compare to Public.com's MCP server?
Public.com's MCP server is narrow and deep: Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity all talk to one broker (Public) with trade-focused tools over a hosted OAuth endpoint. Tradewink's MCP server is broader: Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, and ChatGPT Codex can all use its research, market-data, watchlist, and trade-journal tools. Its order tools place paper trades only (simulator or paper/sandbox account), return a preview by default, and need your explicit confirmation before anything is submitted.
Which AI clients does each MCP server support?
Public.com documents its hosted MCP server for Claude (Desktop and Code), ChatGPT, and Perplexity; Cursor and VS Code are not on that list as of September 2026. Tradewink's @tradewink/mcp bridge is a stdio server, so it covers Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code Copilot, Windsurf, Cline, and ChatGPT Codex. Public's endpoint is remote, which is how it reaches Perplexity and the ChatGPT app where a stdio bridge cannot.
Is Public.com good for day trading?
Public.com is commission-free and supports stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto, but it's positioned as a long-term investing platform — reviewers have flagged the options chain as lacking depth for active traders. If you day-trade seriously, one common setup is an execution-focused broker (Alpaca, Tradier, IBKR) for your own orders, with Tradewink for AI signals and paper trading alongside. Tradewink's public offering is paper trading only; for public-plan users, any real trade is placed by you at your broker.
Which is cheaper: Tradewink or Public.com?
Both have a free tier. Public.com makes money through payment for order flow on options, interest on cash, and a paid Public Premium tier. Tradewink is a monthly subscription — the MCP server is free to use on the Free plan, and paid plans add real-time signals and email + webhook alerts (Starter, $19/mo), REST API access, unlimited history, and deeper analysis routing (Pro, $79/mo), and expanded analysis capacity with dedicated support (Elite, $149/mo). Tradewink's public offering is paper trading only, so it charges no commissions; for public-plan users, any real trade is placed at your own broker at its rates.
Can I use both together?
Yes. Tradewink's public offering is paper trading only and can't connect a Public account, since Public has no paper/sandbox connection in Tradewink. Research and signals still work for the stocks you hold there, and you place any real trade yourself at Public. You can also run Public's MCP server and Tradewink's MCP server side-by-side in Claude Desktop — the AI will see both sets of tools, and only Public's tools place real orders.
Related Guides
AI Research in Claude — Without Switching Brokers
Use Tradewink research alongside the broker you already use, and paper trade in a simulator or a paper/sandbox account. Paper trading only. OAuth sign-in with no Tradewink API key, a free tier, and support for stdio MCP clients like Claude, Cursor, VS Code, and Codex.
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Important disclosures
Informational purposes only
Tradewink is published by Tradewink LLC, which is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, commodity trading advisor, or financial planner. All data, signals, and analytics on this page are general, impersonal, and for informational purposes only. They do not constitute investment advice, financial advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or other instrument.
Trading risk
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Trading involves substantial risk of loss, including the possibility of losing more than your initial investment. You are solely responsible for your own trading decisions.