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Founded in 2017,
In addition to offering a $0 minimum requirement, Public allows you to filter its investment selection to see the securities that best align with your preferences. However, it's not the best move for day traders or those who want exposure to investments like mutual funds or options.
However, similar investing platforms, such as the ones featured on our top picks for the best investment apps and the best investment apps for beginners, offer more account options than Public, as well as provide a larger selection of investment options and more advanced trading features.
Public is available on both iOS and Android.
Public: Overall Rating
| Feature | Insider rating (out of 5) |
| Fees | 4.25 |
| Investment selection | 3.00 |
| Access | 4.50 |
| Ethics | 4.88 |
| Customer service | 4.00 |
| Overall score | 4.14 |
Public.com vs. M1 Finance
Public and
Although M1 Finance has a higher minimum requirement ($100 minimum and $500 required to open a retirement account), it's an overall better option for investors looking for a wider range of account types, goal-planning features, and increased investment options. Available assets through M1 Finance include stocks, mutual funds, REITs, ESG investing options, ETFs, private equity, and crypto.
Public.com vs. Tornado
Public and Tornado both offer minimum-free trading, with a vast selection of stocks and ETFs. However, you'll pay more in fees at Tornado than you will with Public. Both Tornado and Public are the best options for those who value educational resources, community investing, and social media-style features.
If you want access to more investment options, Public is the best choice. Tornado only offers stocks, ETFs, and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Tornado is a better option for beginners as it launched its Learn and Earn program in 2021. This program allows investors to complete educational modules on topics like economics and investing while earning monetary rewards (up to $40).
Ways to Invest with Public
Stocks and ETFs
Its "Investing Themes" feature allows you to toggle your portfolio according to your interests. The "Top Movers" tool lets you view which stocks are experiencing the highest or lowest movement during each day, and its "Stock Trends" feature compares the most popular investments to the least popular ones.
While
Public also lets you inform your decisions with the market moves of other traders and/or public figures. You can use the feed to follow different members to see what they're investing in, and you can also share your investment knowledge and decisions with other users. Public additionally gives you the power to create chat groups with other investors, and you can also participate in investing events and listen to live conversations through the app.
Cryptocurrencies
You can also now diversify your portfolio with digital assets, thanks to Public's partner, Apex Crypto.
- Bitcoin
- Ethereum
- Dogecoin
- Solana
- Cardano
- Algorand
Though you'll be placing orders through the
Treasury bills
You can also invest in treasury bills (aka T bills). These are generally low-risk, short-term investments. Public's offers a Treasury Account with a 5.5% yield and no account minimum.
With a high-yield savings treasury account, investors don't have to pay state or local taxes on the income generates from the treasury bills.
Alternative assets
Public recently introduced alternative assets to its platform. This now gives its users access to contemporary art, NFTs, collectibles, and more. In addition, the platform has vetted each available investment, and it takes away a lot of the legwork in maintaining each asset by managing things like storage, authentication, and more.
While it's transaction fee of 2.5% resembles that of many NFT marketplaces (e.g., both OpenSea and Rarible charge creators. 2.5% per transaction), Public also offers more investment choices than most NFT platforms.
This new offering makes diversification much easier, since you'll ultimately have your fair pick of stocks, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets.
Public.com — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Public.com legit?
Yes, Public is a legitimate investing app. Public is registered with both the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The brokerage also offers insurance for up to $500,000 for your securities.
How much money can you make on Public?
The amount of money you can make on Public ultimately depends on what you invest in and how much you invest in it. Returns may vary across stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.
Does Public have any fees?
Public has some fees. Crypto transactions come with a 1% or 2% markup, and alternative assets (e.g., NFTs) have a 2.5% commission. Plus, you'll pay a $10 monthly fee if you decide to enroll in the Public Premium plan.
Public also offers commission-free purchases for its stocks and ETFs, but you may incur a couple of small regulatory fees when you sell. For instance, you'll run into an SEC regulatory fee of $5.10 per $1 million on sell transactions, along with a trading activity fee of $0.000119 per share on sells.
Public.com: Is it trustworthy?
Yes, Public is trustworthy. The Better Business Bureau gives Public an A+ rating. These ratings generally reflect the bureau's opinion of how well a company interacts with its customers. It hasn't racked up any major lawsuits over the past few years. Its BBB profile shows that it has closed 28 complaints in the past 12 months.
When evaluating companies, the bureau also considers things like type of business, time in business, licensing and government actions, and advertising issues. It's important to note, however, that its ratings don't guarantee whether a platform, like