Public

About Public

Founded in 2019 with the goal of making investing more transparent and accessible for everyday investors, Public is an intuitive, user-friendly brokerage platform that appeals to both beginners and intermediate investors who want access to stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds and crypto—all in one easy-to-use app. With features like fractional shares and no minimum balance, Public makes it simple to get started whether you’re investing a little or a lot.

Ways to Invest with Public

Public provides a strong suite of investment opportunities that you can manage in one easy-to-use platform, from commission-free stocks and ETFs, plus options, crypto, bonds, IRAs and even a high yield cash account to round out its offerings. 

True to its tech-forward approach, Public also offers access to an AI research assistant, known as Alpha, which provides answers to investors’ questions and concerns in real time, in addition to market data, earning summaries and company overviews to help inform your investing decisions. Plus, the platform also offers tools to view performance data, analyze holdings and explore market information without switching between separate services.

Here’s a brief overview of the main investment opportunities available through the Public platform.

Stocks

You can buy shares of thousands of publicly traded companies, including U.S.-listed equities and select over-the-counter (OTC) stocks through the Public platform. Public also lets you buy fractional shares, meaning you can invest any amount you want rather than needing to buy whole shares of expensive stocks. You can also easily track live price changes, get built-in price alerts and more with an impressive suite of investing tools. 

ETFs

ETFs bundle many stocks or other securities into a single investment, letting you diversify across a sector, industry or strategy with one trade. ETFs offer an attractive alternative to mutual funds (which are not currently available with Public) as the majority of ETFs are passively managed, meaning they have lower operating expense ratios. And unlike mutual funds, ETFs can be bought or sold throughout regular and even extended market hours, giving you more flexibility in your investment strategy. 

Cryptocurrency 

For more experienced investors looking for alternative assets, Public offers more than 40 options from established cryptocurrencies to viral memecoins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin and more. Cryptocurrency services on Public are provided by zerohash, which holds an NYSDFS BitLicense, MSB registration and Money Transmitter Licenses.

Options

Public supports trading stock options contracts, allowing strategies based on price movement and leverage. And Public is the only brokerage that makes it possible to earn rebates on stock and ETF options—a rarity in the investment world—helping you minimize your trading costs compared to other brokerages. 

Bonds and Treasuries 

You can invest in corporate bonds, Treasury bonds and municipal bonds (Public even offers fractional bond options) for as little as $100, which is a fraction of the typical minimum purchase price. Public also offers a Bond Account that holds a diversified set of investment grade and high yield corporate bonds with a low minimum investment threshold and a locked-in interest rate. With Public, investors can build a custom (or pre-built) Treasury ladder with maturities from three months to 30 years.

High Yield Cash Accounts 

If you prefer to keep some liquidity in your financial strategy, Public’s high yield cash account offers a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) with zero fees or requirements to make your money work harder without much work on your end, as well as 20 times the standard FDIC insurance.

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

Public offers both Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs with tax-advantaged retirement savings and features like a one percent match on contributions and transfers. Within these IRAs, you can invest in many of the same assets listed above (e.g., stocks, ETFs, bonds and options).

Custom Strategies

While not a separate asset class, Public offers different strategies and tools, and helps you build a diversified portfolio across traditional and non-traditional investments right within the same app.

• Investment Plans: Automate purchases of stocks, ETFs, crypto and bonds on a recurring schedule or follow themed strategies to create customized asset baskets.
• Direct Indexing: Design a custom index portfolio where you directly own the individual stocks that make up a chosen benchmark, with tools like tax-loss harvesting for potential tax benefits.
• Generated Assets: Create a custom index using AI to research and screen stocks based on your criteria—similar to an ETF, but built around your own thesis.

How to Get Started with Public 

In keeping with their mission to make investing more accessible, getting started with Public is a simple, straightforward process:

• Sign Up in Minutes

Download the Public app or visit Public.com to create your free account. Answer a few quick questions and securely link your bank to get set up.

• Fund Your Account

Add money with no minimum balance required. You can make a one-time deposit or set up recurring transfers to invest consistently over time.

• Start Investing

Choose from stocks, ETFs, bonds, crypto and more—or automate your strategy with recurring investments. With fractional shares and built-in education, Public makes it easy to invest with confidence from the start.

Public Premium

While opening an account with Public is free, many of the more useful features like advanced data and insights, zero or reduced fees on certain services, and expanded portfolio management tools require a subscription to Public Premium, which costs $10 per month (or $96 annually). That said, if your account balance is $50,000 or more, the premium tier is complimentary. Public also offers a seven day free trial of Public Premium so you can test out the added benefits before fully committing. 

Customer Service & Support

Public offers customer support via email and live chat on weekdays from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. EST, with Public Premium members receiving priority. At the time of this review, Public does not offer phone support. 

Beyond live help, Public does offer some basic support through their AI assistant, as well as educational resources to help expand your investing knowledge, including trending market data, investment news, how-tos, beginner basics and more on their website and mobile app. 

Public is also one of the only brokerage platforms that brings together an active community to share knowledge and ideas on investment opportunities. A built-in feed makes it easy for users to connect, share comments and discuss the latest financial news, adding a social element that can be particularly valuable to new investors. 

Public App

Developed with a mobile-first approach, the Public App is sleek, intuitive and makes it easy to do virtually everything that’s available on the desktop platform, all from the palm of your hands. Some highlights include:

• Multi-asset investing
• AI-powered insights
• Customizable alerts
• Access to fractional shares
• Automated trading

Investing with Public vs. Other Brokerage Platforms 

Public vs. Robinhood

​​Public and Robinhood both offer easy access to investing, but Robinhood is generally better suited for active investors who want to focus on stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies, while Public emphasizes a more comprehensive investment strategy with access to bonds, options, direct indexing and retirement accounts—all in one platform. Public also avoids payment for order flow on stock trades, helping align the platform more closely with its users’ interests. For investors looking beyond quick trades toward smarter, more intentional investing, Public offers a more well-rounded, transparent experience.

Public vs. Webull

Public and Webull both make investing accessible, but Public tends to be a better fit for everyday investors who want simplicity and community alongside powerful tools. While Webull is geared more toward experienced, engaged traders with advanced charts and technical indicators, Public focuses on clarity, education and long-term investing—offering stocks, ETFs, bonds, and retirement accounts in an intuitive.

The Bottom Line: Why We Love It 

Public is ideally suited for tech-savvy beginner to intermediate investors who appreciate a wide range of assets with a sleek, user-friendly interface that makes investing seem almost effortless. 

With a well-rounded array of investing assets, from commission-free stocks and ETFs, to bonds and treasuries and even savings options like IRAs and high yield cash accounts, Public provides enough variety to build a diverse portfolio to support your financial goals. Features like rebate offers on options and automated investment buckets help Public stand out from the crowd, making it a solid choice for investors seeking a streamlined investing experience with unique benefits. 

Disclosures
Public
Paid endorsement. Brokerage services provided by Open to the Public Investing Inc, member FINRA & SIPC. Investing involves risk. Not investment advice. Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Review Options Disclosure Document here. Review Options Rebate Terms here. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool by Public Advisors. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. See disclosures at public.com/disclosures/GA. See terms of match program at https://public.com/disclosures/matchprogram. Matched funds must remain in your account for at least 5 years. Match rate and other terms are subject to change at any time.
**Rate as of 1/30/26. APY is variable and subject to change.