IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS

Public.com Review for 2026: Invest in All Sorts of Assets

Advertiser Disclosure
Written By
G. Dautovic
Updated
April 22, 2026
Some or all of the products/services listed on this page are from our affiliate partners from which we receive commissions. This, however, does not influence the evaluations in our reviews. Learn more by reading our Advertiser Disclosure.

Public.com is a platform ideal for those who wish to invest in stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries, high-yield cash, IRAs, and crypto, all in one place.

The company was established in 2019, and what started as a fractional investing app has grown into a much broader multi-asset platform.

Commissions:
$0 for stocks and ETFs (during regular hours)

Affordable Premium plan

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Fortunly Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0
ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE FEE:
$0
COMMISSIONS:
$0 for stocks and ETFs (during regular hours)
BBB RATING:
A
MOBILE APPS:
iOS, Android
pros thumb up Strengths
  • Cryptocurrency investing
  • Free stock and ETF trading
  • Exhaustive knowledge base
  • Affordable Premium plan
pros thumb up Weaknesses
  • No phone support
  • No mutual funds
  • Some advanced products and lower-fee perks are tied to Premium

Public.com Overview

Public.com is a commission-free platform for trading all sorts of assets. Today, the platform offers stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries, crypto, direct indexing, AI-powered investing tools, IRAs, and cash products in one place.

Public.com is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), so investors don’t have to worry about their assets being safe.

In other words, all the securities in user brokerage accounts are protected for up to $500,000 or up to $250,000 in cash claims. Public also offers a High-Yield Cash Account, with cash swept to partner banks and eligible for FDIC insurance, subject to applicable limits.

On top of that, the platform offers standard account protections such as two-factor authentication and separates its brokerage and cash products through the appropriate account structure.

Key Features

Let’s take a look at the company's features in more detail.

No Commissions

As we already mentioned, investors can use Public.com to trade some assets without any commission involved. So, as long as you’re trading in stocks and ETFs during regular stock market hours (i.e., from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), you don’t have to worry about the brokerage taking a percentage.

If you’re new to investing and looking to save money on trading fees, you will surely appreciate this benefit. What’s more, if you have a Premium account, you also get access to more advanced tools and account perks, though some products on the platform still carry their own fees.

Public.com Interface 1

Themed Investing

Now, here’s something you don’t get to see on other trading platforms: Themed investing is designed with the idea of helping inexperienced users easily find investments by splitting assets into categories based on their features, popularity, etc.

On the more traditional end, the most popular investment categories you’ll find on the app are ETFs, stocks, crypto assets, and market themes built around specific sectors and trends.

However, other exciting categories, such as blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, clean energy, and other long-term market themes, are also at your disposal.

Public.com theme selection

Social Investing Tools

Social investing tools are another feature we highly appreciate about this platform, as they allow users to engage with one another while exploring market ideas, commentary, and insights inside the app.

This can be especially beneficial for new traders, as it allows them to learn from a broader investing community while doing their own research.

Intuitive Interface

All the previously mentioned features would not mean much if the platform is too complicated to use. Luckily, we did not have such issues with Public.com:

All the information and trading options are just a few clicks away from you, making it easy to keep track of your portfolio, look for new opportunities, and start investing.

Public also supports both mobile and web investing, which makes it easier to manage a wider range of products from one account.

AI and Advanced Tools

he platform now highlights AI Agents, AI-generated market briefings, Key Moments for stock moves, earnings summaries, Generated Assets, and a Research Assistant.

It also offers direct indexing with tax-loss harvesting and says investors can get started with as little as $1,000.

Tradable Assets

Public.com offers users a great variety of assets to invest in. We’ve listed the most popular categories below:

Stocks

If you’re interested in trading stocks, Public.com is the right place for you. This investing platform facilitates commission-free trading for stocks of companies listed on US exchanges. You can choose from thousands of assets listed on the NYSE, Nasdaq, and other major exchanges.

There’s also the option of buying fractional shares for beginner investors who are just growing their capital. Public also highlights select OTC stocks on the platform.

ETFs

Exchange-traded funds are also a part of Public.com’s offerings. An ETF is an investment fund that tracks a basket of assets, such as stocks, bonds, or commodities, that are especially beneficial for diversifying portfolios and spreading investments across different asset classes.

At Public.com, traders can invest in ETFs from major conglomerates, such as Schwab, Fidelity, and others. Fractional share investing in ETFs is also an option on the investment app.

Crypto

Cryptocurrency as a tradable asset has gained a lot of popularity among investors in the past few years. However, many brokerages don’t offer this novel type of investment.

Luckily, this company understands how important it is to keep crypto enthusiasts happy.  All crypto services are handled through Zero Hash.

Options

Options trading is now one of Public’s core offerings. The platform promotes advanced tools, customizable chains, strategy building, and an options rebate program that pays $0.06 to $0.18 per stock or ETF contract depending on trading volume.

Public also offers index options, with listed fees of $0.35 to $0.50 per contract.

Bonds and Treasuries

Users can now buy corporate, Treasury, and municipal bonds, and the company says some bonds are available for as little as $100.

Public also offers a Treasury Account for building a customizable Treasury ladder, as well as a separate Bond Account product.

IRAs and Cash Management

Another major addition is Public’s retirement and cash offering.

Users can open IRAs, and the High-Yield Cash Account gives uninvested cash another way to earn while staying within the broader Public ecosystem.

Public.com Premium

In addition to the previously mentioned features available to all members, Public.com also has a premium membership with advanced tools and insights.

Public.com interface 3

Here’s what you get with the Public Premium subscription:

  • Advanced stock and ETF insights: As a premium member, you get access to advanced stocks and ETF insights. You can view top ETF holdings, revenue multiples, and more. You also get unique data on how the companies you are interested in are performing.
  • Expert ratings, reports, and insights: The Premium membership also provides access to expert ratings, reports, and insights from Morningstar analysts. Morningstar will provide the bull and bear cases for all popular stocks to help you make better investment decisions and boost your portfolio.
  • Extended-hours trading: Extended-hours trading is another excellent possibility you get as a premium member. This means you can trade outside regular market hours, although product-specific fees may still apply in some cases.
  • Price alerts: Being able to set price alerts is another Premium perk of the investing app. By setting these alerts on their chosen assets, users don’t have to worry about missing out on any investment opportunities, as they will get alerted when the price is right to buy or sell them.
  • Advanced portfolio management tools: The premium account allows members to personalize their investing experience even further. For example, they can build custom portfolio groups to make the most of their capital.
  • VIP customer support: Finally, all premium members have access to dedicated customer service, as the Premium Support team is there to assist them with any inquiry they might have.

The best thing about the Premium membership is that it’s quite affordable.

The monthly subscription costs only $10, and those with a balance of $50,000 or more in their account can unlock complimentary access. Public’s fee schedule also lists an annual plan for $96.

Fees You Should Know About

Although Public still promotes commission-free trading, the platform is not completely fee-free.

Regular users can pay $2.99 per extended-hours stock or ETF trade, $2.99 per OTC stock trade, index options fees, bond transaction fees, crypto fees through Zero Hash, and recurring plan fees for some Investment Plans.

Account Verification Process 

The verification process is pretty straightforward:

  • The first step is to download the free app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
  • Then, make an investor profile. You will be asked a few questions about your investment preferences and goals, as well as provide your Social Security number and bank account details.
  • Once your account is validated, you can start trading in real time.

If you end up liking Public.com, you can become a part of the Public Referral Program.

Promotions can vary, so specific reward amounts should be checked on the offer page before being quoted in the review.

Transfers and Account Incentives

The company now offers a 1% uncapped match when you transfer a brokerage account, IRA, or 401(k) to Public.

Incoming brokerage transfer fees can be reimbursed up to $100 for transfers of $5,000 or more, while outgoing brokerage transfers from Public carry a $100 fee.

How Public.com Compares to Other Investment Platforms

Public.com Logo
Public.com
Minimum investment:

$0

Pricing:

$0-$10 per month, with an annual Premium option also available

Robinhood Logo
Robinhood
Minimum investment:

$1

Pricing:

$0-$5 per month

Acorns Logo
Acorns
Minimum investment:

$5

Pricing:

$3-$5 per month

Customer Support

Customer support is another vital factor to consider when looking for an investment platform.

Public.com’s support team operates through a few different channels: You can email them at [email protected] or use in-app chat. The company does not currently offer phone support.

Besides this, the platform has an extensive FAQ section that answers pretty much any question you might have. Lastly, you can follow the company on Twitter or Instagram to keep track of the latest news and updates.

Final Verdict

Public.com is a trading app that offers its customers a great variety of features. Thanks to its intuitive interface and advanced social investing tools, even new traders can easily develop personalized strategies.

What makes Public more appealing today is the fact that it no longer feels limited to just beginner-friendly stock and crypto trading. The platform now covers a much wider range of investing needs, including options, bonds, Treasuries, IRAs, and cash management tools.

Disclosures: This does not constitute investment advice. Investing involves the risk of loss, including the potential loss of principal. Public.com launched in October 2019. Brokerage accounts opened on Public.com are held through the registered broker dealer, Open to the Public Investing, Inc. (Public), a member of FINRA and SIPC. Public provides brokerage services for US listed and registered securities only. Cryptocurrency trading on Public.com is conducted through Zero Hash LLC. Brokerage services for alternative assets on Public.com are offered through Dalmore Group LLC, a registered broker dealer and a member FINRA and SIPC. Alternative assets and cryptocurrency investments are not covered by SIPC and are not held in a brokerage account. New customers of OTTP receive free stock valued between $3 - $1,000 (0.3% receive the maximum value). *Full terms, conditions and disclosures including fractional share disclosure and fee schedule at www.public.com/disclosures. New customers of Public receive free stock valued between $3 - $1,000 (0.3% receive the maximum value).

FAQ

Is Public.com legit?

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Yes. Public operates through regulated entities and clearly outlines its brokerage, crypto, treasury, and other account disclosures on its official site.

Does Public.com charge fees?

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Yes. Public offers commission-free stock and ETF trades during regular market hours, but regular users can still pay fees for extended-hours trades, OTC trades, some options activity, bonds, crypto, and recurring plans.

Does Public.com offer options trading?

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Yes. Public now offers stock, ETF, and index options, and it also runs an options rebate program that can pay eligible users up to $0.18 per stock or ETF contract.

Does Public.com reimburse transfer fees?

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Public says it reimburses incoming brokerage transfer fees up to $100 for qualifying transfers of $5,000 or more. Its help center also says outgoing transfers from Public cost $100.