🔍 Public.com Review: Pros, Cons & Worth It? (2025)

Public.com Review (2025): A Modern Brokerage for Long-Term Investors

Author

Brandon Smith
May 30, 2025

Our Verdict

Public.com delivers a clean, user-friendly investing experience that caters to both beginners and more seasoned investors seeking transparency and simplicity. The platform's intuitive design, commission-free trading, and access to a broad array of assets—ranging from stocks and ETFs to treasuries and crypto—make it attractive for those who want to invest without the traditional complexity. Notably, Public.com has carved out a niche by eliminating payment for order flow (PFOF) on stocks and ETFs and providing access to fractional shares, democratizing access to the markets.

However, the absence of mutual funds, limited banking features, and relatively basic customer support may be drawbacks for more advanced or hands-on investors. Public.com’s decision to phase out alternative assets like art, collectibles, and sneakers also narrows its unique edge, though its crypto and fixed-income offerings help round out its modern portfolio.

Below, we take a deeper look into Public.com’s features, costs, tools, and how it stacks up as a brokerage for today’s investor.

Public.com Investing Platform

Company Snapshot

Founded: 2019
Headquarters: New York City
Best For: New investors, mobile-first users, and those seeking transparency

Public.com set out to make investing inclusive and social. It was among the first platforms to combine commission-free trading, fractional investing, and a community-driven feed into one mobile-first experience. By eliminating PFOF on stocks and ETFs and prioritizing educational tools, Public.com aims to foster trust in an industry often seen as opaque.

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Public.com Pros and Cons

Pros:

✅ Clean, ad-free interface with zero-commission trading
✅ Fractional shares across all asset classes
✅ In-app research, earnings calls, and audio insights
✅ Access to crypto, alts, and Treasuries in one place
✅ No payment for order flow (PFOF) — a big trust signal

Cons:

❌ No margin trading or options
❌ Limited charting tools for technical traders
❌ Crypto selection is relatively small
❌ Still mobile-first—desktop experience is limited

Public.com Platform Experience

A screenshot of the Public.com investment platform. On the left, the text "One place for all your investing" is displayed. Below it, there's a description of Public's offerings: stocks, options, bonds, crypto, and ETFs, highlighting a 6.8% yield with their Bond Account. There are also input fields for email and a "Get Started" button. Further down, three featured benefits are listed: "Options Trading" with no commission, "High-yield cash" with 4.1% APY, and "Bond Account" with 6.8% yield. App Store and Google Play download buttons are visible at the bottom, along with logos of various media outlets that have featured Public. On the right side of the image, a desktop monitor and a smartphone display the Public.com interface, showing portfolio details, charts, and investment options. The desktop screen shows a portfolio value of $182,480.40.

Public.com

Usability

Public.com excels in ease of use. Account setup is fast, and navigation is sleek whether on mobile or desktop. Users can browse stocks, create watchlists, and initiate trades with minimal clicks. The platform is built for mobile-first investors and leans heavily on visuals and simplicity, which makes it especially appealing for those new to investing.

Trade Execution

Public.com supports market, limit, and stop orders. It allows extended hours trading and fractional share purchases across stocks and ETFs. For crypto trading, Public.com uses Bakkt Crypto as a third-party custodian.

Social Features

Public.com’s Community Feed mimics a social media timeline where investors can share thoughts, follow peers, and engage with market commentary. This feature is locked behind a Premium membership ($10/month or $96/year), which also unlocks extended hours trading and advanced data tools.

Public.com’s Range of Investments

Public.com offers a wide selection of asset classes for a relatively streamlined platform:

  • Stocks

  • ETFs

  • U.S. Treasuries and Corporate Bonds

  • Options (added in 2024)

  • Cryptocurrencies
    Supported tokens include:

    • Bitcoin (BTC)

    • Ethereum (ETH)

    • Dogecoin (DOGE)

    • Litecoin (LTC)

    • Solana (SOL)

⚠️ No mutual funds, futures, or international equities are available.

Research & Tools

Alpha (AI Research Assistant)

All users get access to Alpha, an AI-powered research assistant built on GPT-4. Alpha can:

  • Summarize earnings calls

  • Explain asset price movements

  • Pull real-time stock data

  • Provide bond filters

  • Highlight top market movers

Screeners

Public.com includes simple yet effective thematic screeners across:

  • Stocks

  • ETFs

  • Crypto

  • Fixed Income (with advanced filters by yield, maturity, credit rating)

Options lack a dedicated screener.

Charting

Charting functionality is basic but useful for quick analysis. Available views include line, bar, and candlestick charts.

Costs & Pricing

Basic Account:

  • $0 minimum balance

  • $0 commission and transaction fees

  • OTC and extended hours trading: $2.99/trade

Public.com Premium ($10/month or $96/year):

  • No fees for OTC or extended hours trading

  • Access to Community Feed, research, and advanced tools

Investment Plan Transaction Fees (based on # of holdings):

  • 1–3 stocks/ETFs: $0.49

  • 4–10: $0.99

  • 11–20: $1.99
    Crypto recurring orders: 1.25% fee

A full fee schedule is available on Public.com’s website.

How Public.com Makes Money

Public.com is transparent about its revenue model:

  • No PFOF on equities, though options trades include PFOF (Public.com splits 50% of revenue with users)

  • Tips from users are optional

  • Interest on idle cash

  • Rebates from Bakkt Crypto for crypto trades

Dividend Reinvestment

Public.com supports fractional DRIP (dividend reinvestment plans), letting investors opt in via the app. If not reinvested, dividends remain in the cash balance.

Cash Account

Public.com offers a high-yield cash account earning 4.10% APY:

  • No fees

  • No minimum balance

  • Unlimited transfers

  • No debit card or traditional banking tools

Portfolio Analytics

Public.com provides basic portfolio insights, including:

  • Investment breakdown

  • Historical performance
    Advanced allocation analysis and syncing with outside accounts are not available.

Education & Content

Public.com’s Learn Center and YouTube channel cover core investing topics like:

  • Stocks & ETFs

  • Retirement accounts

  • Crypto

  • Bonds and fixed income

  • Options

Their educational content is geared toward beginners and is updated frequently. No one-on-one financial planning or robo-advisory services are offered.

Customer Support

Support is limited to:

There’s currently no phone-based support, which may frustrate investors who prefer live assistance.

Security

Public.com uses best-in-class security protocols, including:

  • 256-bit AES encryption

  • Two-factor authentication (2FA)

  • Biometric logins

  • SIPC insurance up to $500,000
    (includes $250,000 in cash)

Withdrawals are manually reviewed to comply with anti-money laundering rules.

🔄 Alternatives to Public.com

Platform

Best For

Stocks

Crypto

Treasuries

Alts

Social Features

Public.com

Long-term, diversified investing

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Robinhood

Options & active traders

✅

✅

❌

❌

❌

Fidelity

Retirement & advanced tools

✅

✅

✅

❌

❌

SoFi Invest

Beginners & student debt relief

✅

✅

✅

❌

Limited

Webull

Technical traders

✅

✅

❌

❌

Limited

Final Thoughts

Public.com has carved out a modern, accessible space in the investing world. Its commission-free model, transparent practices, and mobile-first design appeal to investors who value simplicity and clean UX over complexity. With features like Alpha, high-yield cash options, and fractional trading, Public.com makes a strong case for those looking to invest with clarity and ease.

That said, investors looking for robust account features, human advisors, or more advanced investment types like mutual funds or futures may need to look elsewhere.

💡 Lowcountry Ledger’s Take: Public.com is what a modern brokerage should look like in 2025: clean, transparent, multi-asset, and built for actual learning—not just trading dopamine hits. It’s not the right fit for hardcore day traders or options addicts, but for most users, it offers an elegant, trustworthy way to grow wealth over time.

Ready to explore Public.com?

Sign up today and experience the power of effortless investing for everyone.

Public.com Investing FAQ

Q: Is Public.com free to use?
Yes. Public.com offers commission-free trades for stocks and ETFs. There are no monthly account fees for the basic version. Optional premium features are available for $10/month.

Q: Does Public.com offer retirement accounts like Roth IRAs?
Not yet. Public.com currently only offers taxable brokerage accounts. If you’re looking to invest for retirement, you may need to pair Public.com with another platform like Fidelity or Betterment.

Q: Can I buy crypto on Public.com?
Yes, but with a limited selection. You can trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major coins. Note that crypto assets on Public.com are held via Apex Crypto, not in a traditional crypto wallet.

Q: Can I spend my crypto or withdraw it to an external wallet?
No. Unlike wallets like Coinbase or Fuse, Public.com’s crypto is not transferable or spendable—it's meant for investment exposure only.

Q: What’s the deal with “no PFOF”?
Public.com doesn’t sell your orders to high-frequency traders. That’s a big plus for transparency and potentially better trade execution. Instead, they make money via optional subscriptions and interest on uninvested cash.

Q: Is Public.com safe?
Yes. Public.com is a registered U.S. broker-dealer with SIPC protection. Your account is secured with two-factor authentication and strong encryption practices.

Q: Can I invest in alternative assets on Public.com?
Yes, through Public.com’s Alt+ feature. You can buy fractional shares of assets like fine art, luxury goods, and startups—similar to platforms like Masterworks or Yieldstreet.

Q: Does Public.com support margin trading or options?
No. Public.com does not offer options or margin. It’s built for long-term investing, not day trading or leverage.

Q: Can I use Public.com on desktop?
Public.com has a web experience, but it’s still optimized for mobile. Most people will find the app more intuitive and fully featured.

Q: What happens if Public.com shuts down?
Your investments are held with a qualified custodian and protected by SIPC insurance up to $500k. You’d be able to transfer your assets to another brokerage if needed.

📘 Public.com Investing Glossary

Alt+ (Alternatives):
A feature in Public.com that allows you to invest in non-traditional assets like art, collectibles, or private startups—fractionally, just like you would with a stock.

APY (Annual Percentage Yield):
The interest you earn on money in savings or fixed-income products like Treasuries. Public.com shows APYs on its Treasury offerings so you can compare returns.

Brokerage Account:
An investment account that allows you to buy and sell financial securities like stocks, ETFs, and bonds. Public.com offers taxable brokerage accounts (no IRAs yet).

Commission-Free Trading:
Buying or selling assets without paying a per-trade fee. Public.com, like most modern platforms, doesn’t charge commissions on stock or ETF trades.

Crypto:
Short for cryptocurrency. Public.com supports a small selection of popular cryptos (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.), which you can trade directly in-app.

ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund):
A bundle of assets—like a mutual fund—that trades on an exchange like a stock. Great for diversification.

Fractional Shares:
The ability to buy less than one whole share of a stock or ETF. Public.com allows you to invest with as little as $1 in most assets.

Order Routing:
The process of sending your trade to a market or exchange. Public.com doesn't use Payment for Order Flow (PFOF), opting instead for direct routing to protect pricing transparency.

PFOF (Payment for Order Flow):
A controversial practice where brokerages get paid to send your trades to specific market makers. Public.com doesn’t do this, making it a more transparent option.

SIPC Insurance:
Your investments are protected up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for cash) through the Securities Investor Protection Corporation in the event Public.com fails.

Treasuries:
Short for U.S. Treasury bills or bonds. Public.com allows users to invest in government-issued securities that pay a fixed return—often seen as low-risk.

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Important Disclosures:

This newsletter & site is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as investment, legal, or tax advice. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the views of any business, employer, or affiliated entity. Investing carries inherent risks, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek advice from qualified professionals before making any investment, legal, or financial decisions. While the information provided is believed to be accurate, no guarantee is made as to its completeness or reliability. The author and publisher disclaim any liability for decisions made or actions taken based on the content of this newsletter. This Public.comation does not constitute an offer to buy or sell any security. Some of the links included in this newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning the author could earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase or sign up. By subscribing to or continuing to read this newsletter, you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions.