Public.com Review 2026

Public.com Review

Public.com is an investing app that lets retail investors trade across multiple markets in one place, including stocks, ETFs, options, and other supported assets. Public.com takes a mobile-first approach, offering a user-friendly interface similar to Robinhood and Webull. This Introduction to Public.com Review explains what the platform is, what it offers, and what matters most before opening an account. Public.com offers a variety of investment accounts, such as brokerage and cash management accounts, to help users manage both investments and uninvested cash. However, Public.com does not offer mutual funds, which may be a drawback for some investors seeking broader diversification. In terms of safety and structure, Public’s brokerage services are provided through Open to the Public Investing, Inc., which states it is a registered broker-dealer and a member of FINRA and SIPC. Public also notes that customer accounts clear through Apex Clearing Corporation, and SIPC-related coverage details are addressed in its help documentation. Public.com also offers a high-yield cash account with competitive interest rates for uninvested cash. This Public.com review also pays attention to how trades get executed and how the business gets paid. Public publishes disclosures that discuss payment for order flow and describes routing options, including choices that may affect whether PFOF is received. For active traders, Public promotes an options feature that includes order flow rebates on eligible contracts, with the rebate amount tied to trading activity tiers. At the same time, Public publishes a transparent fee structure and does not charge account maintenance fees, but does charge a $3.99 monthly inactivity fee for accounts with no activity for six months and balances below $70. Public.com clearly outlines its options trading fees, including any applicable charges for options trades, and highlights its commission free structure for stocks and ETFs. Public.com offers commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs, which is a common feature among many online brokerages.    

What is Public.com?

Public.com is an investment platform and mobile app built for everyday investors who want to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and options in one place. It also promotes access to other asset types on the platform, helping users build a multi-asset portfolio from a single account experience. Public.com supports portfolio diversification by allowing users to spread investments across multiple asset classes, reducing risk and optimizing returns. In addition to traditional assets, Public.com also provides access to alternative investments, such as art, NFTs, and collectibles, which can help users diversify beyond traditional stocks, ETFs, and crypto. Public.com is particularly suitable for beginner investors due to its user-friendly interface and educational resources. Public.com is a mobile-first investing platform with $0 commissions, targeting beginners and intermediate investors. Public.com offers a self directed brokerage account, allowing users to independently manage their investments across a diverse range of securities. Public.com allows for fractional share trading, making it easier for beginner investors to start with smaller amounts. At the brokerage level, Public says its services are provided through Open to the Public Investing, Inc., a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Public also explains that trades for brokerage accounts are executed and cleared through Apex Clearing, which is a common setup for many investing apps. A key part of understanding what Public.com is includes how orders get routed. Public publishes disclosures on payment for order flow and explains that routing can involve third-party market centers, with details provided in its routing reports and disclosures. Public also markets an options feature that includes options trading rebates tied to monthly volume, positioning it as a differentiator for frequent options traders. For users who want added tools and data, Public offers a paid membership called Public Premium, with pricing and benefits listed on its site and help center. Non premium members may have access to fewer features or may be subject to certain fees. In addition to its mobile app, Public.com provides a web trading platform, offering users a seamless and accessible way to manage and execute trades online. The mobile app is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, which is especially helpful for beginner investors. Public.com is praised for its user-friendly interface, easy navigation, and clean design.  

Benefits of Trading with Public.com

Public.com offers a simple way to invest in one app, with access to stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto. That variety can be useful for building a portfolio without juggling multiple platforms. One standout benefit is its options order flow rebate program, which Public says can return about $0.06 to $0.18 per eligible contract depending on monthly trading activity. For frequent options traders, that can directly reduce the effective cost of trading, though it still comes with rules and eligibility terms. Public.com also offers commission free trading for stocks and ETFs, making it attractive for cost-conscious investors. Public also publishes detailed order routing disclosures, including how payment for order flow can apply and how orders may be routed through its clearing setup. For some investors, transparent disclosures and routing information are a plus because it makes the trade execution model easier to evaluate. For research and idea generation, Public highlights curated Themes that group stocks and ETFs by trends, industries, or causes. This can help beginners narrow choices without needing advanced screeners right away. If deeper tooling matters, Public promotes Alpha, an AI-driven research experience that pulls together things like filings, earnings materials, analyst items, and news into a chat-style interface. This can be helpful for faster research workflows, especially when checking multiple sources around one ticker. Additionally, Public provides an asset’s performance chart for each stock or ETF, allowing users to visually track price movements and trends. Public.com also offers market data and investment analysis tools, though its investment analysis capabilities may not be as extensive as those found on some competing platforms. Public.com also leverages AI-powered tools for market analysis, helping users make informed investment decisions. For active users who want extra features, Public Premium is positioned as an upgrade that includes advanced data and additional support, with pricing shown as $8 per month when billed annually. Public premium members receive additional benefits and fee exemptions, and Premium also connects to certain enhanced features mentioned in Public’s pages, like more customizable alerts. Public also supports fractional shares, which allow users to invest in high-value assets with smaller amounts rather than paying the full share price. That approach is especially useful when a portfolio plan involves spreading money across multiple positions. While the mobile app is visually polished and well-liked by users, it lacks some advanced trading tools and features that active traders may seek.  

Public.com Regulation and Safety

Public.com regulation and safety starts with who runs the brokerage. Public says brokerage services are offered through Open to the Public Investing, Inc., a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC, which is the standard framework for regulated securities brokers. For investor protection, Public states that SIPC coverage applies to eligible cash and securities in brokerage accounts up to stated limits, and it also explains that its clearing firm, Apex Clearing Corporation, provides supplemental insurance above SIPC limits. This matters because it addresses what happens if a brokerage fails, not whether an investment loses value. In addition, cash management accounts offered by Public may be FDIC insured through a network of partner banks, providing additional depositor protection for eligible cash balances. Public.com collaborates with these partner banks to extend FDIC insurance coverage for high-yield cash accounts, ensuring customer funds are protected up to the applicable insurance limits. Public also discloses how orders are handled from a compliance standpoint. It explains that Public Investing acts as the introducing broker, sends orders to Apex Clearing Corporation, and provides SEC Rule 606 and 607 materials that describe order routing and payment for order flow practices. On account security, Public highlights protective measures like encryption, TLS, and two-factor authentication as part of its platform security approach. These controls help reduce the risk of unauthorized access, but they do not remove market risk. It is also important to separate brokerage protections from crypto protections. Public’s help and disclosures note that crypto services run through Zero Hash, and crypto assets are not covered by SIPC or FDIC, since that crypto account is separate from the brokerage account. Another safety detail is securities lending. Public explains that if shares are loaned out under fully-paid securities lending, those shares can lose SIPC protection while on loan, even though collateral is required to be posted to cover the loan value.  

Public.com Customer Reviews

Public.com customer reviews are mixed across major review platforms, so it helps to look at both the rating trends and the recurring themes. On Trustpilot, Public.com shows a low TrustScore (about 1.7 out of 5) based on a small review count, with the page showing most ratings as 1-star. On Trustpilot, the most common complaints focus on withdrawal friction, account verification delays, and slow or frustrating customer support responses. Several users specifically report difficulties and delays when withdrawing funds from the platform, which impacts their overall satisfaction. Several recent posts also include strong accusations, but Trustpilot notes it uses automation to screen reviews and does not fact-check individual claims, so the safest approach is to treat these as user experiences, not verified findings. On the other hand, Better Business Bureau customer reviews include multiple positive experiences that highlight a user-friendly app, helpful learning resources, and smooth deposits and withdrawals for some users. BBB also shows negative reviews, including complaints about verification requests and funds being held while identity checks are completed. For anyone reading Public.com reviews for a decision, the pattern is clear: people who like the platform tend to mention ease of use and the overall investing experience, while unhappy users often point to support speed and money movement as the pain points. That makes it smart to test small deposits first, confirm withdrawal steps early, and understand the platform’s identity checks before funding heavily.  

Account Types

Margin Account

• Enables margin investing to increase buying power by using stocks and bonds as collateral for a loan.
• Offers low margin rates with tiered pricing based on margin balance.
• Includes tools to track risk factors and alerts to help avoid unexpected margin calls. 

IRA Account (Traditional or Roth)

• Supports Traditional IRA and Roth IRA options with different tax benefits depending on eligibility and IRS rules.
• Provides access to thousands of stocks, ETFs, and bonds inside a self-directed IRA.
• Allows options trading in an IRA and notes potential rebates on eligible stock and ETF options trades under program terms. 

Public.com Trading Platforms

Public.com is among the leading investment apps for both mobile and web trading. Public.com trading platforms are built around two main experiences: the Public mobile app and the Public web trading platform. Both are designed to make it easy to manage a portfolio, place trades, and track markets without needing advanced software. The Public mobile app is available on iOS and Android, and it is positioned as the primary way to trade and monitor investments on the go. Public promotes multi-asset access in one place, including stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, and other supported products. Public also offers an investing experience through its user-friendly web trading platform, which the company highlights as a way to build and manage a portfolio from a desktop browser. The Public FAQ specifically mentions “the new investing experience on the web,” and Public’s own login page supports web access. The web trading platform provides a seamless and accessible environment for executing trades, mirroring many features of the mobile app. For practical account management, Public’s help articles describe features that can be done on Public for Web, such as finding account documents through the settings menu. This is useful for users who prefer handling statements and records on a larger screen.  

What Can You Trade on Public.com

Public.com is built as a multi-asset investing platform, so trading is not limited to one market. On Public.com, the main products highlighted include stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries, and crypto, plus cash and bond-focused account products shown during sign-up. However, Public.com does not offer mutual funds, which may be a drawback for some investors compared to other brokerages that do. For equity investing, Public supports stocks and ETFs, which are the core assets most investors start with. Public.com offers robust stock trading capabilities, allowing users to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and participate in direct indexing for a more personalized investment approach. Public.com has introduced direct indexing, allowing investors to buy fractional shares of every company in an index. These are positioned as standard self-directed investments inside the Public brokerage experience. The platform also features generated assets—custom index ETFs created with AI based on user prompts, enabling themed and backtestable investment strategies. Public.com offers a unique feature called ‘generated assets,’ enabling users to create custom index ETFs based on specific themes. Public.com allows investors to create customized baskets of stocks, ETFs, or other assets and set up recurring purchases of those baskets. Public also supports options trading, including stock, ETF, and index options. The options product page highlights advanced strategies, pricing for index options, and the platform’s options rebate program for eligible trades. Public.com supports extended hours trading, allowing users to trade outside regular market hours. If fixed income is the goal, Public offers bonds and Treasuries, including corporate, municipal, and Treasury bonds, with entry points promoted as low as $100 for certain bond offerings. Public.com allows investments in fractional bonds starting at $100, which is lower than the minimums required by many traditional platforms. Public.com offers both corporate bonds and government bonds, including Treasury bonds and treasury bills, as part of its fixed-income product lineup. Public.com provides a variety of fixed-income products, including both corporate and government bonds, giving investors a broad range of options to diversify their portfolios. Bond investing is supported directly on the platform, allowing users to execute a bond trade with ease. The bond selection includes both investment-grade and high yield bonds, providing options for those seeking higher returns or diversification. Public also publishes educational content about buying Treasury bonds on the platform. Public.com offers a treasury account, which provides an easy way to invest in Treasuries with a low minimum investment and a 0.05% monthly fee based on the average daily balance. For digital assets, Public offers crypto trading and highlights recurring buys and basic tools on its crypto page. Public’s platform pages and FAQs also describe buying and selling crypto through the app experience. Public.com provides access to over 40 cryptocurrencies, including major names like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Finally, Public’s sign-up flow shows account products tied to cash and bonds, including a High-Yield Cash Account and a Bond Account with a stated yield metric. Public.com offers a high-yield cash account with an APY of over 4% and up to $5 million in FDIC insurance. These are presented alongside the main tradable markets to support different risk and income preferences. Automated investing features are available for passive investors, simplifying portfolio management. OTC trades are also supported on Public.com and may have specific fee structures, especially for premium members. Public.com also features an Income Hub, a dedicated section that provides detailed breakdowns of monthly earnings from various assets, helping users monitor income-generating investments and make smarter decisions.  

Public.com Customer Support

Public.com customer support is centered on two main channels: in-app live chat and email support. This setup is meant to keep help inside the platform, so common account, funding, and trading questions can be handled without switching to a separate call center. For most users, the fastest option is chat in the Public app, which Public describes as a way to message real support staff through the Help Center in Settings. Public also shares that live chat support is available during set business hours on weekdays, which is important to know for time-sensitive issues. If chat is not available, Public directs users to email for account assistance, including cases like being locked out. Public also states it does not offer phone support, so email and chat are the primary routes for help. Public’s Help Center is also a big part of its support experience, with searchable FAQs for deposits, withdrawals, options, and account management. Many Help Center articles repeat the same guidance: contact support through in-app chat or email if a request needs manual review, like canceling a pending deposit.  

Withdrawal Options and Fees

Public.com withdrawal options and fees are mainly tied to how money leaves the account, either through an ACH bank transfer, an outgoing wire, or eligible instant withdrawals. Most users will use ACH because Public’s fee schedule lists outgoing ACH as $0. For standard withdrawals, Public’s FAQ says withdrawals can be started in the app or on the web, as long as there are settled funds available. If no funds appear available, Public notes the money may still be unsettled or currently invested. Some users have reported issues with withdrawing funds, including delays and additional verification steps, which can impact the overall user experience. For fees, Public’s fee schedule lists outgoing ACH at $0 and outgoing domestic wire at $25. Incoming wires are listed as $0. Public also lists an Instant Withdrawals fee of up to 3.5% of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum of $1. This is separate from ACH and is best treated as a convenience option, not the default withdrawal method. If a wire is needed, Public’s support article says wires can be useful when transferring more than $50,000 per business day or when instant withdrawal limits are reached, and it repeats the $25 outgoing wire fee. Public also notes wires may require bank verification and suggests requesting ahead of time. In some cases, monthly trading volume may impact certain fee waivers or withdrawal limits, so users with higher trading activity could experience different withdrawal conditions.  

Conclusion: Public.com Review

Public.com is best viewed as a modern investing app that brings stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries, and crypto into one platform. For anyone searching “Public.com review 2026,” the biggest value is convenience plus a product lineup that covers both long-term investing and active trading. On regulation and account structure, Public Investing is an SEC and FINRA registered broker-dealer and a member of SIPC, and it discloses that brokerage accounts are introduced to Apex Clearing for custody and trade execution. That setup is normal for many app-based brokers, and it is a strong baseline for legitimacy and investor protection in the brokerage account. Public stands out for active options traders because it advertises no per-contract fees and an options rebate that can range from $0.06 to $0.18 per contract, depending on monthly volume and program terms. This can matter if options activity is high, but the rebate is still program-based and can change. It’s important to note that past performance or projected yields do not guarantee future results, and all investing involves risk. There are also real trade-offs to understand before committing. Public provides clear disclosures that explain payment for order flow and how orders are routed through Apex, which helps with transparency but may be a downside for traders who want a routing model that avoids PFOF. On fees and withdrawals, the published fee schedule lists $0 outgoing ACH, $25 outgoing domestic wire, and Instant Withdrawals up to 3.5% (minimum $1). For most users, ACH is the practical default, and instant withdrawals should be treated as a convenience option due to the cost. Public.com customer support is simple: in-app chat and email, with Public stating it does not currently offer phone support. For account issues like verification, withdrawals, or access problems, that means response speed depends on chat availability and ticket handling. In addition to standard support, Public advisors are available to provide investment guidance and help users make informed decisions. Public.com offers features and resources to help users make better investment decisions, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and risk awareness. To end, Public.com is a solid pick for investors who want one platform for diversified markets and for options traders who care about the rebate model and a clean interface. Public.com provides educational resources, including articles and tutorials, to help users understand investing concepts and strategies. It also has a social investing component, allowing users to follow other investors and share insights. It is less ideal for anyone who strongly prefers a broker with phone support or who wants to avoid PFOF entirely.