Public.com occupies a smart niche: the social investing app that also cares about transparency and long-term wealth building. The tipping model (instead of selling your order flow) is a real differentiator, and access to Treasury bonds at the retail level is genuinely useful. Best for investors who like community context alongside their trades.
Pros
- No payment for order flow — revenue from optional tips and premium
- Social feed: see what other Public investors are buying and why
- Treasury bonds and corporate bonds available alongside stocks
- 5.1% APY on uninvested cash (premium members)
- Fractional shares from $1 on stocks and ETFs
- No account minimum, no trading commission
Cons
- Social features can create herd-mentality investing risks
- Premium tier required for highest cash yield and some features
- Smaller securities catalog than Fidelity or Schwab
- Limited options trading (no multi-leg strategies)
- Research tools less comprehensive than Webull
- Mobile-only experience — no robust desktop platform
Full Review
Our verdict on Public.com
Public.com reimagined retail investing with a social layer: users can see what the community is buying, share investment theses, and follow prominent investors. But it's not just a gimmick — Public also made substantive choices that set it apart, including rejecting payment for order flow and adding Treasury and corporate bond access to its mobile app.
How it works
Open an account, complete KYC, fund via ACH transfer or instant bank connection. The home feed shows your portfolio alongside a community feed of trades and commentary from other Public members and creators. Buying is straightforward: search, choose dollar amount or shares, confirm. The social element is opt-in — you can invest in private mode without broadcasting your holdings.
Features & tools
Stocks, ETFs, and crypto are the core offering. Treasury bonds (T-bills, T-notes) and corporate bonds are available directly in-app — a differentiator for retail investors who want fixed-income exposure without a full brokerage account. Public Premium (paid tier) unlocks 5.1% APY on uninvested cash, advanced research, and earnings call streams. Fractional shares start at $1.
- Stocks & ETFs: zero commission, fractional shares from $1
- Bonds: Treasury bills, notes, and corporate bonds
- Social feed: community trades, commentary, creator posts
- Cash yield: 4.5% standard / 5.1% Premium APY
- Options: single-leg calls and puts (limited vs. competitors)
- No PFOF: Public routes orders through exchanges, revenue via tips/premium
Fees & promotions
No trading commissions. Public makes money through optional tips on trades and Public Premium ($10/month), which includes higher cash yield, advanced research, and premium market data. Tipping is genuinely optional — zero-tip trades execute normally. Premium users also get access to earnings call audio in-app.
Availability
Public is available to US investors in all 50 states for equity trading. It is a member of SIPC ($500K coverage) and holds cash at FDIC-insured banks. Crypto availability varies by state. The platform is US-only at this time.
Final take
Public.com has built the most thoughtfully differentiated investing app in the category. Rejecting PFOF, adding bonds, and building genuine community features without sacrificing execution quality are hard things to do simultaneously. It is not the widest, fastest, or deepest platform — but for long-term investors who value transparency and community context, Public has earned a spot in the conversation.
Payout Method
Bank transfer
Platforms
iOS, Android
Category
Stock & Investing Apps
Ready to play?
Download Public.com and start competing for real cash rewards.