Public.com Review 2024: No-Fee Options, With Rebates
- Stock trade fee
- $0
- Minimum deposit
- $0
Our verdict
Build a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, ETFs, crypto, alternative assets and more.
Public.com offers an uncomplicated, user-friendly investing platform and access to traditional and alternative assets. Invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, royalties and more, with no commission stock, ETF and options trades, no options contract fees and an options rebate program that offers up to $0.18 back per contract. Public is the only broker we review that offers an options rebate program. Its high-yield cash account pays up to 4.6% annal percentage yield (APY) as of October 2024. Unlike many other brokers, Public doesn't use payment for order flow on equities trades. Analytical investors will also find AI-powered fundamental data and analysis for $8 month. But unlike some other brokers, you won't find a robo-advisor or IRAs.
Best for: Beginning investors; low-cost investing; multi-asset investing.
Pros
-
Trade stocks, bonds, options, crypto, ETFs and alternative assets
-
Earn up to $0.18 per contract traded, with no options commissions or per-contract fees
-
Earn 4.35% APY with a Public high-yield cash account
-
Earn a 6.8% yield with a Bond Account
-
Doesn't use payment for order flow for equities
-
Get up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered when you move your portfolio to Public
Cons
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$8 monthly fee to access advanced data and analyst research reports
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Limited account types, with no IRAs
-
No robo-advisor
Public.com at a glance
| Feature | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Investment options | ★★★★★ |
|
| Trading costs | ★★★★★ | Zero commission stock, option and ETF trades, with rebates on options trades, no options contract fees and competitive margin rates. |
| Account fees | ★★★★★ | No annual fee but a $3.99 inactivity fee applies every month for accounts with less than $70 in total value and no activity over the last 6 months. |
| Account types and minimums | ★★★★★ |
|
| Trading platforms and technology | ★★★★★ |
|
| Features and amenities | ★★★★★ |
|
| Customer support | ★★★★★ | Contact Public customer support by live chat and email support during regular business hours. |
| Mobile app | ★★★★★ | Google Play app reviews: 4.1/5 stars based on over 47,100 reviews Apple App Store app reviews: 4.7/5 stars based on over 69,280 reviews |
| Cash sweep rates | ★★★★★ | Earn 4.6% APY on your cash, but you’ll need to open a high-yield cash account and make manual transfers from your brokerage account. |
To learn how our star ratings are calculated, read our methodology.
Public.com is best for low cost, multi-asset investing
Public.com offers an intuitive and accessible platform for new and intermediate investors. With fractional shares, users can start investing with minimal capital. Meanwhile, the absence of stock, ETF and options trading commissions ensures cost-effectiveness.
Public.com’s supported investment options span stocks, options, cryptocurrency and other alternative assets, as well as a high-yield cash account so your idle cash is at work earning money and a high-yield bond account to lock in competitive rates for several years. All this with a straightforward trading process that simplifies investing.
Latest Public updates
October 17, 2024: Margin investing is now available. You can now open a cash or margin account, and existing brokerage accounts can switch to a margin account from settings in the Public app. Margin rates are 0% until November 1, 2024, at which time they’ll increase to effective federal funds rate plus 5%, depending on your margin balance.
August 13, 2024: Public has introduced a new Bond Account that lets you diversify your portfolio with a mix of 10 investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds. With a minimum deposit of $1,000, lock in a competitive 6.6% yield and receive monthly interest payments over four years, until the first bond matures in 2028.
May 20, 2024: Public introduced fractional bond investing, letting Public members buy and sell corporate and Treasury bonds for as little as $100.
January 23, 2024: Public has launched options trading. Activate options trading on the platform by March 31, 2024, to receive a lifetime rebate of 50% of Public’s options order flow revenue to reduce your trading costs.
What we like about Public.com
Public.com stands out for its broad investments lineup, low trading costs and transparency.
Invest in traditional and alternative assets
Public.com makes it incredibly easy to build a diversified portfolio without needing multiple accounts at different brokers. Its growing list of asset classes is one of its biggest differentiators compared to similar brokers, giving investors access to a range of traditional and alternative assets — all from one trading platform.
Build a diverse portfolio with access to stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries, crypto, royalties and more. Public also offers a high-yield cash account with a 4.6% APY and Bond Account that lets you lock in a competitive 6.6% yield.
Suite of yield accounts
Public’s high-yield cash account, Treasury account and bond account give customers three ways to earn competitive yields depending on their investment objectives and timeline.
Earn a 4.6% APY on your cash with Public’s high-yield cash account, featuring no subscription fees, no minimum balance requirements and unlimited transfers and withdrawals, along with up to $5 million in combined FDIC coverage.
Invest in short-term Treasury Bills through a Public Treasury account with as little as $100 and earn a 4.48% yield as of September 2024, all while enjoying the benefit of no state or local taxes on your earnings.
Diversify further with a mix of investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds in a Public bond account. With a minimum deposit of $1,000, lock in a competitive 6.6% yield and enjoy monthly interest payments over four years, until the first bond matures in 2028.
Low trading costs
Trade stocks, options and ETFs without commission. Public.com is also one of just a few brokers that doesn’t charge per-contract options fees, which are typically 65 cents apiece. What’s more, Public stands out as the only broker we review that offers rebates on options trades. Earn up to 18 cents per contract when you trade options with Public.
Transparency
Public.com is one of the only mobile-first trading platforms that doesn’t use the controversial practice known as payment for order flow (PFOF) on standard equities trades. This can minimize conflicts of interest since it doesn’t have an incentive to route orders to market makers that offer higher payment. It also lets Public focus on executing orders at the best available price.
Public’s trading app is easy to use
Public.com offers a simple, user-friendly platform, which makes it incredibly easy to invest.
Here are some of the tools you can use to trade with on Public.com:
- Company info
- Key metrics
- News feed
- Basic chart
- Advanced charts
- Earnings and financials
- Analyst ratings and price targets
- Morningstar research reports
- AI-powered insights through Public’s natural language interface, Alpha
Investors will find the Public app to be tidy, straightforward and easy to navigate. The app’s main tabs include a portfolio view, a section for exploring assets and other Public users, a feed with news, live events and educational resources and a tab for Public Premium.
Where Public.com falls short
While Public.com offers advanced research and analysis tools, they sit behind a $8 monthly paywall. Customers must subscribe to Public Premium to access advanced charts, extend hours trading and expert reports and insights. Investors also have to be sure to maintain at least $70 in total account value and be active in their accounts every six months to avoid a $3.99 monthly inactivity fee.
Meanwhile, Public only supports self-directed brokerage accounts at the moment — investors looking for tax-advantaged retirement accounts or a robo-advisor need to look elsewhere.
Public.com’s fees
| Type of fee | Fee details |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Minimum investment | $5 |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Stock trading fee | $0 |
| Options trading fee | $0 contract fees; Earn up to $0.18 per contract traded |
| Alternative asset trade fee | 2.5% per transaction |
| Crypto fee | 1.25% of order amount |
| Treasury account management fee | .05% per month based on the average daily balance of your Treasury account |
| Bond account fee | 0.05% markup on deposits and withdrawals $3.99 monthly fee (waived until 2025 and for Public Premium members) |
| Margin annual interest rate | N/A |
| Account transfer fee | $75 |
| Wire transfer out | $25 |
| Inactivity fee | $3.99 |
| Public Premium | $8 per month |
Is Public.com legit?
Yes, Public.com is a legitimate, registered broker founded in 2019. It’s a member with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
In terms of platform and account security, Public.com utilizes two-factor authentication and bank-grade security AES 128-bit encryption. It also protects sensitive banking data in transit using TLS.
Customer experience
While there are no customer reviews on Trustpilot, Public has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile with an A+ rating. It’s been BBB accredited since 2020. Public has a rating of 2.54 out of five stars based on over 90 reviews. Positive reviews highlight Public’s responsive customer support and user-friendly and transparent investing platform. However, some negative reviews mention issues with withdrawal delays and delisted cryptocurrencies. Reviews on Reddit are mixed, with some praising the platform’s ease of use and others highlighting its lack of retirement accounts.
Compare Public.com to other platforms
Compare similar platforms by available asset types, trade fees and minimum deposit requirements. Select Go to site to sign up for an account.
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★★★★★
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Available asset types
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Stock trade fee
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Frequently asked questions
How does Public.com make money?
Public.com makes money in several ways. It charges a fee of up to 2% to process instant withdrawals. Revenue from interest comes from its securities lending program and interest on cash balances. And its Public Premium account has a $10 monthly membership fee. The company has also implemented an optional tipping feature for its services in lieu of the much-debated practice of payment for order flow (PFOF).
What is optional tipping?
Public.com’s optional tipping feature lets investors choose whether to tip the company for its services. The option to tip appears when an order is placed, and the tip amount — which the investor can also choose — is deducted. There’s no obligation to tip to benefit from commission-free trades.
How do I place a trade on Public.com?
Once you find a security you want to buy, select “Buy,” then enter the dollar amount you wish to invest. Select the order type and then submit your order. This is where you’ll have the opportunity to tip Public.com, which is completely optional.
Public.com offers the following order types:
- Market orders in fractional shares
- Market orders in whole shares
- Limit orders
- Stop orders
What is Pulse partnerships?
Public.com Pulse is a product Public.com offers that connects publicly-traded companies with Public.com investors. Companies can syndicate live earnings calls, host Town Hall events and distribute company news and information with Public.com investors. Public.com makes money from its partnerships with these companies.
In which countries is Public.com available?
Public.com is only available to US citizens, US permanent residents or individuals with a valid visa who reside at a legal US residential address.
How we rate trading platforms
★★★★★ 5/5 — Excellent
★★★★★ 4/5 — Good
★★★★★ 3/5 — Average
★★★★★ 2/5 — Subpar
★★★★★ 1/5 — Poor
For a complete breakdown of how we score each category, read the full methodology of how we rate trading platforms.
Your reviews
Matt Finder
Editor, Investments
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