Public.com Review [2024] Investing App
By Robert Bruce Maybe you’ve heard the stock market isn’t for everyone. It’s too complex, too risky, or only for wealthy people.
Well, (fortunately for you) that’s not true.
A recent survey found that 61% of Americans own stock – the highest percentage in the last 15 years.
And with more and more investing apps on the market, it’s easier than ever to dip your toes into the investment pool.
One platform worth checking out is Public.com. It’s an investing app that combines stock trading with social connections and has grown to millions of users.
In this Public.com review, I’ll explain how this investing platform works, its pros and cons, and explore what it has to offer.
Public not only lets you invest fee-free without account minimums, it also lets you connect with other investors to exchange ideas and learn from each others trades and investments.
Just some of the things we are obsessed with from this app:
-Invest in stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) with as little as $5 thanks to fractional shares (less than whole shares, making them cheaper to buy)
-Trade commission-free and no account minimums
-Earn free stock through friend and family referrals
What is Public.com?
Public is a fairly new investing platform created in 2019. It’s designed to appeal to new investors because it offers the ability to trade in fractional shares for as little as $5. That means it’s pretty easy (and low-risk) to get started!
What separates Public from other platforms is its integration of a social feed that allows investors to follow each other, create profiles that show their investments, and chat about stocks. Public says that the community has grown to millions since the company started.
And since investing can often seem intimidating to inexperienced users, this feature allows them to reach out for honest feedback and maybe even get friends and family involved.
Also, if you’re interested in using investing to build savings but want to park your cash in something safer than the stock market, the Treasury Account Public offers is definitely worth checking out. Currently, you can earn a 5.4% APY investing in treasury bills (T-bills) with this account.
Right now, T-bills offer the highest APYs and the most flexibility of all treasury securities. Its maturity periods range from a few weeks to one year, as opposed to bonds and notes, which can have 10 to 30-year terms. And being that T-bills are government-backed, they are one of the safest investments out there.
Source: Public.com
You can start investing in T-bills through the Public Treasury Account starting with as little as $100. Your T-bills will automatically be reinvested upon maturity to benefit from compounded interest, but you have the flexibility to sell them whenever you choose.
There is a low monthly management fee of 0.05% on your account balance.
How Does Public.com Work?
The Public.com platform is self-directed. Any type of investments you make are up to you with the company’s assistance or advice. Public doesn’t charge any transaction fees on stocks and ETFs, and all trading is done through the Public mobile app.
When you open an account on Public.com, you’ll be sent a link to download the mobile app. This is where you can trade and interact with other investors. You can also go straight to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to download the app yourself.
Once you’re in the Public app, you can browse through the platform’s “themes,” which are basically stocks and ETFs that are categorized by industry. For example, the “Tech Giants” theme includes company stocks like Intel, Netflix, and Apple. The “Telecom” theme includes Motorola, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
Public.com has nearly 50 themes for you to browse through, from “Health and Wellness” to “Self-Driving Cars” to “Women in Charge” and many more.
The platform offers trading on stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrency. While they don’t charge fees on stocks and ETFs, there is a small markup of 1% to 2% on crypto.
Be sure to also check out Public’s Treasury Bills investment account. It comes with a 5.50% APY with no minimum hold periods or settlement delays. In addition, Public.com will automatically reinvest matured T-bills for compounded interest.
On the platform, users can also take advantage of Public.com’s community features. Users are able to follow other investors and look at their portfolios, discuss ideas, share insights, and even meet new friends.
Another draw for potential inexperienced investors is Public.com’s fractional sharing. Users can buy fractional stocks at a minimum of $5. This strategy allows users to invest in large companies with expensive stock prices they couldn’t invest in otherwise.
Is Public.com Legit?
Yes, Public.com is legit. The company was founded in 2019 and is a registered broker-dealer.
Public.com is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which protects your investments up to $500,000 per account.
Public.com isn’t shy about promoting its investors either. The website highlights celebrities such as Sean “Diddy” Combs, Tony Hawk, Will Smith, The Chainsmokers, Maria Sharapova, and J.J. Watt as some of its high-profile investors.
Is Public.com Safe?
Public.com is totally safe. The platform is registered with the SIPC, so its customers’ investments are protected up to $500,000 per account with SIPC insurance.
Users can rest assured that it’s a secure investing platform that uses AES 256-bit encryption and TLS 1.2 (or newer). Public.com also has two-factor authentication via SMS, so users can only log in with a registered device.
Pros and Cons of Public.com
Like any investing platform, Public.com has some ups and downs. Let’s take a look:
Pros
- No deposit is needed to open an account.
- Treasury Bills investment account is available and comes with a 5.50% APY (at the time of this publication)
- Zero transaction fees on stocks and ETFs.
- Built-in social media feed is innovative, useful, and engaging.
- Cryptocurrency trading is available with a small markup fee (1%-2%).
- Offers fractional share investing for as little as $5.
Cons
- Mutual funds, bonds, and options aren’t available.
- Individual taxable accounts only – no IRAs.
- $10 per month charge for advanced reporting with the Premium plan.
Public.com Reviews
Most Public.com reviews on Apple App Store and Google Play Store are fairly positive.
For instance, this millennial user loves the Public app.
Source: Apple App Store
Another Public.com review says the app should be rated higher but needs improved details.
Source: Apple App Store
Over on Google Play, one user is frustrated with the app’s recent updates.
Source: Google Play Store
Public.com Reviews Reddit
Redditors are known for their opinions, and that’s definitely the case here when looking for a Public app review.
Source: Reddit
This user thinks Public.com could be a great investing app for beginners.
Source: Reddit
Here’s yet another positive Reddit review.
Source: Reddit
Oh, but only as Reddit can; the reviews take a sharp turn.
Source: Reddit
Public.com Reviews BBB
Public.com is accredited through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating. User reviews on the BBB site are definitely mixed, as the company only scores a 2.74 out of 5 rating.
Many user complaints have to do with how the company treats crypto in their Public app review.
Source: BBB
Another Public.com review complains about long delays trying to withdraw money through the investing platform.
Source: BBB
On the bright side, this user has nothing but great things to say about the investing app.
Source: BBB
Is Public.com Worth It?
Public.com is free to download and get started, so there’s no risk on your end.
Once you dive in and start investing in stocks, ETFs, or cryptocurrency, you can assess whether you’re okay with taking those investing risks. The Public investing app is a great way to do that and provides a lot of tools to help you learn and grow as an investor.
While both experienced and inexperienced investors can enjoy using the Public app, it’s designed more for beginners who want to learn more and gather feedback from other investors in the Public.com community.
Commonly Asked Questions About Public.com
What are Alternatives to Public.com?
Some other investing apps besides Public.com include:
- Robinhood
- Stash
- SoFi Invest
- Magnifi
- Acorns
- Fundrise (read this full Fundrise review)
- Augusta Precious Metals (check out this Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals comparison)
- Goldco (read this full Goldco review to learn more)
- Vinovest (read this full Vinovest review and our Vint vs Vinovest comparison to learn more)
- CrowdStreet (learn more in this Fundrise vs CrowdStreet comparison)
- Yieldstreet (learn more in this Fundrise vs Yieldstreet comparison)
- Groundfloor (learn more in this full Groundfloor review and this Fundrise vs Groundlfoor comparison)
- RealtyMogul (learn more in this Fundrise vs Realty Mogul comparison)
- Arrived Homes (learn more in this Fundrise vs Arrived Homes comparison)
- Trion (read this full Trion review)
- LEX (read this guide on How to use LEX to invest)
- Concreit (read this full Concreit review)
- Streetbeat (read this full Streetbeat review)
You can also make money by simply opening a bank account with one of these banks with immediate sign-up bonus.
Is Public.com a Scam?
Public.com is not a scam. The company is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). The platform allows you to invest commission-free in stocks and ETFs, and charges a small markup for crypto trading.
What is The Catch With Public.com?
There is no catch with Public.com. There’s no charge to download the Public app and get started. If you enjoy investing in stocks, ETFs, and crypto on a smaller scale, then you’ll like Public.com.
And to learn which budgeting app could best help you manage your finances and boost your savings, check out these comparisons of Rocket Money vs the competition:
Does Public.com Charge a Monthly Fee?
Public is free to download and doesn’t charge a monthly fee. Public.com offers transparency by listing its fee schedule on its website to show you when fees might be charged. The company does offer an optional Public Premium plan for $10 per month. This plan offers advanced stock and ETF insights, extended hours of trading, and expert reports.
Is Public.com Free to Use?
Absolutely, Public.com is free to download and use. You can trade stocks and ETFs without worrying about commissions and fees. Cryptocurrency trades come with a small 1% to 2% fee. The company does offer a Premium plan with advanced information and extended trading hours for $10 a month.
