Public.com Review
Public.com is a New York-based investing platform founded in 2019 that has carved out a genuinely differentiated position in an increasingly crowded fintech space: it is the social layer on top of inv...
Based on our rigorous 8-step testing methodology
Platform Overview
Public.com is a New York-based investing platform founded in 2019 that has carved out a genuinely differentiated position in an increasingly crowded fintech space: it is the social layer on top of investing, built for the generation of investors who grew up on Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok. Where Robinhood made commission-free trading accessible and Webull made professional tools free, Public made investing transparent and communal — users share their portfolios publicly, post investment theses, react to earnings, and follow other investors whose ideas they find compelling. But Public has grown well beyond its social roots. In 2022 and 2023, Public expanded aggressively into fixed income, becoming one of the only retail brokers to offer direct access to Treasury bills, bonds, corporate bonds, and high-yield bonds at true wholesale prices — not bond funds, but actual bonds. Its High-Yield Cash Account pays competitive rates on uninvested cash. Public also offers crypto, fractional shares, ETFs, and a premium subscription tier (Public Premium at $10/month) that unlocks Morningstar analyst ratings, advanced charting, and deeper research tools. With over 1 million accounts and a focus on making every asset class — stocks, bonds, crypto, alternatives — accessible and understandable to a new generation of investors, Public represents the most complete single-app investing experience designed specifically for the social media era.
Key Features
Social Investing Feed
See what other investors are buying, read their investment theses, and share your own portfolio moves — a Twitter-style feed built around investing decisions
Direct Treasury & Bond Access
Buy T-bills, Treasury bonds, corporate bonds, and high-yield bonds directly at wholesale prices — one of the only retail platforms offering this
High-Yield Cash Account
Earn competitive interest on uninvested cash — competitive with high-yield savings accounts and significantly above the national average
Multi-Asset Platform
Stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, and alternative assets (art, real estate) all accessible in one app — unusual breadth for a commission-free platform
Public Premium
Premium tier at $10/month unlocks Morningstar analyst ratings, advanced charts, earnings call replays, and deeper fundamental data
Fractional Shares from $1
Invest in any stock or ETF with as little as $1 — no minimum account balance required to start building a diversified portfolio
Fees & Costs
| Stock & ETF Commissions | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and crypto |
| Options Fees | Not available |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Margin Rates | Not available (no margin trading) |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Social feed creates genuine community learning — see real portfolios and investment reasoning
- Direct access to individual Treasury bills and bonds at wholesale prices — rare at retail brokers
- High-yield cash account competitive with dedicated savings accounts
- Broadest multi-asset access in a simple mobile app: stocks + bonds + crypto + alternatives
- Transparent portfolio sharing encourages accountability and long-term thinking
Cons
- No options trading — a significant limitation for active traders
- No margin trading — cannot leverage your portfolio
- Premium features ($10/month) behind paywall — Fidelity and Schwab give research free
- Social feed can create herd-mentality risks — following crowds into popular trades
- Less advanced charting than Webull or Moomoo for technical analysis
Who It's Best For
Public.com is best for younger, social-media-native investors who want to learn from a community, invest across multiple asset classes in one app, and earn competitive yields on their cash. It is particularly compelling for investors interested in building a bond ladder with direct Treasury access, or those who find traditional brokerage platforms intimidating and learn better from transparent peer portfolios.
Community-Driven Investors
Learn by seeing other investors' portfolios and want to share their own investment thinking publicly
Treasury & Bond Buyers
Want direct access to T-bills and individual bonds at wholesale prices without buying a bond fund
Multi-Asset Investors
Want stocks, crypto, bonds, and alt-assets all accessible in one clean mobile app
Final Verdict
Our Verdict on Public.com
Public.com earns its place as the best social investing platform by doing something no traditional broker has — making investing genuinely communal and transparent without sacrificing asset breadth. The direct Treasury access and high-yield cash account are legitimately differentiated features that deliver real value. The main limitation is the absence of options and margin trading, which pushes active traders toward Webull or tastytrade. But for the investor who wants a modern, multi-asset, community-powered investing app with a unique bond offering, Public is a compelling choice.
Social Investing Platforms
Comparing Public.com to Other Commission-Free Brokers?
See how Public stacks up against Robinhood, Webull, SoFi, and others on fees, features, and asset access in our full commission-free broker guide.
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