Public.com Review 2025

Is Public.com regulated?

Yes, it is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA).

Is Public.com safe?

To be certain that a brokerage is safe, we highly advise that you check two facts:

• how you are protected if something goes wrong
• the background of the broker.

How you are protected

Public.com is composed of three main entities:

• Public Holdings Inc.
• Public Investing Inc. 
• Open to the Public Investing Inc.

The first oversees the overall operation and strategic direction, the second manages stock, ETF trading, options and bonds, while the third handles crypto trading and other investment products.

Public Investing Inc. is a member of FINRA and falls under the US investor protection scheme, SIPC. The SIPC protection limit is $500,000, which includes a $250,000 limit for cash.

Not all investments are protected by SIPC. In general, SIPC covers notes, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investment company shares, and other registered securities. It does not cover instruments such as unregistered investment contracts, unregistered limited partnerships, fixed annuity contracts, currency, and interests in gold, silver, or other commodity futures contracts or commodity options.

Crypto trading through Public.com is facilitated by Bakkt Crypto Solutions LLC.

For alternative investments, Public.com partners with Dalmore Group LLC, which is a member of both FINRA and SIPC, providing some level of investor protection.

Treasuries are offered by Jiko Securities Inc., also a member of FINRA and SIPC. However, it's important to note that Treasuries are not FDIC insured, do not come with a bank guarantee, and may lose value.

Banking services and bank accounts on Public.com are provided by Jiko Bank, ensuring seamless integration for users who want to manage their investments and banking in one place. While Jiko Bank offers banking services, it's crucial for investors to understand that these services are separate from investment protections and come with their own set of terms and conditions.

Public.com does not provide negative balance protection.

Our brokerage experts put together a comprehensive guide on the safety profile of Public.com.

Background

Public.com is a US broker established in 2019, serving clients in the US. While it has a shorter track record compared to some of its older counterparts, Public.com has quickly gained a reputation for its transparency and community-focused approach to investing.
Public.com is privately held and is not listed on any stock exchange. However, it maintains a high level of transparency by regularly releasing updates and financial statements, which is a positive indicator of its commitment to openness and trust.
Being a US-regulated broker is a great sign of Public.com's safety.

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Account base currencies

At Public.com, the only available base currency is USD.

If you have a personal bank account in a currency other than USD, then you will be charged a conversion fee.

A convenient way to save on currency conversion fees is by opening a multi-currency bank account at a digital bank. These usually offer bank accounts in several currencies with great currency exchange rates, as well as free or cheap international bank transfers. Opening an account only takes a few minutes on your phone.

Deposit fees and options

Public.com charges no deposit fees.

At Public.com you can choose from 4 different ways of funding your account: bank account, debit card, microdeposit, or check/wire.

• With Plaid (a bank connection provider) you can instantly deposit using your login credentials.
• Via debit card, it is possible to transfer up to $2,500 to your account.
• In case any personal bank account is not registered on Plaid, there is a possibility to connect through Micro Deposit. A clearing firm will make two small test deposits, and once the information is verified, you will get back the test amount and be able to make the deposit. However, this process can take 5-7 business days.
• As a backup option, there is always the possibility to mail a check to Public.com or initiate a wire transfer.

Due to US regulations, US citizens cannot use credit cards to fund their brokerage accounts. They can only use debit cards, where available.

Here's all you need to know about minimum deposit requirements and depositing money at Public.com.

A bank transfer can take several business days, while payment with a credit/debit card is instant. You can only deposit money from accounts that are in your name.

Public.com withdrawal fees and options

Public.com doesn't charge a fee for standard electronic ACH withdrawals. However, instant withdrawals carry a fee, and wire transfers are expensive: the price tag of a domestic wire transfer is $25.

Read our guide containing all key info on available withdrawal methods and related fees at Public.com.

You can only withdraw money to accounts in your name.

The fee for instant withdrawals is up to 3.5% of the withdrawn amount, with a $1 minimum.

How long does it take to withdraw money from Public.com?

• Standard withdrawals take 3-5 business days. The daily withdrawal limit is $50,000 per business day.
• Instant withdrawals take only 30 minutes. Here, the weekly withdrawal limit is $5,000.

Can you open an account?

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Currently, only US citizens are allowed to open an account. However, Public.com is planning to make its services available to clients in other countries as well. A significant step toward this goal was that Public.com had already been established in the UK, but decided just nine months after launch, in May 2024, to no longer offer products and services there.

Read our separate article on how to get your account started with Public.com.

What is the minimum deposit at Public.com?

The required Public.com minimum deposit is $20.

Account types

If you sign up, you automatically open the standard Public.com account, which is free. However, for $10/month (charged every 30 calendar days) or $96/year, you can open a Public Premium account. For accounts with a $50,000 balance, no fee applies.
Public Premium offers the following compared to the standard account:

• Advanced metrics and tools (Morningstar analyst report, balance sheet numbers, company KPIs)
• Extended-hours trading with unlimited, fee-free trading and OTC trades without fee
• Price alerts
• Subscriber-only content, reports
• Prioritized customer service responses

It is worth noting that Public Premium does not offer higher level of FDIC insurance.
You can also open a High-Yield Cash Account, where you can earn interest on your uninvested cash and a Bond account that provides exposure to high-yield and investment-grade corporate bonds.

How to open your account

The account opening process is user-friendly and fully digital. It takes around 10 minutes to submit your application, but may take a few days for your account to be verified.
To open a Public.com account in the US, you must:

• be 18 years or older
• have a valid social security number
• have a legal US residential address
• be a US citizen, US permanent resident, or have a valid US visa

To complete the account opening process:

1. Fill in your personal information (i.e. address, date of birth and social security number).
2. Answer short questions relating to your trading goals and experience.
3. Verify your identity with your driver's license, identity card, or passport. A photo of the documents taken with your mobile device will suffice.

It is worth knowing that Public.com only accepts the following Visa types at the moment: E1, E2, E3, F1, H1B, TN1, TN2, L1 and O1.

Public.com's mobile trading platform is available for both iOS and Android devices. We tested it on iOS.

Look and feel

Public.com's platform features well-organized pages that make navigating and finding relevant information a breeze. You can easily search for stocks and ETFs by ticker or by name, ensuring quick access to your desired investments. Each asset page includes an opening graph, giving you a visual snapshot of recent performance. Additionally, you'll find short company information sections offering key insights at a glance. Stay informed with the latest news and trending posts, and enjoy integrated tweets that provide real-time perspectives and updates from the financial community. This comprehensive approach ensures you have all the information you need to make informed investment decisions effortlessly.

Login and security

Public.com provides a safer, two-step login for its mobile platform.

You can log in using biometric authentication, which is a convenient feature.

Search functions

The search functions are good.

Placing orders

You can use the following order types on the mobile trading platform:

• Market
• Limit
• Stop

There are also order time limits you can use:

• Good 'til canceled (GTC)
• Good 'til time (GTT)

Alerts and notifications

You cannot set alerts and notifications on the Public.com mobile platform.

Price alerts can be set on and off for stocks and cryptos separately, for the assets in your portfolio or on your watchlist, but not for individual ones.
With Public Premium, however, you can customize price alerts (threshold of movement, specific price target) for individual stocks and cryptos.

Our analysts personally tested Public.com's mobile trading platform; read the Public.com mobile app review for a detailed verdict on its performance and features.

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Look and feel

The web trading platform was clear about where to find things. You can't customize the platform, but the default workspace is well-designed, clear and logically structured.

Login and security

Public.com provides a safer, two-step login.

Search functions

The search functions are good.

Placing orders

You can use the following order types:

• Market
• Limit
• Stop

If you are unfamiliar with some of these terms or want to learn more, read our overview of order types.

There are also order time limits you can use:

• Good 'til canceled (GTC)
• Good 'til time (GTT)

Alerts and notifications

You cannot set price alerts and notifications on the Public.com web trading platform.

Price alerts can be set on and off for stocks and cryptos separately, but not for individual ones. So you can either get alerts on all or none of the stocks/cryptos in your portfolio or on your watchlist.
With Public Premium, you can customize price alerts (threshold of movement, specific price target) for individual stocks and cryptos.

Portfolio and fee reports

Public.com has clear fee reports.

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This selection falls behind competing brokers. Both Robinhood and Webull offer more stock markets to trade on.

Stocks and ETFs

Public.com gives you access to a wide range of US stocks and ETFs. The platform also offers fractional shares, allowing you to invest in high-priced stocks with smaller amounts.

Bonds

Public.com offers access to both corporate and government bonds, providing a diverse range of fixed-income investment options. Fractional bonds are also available.

This selection is great compared to competing brokers. Both Robinhood and Webull list fewer bonds.

Options

This selection falls behind competing brokers. Both Robinhood and Webull offer more option markets to trade on.

Public.com offers rebates on your options tradings. They offer a $0.06-$0.18 rebate per stock and ETF option contracts traded, depending on your monthly trading volume.

Cryptos

Public.com offers access to cryptocurrency trading through its partnership with Bakkt Crypto. This allows you to invest in popular cryptocurrencies:

• Bitcoin
• Ether
• Shiba Inu
• Dogecoin
• Litecoin
• Bitcon Cash
• Ethereum Classic

It's important to note that cryptocurrencies are not protected by SIPC or FINRA, so investing in them carries additional risks.

Interest on uninvested cash

Public.com pays interest on uninvested cash through its High-Yield Cash Account, allowing you to earn a return on your idle funds while you decide on your next investment move. At the time of the review, the APY was 4.4%.

• Opening or maintaining a High-Yield Cash Account is free of charge.
• There is no subscription needed.
• No minimum balance is required.
• No maximum balance limits apply.
• Unlimited transfers and withdrawals.

The uninvested cash is deposited with banks that are FDIC-insured, i.e. you are protected up to $250,000. If more than $250,000 is in your High-Yield Cash Account, funds are swept to multiple partner banks, each providing the protection up to $250,000. Public.com had 20 partner banks at the time of the review, which means that investor protection coverage totals $5 million.

Social Trading

Public.com distinguishes itself with its innovative social trading features, combining trading with a community-driven approach. You can follow other investors, see their portfolios, and learn from their strategies and insights. You can also share your trades and ideas, engaging in collective learning.

However, unlike at some other brokers, you cannot copy fellow traders' trades or access any robo-advisory services.

The platform offers community feeds, trending posts, and social media updates to keep you informed about market trends and sentiment, helping you make more informed decisions and connect with other investors.

Investment plans

Public.com’s investment plans feature allows users to set up automated, recurring investments.

You can either choose from a predefined plan, based on risk tolerance, themes, geographic regions and more, or you can create your own investment plan consisting of maximum 20 stocks, ETFs, and/or crypto.