Overview
Public is a US investing app that's been around since 2019. It suits people who want stocks, options, bonds and crypto in one clean app, and active options traders who like getting paid back on each contract. Brokerage accounts are held with Public Investing, a FINRA and SIPC member, so it's regulated as a US broker-dealer and built for US investors.
Accounts and costs
The standard brokerage account has no minimum and charges no commission on stocks, ETFs or equity options. Public also skips the usual per-contract options fee and pays rebates of up to $0.18 per contract instead. There are traditional and Roth IRAs with a 1% match on contributions, crypto IRAs, and business accounts for single-owner US companies. On the yield side you get a High-Yield Cash Account paying 3.30% APY with no fees, Treasury accounts and a Bond Account that needs $1,000 and buys ten corporate bonds for you. Margin rates are among the lowest around.
Platforms and markets
Everything runs in Public's own app and website. You can trade over 9,000 stocks, ETFs, stock and index options, more than 60 cryptocurrencies, corporate and Treasury bonds, and prediction markets on things like Fed decisions. There's a trading API, an MCP server for AI tools, and AI agents that can run rules you set. There's no forex, futures or CFDs.
Money in and out
You fund by linking a US bank account, with wire and check as other options. Standard withdrawals are free and take three to five business days, capped at $50,000 a day. Public will cover up to $100 of fees when you move an account in from another broker, and pays a 1% match on transfers.
Good
- No commission on stocks, ETFs and options, and no per-contract options fee
- Rebates of up to $0.18 per options contract
- Bonds, Treasuries and a high-yield cash account in the same app
- IRAs and crypto IRAs with a 1% contribution match
- Trading API, MCP access and AI agents for automation
Watch for
- No phone or weekend customer support
- Reviewers found the app stays logged in with no passcode
- Standard withdrawals take three to five business days
- No forex, futures or CFDs
- Some users report a $100 fee to transfer an account out
Accounts and costs
What each account needs to open and what you pay to trade on it.
| Account | Min deposit | Pricing | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brokerage account | None | No commission on stocks, ETFs and equity options; no per-contract options fee, plus rebates of up to $0.18 per contract | — |
| Traditional and Roth IRA | — | Same trading pricing, with a 1% match on annual contributions | — |
| Bond Account | $1,000 | Portfolio of ten fractional corporate bonds paying regular interest | — |
| High-Yield Cash Account | None | 3.30% APY on cash, no fees, no minimum balance | — |
| Business account | — | Stocks, ETFs, options, Treasuries and bonds for single-owner US entities, with API access | — |
Regulation
Which entity holds which licence. Your protection depends on the entity you open an account with.
Investor protection: SIPC member; High-Yield Cash Account balances get up to $5M FDIC coverage through partner banks
Platforms and markets
Platforms
Markets
Deposits and withdrawals
- Methods
- Bank transfer
- Minimum deposit
- None
What traders say
Scores from the sites traders use, and our summary of what they're saying, checked 6 October 2026.
Public.com has little review evidence for a US broker of its size, and no score showed up in what we collected. Its Trustpilot page has only about 25 reviews, the Better Business Bureau page has a mix of praise and complaints, and most of the discussion is on Reddit, including Public's own r/PublicApp. Finder describes reviews across the major sites as leaning negative, mostly over withdrawals and fees.
What traders like
Clean app. Several Reddit users say they like the interface and the analysis tools.
Options rebates. Options traders on Reddit point to Public sharing payment for order flow, which pays a small rebate per contract instead of charging.
Bonds and Treasuries. Some like being able to buy bonds and T-bills in the same app.
Long-time users. A few BBB reviewers say the platform has improved steadily since its early days.
Common complaints
Withdrawals. The most repeated issue. Reddit and BBB posters describe cancelled withdrawals, money stuck after a settlement hold, and identity and bank documents requested only at withdrawal time.
Support. Several Reddit users say simple questions take days or weeks to answer, and one says an application rejection only got a reply from an AI bot.
Fees. Some reviewers object to per-trade or subscription fees, the inactivity fee, and a $100 charge to transfer an account out.
Bond marketing. A widely shared r/investing thread criticised how high-yield bond portfolios were pitched as locked-in rates.
Recently
August 2026: a Trustpilot reviewer whose account moved to Public after a buyout complained about selling fees and a $100 outgoing transfer fee.
Where this comes from
Trustpilot: a small set of reviews.
Better Business Bureau: customer reviews and complaints.
r/PublicApp: Public's own subreddit, with withdrawal threads.
r/investing thread: the bond marketing discussion.
Verified reviews
Reviews from traders who've connected an account at Public to Chartnaut, so you know they actually traded there. Opening soon.