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Public Investing Review 2026
A complete, unbiased guide to Public Investing's financial products and services.
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JumpSteps rates Public Investing 8.5 out of 10 based on an independent expert review of the brand, ratings from other trusted review sites, its actual products and terms, and safety signals like SIPC membership and regulatory standing. Public Investing is a self-directed brokerage platform founded in 2019 and headquartered in New York, NY, offering commission-free stock, ETF, options, and bond investing to retail investors across the United States. JumpSteps finds Public Investing strongest for socially minded, community-oriented investors who want transparent fee disclosures, fractional share access starting at $1, and a high-yield cash account currently yielding competitive APYs. Public Investing is a weaker fit for active traders who require futures, forex, or advanced charting tools comparable to those on Tastytrade or TD Ameritrade's thinkorswim platform. JumpSteps rates every brand on fit rather than advertiser payouts, and can match Public Investing's products to a user's specific goals to show how well Public Investing fits them.
| Full Legal Name | Public Holdings, Inc. |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Headquarters | New York, NY |
| FDIC Insured | No |
| SIPC Member | Yes — securities protected up to $500,000 |
| BBB Rating | A |
| Industries / Products | Investing |
| Data Last Verified | June 28, 2026 |
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Public Investing launched in 2019 and has grown into a well-regarded commission-free brokerage with a Motley Fool rating of 4.7 out of 5. The platform distinguishes itself through a social investing feed, fractional shares starting at $1, and a high-yield cash account that competes directly with SoFi Invest and Robinhood Gold. Public charges no commission on stocks and ETFs, but does apply a 1.25% taker fee on cryptocurrency trades — a meaningful cost disclosure that many rivals obscure. SIPC membership protects customer accounts up to $500,000, including up to $250,000 for cash. The platform's bond marketplace, offering individual Treasury and corporate bonds, sets it apart from entry-level brokerages. Weakness centers on the absence of a full desktop trading platform and limited retirement account depth relative to Fidelity or Charles Schwab.
- Individual taxable brokerage
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- Rollover IRA
- Stocks
- ETFs
- Options
- Bonds (Treasury and corporate)
- Cryptocurrency
- Alternative assets (via Public Premium)
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- Rollover IRA
Public Investing charges $0 commission on stock and ETF trades, placing it in line with Fidelity, Robinhood, and Charles Schwab on core equity costs. Options trading carries a $0 contract commission but Public applies a taker fee structure on crypto at 1.25%, which is higher than Robinhood's spread-based model and Coinbase's tiered fee schedule. There are no account maintenance fees and no minimum balance requirement to open a standard brokerage account. Public's premium tier, Public Premium, is priced at $10 per month and unlocks advanced research tools, real-time data, and analyst reports — comparable in positioning to Robinhood Gold at $5 per month, though Public Premium offers deeper fundamental data. Wire transfer fees apply at $25 outbound. Fractional shares are accessible from $1 with no surcharge, a cost structure favorable to small-dollar investors building diversified portfolios incrementally.
Public Investing operates as a mobile-first platform available on iOS and Android, with a browser-based web interface launched to complement the app experience. The mobile app emphasizes a social feed where users can share portfolios and commentary publicly — a differentiator absent on Fidelity and Charles Schwab but comparable in concept to eToro's social trading network. Charting tools are functional but limited relative to thinkorswim (TD Ameritrade) or Tastytrade, which offer multi-leg options chains, level II quotes natively, and custom technical indicators. Public Premium subscribers gain access to Wall Street analyst ratings, earnings estimates, and in-app research from third-party providers. The bond marketplace allows direct purchase of individual Treasury bills, notes, and corporate bonds — a feature rare among mobile-first brokerages of Public's age. Real-time streaming quotes are included for all users without a data subscription fee.
Public Investing supports individual retirement accounts including traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and rollover IRA options, giving it a functional retirement tier absent from Robinhood's original account lineup, though Robinhood now also offers IRAs with a 1% match. Public does not currently offer SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, or solo 401(k) plans, limiting its utility for self-employed investors and small business owners who would be better served by Fidelity or Vanguard. There is no employer-sponsored 401(k) administration capability. Public does not offer automated portfolio management or robo-advisor services within retirement accounts, meaning IRA holders must self-direct all allocation decisions. The platform does not provide tax-loss harvesting automation. For investors seeking a passive, target-date-fund-driven retirement strategy, Betterment or Schwab Intelligent Portfolios represent more complete solutions than Public's current retirement infrastructure.
✓ Best For
- Beginner investors who want to buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs starting at $1 with no commission and no account minimum
- Socially engaged retail investors who value a community feed showing real portfolio transparency and peer commentary
- Bond investors seeking direct access to individual Treasury bills and corporate bonds through a mobile-first interface
- Investors opening a Roth IRA or traditional IRA who plan to self-direct their allocations and want a clean, low-cost platform
- Cash holders who want a high-yield cash account alongside their brokerage under a single login
✗ Look Elsewhere If
- Active options traders who need multi-leg strategies, level II quotes, and advanced charting tools available on Tastytrade or thinkorswim
- Self-employed investors and small business owners who need a SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or solo 401(k) — Fidelity and Vanguard cover these account types fully
- Passive retirement savers who want automated, target-date-aligned portfolio management without self-directing every decision — Betterment or Schwab Intelligent Portfolios are more suitable
- Cryptocurrency-focused investors who trade frequently, since Public's 1.25% crypto taker fee exceeds the cost structure at Kraken or Coinbase Advanced Trade
- Investors who require a robust desktop trading platform with customizable technical indicators and real-time options flow data
Public Investing earns strong marks for its transparent zero-commission structure on stocks and ETFs, a distinctive bond marketplace, and a social investing layer that meaningfully differentiates it from Fidelity and Schwab among younger retail investors. The Motley Fool rating of 4.7 out of 5 reflects genuine product quality. Crypto fees at 1.25% taker and the absence of futures, forex, and advanced charting limit appeal for active and sophisticated traders. Public is a strong fit for beginner-to-intermediate investors prioritizing community features, fractional shares, and bond access in one app. Investors needing full retirement planning tools, robo-advisory, or institutional-grade charting should compare Fidelity, Betterment, or Tastytrade before committing.
JumpSteps ratings are designed to save you time. They combine our editorial analysis with consensus ratings from leading consumer finance publications, verified product details like account types and fees, and verified institutional trust signals such as regulatory memberships and third-party ratings.
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This rating reflects publicly available information as of 2026-06-29. Submit additional context to be considered in our assessment →
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