Public Review 2026: Social Investing Done Right?

What Is Public and Who Is It For?

Public burst onto the scene a few years ago with a clear pitch: make investing social and transparent. In 2026, the app holds true to that vision. It is a commission-free broker that lets you buy stocks, ETFs, bonds, and crypto—all while interacting with a community of fellow investors via a built-in social feed. But is the social angle more than a gimmick? Let’s break it down.

Public targets the everyday investor who wants to learn by watching others. The feed shows what others are buying or selling, with commentary. It’s like a mix of Twitter and a trading floor, but less noisy. New investors will appreciate the ability to follow experienced users. However, if you are a day trader or a professional who needs ultra-fast execution and complex charting, Public is not for you. It is a long-term, buy-and-hold platform with a community twist.

Account types include individual taxable accounts, joint accounts, and IRAs (Traditional and Roth). Crypto is held separately. Public also offers fractional shares, so you can start with as little as $1.

Fees, Commissions, and Hidden Costs

Public starts at $0 per month and charges $0 commissions on stock, ETF, and crypto trades. The standout feature: they do not accept payment for order flow (PFOF). That means your trades aren’t routed to market makers who pay for the right to fill your order, which can lead to better execution prices. This is a big plus for retail investors.

But free only gets you so far. Public Premium is a subscription tier that unlocks larger instant deposits, yield on uninvested cash, and Nasdaq Level II data. The exact price varies—you have to check in the app—but it’s a monthly fee. Also, bond trades may include markups, and crypto trades have a spread (the difference between buy and sell price). When you transfer crypto out to an external wallet, there’s a network fee. Always read the fee schedule before diving in.

Tradable Assets and Account Types

With Public you can trade US-listed stocks and ETFs, corporate and municipal bonds, and a selection of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a handful of others). Fractional shares let you own pieces of high-priced stocks. You can open an individual brokerage account, a joint account, or a retirement account (Traditional or Roth IRA). Crypto lives in a separate “wallet” within the app, but it is not self-custodial—Public holds the keys. If you want full control of your crypto, look elsewhere. That said, the integration makes it easy for beginners to dip into crypto without leaving the app.

One missing asset type: options trading. Public does not support options contracts. If that’s part of your strategy, you’ll need another broker.

App Experience, Tools, and Research

The mobile app is where Public shines. The design is clean and intuitive. Upon opening, you see the social feed—a timeline of posts from users you follow. Each post can include a trade, a chart, or just a thought. You can comment, like, or share. It feels like a social network built around investing. The feed is a double-edged sword: it can educate and inspire, but it can also foster FOMO. You’ll need discipline to separate signal from noise.

For research, Public offers basic charting with a few indicators, a news feed aggregated from trusted sources, and company profiles. It’s enough for a quick glance, but not for deep technical analysis. The web platform is functional but less polished—Public is primarily a mobile-first app.

Customer support is via in-app chat and email. Response times are generally fast, but phone support is not available. Overall, the experience is smooth for beginners, but advanced traders will feel constrained.

Regulation, Protection, and Safety

Public is a registered broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and a member of FINRA and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Securities in your account are covered up to $500,000 (including $250,000 cash). Crypto assets are not covered by SIPC, but Public keeps crypto with qualified custodians and says they hold assets 1:1. The no-PFOF policy also adds a layer of trust: your trades aren’t being gamed by hidden incentives.

However, Public is not a bank. Uninvested cash in a standard account earns minimal interest unless you subscribe to Premium. There is no FDIC insurance for cash unless it’s swept into partner banks (which Public does for Premium members). Always weigh the risks: if you hold large cash balances, consider transferring them to a high-yield savings account.

Final Verdict

Public is a refreshing take on investing. Its social feed and no-PFOF model genuinely set it apart from the commission-free crowd. If you are a beginner or a social learner, you’ll get value from watching and discussing trades. The fees are transparent: free to start, optional premium for extras. The main trade-offs are the lack of advanced tools, no options trading, and crypto that isn’t self-custodial. For many casual investors, that’s fine. For power users, it’s a dealbreaker. As of 2026, Public remains a solid, safe choice for those who want to invest with a community and without hidden fees.