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Public.com Review

Public.com Review – Is This Stock Investing App Safe & Legit?

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Public.com offers SIPC and FDIC insurance and bank-grade encryption – the same level of protection as Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, and Vanguard.

Public.com is the best place to invest in stocks, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets (like art and other collectibles) all in one place.

Public has become very popular among 2 groups of investors: Experienced and Beginners.

For experienced investors who want access to alternative assets (for their potentially higher returns and non-correlation to public markets), Public is easily my #1 recommendation.

Its mobile app experience and the ability to buy fractional shares of any asset on the platform makes it one of my favorite investment platforms for beginner investors.

Is Public.com Safe & Legit?

The Bottom Line: Yes, Public.com is safe and legit.

Public.com, like almost all investment apps, offers its users SIPC and FDIC insurance (for securities and cash held on the platform). Additionally, Public uses bank-grade encryption to protect all personal information.

If you’re at all interested in investing in alternative assets AND/OR want a beautifully designed mobile investing app, Public.com is for you.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Commissions/Fees: 4/5

Ease of Use: 4.5/5

Investment Selection: 4.5/5

Public.com Review

Public is an excellent investment platform for stock, crypto, and ETF investing. Stock and ETF investing is commission-free, and users can buy and sell crypto with extremely low transaction fees through Public’s partnership with Apex Crypto.

Public mobile app

Given Public’s user-friendly layout and exceptionally-designed mobile app, these offerings alone would make it an excellent investment platform – but I haven’t even covered the best part yet.

What makes Public.com exceptional is its access to alternative investments. You can invest in art, NFTs, memorabilia, and other collectibles right alongside your stock, crypto, and ETF portfolio. There is no better way to have a single portfolio that holds all of these assets at once.

Plus, users will soon be able to invest in real estate, music royalties, and more.

You can buy fractional shares of any asset listed on Public (stocks, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets).

Public.com Features:

Stock & ETF Investing

You can invest in stocks and ETFs commission-free on Public.

Public invest stocks

Plus, Public’s social investing elements allow you to get insights from millions of investors and analysts.

Sign up with the button below and get a fractional share valued between $3 and $300:

Cryptocurrency Investing

Build and diversify your crypto portfolio via the more than 25 cryptocurrencies on Public.

Public crypto

Order execution is via Apex Crypto, which charges a 1-2% markup on crypto transactions made on Public.

Alternative Asset Investing

As mentioned above, Public.com allows users to invest in non-traditional, alternative assets.

Public alternative investments

Through Public’s partnerships with brands like Masterworks and Fundrise, you can buy:

    • Art
    • Real estate (coming soon)
    • Shoes
    • Trading cards
    • NFTs
    • Video games
    • Comic books
    • Music royalties (coming soon)
    • Luxury goods

Couple that with its commission-free stock and ETF investing, access to cryptocurrencies via a partnership with Apex Crypto, and awesome mobile app and desktop experiences, and it’s obvious why so many investors are choosing Public.

Public.com Pricing, Fees, and Commissions

A Public stock app review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning its transparent and investor-first pricing model:

    • It does not charge a commission on stock and ETF investing
    • It does not charge any account maintenance or inactivity fees on accounts with more than $20 in total value
    • It does not earn revenue via payment-for-order-flow (PFOF)
Public investors first

Public.com makes money via:

    • Its $10/month Premium membership offering (optional)
    • (Optional) tips
    • Certain services like automatic investment plans, wire transfers (ACH transfers are free), extended-hours fees for non-Premium Members, and foreign exchange conversions may incur fees
    • 2.5% commission for alternative asset transactions

Is Public App Safe?

Yes, Public is a safe investing app.

Public invest safely

Every account is SIPC-insured which means each portfolio has insurance of up to $500,000. Cash amounts up to $250,000 per account are also protected (via FDIC insurance).

Technology: Public.com uses bank-grade, 256-bit encryption, and all data is secured with Transport Layer Security.

Investing: Public.com uses safety labels to inform investors about potentially risky investments. You still need to perform your own due diligence and decide what’s best for you, but it’s an additional layer of protection Public adds to protect you from bad investment decisions.

Public.com Alternatives

If you’d like to compare my Public investing app review to these potential alternatives, head to my article on Webull vs Robinhood vs eToro vs Stash vs Acorns. Here are some of Public’s closest competitors:

Public.com
eToro
Robinhood
Webull
Rating
8/10
9/10
7/10
6.5/10
Best For
Alternative investing
Overall
Beginner investors
Mobile day trading
Stock & ETF Trades
$0/trade
$0/trade
$0/trade
$0/trade
Options Trades
n/a
$0/trade
$0/trade
$0/trade
Crypto Trades
1.25%
1%
0.35%
1%
Virtual Investing

It’s also worth noting that a trading platform is not all you’ll need as an investor or trader. Check out our list of the best stock apps to make sure you’ve got the best tools available.

Final Word: Public.com Review

Public.com is the best investment platform for alternative investing. It offers unparalleled access to invest in fractional shares of art, NFTs, and other collectibles. Plus, more offerings (like real estate and music royalties are coming soon).

Its mobile app is one of the most user-friendly investment apps available, and its commission-free stock and ETF trades make it one of the best investment apps for beginners. Plus, Public’s desktop platform provides another level of market data and investment analysis, always a few clicks away.

That’s a wrap on my Public.com review!


FAQs:

Is public com trustworthy?

Yes, Public.com is trustworthy.

Every account is SIPC-insured, cash balances are FDIC-insured, and the platform uses encryption to secure all data transferred between its users’ devices and its servers. It also offers two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to user accounts.

Is public a good investment app?

Yes, Public is a good investment app.

Public.com offers commission-free stock, ETF, and cryptocurrency trading. This, coupled with its easy-to-use interface, makes it an excellent choice for beginner investors. Plus, its access to alternative investments (like art, NFTs, and other collectibles) make this investment app completely one-of-a-kind.

How can I get $300 from public com?

When you sign up for Public.com, open a brokerage account, and deposit funds, you will qualify to receive a free slice of stock valued anywhere between $3 and $300.

Does Public Com have a monthly fee?

Public.com is free to use.

You can upgrade to Public Premium for $10/month and unlock advanced features such as data, market metrics, and analyst insights.

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About the author

Lincoln Olson

Head of Content

Lincoln is an investor and content marketer. He has worked for financial advisors, institutional investors, and a publicly-traded fintech company. Lincoln holds degrees in Finance, Economics, and Accounting.