Public Review

Public started as a social, fractional-shares app and has grown into something more interesting: one of the few approachable platforms where a retail investor can buy individual bonds and Treasuries as easily as stocks. That bond access — not the social feed — is the reason to take Public seriously. It earns a 3.9.

Who Public is for — and who should look elsewhere

Public fits newer, design-conscious investors who want stocks, ETFs, crypto, options, and — distinctively — easy access to bonds and Treasuries and a high-yield cash account, all in one modern app.

Look elsewhere if you want deep research and advanced trading tools, mutual funds, or the lowest-cost active trading. Sophisticated traders will find it light.

The cost story

Stocks and ETFs trade commission-free, with fractional shares to start small, and Public pays a competitive ~3.3% APY on uninvested cash with no minimums. On options, Public actually rebates part of the order-flow payment back to you per contract — an unusual, trader-friendly twist. Bonds carry small per-$100-face-value fees (roughly $0.10–$0.25 on Treasuries, $0.35–$0.50 on corporates), and Public’s “Bond Account” packages a yield-focused basket. The pricing is fair and, on cash and options, genuinely distinctive. Fees & value scores 4.3.

Platform and tools

Public’s app is clean and modern, with a social layer, straightforward investing flows, and — increasingly — AI-assisted research features. It’s approachable rather than powerful; charting and advanced order types are light. The standout is how easily it surfaces bonds and Treasuries, which most apps bury or omit. Platform & tools scores 3.9.

What you can trade

Stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, and a genuinely broad selection of bonds and Treasuries (100+ bonds, investable from about $100), with fractional shares and a high-yield cash account. The breadth across fixed income is unusual for an app and is its real differentiator; mutual funds are absent. Tradable assets scores 3.8.

Regulation, trust, and safety

Public is regulated by the SEC and FINRA with SIPC protection (up to $500,000 in securities, $250,000 cash). It’s a newer brand than the incumbents, which is the main reason its trust score sits where it does. Regulation & trust scores 4.0.

Support and the day-to-day

Support is functional (chat and email), and onboarding is fast and beginner-friendly. Service depth trails the incumbents. Support & experience scores 3.6.

Where Public falls short

• Lighter research and tools than the incumbents.
• No mutual funds.
• Newer brand, with a shorter track record.
• Not built for active or advanced trading.

Why this score

The 3.9 is the weighted average of the category scores above. Public is carried by its distinctive fixed-income access and competitive cash/options economics, and held back by lighter tooling, a narrower product set, and a shorter track record. The rating reflects a modern, approachable app with one genuinely standout feature set rather than across-the-board depth.

What to watch

• The bond and Treasury access, which is Public’s real differentiator.
• The cash APY, which floats with rates.

Bottom line

Public has matured from a social stock app into an approachable multi-asset platform whose standout is easy access to individual bonds and Treasuries, plus a high-yield cash account and option-trading rebates. It’s light on research and tools and newer than the incumbents, but for an investor who wants fixed income made simple, it’s a respectable 3.9.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy bonds and Treasuries on Public? Yes — that’s its standout feature. Public offers 100+ individual bonds and Treasuries investable from around $100, plus a yield-focused Bond Account.

Does Public pay interest on cash? Yes — recently about 3.3% APY on uninvested cash, with no minimums or membership required.

Is Public good for active traders? Not especially. Research and tools are light; it’s built for approachable multi-asset investing, not active trading.

---

Fees, yields, and terms are current as of the “Broker data last verified” date shown above and change over time; confirm on Public’s site before opening an account. Editorial opinion for educational purposes only; not investment advice. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.