Public Review 2026

Why You Should Choose Public?

• Public is a New York–based investing platform designed for investors who want transparency, variety, and value in one place. As a FINRA/SIPC member, Public lets you trade stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, and treasuries, all commission-free with no per-contract fees on equity options. What makes Public unique is that it actually pays you to trade options through its rebate program, returning up to $0.18 per contract based on your monthly volume. It's the only broker offering this. Add in a Bond Account with yields around 5%, a 1% uncapped match on IRA contributions and portfolio transfers, and AI-powered tools woven throughout the platform, and Public delivers a surprisingly deep experience wrapped in a clean, beginner-friendly interface.

Key Features

• Bond Account

  Invest in a portfolio of 10 corporate bonds from $1,000

• Alpha AI Assistant

  Ask questions about stocks, and get AI-generated earnings recaps

• Direct Indexing

  Custom index portfolios from $1,000 with tax-loss harvesting

• Investment Plans

  Automated, customizable portfolio allocations

• Order Routing Transparency

  Transparent PFOF with optional paid routing

• Multi-Order Baskets

  Queue up multiple equity and options trades at once

Best Known For

• Only broker offering rebates on equity options trades

• AI-powered analysis on every stock

• Transparent order routing with PFOF opt-out option

• 99.994% platform uptime reliability

• 4.7/5 App Store rating with strong user sentiment

Pros & Cons

How to Get Started With Public?

• Setting up a Public account is quick and straightforward. The platform is designed to get you investing in minutes with minimal friction:
  
  1. Download the App: Get Public from the App Store, Google Play, or web.
  2. Create Your Account: Register with your email, and basic personal details.
  3. Verify Your Identity: Public verifies your information digitally, usually same-day approval.
  4. Fund Your Account: Link a bank account via ACH transfer. There's no minimum deposit.
  5. Start Investing: Trade stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, and fractional shares from $1.
  6. Open a Bond Account or IRA (Optional): Start with $1,000 to lock in yields, or open an IRA to earn the 1% match.
  

Who is Public Best For?

• Public is a strong fit for investors who want multiple asset classes like stocks, bonds, options, and treasuries, without juggling separate platforms or paying commissions. The AI-powered insights and community features make it a solid learning environment for newer investors, while direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting add real depth for those with larger portfolios. Additionally, their commitment to avoiding Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) means your trades are routed with your best interests in mind rather than sold to the highest bidder. Furthermore, the intuitive, sleek design of the app ensures that managing all these sophisticated tools remains completely straightforward, even on the go. If you want a transparent, multi-asset platform that keeps innovating, Public is one of the most well-rounded choices available.

Bottom Line

• Public has quietly built one of the most innovative platforms in the brokerage space. Between the options rebates, direct indexing, AI-powered insights, and fractional bond investing, it offers features you won't find bundled together anywhere else at this price point. The platform's commitment to transparency, from order routing disclosure to its clean fee structure, sets it apart in an industry where hidden costs are still common. For investors who value variety, honesty, and a platform that keeps pushing forward, Public is hard to overlook.