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Public
Public earns 4.3/5 for an approachable multi-asset app with $0 account maintenance, $0 regular-hours commission on eligible U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, $5 fractional equity buys, options, bonds, Treasuries, IRAs, crypto, direct indexing, Investment Plans, margin, high-yield cash, and unusually visible AI-assisted research. The breadth requires careful fee separation. Non-Premium extended-hours and OTC stock trades cost $2.99; recurring Investment Plans cost $0.49–$1.99 per purchase by symbol count; non-Premium Bond Accounts cost $3.99 monthly plus transaction fees; index options cost $0.50 per contract without Premium or $0.35 with it plus exchange charges; crypto follows Zero Hash’s tiered schedule; and Premium costs $10 monthly or $96 annually unless a qualifying combined balance reaches $50,000. Public is strongest for curious self-directed investors who will use several asset classes and read the fee schedule.
What to know about Public
Public earns 4.3/5 for an approachable multi-asset app with $0 account maintenance, $0 regular-hours commission on eligible U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, $5 fractional equity buys, options, bonds, Treasuries, IRAs, crypto, direct indexing, Investment Plans, margin, high-yield cash, and unusually visible AI-assisted research. The breadth requires careful fee separation. Non-Premium extended-hours and OTC stock trades cost $2.99; recurring Investment Plans cost $0.49–$1.99 per purchase by symbol count; non-Premium Bond Accounts cost $3.99 monthly plus transaction fees; index options cost $0.50 per contract without Premium or $0.35 with it plus exchange charges; crypto follows Zero Hash’s tiered schedule; and Premium costs $10 monthly or $96 annually unless a qualifying combined balance reaches $50,000. Public is strongest for curious self-directed investors who will use several asset classes and read the fee schedule.
Pros
- Broad stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries, crypto, IRA, and Direct Indexing menu
- Approachable interface with useful company, earnings, bond, income, and AI research
- $0 regular-hours commissions on eligible U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs
Cons
- Premium, Plans, bonds, extended hours, index options, crypto, and inactivity add layered fees
- Several providers create different protection, tax, and support rules
- AI and social discovery can encourage action without sufficient source verification
Scoring breakdown
- Fees & Commissions4.1/5
- Ease of Use4.5/5
- Investment Selection4.7/5
- Research & Tools4.4/5
- Customer Service4.0/5
Verified product facts
- Account Minimum
- $0 brokerage account minimum; eligible fractional stock buys require $5, Treasury recurring purchases can start at $100 through the applicable Jiko account, and Direct Indexing starts at $1,000 subject to portfolio composition
- Commissions
- $0 regular-hours eligible U.S. stock and ETF commissions; non-Premium extended-hours and OTC trades cost $2.99, while Plans, bonds, index options, crypto, margin, routing choices, transfers, and other services follow separate schedules
- Product Type
- Multi-asset self-directed investing platform with stocks, ETFs, OTC, options, bonds, Treasuries, margin, IRAs, crypto, Direct Indexing, Investment Plans, AI research, and cash products across several providers
Where Public ranks
Every DollarScout ranking that includes Public.
Public reviews
Fact-checked July 18, 2026. Sources: Public customer fee schedule, Public Customer Relationship Summary, Public fractional stock minimum, Public Premium price and benefits, Public Investment Plan fees, Public Bond Account fees, Public Direct Indexing fees and minimum, Public extended-hours rules, Public 2026 annual disclosure.