Public App Review: Invest in Stocks with Fractional Shares for Free

Jul 31, 2024 By Susan Kelly

Public's 2019 New York founding and location focused on making investing accessible to everybody. To do this, Public was the first broker-dealer to provide commission-free, real-time fractional investing. It was also the first investing website to build an industry-first community of creators, investors, and analysts to share investment ideas.

The business has made several moves over the years to prioritize the needs of its investors. In 2020, it began adding safety labels to individual assets to help prospective investors understand the level of risk involved. In 2021, the Public discontinued taking payment for order flow (PFOF) for equity trading to allow the business to execute orders at the greatest price. Now that we have an idea of the app and some of its background lets read further to read more about Public App review.

Public App Fees

Typical public brokerage accounts don't have minimum balance requirements or administration costs. The monthly fee for a Public Premium account is $10. However, anybody who registers for a normal account and deposits at least $20,000 will be able to access Premium for free. Also, if your account ever drops below $15,000, you will no longer be eligible for free Premium access.

The Public App reviews have noticed that based on the assets in their investment plans, Public Premium members are excluded from paying minimal fees. Additionally, OTC transactions and longer trading hours are free for Premium users (non-Premium members must pay $2.99 for each trade).

When you add digital currency to your Investment Plan, Bakkt imposes a fee equal to 1.25% of the entire value of the digital currency order. Moreover, commission costs for alternative assets are 2.5% for each transaction. Also, depending on your balance, Treasury accounts charge 0.05% monthly. Moreover, there is a $3.99 monthly inactivity charge for accounts with balances under $70 or no activity for the last six months.

How To Open A Public Account?

You can use the mobile app to open an account. The mobile app is available for iOS and Android at public.com. Keep in mind that an investor profile is a requirement for applying. This is a brokerage-wide standard. In order to create an account, you must:

  • Must be 18+
  • Valid Social Security number
  • Legal U.S. address
  • U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or valid visa holder

The Public does not charge for transfers from other brokerages. Also, if the transferring business charges a fee, tell the Public. The Public will reimburse your prior brokerage's transfer fees for balances above $150.

Furthermore, ACH transfers from your bank can also finance the account, so a minimal investment is unnecessary. According to various Public Stock App reviews, transferring money from Public to another brokerage costs $75. You may sometimes need help withdrawing cash from a recent deal.

Customer Service

According to Public Stock App reviews, the app has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Moreover, BBB reports that their app has a proven track record of quickly addressing users' complaints and resolving issues.

You can read the replies of Public representatives on the BBB website to see precisely how they respond to complaints. They provide discreet, helpful customer service, apologize for any mistakes made, and explain any delays or problems that can have occurred. While many businesses claim to be concerned about customer service, the Public app prioritizes it. The Public app offers the following methods for users to get in touch with customer service:

Benefits of Public App

Fractional Share Trading

Fractional Share Trading Public makes it simpler for investors with lower capital to access the market by enabling them to purchase fractional shares. According to reviews of Public investing app, this feature will benefit those who want to invest in pricey stocks or alternative assets without requiring substantial amounts of money.

Transparent Fees

Public's pricing structure is simple to understand. The platform does not impose commissions, transaction fees, or trade execution costs, and there is no minimum account requirement. Public's fee schedule includes a detailed summary of all expenses that the company charges. Moreover, this openness fosters confidence in the platform by assisting investors in understanding the costs related to their investments.

Alternative Investments

The reviews of Public investing app reveal that the Public provides distinctive options for investing in non-traditional assets. Investors can buy rare shoes, trading cards, royalties, and more. These non-traditional investments provide extra possibilities for diversification and the possibility of earning special profits.

No Payment for Order Flow

According to Public Stock App reviews, the general public does not participate in the order flow payment process for stock and ETF trading. This indicates that market makers do not pay the Public to direct orders to them. By abstaining from this approach, the public hopes to provide its customers with more transparency and better execution pricing.

Drawbacks of Public App

Individual Brokerage Accounts

Individual brokerage accounts are just cash or margin with Public. Investors seeking trusts or retirement funds must switch providers due to this limitation. Even though it works for many, this can limit people with specific account needs.

Limited Account Features

Various Public Stock App reviews state that the Public offers high-interest cash accounts but no banking. Due to this limitation, users cannot apply for loans or checking accounts on the site. The Public's great investment skills can only satisfy partial-service financial institution seekers.

Customer Service

The customer care solutions offered by Public could be better. Investors can get in touch via social media, live chat on the app, or email. The lack of phone assistance on the platform can be a disadvantage for those who would rather communicate verbally.

Is Public App Safe For Investing?

All accounts in The Public are SIPC-insured, hence you get up to $500,000 securities investment. Moreover, cash transactions up to $250,000 are also covered. Furthermore, transport Layer Security protects all data, and bank-grade 128-bit encryption protects public accounts.

The Public uses safety labels to warn clients about high-risk investments. Your own research and due diligence are still required, but the Public has added a layer to its app to protect investors.

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