Public.com is a user-friendly investment platform designed to democratize stock market participation. Launched in 2019, it enables users to invest in fractional shares of publicly traded companies with as little as $1.
The platform emphasizes transparency, allowing members to see the trades and portfolios of other users. Public.com aims to create a social investing experience by facilitating discussions around stock picks and market trends. Investors can also follow influential users, gaining insights into their strategies.
With a focus on education, the platform provides resources to enhance financial literacy. Overall, Public.com seeks to make investing accessible, collaborative, and educational for a diverse community of users. Keep reading to learn more about this platform.
A Detailed Table on Public.com
| Features | Descriptions |
| Founded Year | 2019 |
| Transparency | Emphasized, showing user trades and portfolios |
| Community Focus | Diverse user community for collaborative investing |
| Platform Type | User-friendly investment platform |
| Mission | Democratizing stock market participation |
What are the Key Features of the Public.com Investing App
Public.com gives you an easy way to start investing in the stock market. Their mobile app has some useful features for new investors. Here are some of the key features of Public.com.
- You can buy and sell stocks with no commissions or account minimums. Public offers fractional share trading, so you can invest in high-priced stocks like Amazon or Google for as little as $5.
- Public provides social investing tools. You can see what stocks other users are buying and selling, share your trades, and discuss investments with the community.
- They offer curated collections of stocks and ETFs to help you discover new investment ideas. You can invest in themes like green energy, tech innovation, or dividend growth.
- Public makes the stock market more accessible with educational resources to help you learn the basics. You’ll find explainers on topics like how to analyze a balance sheet, choose stocks, and build a balanced portfolio.
- With low costs, social features, and educational tools, Public aims to make investing simple and engaging. Their mobile app can be a great place for new investors to get started in the stock market.
Account Types Offered by Public.com
Public.com offers two main account types: standard brokerage accounts and retirement accounts.
For standard brokerage accounts, you have a choice between a personal account or a joint account if you want to invest with a partner. These accounts let you buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and options as you please.
Retirement accounts include traditional IRAS, Roth IRAs, and SEP IRAs. These tax-advantaged accounts make it easy to save for your golden years. Public.com charges no fees for standard or retirement accounts. They make money from interest earned on the cash balances in accounts.
Both account types give you access to Public.com’s simple yet powerful mobile app. You can place trades, monitor the market, and manage your portfolio all from your phone.
For new investors, Public.com’s easy-to-use interface and $0 commissions are appealing. More advanced traders may find the tools lacking, though the company continues improving features.
What are the Trading Platforms Offered by Public.com
Public.com offers user-friendly mobile apps and web platforms for trading. Their interface is simple to navigate whether you’re on the go or at your desk.
Mobile App
The public’s mobile app is available for iOS and Android. You can easily buy and sell stocks, monitor your positions, and stay on top of the markets wherever you are. The app’s minimal design makes it easy to find what you need with intuitive menus and swipe gestures.
Web Platform
For more advanced trading, Public’s web platform gives you streaming data, charts, and analysis tools. You’ll have access to features like options trading, margin trading, and pre-and post-market trading. The web interface provides an overview of the markets, your watchlists, positions, and orders all in one place so you can make fast, informed decisions.
Commissions and Fees on Public.com
With Public.com, you’ll pay $0 commission fees for stock, ETF, and options trading. They offer free stock slices so you can invest in stocks like Amazon and Google for as little as $5.
Public.com doesn’t charge any account minimums, maintenance fees, or inactivity fees either. They make money by earning interest on the cash balances in your brokerage account and receiving compensation from market makers and trading venues.
What are the Alternatives of Public.com
If Public.com isn’t for you, don’t worry! There are other fish in the sea. Here are a few solid alternatives to consider:
Robinhood is a popular free stock trading app, similar to Public.com. They offer commission-free trades, as well as options to buy and trade cryptocurrencies. The interface is simple to use, though some find it lacks advanced tools and resources for serious traders.
TD Ameritrade is a reputable online broker that charges very low fees. They feature a broad range of investment options beyond just stocks, including bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, and forex. The thinkorswim platform is highly rated, with sophisticated tools for analyzing the markets and managing risk. However, the minimum deposit to open an account is $0, so it may not suit small or new investors.
Is Public.com Safe and Legit?
When considering whether Public.com is safe and legit, you’ll want to look at a few key factors. Public.com is regulated by the SEC and FINRA, just like any major broker. This means your investments and personal information are protected. Public.com is also a member of SIPC, which insures your investments for up to $500,000.
It uses bank-level security and encryption to keep your information private. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection to your account. Overall, Public.com takes security and regulation seriously. It gives you peace of mind that your money and data are in good hands.
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Final Thought
While the app makes it easy to get started with stock trading and offers commission-free trades, the limited investment options and basic tools may turn off more advanced traders. However, if you’re a beginner looking for an easy way to dip your toe in the stock market waters, Public.com can be a great way to start building your portfolio without a huge time or money commitment. Thank you all for reading this article.
