Public review

Public is the most varied app on this list for someone who wants more than stocks and ETFs. It offers over 9,000 stocks, ETFs, corporate bonds, a Treasury ladder builder, options and 60+ crypto assets, and its disclosures describe commission-free trading as $0 commissions on US-listed registered securities. Retirement savers get traditional and Roth IRAs with a 1% match on annual contributions and no subscription required, plus a crypto IRA. Options traders receive a rebate of $0.06 to $0.18 per contract depending on monthly volume rather than paying a contract fee. Public also leans hard into AI, with a research assistant, daily market briefings, earnings call summaries and Generated Assets that turn a prompt into an investable index. A High-Yield Cash Account and a Bond Account pay interest on idle money. The extra products can feel like a lot for a first-time investor, and fractional bonds bought on Public cannot be moved to another broker.

Who it is for

Investors who want stocks, bonds and Treasuries in one modern app with an IRA match and no subscription.

Price

Commission-free trading of US-listed securities; options rebates of $0.06 to $0.18 per contract.

Commission-free trading refers to $0 commissions charged on trades of US listed registered securities
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Over 9,000 stocks plus ETFs, bonds, Treasuries, options and 60+ crypto assets
• Traditional and Roth IRAs with a 1% match on annual contributions
• Options rebates of $0.06 to $0.18 per contract based on monthly volume
• AI research assistant, market briefings and Generated Assets for idea-based indexes
• High-Yield Cash Account and a Bond Account for regular interest

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: IRA match without a paid subscription
• Strength: Bonds and Treasuries sit next to stocks in the same app
• Strength: Options rebates instead of contract fees
• Weakness: Fewer account types than full-service brokers
• Weakness: AI features and prediction markets add complexity for beginners
• Weakness: Fractional bonds cannot be transferred to other brokerages

Key facts

• Stocks available: 9,000+
• IRA match: 1% on annual contributions
• Base margin rate: 5.15%

Where it ranks

Public is No. 6 in our Best Investing Apps verdict.