Public.com UK Review

This isn’t the first platform that I have reviewed that exclusively offers US stocks. However, this is my preferred platform for US stocks so far, for two reasons.

Firstly, there is always the issue of FX fees when buying stocks from the US, but at Public.com, these fees are slightly lower than at other platforms of this nature.

Public has also taken the decision to only charge this fee when you deposit, instantly converting your GBP to USD in order to avoid fees every time you place a trade.

The low fees can be partly attributed to the fact that Public does not make money from ‘payment for order flow’ whereby investor trades are sold to market makers.

In addition, there are plans in the pipeline for Public.com to expand its offering, which will present investors with a greater opportunity to diversify their holdings in order to mitigate their exposure to risk.

Who is Public.com?

Public.com is an investment platform that offers a range of assets to U.S. investors and has recently expanded its service to offer U.S. stocks to UK residents.

Who owns Public.com?

Public.com was founded in 2019 by Leif Abraham and Jannic Malling, who retain their positions as CEOs to this day. The company has its headquarters in New York City and has raised $310 million from venture firms including Tiger Global, Lakestar, and Accel.

Public.com product range overview

Trading options at Public are limited to stocks listed on the NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange. This may be the biggest downfall for the platform; however, it’s not all doom and gloom, as there are plans to expand this offering to include additional securities in the UK, including local ETFs and stocks.

Once this happens, this will become a much more attractive offering.

It is prudent to point out that the lack of ISA or pension products means that you should check your exposure to tax before investing with a platform like this. This is definitely a negative aspect for the platform, but it is not uncommon for US based platforms to launch in the UK without tax efficient accounts.

Public.com customer service review

Customer support is only available during US market hours, which could be a minor frustration if you have a query relating to your account or a deposit or withdrawal. However, given that you will only be buying and selling shares during US market hours, I didn’t see this as much of a concern.

If you have upgraded to a premium account, then you also get VIP service. I tested the VIP service and was happy with the speed of my response, which was almost as soon as the markets opened.

Public.com opening an account

The account opening process takes minutes. You will need some very basic information, but the following steps will have you up and running in no time:

1. Download the app or head to the Public website for the QR code.
2. Enter some basic personal information. You will be asked to start with your mobile number, followed by your name and country of residence
3. Verify yourself by submitting your National Insurance number and uploading a photo of a government issued ID
4. Agree to the terms and conditions
5. Provide some information regarding your level of experience, income, and investment goals
6. Link your bank account. This can be done automatically if you have your banking app installed on your mobile device
7. Await verification, after which you are able to deposit. I was verified within minutes

The minimum deposit on your first deposit is £20, after which time you are at liberty to deposit as little as £1.

Public.com tools and research

There is little doubt that the platform have made excellent headway in their commitment to provide investors with up to the minute information. This level of data can really empower investors to make good decisions with their portfolio.

Possibly one of the stand-out features is the Social Investing side of the platform. I found it to be very engaging, allowing me to see where other investors are placing their money and harness the wisdom of the crowds. These social trends can really provide an insight into market sentiment and help pinpoint successful investors, should you feel more comfortable following the actions of someone with more experience.

The newsfeed integration is another excellent tool that I found helpful. Relevant articles are directly available within the platform, keeping investors up to date with the latest stock market developments and the potential impact these might have on their investments.

There is also a decent amount of data on company profiles and stock performance. The charts were clear and easy to understand, making finding historical data a breeze. Company information includes financials, earnings reports, and recent news.

Public.com safety

I don’t think there is anything to worry about in terms of safety at this platform.

Whilst they don’t currently have full Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), authorisation, they are an appointed representative of Khepri Advisers Limited, which in turn is regulated by the FCA.

So, what does this mean for you? Put simply, it means you can trust the platform, but you aren’t covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. However, Public is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) stateside, which in turn means that you are covered by up to $500,000 worth of any US-listed securities you own should Public go bust. Arguably, this is actually better.

Public.com fees

You can’t fault the fee structure at Public; as investment platforms go, it has done everything possible to keep costs low for UK investors.

In fact, I was really impressed with the level of transparency when it came to fees. Zero commissions on trades makes a significant difference, especially for traders who plan to buy and sell frequently and don’t want fees eating into their potential gains.

There are also no account maintenance or inactivity fees, so that makes them suitable for infrequent traders.

The only cost to be aware of is the currency conversion fee, which can’t be avoided if you are buying and selling US stocks. Public charges this fee on deposits in order to reduce the cost of each transaction when you buy and sell stocks. And unlike other platforms, which will charge around 0.35%, Public has reduced the FX fee to 0.30%. A small but welcome difference.

Along with its free account, Public offers a paid Premium plan, which offers additional features like portfolio insights from the analysis specialist Morningstar and deeper stock insights. This plan costs $96 (around £75) a year or $10 (around £8) a month.

Public Premium

The subscription service is aimed at investors who are looking to go into more depth in their research. There are a number of additional features that you can tap into with the Public Premium, including:

• Extended trading hours
• Recurring portfolio investments
• VIP account management
• Portfolio insights revealing under or overexposure to certain stock types or sectors
• Real-time custom price alerts
• Detailed performance metrics
• Institutional-grade research
• Weekly market breakdowns
• Exclusive audio content keeping you on top of breaking stories

So this just leaves the question of whether paying for the subscription service will ultimately benefit your bottom line. This will depend on the size of your portfolio and your investment style. If you are the type of person who will buy their stocks and hold them for several years, then I would recommend just sticking with the free version of the app. However, seasoned investors who stay abreast of changes in the market would probably benefit from all the additional features and information to help with their decisions.

Public investing platform review

I really liked the Public trading app, although there was no two factor authentication, which would have really elevated it for me.

The app is really well structured, and someone looking to start trading for the first time would get to grips with it fairly quickly. There are graphs showing the latest activity of the various stock exchanges, and there is a really thriving social community where investors can share ideas and learn from one another.

The Public investing app can be downloaded from the App Store or from the Google Play Store. It provides access to analysis tools, personal finance information, and commission free trading on US stocks.

Who is Public.com suitable for?

That being said, for investors looking to create a globally diversified portfolio, the limitation of only offering US stocks would make this an unsuitable platform.

Useful Information

This section contains useful information to make your experience at

Public.com as seamless as possible.

How do I contact Public.com?

The Public team can be contacted via in-app chat, which I found to be highly responsive, or via email at [email protected].

How do I withdraw money from my Public.com savings account?

The best way to withdraw money from your Public account is to click on the three lines in the top left-hand corner of the app. Scroll down to ‘account settings’, and from there select ‘transfers’ followed by ‘withdraw funds’.

How do I close my account at Public.com?

The best way to close your account at Public is to contact customer service. They will advise you of the correct course of action, as you will have to wait for any unsettled transactions to take place and for all funds to be withdrawn.

Public.com FAQs