Public – Stocks and Options is a comprehensive mobile investment application designed to make the financial markets accessible and engaging for a new generation of investors. It goes beyond simple stock trading by offering fractional shares, options contracts, and a unique social community feature, allowing users to explore, learn, and invest in companies, ETFs, and strategies they believe in alongside others. The platform emphasizes education and transparency, aiming to demystify investing and provide the tools necessary for users to build and manage their portfolios with confidence.

Key Features

The app distinguishes itself through a blend of investment accessibility and social interaction. It breaks down traditional barriers to entry, enabling participation with any amount of money. Furthermore, its integrated social feed transforms the often solitary act of investing into a shared, learning experience.

• Fractional Share Investing: Buy pieces of expensive stocks with any dollar amount, making companies like Amazon or Google accessible.
• Options Trading: Access tools to buy and sell call and put options contracts, providing more advanced strategic possibilities.
• Social Community Feed: View, discuss, and learn from the public portfolios and trades of other members in a transparent feed.
• Thematic Investing: Explore and invest in pre-built portfolios centered around specific trends or ideas, like clean energy or artificial intelligence.
• Educational Content: Access articles, videos, and explanations directly within the app to build investing knowledge.
• Zero Commission: Trade stocks, ETFs, and options without paying any per-trade commission fees.

Pros & Cons

Every platform has its strengths and weaknesses, and Public is no different. It excels in creating an educational and community-driven environment but may not satisfy all trader profiles, particularly those seeking highly advanced tools or certain asset classes.

• Pros:
  • Low financial barrier to entry thanks to fractional shares.
  • The social element can be educational and reduce the intimidation factor for beginners.
  • User-friendly interface that is clean and easy to navigate.
  • Strong focus on investor education and market literacy.
  • No commission fees on trades helps keep costs predictable.
• Cons:
  • Options trading capabilities, while present, may be limited for sophisticated options strategists.
  • The social feed can sometimes create noise or encourage impulsive behavior based on others' activity.
  • Does not support trading in mutual funds or bonds, limiting portfolio diversification within the app.
  • Advanced charting and technical analysis tools are less robust than on dedicated broker platforms.

Functions

The app’s functionality is built around core actions that support the entire investment journey, from discovery to execution and review. It serves as a unified hub for managing your financial interests.

• Account Funding: Securely link a bank account to deposit funds for investing.
• Search & Discovery: Find stocks, ETFs, and themes using search functions or curated lists.
• Order Execution: Place market, limit, and stop orders for stocks and options.
• Portfolio Tracking: Monitor the real-time performance of your holdings in a clear dashboard.
• Community Interaction: Like, comment on, and ask questions about trades shared in the public feed.
• Notifications: Receive alerts for price movements, order fills, and new content from followed investors.

How to Use

Click the button "Check All Versions" below to download and install it. Once the app is installed on your device, open it and begin the account creation process, which will involve providing some personal information for verification purposes as required by financial authorities. After linking your bank account and depositing funds, you can immediately start exploring the app. Browse the social feed to see what others are discussing, use the search function to look up specific companies, or dive into the educational sections. When ready to invest, simply select any asset, choose the dollar amount or number of shares, and place your order. Regularly review your portfolio tab to track performance and adjust your strategy over time.