Public
📍 USInvest in stocks, ETFs, and options on the social trading platform that combines community insight with AInvest's AI market analysis — all with no payment for order flow.
Integration Details
- RegionUS
- What You Can TradeStock, ETF, Option
- Account TypeEquity
- Partial SharesIn Shares, In Dollars
- Order TypesMarket, Limit, Multi-Leg, StopLimit, StopLoss
- Order DurationDay
- Price DataNot Available via AInvest
- Extended Hours4:00AM – 8:00PM EST
- RestrictionsLIMIT + DAY ONLY
Public Scorecard
| Category | Score | Expert Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | 4.0 / 5 | "Public has evolved from a social investing app into a credible active trading platform with options and alts."— Bankrate, 2025 |
| Execution Speed | 3.9 / 5 | "Solid execution for equity and options; the no-PFOF model means trades route to lit exchanges first."— Forbes Advisor, 2025 |
| Asset Variety | 4.2 / 5 | "Stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, and alternative assets — a genuinely multi-asset platform for retail investors."— NerdWallet, 2025 |
| Charting & Tools | 3.8 / 5 | "Charting is improving but still less deep than Power E*Trade or thinkorswim — better for swing traders than day traders."— Investopedia, 2025 |
| AI Trading Ability | Yes ✓ | "AInvest connects to Public for AI-generated stock and options signals with one-tap execution."— AInvest Research, 2026 |
| User Experience | 4.6 / 5 | "Best-in-class social features and a clean, modern UI — Public makes investing feel accessible without dumbing it down."— App Store Reviews, 2025 |
What Makes Public Unique vs. Its Trade-offs
✓ Uniqueness & Strengths
- No Payment for Order Flow: Public routes orders to lit exchanges rather than selling order flow to market makers — a more transparent execution model.
- AI Integration with AInvest: AInvest supplements Public's social data with AI-generated trade signals. Step 1: Open a Public account. Step 2: Connect your account via AInvest → Broker Connect → Public using OAuth. Step 3: AInvest surfaces AI analysis alongside Public community sentiment. Step 4: Execute orders in Public from AInvest trade alerts.
- Social Investing Layer: Follow other investors' portfolios and reasoning — community transparency that complements AInvest's AI with crowd sentiment signals.
- Extended Hours: Trade from 4AM to 8PM EST — the widest extended-hours window among AInvest's integrated brokers.
✗ Risk Considerations
- No Real-Time Data via AInvest: Live price feeds are not available through the AInvest integration — signals are based on delayed quotes.
- Day-Only Orders: Only Day duration is supported for AInvest-placed orders — no GTC (Good Till Cancelled) capability via the integration.
- Account Fees: Premium subscription ($10/month) required for some advanced features including higher-yield cash rates and options analytics.
- Learning Curve: Options trading approval requires a separate application; new options traders should complete Public's built-in education modules first.
Incentives & About Public
| Qualifying Activity | Reward / Bonus |
|---|---|
| Open account + first trade | $10 bonus credit |
| $1,000 transfer from another broker | Up to 1% match (capped at $100) |
| Premium subscription first month | First month free |
About Public
Public was founded in 2019 by Leif Abraham and Jannick Malling in New York City. Originally launched as a social-first investing app aimed at millennials, Public distinguished itself early by eliminating payment for order flow — a controversial practice common at zero-commission brokers — and routing trades to lit exchanges for more transparent execution.
By 2025, Public had grown beyond its social-investing roots to offer options trading, alternative assets (art, collectibles, crypto), and Treasury bills alongside traditional equities. Its no-PFOF commitment and clean user experience have earned it a loyal following among investors who want both transparency and a modern app. The AInvest integration adds AI-powered signal generation to Public's community-driven investment approach.