Supported by celebrity investors and offering a unique investment approach, Public.com has attracted much attention for allowing its users to make long-term investments without costing them an arm and a leg (yes, we are talking about fees). It introduced an affordable and convenient way to invest in stocks and ETFs with no minimum amount required.
In this article, we’ll uncover the countries where Public is available, the company’s expansion plans, and some alternatives to Public.com for investors from unsupported countries! Keen to find out more? Keep on reading. We’ve got you covered!
In which countries is Public.com available? 🌎
Public is only available in the US and the UK. This means that if you live in Europe, Canada, China, Russia, or any other country outside the US and the UK, you won’t be able to open an account.
However, the Public investing app has created a waiting list for global investors meaning that an international expansion is underway! Still, there is no launch date or reference to what countries Public.com will be available.
Does Public work in the UK? 🇬🇧
Yes, Public recently launched in the UK. However, for now, UK investors can only invest in stocks (no cryptos, treasuries, ETFs, or alternative assets).
Does Public.com work in Canada? Can Canadians use the Public stock app? 🇨🇦
No, Public is not available in Canada.
Does Public work in Europe? 🇪🇺
No, the Public investment app is not available in Europe besides the UK.
Is the Public trading app available in Australia? 🇦🇺
No, Public is not available in Australia.
Alternatives to the Public App
Now, the real question is, “Will I find a similar app to Public?”. The short answer is yes!
Based on our due diligence on the field, using some criteria such as top-tier regulators, customers feedback, the platform’s ease of use, accessibility for the vast majority of investors, and costs, we have compiled a list of international alternatives, all together in the following oh-so-handy bullet point list:
eToro
The world’s leading social trading platform with +30M users. It offers commission-free stock and ETF trading (not all ETFs are commission-free; not for US investors). The closest competitor to Public! eToro review available here.
Disclaimer: eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Interactive Brokers
Founded in 1978, IBKR is one of the world’s most trustworthy brokers. It offers an enormous range of financial products (stocks, ETFs, Options, Cryptos,…), and low currency conversion fees (FX fees). Check our Interactive Brokers review.
💡 Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs, ideal for novice investors.
XTB
Leading derivatives trading broker. XTB offers commission-free real stock trading in some countries.
Disclaimer: 81% of retail CFD accounts lose money when trading with this provider.
DEGIRO
A low-cost European broker that offers commission-free ETF trading (external fees apply). DEGIRO review available here.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
Stake
Stake is a commission-free stock and ETFs trading platform available in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. New users get a free stock.
Webull
Another leading US-based broker that offers commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options trading (for US-listed products).
Wealthsimple Trade
A Canadian fintech company with a leading Robo-advisor service, plus a brokerage service that allows clients trade stocks, ETFs and cryptos, commission-free.
Broker | Accepts clients from |
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money. | Worldwide. |
Europe | |
The UK, New Zealand, Brazil, Australia. | |
77% of retail CFD accounts lose money. | Worldwide. |
US, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Japan, the UK, and Australia. | |
Canada. | |
Worldwide (+220 countries, exceptions apply). |
Is it safe to invest your money through these companies?
All of the investment companies described in this guide are compliant with the relevant regulatory bodies. The amount of investor protection varies from regulator to regulator. For companies based in Europe, the usual protection amount is €20,000. For other countries, the protection limits may differ.
Ready to invest?
Remember, there’s no reason to restrict yourself to the Public alternatives discussed in this guide. While we wholeheartedly stand by our recommendations, your final decision should be informed by self-conducted research and in-person due diligence.
Explore the options you find interesting, and decide for yourself! If you haven’t found a match, you can still look at our comparison of online brokers available by country.
As a reminder, the above information should not be construed as investment advice and should only be considered information. Investors should do their research and diligence about the services and opportunities best suited for their risks, returns, and impact strategy.
We hope you’ve found our breakdown of Public and its alternatives useful. And remember, if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
Happy investing!
FAQs about Public
What is Public, and why did it become so famous?
Founded in 2018, Public is a new investment app that allows users to invest in stocks, ETFs, cryptos, treasuries, and alternative assets. Public is also an investing social network where members can follow popular creators and share ideas within a community of investors. This social aspect creates an inclusive and educational place with social features that make it easy to learn about the “rules” of the investment world while building users’ confidence as investors.
Last but not least, Public lets you automatically reinvest your dividends, meaning you will not jeopardize the compounding effect of stock returns (the 8th wonder of the world, as once said Albert Einstein), which SIPC fully insures.
How does Public make money?
As economists like to say, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”. No doubt about that! In the past, Public made money through payment for order flow, which consisted of paying brokerages to route orders to market makers for trade execution, thus creating a potential conflict of interest between the brokerage and the customer. At the moment, Public makes money in the following ways:
- Optional tipping: An optional feature that allows investors to tip a certain amount every time they trade. Public is the only platform that has introduced this form of compensation so far;
- Securities Lending: Your stocks or ETFs are most likely not parked in a single place. Usually, brokerage firms lend your securities in exchange for an interest rate. Third parties borrow securities for several reasons, such as hedging a position, arbitrage an opportunity, creating a structured product, or betting against the stock price;
- Interest on cash balances: Just like your securities are not parked, your uninvested cash balance isn’t either. Public invests it at the interest rate set by the Federal Reserve;
- Transaction Fee Rebates on Cryptocurrency Transactions: By trading cryptos, you are using a partner of Public: Apex Crypto. It charges you a fee on each trade and Public receives a proportion of that fee;
- Instant Withdrawal Fees: Public does not charge for ACH transfers, but if you are in a rush to receive your cash, you have the option of making an “instant withdrawal” from your brokerage account to your debit card or checking account for a fee;
- Among others: Public Premium Subscription Fees, Pulse partnerships and Alternative Asset Fees
Franklin is a CFA Level III Candidate with 3 years of experience in Wealth Management as a Fund Research Analyst and the Host of the "Edge Over Hedge" YouTube Channel.
