Public.com vs Stash: Which is Better? (2024)

FAQs

Public.com vs Stash: Which is Better? ›

Public.com is a social trading app where you can follow other investors and discover ideas. Invest in stocks, funds, and crypto with as little as $1. While Stash simplifies investing for novices. This app is not a robo-advisor and will not manage investments for you.

Public is a safe investing app, and your account is SIPC-insured. This means that each customer's securities investment is protected up to $500,000.

Yes. Public is a registered investment broker with FINRA and offers both FDIC and SIPC insurance coverage on funds and securities on deposit with the company. The company also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, the highest rating offered by the BBB.

Rather than receiving cash back or rewards points, cardholders can earn rewards in stock of their choice. Note, however, that the amount of stock you'll actually earn is pretty meager — Stash Growth users can earn 0.125% back on purchases while Stash+ customers can earn 0.25% back.

The broker only charges standard regulatory fees, which are negligible and found at all brokerages. For non-Premium users, Public charges a fee of between $0.49 and $1.99 for investment plan (multi-stock) trades, depending on the number of tickers involved, and a $2.99 fee for after-hours trades and OTC trades.

Public is a investing platform that's a great fit for beginning investors with low trade minimums and commission-free trades.

Unsettled Funds are any funds in your account that are still being processed. These funds could be from a Deposit, a Sell Order, or Free Slices of Stock. Once the funds have settled, you will see the balance available for withdrawal.

Public stands apart due to the community aspect of its trading platform. If you want to invest socially, or trade bonds, or invest in collectibles, Public may be a better fit. If you'd like to trade crypto cheaply or open IRAs, Robinhood may be the right choice for you. Both are discount brokers.

Is my money safe on the Public app? As noted, Public is a member of FINRA and accounts are insured against broker insolvency for up to $500,000 by the SIPC. This, however, doesn't protect you against losses from either your investment decisions or defaults from individual investments, as is true for all brokers.

How risky is Stash? ›

When you use Stash, your information is encrypted and stored on secure servers, and your funds and securities are held with your security in mind. Your current investments are covered up to a maximum of $500,000 total, including $250,000 in cash balances through the Securities Investors Protection Corporation (SIPC).

There are four factors that may impact your ability to transfer out of your Stash Personal Brokerage portfolio: Invested funds: If you want to transfer money you've invested, you'll need to sell those investments first. Unsettled sales: Funds from an investment sale will take two business days to settle.

Public is best for active traders who want to invest in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies while utilizing the expertise and insights of other Public.com members. Consider it if: You value portfolio diversification and want a social component to your investing experience.

You can get up to $300 in free stock from Public by signing up and depositing $20 or more. You'll then get to claim a fractional share of stock worth $3 to $300.

The Public app is available for iOS and Android, and it gets generally favorable reviews on the App Store (4.7 stars) and Google Play (4.1 stars). The Public app gives you full access to the capabilities of the Public investing interface, including: Investing in stocks, bonds, crypto, ETFs, and more.

Public stands apart due to the community aspect of its trading platform. If you want to invest socially, or trade bonds, or invest in collectibles, Public may be a better fit. If you'd like to trade crypto cheaply or open IRAs, Robinhood may be the right choice for you. Both are discount brokers.

Public.com doesnt allow day trading of stocks, but the platform limits the activities of accounts that engage in day trading or the same day purchase and sale of a security.