Public enters UK in direct competition with Webull
“Our first goal with launching Public in the UK is to be the best place to invest in US stocks. With over 5,000 US listed stocks, competitive FX fees, commission-free trading during US market hours, and comprehensive data on all listed stocks, we aim to be the best place for UK investors who want to explore the US markets.”
US-based multi-asset investing platform Public.com has announced the launch of its FCA-regulated brokerage services in the United Kingdom, one day after Webull did.
This is the first market outside the United States for Public as the broker aims to be the preeminent place to invest in US-listed equities, offering over 5,000 stocks, deep data and insights, and a simple and transparent fee structure with zero commission trading and low FX fees.
It is unlikely that the timing of the launch is a coincidence. Webull, one of Public’s main rivals in the United States, announced the launch of its FCA-authorized broker yesterday.
Healthy competition will benefit UK residents looking for a low-cost investment platform mainly for US-listed stocks and ETFs.
Public plans to add Treasuries, Crypto, Alternatives, Investment Plans in the UK
Public’s US product offering includes additional asset classes, such as ETFs, Treasuries, crypto, and alternatives, which may be available in future releases in the UK. The broker also plans to launch Investment Plans in the UK, a tool that allows members to create customized recurring investments.
For now, Public’s UK clients can build a portfolio on the Public app with over 5,000 US-listed equities and access features that provide additional data and context, such as custom company metrics, Morningstar research, earnings call recordings, and insights from a community of millions of investors, all in one place.
UK residents are able to access the Public app on a rolling basis on both iOS and Android devices, with key product features available at launch including:
Over 5,000 stocks: Public has over 5,000 US-listed equities on its platform, providing UK investors with a broad range of options to build their portfolios, from large-cap tech to dividend stocks, to emerging markets stocks. The platform aims to offer the widest range of US-listed equities available to UK investors.
Commission-free trading and low FX fees: Public members can trade stocks commission-free during market hours. Unlike many other brokerages, Public converts members’ currency from GBP to USD when they deposit funds rather than on every individual trade, which can result in fewer FX transactions and significantly lower fees.*
Advanced data and insights: Investors can access data and context that can help them make more informed investment decisions. UK members can access custom company metrics, Morningstar research, earnings reports, and breaking news, all in the same place they invest. Investors can tune into daily live shows about the markets and access a community of analysts, company executives, and creators to discuss the markets. Many of these features are available to all Public members, while some are part of Public Premium, the company’s paid subscription tier.
“We aim to be the best place for UK investors who want to explore the US markets”
Leif Abraham, co-CEO and co-founder of Public, said: “London and the broader UK market has always been the financial epicenter of Europe, so it’s a natural place for Public to start our international expansion. Public has always had European roots: my co-founder and I are both European, and we have a team across multiple European countries, including the UK. We’re excited that now it won’t just be the team in Europe and the UK, but the members we serve.”
Dann Bibas, GM of International at Public, commented: “Our first goal with launching Public in the UK is to be the best place to invest in US stocks. With over 5,000 US listed stocks, competitive FX fees, commission-free trading during US market hours, and comprehensive data on all listed stocks, we aim to be the best place for UK investors who want to explore the US markets.”
The international expansion of Public follows the raise of $300 million in venture capital funding, with investors including Accel, Greycroft, Lakestar, Maria Sharapova, and JJ Watt, the new owner of Burnley FC.
Both Public and Webull are known for their refusal of participating in Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) as a source of revenue, unlike other US-based commission-free stock trading platforms such as Robinhood. All orders on Public and Webull are routed directly to the exchanges and other execution venues.
