TL;DR
It's a tie! Both score 4/5 stars.
Choose Lithic if you need Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Master,
or Public.com if you need Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bo.
⬇ Scroll for full 20-point audit
Best For
Lithic
vs
Public.com
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Master...
vs
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bo...
Fee Structure
Lithic
vs
Public.com
B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card p...
vs
$0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee on generat...
Rating
Lithic
vs
Public.com
4/5 ★
vs
4/5 ★
Lithic
Card Issuing & Payments Infrastructure
Best For
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
Core Fee
B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card program type, and features
Settlement
99.99%+ uptime; sub-100ms authorization times; instant virtual card issuance via API; supports Apple/Google/Samsung Pay
Public.com
Social Investing Platform & Bond Marketplace
Best For
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios
Core Fee
$0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee on generated assets (AI-curated ETFs); crypto fees via third-party; Premium subscription available
Settlement
Instant fractional share investing from $1; Bond Account settled same-day; 1% IRA match on contributions and rollovers; real-time portfolio tracking
What This Audit Doesn't Cover:
Real-time currency fluctuations, promotional offers, region-specific pricing, or temporary fee waivers.
Always verify current rates, fees, and features directly with Lithic and Public.com
before making any financial decision.
Full 20-Point Audit Matrix
Verified current data across all key decision criteria
| Audit Criterion | Lithic | Public.com |
|---|---|---|
WealthBlueprint RatingOverall score vs. all reviewed platforms (out of 5 stars) |
||
| Cost Structure & Fees | ||
Transaction FeesPer-transfer costs, domestic & international |
B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transaction volume, card program type, and features | $0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee on generated assets (AI-curated ETFs); crypto fees via third-party; Premium subscription available |
FX / Conversion SpreadMarkup above mid-market exchange rate |
Lithic charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app |
Public.com charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app |
Account MaintenanceMonthly or annual account-keeping charges |
Custom/tiered pricing — Lithic's fee structure depends on your account tier or usage volume.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up |
Public.com applies account maintenance charges as described in its fee schedule. Pricing may vary by region.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up |
Card Issuance FeesVirtual and physical card creation costs |
Lithic offers virtual and physical cards.
Check the Lithic app under card settings for current issuance fees.
Check Lithic app for current card fees |
Public.com does not primarily offer physical cards — access is digital-first.
Check Public.com app for current card fees |
| Settlement Speed & Reliability | ||
Domestic SettlementLocal bank transfer completion time |
Lithic
99.99%+ uptime; sub-100ms authorization times; instant virtu
VS
Public.com
Instant fractional share investing from $1; Bond Account set
Both platforms offer comparable settlement speeds.
|
|
Cross-Border SpeedInternational corridor settlement time |
Lithic supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates |
Public.com supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates |
Uptime / ReliabilityReported annual platform availability rate |
Lithic publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Lithic status page for incident history |
Public.com publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Public.com status page for incident history |
| Security & Regulatory Standing | ||
Regulatory LicensesGoverning bodies and jurisdictions |
Enterprise-grade security; scalable infrastructure; 99.99% uptime; supports unlimited card creation; multi-campaign management
✓ Licensed |
FINRA/SIPC member (up to $500,000); SEC-registered broker-dealer; 256-bit encryption; 2FA; Public Investing Inc. registered with SEC
✓ Licensed |
Deposit InsuranceGovernment-backed protection scheme |
Lithic holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Lithic |
Public.com holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Public.com |
2FA & AuthenticationMulti-factor security implementation |
Lithic supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account |
Public.com supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account |
Fraud DetectionAI/ML-powered transaction monitoring |
Lithic employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring |
Public.com employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring |
| Features, Limits & Access | ||
Ideal Use CasePrimary audience and core value proposition |
Lithic
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
Public.com
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios
|
|
Platform ClassificationRegulatory and product category |
Card Issuing & Payments Infrastructure | Social Investing Platform & Bond Marketplace |
Withdrawal LimitsDaily / weekly transfer and cash-out caps |
Lithic withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits |
Public.com withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits |
Supported CurrenciesFiat and digital asset coverage |
Lithic supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Lithic official site for full currency list |
Public.com supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Public.com official site for full currency list |
| User Experience & Support | ||
App Store RatingAggregate iOS + Android user satisfaction |
Lithic app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store |
Public.com app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store |
Customer SupportAvailable resolution pathways and SLA |
Lithic offers support through its help centre and official contact channels.
Check Lithic help centre for current support options |
Public.com routes support through its official help channels. Priority queue access varies by plan.
Check Public.com help centre for current support options |
KYC Verification SpeedAccount activation timeline post-submission |
Lithic KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Lithic app |
Public.com KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Public.com app |
Overall VerdictWealthBlueprint independent recommendation |
IT'S A TIE — both score 4/5 stars.
Choose Lithic if you need: Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance. Choose Public.com if you need: Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios. ➜ Your choice depends on your specific needs |
|
Official WebsiteVisit platform to sign up or verify current fees |
Visit Lithic ↗ | Visit Public.com ↗ |
Choose Lithic If:
- You need Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Master
- You prefer B2B enterprise pricing; varies by transa
- You value 99.99%+ uptime; sub-100ms authorization
Choose Public.com If:
- You need Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bo
- You prefer $0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% a
- You value Instant fractional share investing from
WealthBlueprint Verdict Summary
Lithic — Best For
Fintechs and businesses wanting to launch custom Visa/Mastercard card programs with instant virtual and physical card issuance
✓ Strong in its core category
Public.com — Best For
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios
✓ Strong in its core category
Not sure which is right for you?
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