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E*TRADE vs Ally Invest 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

In this head to head comparison of E*TRADE vs Ally Invest, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

E*TRADE
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4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
Ally Invest
3/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.50

Range of investments

If your main goal is to choose the broker with the wider mix of investments, E*TRADE has the edge over Ally Invest. Both brokers support stock trading, margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options trading, traditional IRA accounts, Roth IRA accounts, and advisor services. However, E*TRADE goes further with fractional shares, futures trading, and crypto trading, while Ally Invest does not offer those account and investment options. For investors who want more ways to build and manage a portfolio, E*TRADE stands out as the more versatile choice.

When it comes to everyday investing, both E*TRADE and Ally Invest offer the basics most traders look for. You can buy and sell stocks, use margin, trade options, and invest in mutual funds through either platform. Both brokers also support retirement accounts, including traditional IRA and Roth IRA accounts, which makes either one a reasonable fit for long-term investing. That said, E*TRADE’s ability to offer fractional share investing can make it easier for newer investors or those with smaller balances to start investing in high-priced stocks.

In overall range of investments, E*TRADE is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while Ally Invest is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #11. Neither broker offers forex trading, but E*TRADE’s extra access to futures and a small crypto selection of three coins gives it more variety. Ally Invest still covers the core account and trading needs for many investors, but E*TRADE is the stronger pick for shoppers who want more investment choices in one place.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes No
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Futures Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 3 0
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026

Trading platforms and tools

Bottom line: For trading platforms and tools, E*TRADE outpaces Ally Invest. E*TRADE earns 4 stars and ranks #6 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Ally Invest scores 1.5 stars and ranks #10. If you want desktop software, paper trading, and richer on-chart controls, E*TRADE is the stronger pick. If you just need a simple, browser-based setup, Ally Invest can work, but power users will notice the gaps.

E*TRADE offers downloadable platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser platform; Ally Invest is browser-only. E*TRADE includes paper trading, while Ally Invest does not. Watch lists are far more detailed with E*TRADE (43 fields) versus Ally (10). You can also adjust open orders directly on E*TRADE’s charts; Ally Invest lacks this. Neither broker provides a built-in trading journal. Both let you save multiple chart profiles.

Charting depth is similar at first glance—E*TRADE has 121 technical indicators and 37 drawing tools, while Ally Invest provides 120 and 36, respectively. Both support chart notes, automated pattern recognition, and eight customization fields for an SMA study, and neither supports custom studies. Where E*TRADE pulls ahead is control and context: you can show historical trades, display corporate events, and set custom date ranges—features Ally Invest does not offer.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Paper Trading Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields 43 10
Charting - Indicators / Studies 121 120
Charting - Drawing Tools 37 36
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026

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Beginners and education

E*TRADE and Ally Invest both cover the basics for beginner investors, offering education on stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. Where they differ is in hands-on and multimedia support: E*TRADE includes paper trading, educational videos, and webinars, while Ally Invest does not. Neither broker offers quizzes or tools to track your learning progress.

For education quality, E*TRADE earns 4 stars and ranks #5 out of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Ally Invest holds 3 stars and ranks #12. If you want to practice trades and learn through videos and live sessions, E*TRADE is the stronger pick. If you just need straightforward reading on core topics, Ally Invest can cover the essentials.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes Yes
Education (Fixed Income) Yes Yes
Videos Yes No
Webinars Yes No
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms & Apps for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

Bottom line: E*TRADE is the stronger pick for most mobile traders. StockBrokers.com rates E*TRADE 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #5 of 14 for stock trading apps, while Ally Invest earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. Choose E*TRADE if you want broader mobile features and deeper charting; choose Ally Invest if you only need basic trading with streaming quotes and options on a simpler app.

Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps. E*TRADE also supports Apple Watch, while Ally Invest does not. Mobile after-hours trading is available on E*TRADE; Ally Invest’s status isn’t specified in the information provided. Both apps support options trading and streaming quotes. Only E*TRADE streams live TV, and neither app provides videos on demand. For price alerts, E*TRADE says yes; Ally Invest says no.

For charts and watchlists, both let you create custom watch lists, but only E*TRADE lets you customize watch list columns. E*TRADE adds after-hours charting, landscape chart views, and stock-to-stock comparisons on charts. While both apps allow multiple time frames, E*TRADE offers 107 technical studies versus none listed for Ally Invest, giving E*TRADE a clear edge for technical analysis on mobile.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Stock Alerts Yes No
Charting - After-Hours Yes No
Charting - Technical Studies 107 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026

Fees

When choosing between E*TRADE and Ally Invest, both platforms offer fee-free stock trades and no minimum deposit requirement, making them accessible for investors of all levels. However, they diverge in their pricing structures for options trading and other charges. Ally Invest generally offers more competitive rates on options contracts and margin balances. On the other hand, E*TRADE provides a slightly more cost-effective solution for certain account transfer fees, and it eliminates fees for IRA closures, setting it apart in those specific areas.

Both E*TRADE and Ally Invest charge no fees for regular stock trades, enhancing their appeal to cost-conscious investors. While both do not require a minimum deposit, Ally Invest leads with a slightly lower fee per options contract at $0.50 compared to E*TRADE's $0.65. When it comes to margin balances, Ally Invest consistently offers lower rates across all tiers, including 12% for balances below $25,000 and 11% for balances ranging from $50,000 to $99,999. E*TRADE's respective rates are 12.95% and 12.2%, which may impact decision-making for those engaging in margin trading.

For account-related fees, both brokers offer fee-free IRA accounts, though Ally Invest charges $25 for IRA closures, unlike E*TRADE which charges nothing. Additionally, Ally Invest has a $50 fee for partial account transfers, whereas E*TRADE does not charge for this service. Conversely, for full account transfers, E*TRADE's fee stands at $75, while Ally Invest once again charges $50. Despite slight differences in fees, both platforms eliminate options exercise and assignment fees, reflecting a user-friendly approach to options trading.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.50
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $25.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026

Day Trading

When comparing E*TRADE and Ally Invest for day trading, E*TRADE emerges as a stronger platform with several valuable features. E*TRADE provides streaming time and sales, streaming live TV, and direct market routing for stocks, which are crucial for active traders who need up-to-the-minute data and flexibility in executing trades. Additionally, E*TRADE offers trading hotkeys and level 2 quotes, further enhancing its appeal to day traders seeking advanced tools and efficient trade execution.

On the other hand, Ally Invest falls short in these areas, as it does not offer streaming time and sales, streaming live TV, or direct market routing. Furthermore, Ally Invest lacks trading hotkeys and level 2 quotes, which might limit the experience for those who require rapid and informed decision-making during trading sessions. While neither platform provides ladder trading, backtesting, or a short locator tool, E*TRADE's added capabilities make it a more suitable choice for those serious about day trading.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026

Market Research

Bottom line: For market research, E*TRADE is the stronger choice over Ally Invest. E*TRADE earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #3 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Ally Invest scores 3 stars and ranks #9. If you want deeper insights and more built‑in tools, pick E*TRADE; if you only need the basics, Ally Invest will cover core needs.

Both brokers offer research across key asset types—stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, and even Pink Sheets/OTCBB. Where E*TRADE pulls ahead is in formal research access: it provides eight downloadable PDF reports for stocks plus downloadable reports for ETFs and mutual funds. Ally Invest does not offer downloadable PDF reports for these categories.

On screening and analytics, each broker includes stock and ETF screeners, and both have a bond screener. E*TRADE adds a mutual fund screener and lets you view your portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature Ally Invest lacks. Both support stock research using social media sentiment, but only E*TRADE includes ESG research. For investors who value more data, filters, and organized research, E*TRADE delivers a fuller toolkit, while Ally Invest remains a simpler option for basic idea generation.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of E*TRADE and Ally Invest, both online brokers provide a range of services suited for personal finance needs. E*TRADE and Ally Invest each offer checking and savings accounts, allowing users to manage their everyday banking efficiently. Customers can use debit cards at both institutions, ensuring easy access to cash and purchases. Additionally, both brokers offer credit cards, adding flexibility to their financial product line-ups. Those seeking home ownership options can explore mortgage loans through either E*TRADE or Ally Invest. In terms of investment options, both platforms provide Certificates of Deposit (CDs), enabling customers to grow their savings over time with potentially higher returns. Whether you choose E*TRADE or Ally Invest, you can count on a variety of banking services to support your financial journey.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Checking Accounts Yes Yes
Savings Accounts Yes Yes
Debit Cards Yes Yes
Credit Cards Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans Yes Yes
Brokerage CDs Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that E*TRADE is better than Ally Invest. E*TRADE finished with an overall score of 86.0%, while Ally Invest finished with a score of 56.0%.

With two distinct platforms (E*TRADE Web and Power E*TRADE) the broker effectively serves both the "set-it-and-forget-it" investor and the high-volume derivatives trader. Whether you aim to construct a long-term retirement portfolio or deploy complex options strategies, E*TRADE provides a sophisticated, dependable environment that grows with your ambition.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with E*TRADE or Ally Invest?

E*TRADE offers crypto trading with access to 3 coins, while Ally Invest does not currently support cryptocurrency trading.

For investors looking to buy and sell digital assets through an online broker, E*TRADE provides crypto access, whereas Ally Invest offers none.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does E*TRADE or Ally Invest offer IRAs?

Both E*TRADE and Ally Invest offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, but only E*TRADE allows you to close your IRA account without a closure fee, while Ally Invest charges $25 for this service.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026

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Compare

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Overall Rating E*TRADE Ally Invest
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Ally Invest Review
Broker Screenshots E*TRADE Ally Invest
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees E*TRADE Ally Invest
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $6.95 $4.95
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.50
Futures (Per Contract) $1.50 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25 $20
Margin Rates E*TRADE Ally Invest
Margin Rate Under $25,000 12.95% 12%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.7% 11.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 12.2% 11%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.7% 9.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 11.2% 8.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 Varies 8.25%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 Varies 7.5%
Account Fees E*TRADE Ally Invest
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $25.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $0.00 $50.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $75.00 $50.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options E*TRADE Ally Invest
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes No
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading Yes No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 3 0
Fixed Income (Treasurys) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) Yes Yes
Traditional IRAs Yes Yes
Roth IRAs Yes Yes
Advisor Services Yes Yes
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order Types E*TRADE Ally Invest
Order Type - Market Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop Yes No
Order Type - OCO Yes No
Order Type - OTO Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes Yes
Beginners E*TRADE Ally Invest
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes Yes
Education (Fixed Income) Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator Yes No
Investor Dictionary Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Videos Yes No
Webinars Yes No
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading Apps E*TRADE Ally Invest
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes Yes No
Stock App Features E*TRADE Ally Invest
Mobile Research - Market Movers Yes Yes
Stream Live TV Yes No
Videos on Demand No No
Stock Alerts Yes No
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watchlist (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watchlist (Streaming) Yes No
Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization Yes No
Stock App Charting E*TRADE Ally Invest
Charting - After-Hours Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 107 0
Charting - Study Customizations Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes No
Trading Platforms E*TRADE Ally Invest
Active Trading Platform Power E*TRADE N/A
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Trade Journal No No
Watchlists - Total Fields 43 10
Stock Chart Features E*TRADE Ally Invest
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 121 120
Charting - Drawing Tools 37 36
Charting - Notes Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars No No
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Save Profiles Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations 8 8
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day Trading E*TRADE Ally Invest
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities Yes No
Ladder Trading No No
Trade Hot Keys Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research Overview E*TRADE Ally Invest
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Portfolio Asset Allocation Yes No
Stock Research E*TRADE Ally Invest
Stock Research - PDF Reports 8 0
Stock Research - Earnings Yes No
Stock Research - Insiders Yes Yes
Stock Research - Social Yes Yes
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes No
ETF Research E*TRADE Ally Invest
ETFs - Investment Objective Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis Yes No
ETFs - Ratings Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports Yes No
Mutual Fund Research E*TRADE Ally Invest
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap Yes No
Options Trading E*TRADE Ally Invest
Option Chains - Total Greeks 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes No
Banking E*TRADE Ally Invest
Bank (Member FDIC) Yes Yes
Checking Accounts Yes Yes
Savings Accounts Yes Yes
Credit Cards Yes Yes
Debit Cards Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans Yes Yes
Customer Service E*TRADE Ally Invest
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes Yes
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) No No
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes Yes
Overall E*TRADE Ally Invest
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Ally Invest Review
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