Ally Invest vs Firstrade Review
The StockBrokers.com annual broker review assesses more than a dozen different brokers over six months, surfacing the best online stock brokers. This review compares Ally Invest vs Firstrade. Is Ally Invest or Firstrade a better online broker?
First, we will make a comparison of the stock and option trading fees for trading with both brokers. Ally Invest, with its regular stock trades costing $4.95, is more expensive than Firstrade's rate of $0 per trade. With options, the base fees charged are $4.95 (Ally Invest) and $0 (Firstrade). Firstrade's per contract rate of $0 is less than Ally Invest which charges $0.65. Note that some brokers charge a per-share fee instead of a flat-fee commission. For a full breakdown of commissions, read our online broker reviews.
For our next comparison of these two brokers, being able to trade the way you want is a must. Firstrade provides its clients with Stock Trading, Options Trading and Mutual Funds while Ally Invest provides clients access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, Mutual Funds and Forex Trading. When it comes to mutual funds, Ally Invest boasts an offering of 14000 mutual funds compared to Firstrade's 12603 available funds. Commission free ETFs can also be a nice plus, with Ally Invest having the upper hand thanks to its 116 available commission free ETFs compared to Firstrade's offering of all.
Last but not least, by breaking down important features, tools, etc that each broker offers, we can really help to separate the two. Neither broker offers virtual trading. For mobile trading, Both Ally Invest and Firstrade offer clients access to an iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Furthermore, some investors like to bank online, and multiple brokerages provide these services to clients. Checking Accounts and Debit Cards are available to clients of Firstrade while Ally Invest offers customers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans. On the whole, when it comes to tools, research, and mobile trading, both Ally Invest and Firstrade found themselves without awards for Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research and Best in Class - Mobile Trading.
Overall, Firstrade boasts 4.00 stars versus Ally Invest's 3.50 stars.
First, we will make a comparison of the stock and option trading fees for trading with both brokers. Ally Invest, with its regular stock trades costing $4.95, is more expensive than Firstrade's rate of $0 per trade. With options, the base fees charged are $4.95 (Ally Invest) and $0 (Firstrade). Firstrade's per contract rate of $0 is less than Ally Invest which charges $0.65. Note that some brokers charge a per-share fee instead of a flat-fee commission. For a full breakdown of commissions, read our online broker reviews.
For our next comparison of these two brokers, being able to trade the way you want is a must. Firstrade provides its clients with Stock Trading, Options Trading and Mutual Funds while Ally Invest provides clients access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, Mutual Funds and Forex Trading. When it comes to mutual funds, Ally Invest boasts an offering of 14000 mutual funds compared to Firstrade's 12603 available funds. Commission free ETFs can also be a nice plus, with Ally Invest having the upper hand thanks to its 116 available commission free ETFs compared to Firstrade's offering of all.
Last but not least, by breaking down important features, tools, etc that each broker offers, we can really help to separate the two. Neither broker offers virtual trading. For mobile trading, Both Ally Invest and Firstrade offer clients access to an iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Furthermore, some investors like to bank online, and multiple brokerages provide these services to clients. Checking Accounts and Debit Cards are available to clients of Firstrade while Ally Invest offers customers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans. On the whole, when it comes to tools, research, and mobile trading, both Ally Invest and Firstrade found themselves without awards for Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research and Best in Class - Mobile Trading.
Overall, Firstrade boasts 4.00 stars versus Ally Invest's 3.50 stars.
Overall
Commissions & Fees
Offering of Investments
Platforms & Tools
Research
Customer Service
Mobile Trading
Ease of Use
Education
Order Execution
Banking
Minimum Deposit
Stock Trade Fee (flat)
Options Base Fee
Options Per Contract Fee
Mutual Fund Trade Fee
Broker Assisted Trades Fee
IRA Annual Fee
IRA Closure Fee
Stock Trading
OTCBB / Pink Sheets
Options Trading
Complex Options Max Legs
Futures Trading
Forex Trading
Commission-Free ETFs
Mutual Funds (No Load)
Mutual Funds (Total)
Bonds (US Treasury)
Bonds (Corporate)
Bonds (Municipal)
Advisor Services
International Trading
Advantage
Order Type - Market
Order Type - Limit
Order Type - Stop
Order Type - Trailing Stop
Order Type - Contingent
Order Type - MultiContingent
Order Type - OCO
Order Type - OTO
Order Type - OTOCO
Order Type - Algo
Advantage
Desktop Platform (Windows)
Desktop Platform (Mac)
Web Platform
Virtual Trading
Watch Lists - Total Fields
Two-Factor Authentication Login
Charting - Trade Off Chart
Charting - Drawing Tools
Charting - Indicators / Studies
Charting - Historical Trades
Charting - Save Profiles
Charting - Study Customizations
Charting - Custom Studies
Option Chains - Total Columns
Option Chains - Greeks Viewable
Option Analysis - P&L Charts
Option Positions - Rolling
Heat Mapping
Advantage
Stock Alerts - Basic Fields
Stock Alerts - Advanced Fields
Streaming Time & Sales
Streaming TV
Direct Market Routing - Stocks
Direct Market Routing - Options
Ladder Trading
Trade Hot Keys
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks
Level 2 Quotes - Options
Trade Ideas - Backtesting
Client Liquidity Rebates
Advantage
Research - Stocks
Research - ETFs
Research - Mutual Funds
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB
Research - Fixed Income
Research - Futures
Research - Forex
Screener - Stocks
Screener - ETFs
Screener - Mutual Funds
Screener - Options
Screener - Bonds
Misc - Portfolio Allocation
Misc - Portfolio Builder
Stock Research - Earnings
Stock Research - SEC Filings
Stock Research - Insiders
Stock Research - Social
Stock Research - Reports
ETF Research - Top 10 Holdings
ETF Research - Reports
ETF Research - Ratings
Mutual Fund Research - Reports
Advantage
iPhone App
Android App
Apple Watch App
Trading - Stocks
Trading - After-Hours
Trading - Conditional Orders
Trading - Mutual Funds
Trading - Simple Options
Trading - Complex Options
Trading - Option Rolling
Touch / Face ID
Watch List Syncing
Stock Alerts - Basic Fields
Stock Alerts - Advanced Fields
Charting - After Hours
Charting - Study Customizations
Customizable Homescreen
Heatmapping
Stream Live TV
Barcode Lookup
Advantage
Retail Locations
Member FDIC
Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
Credit Cards
Debit Cards
Mortgage Loans
No Fee Banking
Advantage
Under $24,999.99
$25,000.00 to $49,999.99
$50,000.00 to $99,999.99
$100,000.00 to $249,999.99
$250,000.00 to $499,999.99
$500,000.00 to $999,999.99
Above $1,000,000.00
Has Education - Stocks
Has Education - ETFs
Has Education - Options
Has Education - Mutual Funds
Has Education - Fixed Income
Has Education - Retirement
Videos
Webinars (Monthly Avg)
Webinars (Archived)
Live Seminars
Progress Tracking
Interactive Learning - Quizzes
Magazine
Advantage
Overall
Advantage
Comparing 2 brokers
Ally Invest
Special Offer
Up to $3,500 cash bonus + commission free trades for new accounts Learn More
Yes
Yes
Yes
4
No
Yes
116
7200
14000
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
check_circle
No
No
Yes
No
21
Yes
No
36
117
No
Yes
5
No
8
1
Yes
No
No
check_circle
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
2
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
check_circle
9.75%
9.50%
8.75%
7.50%
6.50%
6.00%
5.25%
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
17
No
Yes
No
No
No
check_circle
Firstrade
Yes
Yes
Yes
2
No
No
all
5234
12603
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
13
No
No
5
58
No
No
6
No
8
5
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
1
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
check_circle
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
check_circle
2
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
9.50%
9.00%
8.50%
8.00%
7.75%
6.00%
5.25%
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
5
Yes
No
No
No
No
check_circle
All pricing data was obtained from a published web site as of 09/01/18 and is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. The StockBrokers.com staff is constantly working with its online broker representatives to obtain the latest pricing data. If you believe any data listed above is inaccurate, please contact us using the link at the bottom of this page. For stock trade rates, advertised pricing is for a standard order size of 500 shares of stock priced at $30 per share. For options orders, an options regulatory fee per contract may apply.
