Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Ally Invest vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: In the Ally Invest vs Public.com comparison, Ally Invest offers a broader mix of investment choices for most people, earning 4.5/5 stars and ranking #8 of 14 for Range of Investments from StockBrokers.com. Public.com earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks #13 of 14. Choose Ally Invest if you want mutual funds and optional advisor services alongside stocks, options, margin, and OTC stocks; pick Public.com if fractional shares and access to 40 cryptocurrencies matter more.
Both brokerages support online stock trading, options trading, margin trading, and OTC stocks. Neither offers futures or forex. Only Public.com supports fractional share trading, making it easier to buy slices of high-priced stocks. For crypto, Public.com offers trading in 40 coins, while Ally Invest does not offer crypto.
For account features, both platforms offer Traditional and Roth IRAs. Ally Invest also provides advisor services for hands-off investors, while Public.com does not. Public.com does not offer mutual funds; Ally Invest does. If you want mutual funds and advice in one place, Ally Invest fits best; if you want fractional shares and crypto alongside stocks and options, Public.com is the better match.
| Feature |
Ally Invest
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 40 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
When comparing Ally Invest and Public.com for their trading platforms and tools, Ally Invest generally comes out ahead. Rated three stars out of five for its offerings, Ally Invest ranks 10th among 14 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. While not perfect, it provides users with essential features like a browser-based trading platform, the ability to add notes to charts, and more customizable SMA studies. On the other hand, Public.com trails with a two-star rating and ranks 14th, offering a more bare-bones experience with zero technical indicators or drawing tools for charting.
Neither platform offers a downloadable trading option for Windows or Mac, but both have convenient browser-based platforms. Traders with Ally Invest can take advantage of 120 technical indicators and 36 drawing tools, compared to Public.com's lack of these features. Additionally, Ally Invest offers more depth for those who prefer structured watch lists with 10 columns, while Public.com provides only three. Both do not support paper trading, trading journals, or real-time charting features such as showing historical trades or corporate events.
When diving into specific charting features, Ally Invest provides a more comprehensive toolkit. It allows notes on charts, automated technical analysis, multiple chart profiles, and more fields for customizing SMA studies. In contrast, Public.com falls short, offering none of these features, which may limit its appeal to detail-oriented investors. Overall, while both platforms have their limitations, Ally Invest clearly stands out for traders looking for more functionality and customization in their trading experience.
| Feature |
Ally Invest
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 3 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 120 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 36 | 0 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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Ally Invest vs. Public.com for beginner and investor education: both brokers teach the basics of stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds. Ally Invest also covers mutual funds, which Public.com does not. Neither platform offers paper trading, quizzes, or progress tracking. The key difference is format—Public.com provides educational videos and hosts webinars, while Ally Invest does not.
For overall education quality, StockBrokers.com rates Ally Invest 4 out of 5 stars (ranked 7th of 14 brokers) and Public.com 3.5 out of 5 stars (ranked 11th). Choose Ally Invest if you want broader topic coverage, especially on mutual funds; pick Public.com if you prefer learning through videos and live sessions.
| Feature |
Ally Invest
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Videos | No | Yes |
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When choosing between Ally Invest and Public.com for stock trading apps, it's important to consider what features are most important to you. Both platforms offer solid mobile trading capabilities for both iPhone and Android users. However, Ally Invest manages to edge ahead with its additional functionalities, such as streaming quotes and the ability to create custom watch lists, earning it a higher user rating of 4 stars compared to Public.com's 3.5 stars. Despite this, both platforms rank toward the lower end of the scale according to StockBrokers.com, with Ally Invest taking the #13 spot and Public.com coming in at #14 out of 14 brokers.
Both Ally Invest and Public.com provide apps that are compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making them accessible to a wide range of users. However, neither offers an Apple Watch app or support for streaming live TV and videos on demand. When it comes to trading capabilities, both support mobile options trading and allow users to view charts for multiple time frames. Yet, Ally Invest sets itself apart with the provision of mobile after-hours stock trading and has the added benefit of streaming quotes, whereas Public.com falls short in this area.
For users interested in customizing their trading experience, Ally Invest allows for the creation of custom watch lists but lacks the ability to customize watch list columns, a feature that Public.com does provide. Nevertheless, Public.com compensates by offering stock comparison displays on charts, which is absent in Ally Invest's offering. While neither platform provides intricate technical studies with zero options available, the choice gets clearer based on whether streaming quotes and custom watch lists are a priority or if column customization and chart comparisons hold more value for your trading needs.
| Feature |
Ally Invest
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | No | No |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | No |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 0 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
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|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
Ally Invest vs. Public.com fees: If you prioritize low borrowing costs and zero options contract fees, Public.com can be cheaper. If you care about no minimum deposit and lower account service charges like transfers and IRA closures, Ally Invest tends to win. Both offer $0 stock trades and no fees for options exercise or assignment, so the main trade-off is Public.com’s cheaper margin and options pricing versus Ally’s friendlier account-related costs.
Trading costs: Ally Invest has a $0 minimum deposit; Public.com requires $20. Regular stock trades are $0 at both brokers. Options contract fees are $0.50 per contract at Ally Invest and $0.00 at Public.com. Both charge $0 for options exercise and $0 for options assignment.
Margin and account fees: For margin balances under $25,000, Ally Invest is 12% vs. Public.com at 5.65%; from $25,000 to $49,999, Ally is 11.75% vs. Public.com at 5.65%; from $50,000 to $99,999, Ally is 11% vs. Public.com at 5.50%. IRA annual fees are $0 at both; IRA closure is $25 at Ally Invest vs. $150 at Public.com. Account transfers (ACAT) cost $50 for partial or full at Ally Invest and $100 for partial or full at Public.com.
| Feature |
Ally Invest
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.50 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $25.00 | $150.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When comparing Ally Invest and Public.com for their day trading capabilities, both platforms offer similar basic features but lack advanced tools that active day traders might seek. Neither Ally Invest nor Public.com offers streaming time and sales data, live TV streaming, or direct market routing for stocks. These platforms also do not provide ladder trading, trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entry, or level 2 quotes. Such features are often desired by those looking to rapidly react to market changes and execute trades efficiently.
In terms of strategy support, both Ally Invest and Public.com fall short, as they do not offer basic or advanced backtesting capabilities. This limitation may hinder traders who want to test their strategies before putting them into action. Additionally, neither platform provides a short locator tool to check real-time share availability for shorting, nor do they offer order liquidity rebates. For traders who prioritize these advanced functionalities, other brokerages might be more suitable options. However, for individuals looking for straightforward trading platforms, Ally Invest and Public.com provide entry-level services without the complexities of some high-frequency trading tools.
| Feature |
Ally Invest
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | No |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
When it comes to market research capabilities, Ally Invest has a slight edge over Public.com, thanks to its broader offerings. It provides comprehensive research tools across various asset classes, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, while also incorporating social media sentiment data into its stock research. In contrast, Public.com supports research primarily for stocks, ETFs, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB, and lacks the depth in tools like screeners that Ally Invest provides. This wider suite of resources gives Ally Invest a higher market research rating of 3.5 stars compared to Public.com's 2 stars.
Ally Invest sets itself apart with its range of screening tools for stocks, ETFs, and bonds, helping users discover tailored trade ideas. Furthermore, Ally Invest incorporates social media sentiment analysis into its stock research, offering users an additional layer of insight that Public.com does not provide. However, both platforms fall short when it comes to providing downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds, limiting users who prefer in-depth, offline analysis.
Despite their differences, both Ally Invest and Public.com lack some features like ESG research capabilities or the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class, indicating room for improvement in delivering more holistic investment insights. Ranked #8 and #12 respectively out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, Ally Invest and Public.com cater to different user needs. Those seeking comprehensive research tools across multiple investment vehicles may find Ally Invest more fitting, while Public.com could serve simpler stock and ETF research preferences well.
| Feature |
Ally Invest
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing Ally Invest and Public.com in terms of banking capabilities, Ally Invest provides a comprehensive range of financial services that Public.com currently does not offer. Ally Invest allows users to manage their finances more broadly by offering checking and savings accounts, which are not supported by Public.com. Moreover, Ally Invest also provides debit cards and credit cards to their customers, along with options for mortgage loans and certificates of deposit (CDs). In contrast, Public.com focuses solely on brokerage services, lacking these essential banking features. Therefore, if you are looking for an online brokerage that also caters to your banking needs, Ally Invest stands out as the more versatile choice.
| Feature |
Ally Invest
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Ally Invest is better than Public.com. Ally Invest finished with an overall score of 80.1%, while Public.com finished with a score of 69.6%.
For current Ally customers looking to invest in stocks, Ally's universal-accounts experience and easy-to-use website offer a convenient solution. Its website is far stronger than the mobile app.
In the Ally Invest vs Public.com comparison for crypto trading, Ally Invest offers no cryptocurrency trading (0 coins), while Public.com does.
Public.com supports trading in 40 cryptocurrencies, compared with Ally Invest’s 0.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Ally Invest and Public.com both offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual IRA fees, making them competitive choices for retirement investors. However, Ally Invest has a lower IRA account closure fee at $25 compared to Public.com's $150, which may reduce costs if you close an account.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
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| Review | Ally Invest Review | Public.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
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| Trading Fees | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $4.95 | $2.99 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $0.00 | n/a | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.50 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $20 | n/a |
| Margin Rates | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 11.75% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11% | 5.50% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 9.75% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 8.75% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 8.25% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 7.5% | 5.05% |
| Account Fees | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $25.00 | $150.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $50.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $50.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | No | No | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 40 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | No | |
| Order Type - OCO | No | No | |
| Order Type - OTO | No | No | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
| Beginners | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Videos | No | Yes | |
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | No | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | No | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | No | No |
| Stock App Features | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | No | No | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Column Customization | No | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | No | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | N/A | n/a | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 3 |
| Stock Chart Features | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 120 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 36 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | No | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 8 | 0 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | No | No |
| Stock Research | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | No |
| ETF Research | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | No | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | No | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No | Yes | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | No | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No | No |
| Options Trading | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | No | Yes |
| Banking | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
| Overall | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Ally Invest Review | Public.com Review |
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