Ally Invest vs Public.com 2025
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.
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.
When choosing an online broker, Ally Invest and Public.com stand as two diverse options tailored to different needs. For those seeking a broad array of investment choices, Ally Invest shines with services including stock and margin trading, options, mutual funds, and traditional and Roth IRAs, earning it a 4.5-star rating for its range of investments. Public.com, while offering stock, margin, and options trading similar to Ally Invest, also provides the unique ability to trade fractional shares and a significant selection of 22 cryptocurrencies. However, Public.com falls short in offering mutual funds and IRA accounts, resulting in a 3.5-star rating for its range of investments.
Both platforms support stock and margin trading, expanding opportunities for active investors. They also share access to options trading and over-the-counter (OTC) stocks, offering variety for those looking to diversify. However, they differ markedly when it comes to additional offerings: Ally Invest supports mutual funds and traditional IRA accounts, providing a well-rounded investment experience for retirement planning. On the other hand, Public.com distinguishes itself with its flexibility in fractional shares and a wide crypto portfolio, catering to modern investors interested in digital assets.
In terms of market ratings, Ally Invest takes a lead, ranked 8th out of 15 brokers for its broad investment range by StockBrokers.com, reflecting strong market performance. Meanwhile, Public.com ranks 14th, indicating a narrower focus despite its innovative features like crypto trading. Ultimately, Ally Invest may appeal to those prioritizing a comprehensive selection of traditional investment vehicles, while Public.com suits investors favoring contemporary trading options like crypto and fractional shares.
Feature |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares | 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 | 22 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
When you compare Ally Invest and Public.com, it becomes clear that Ally Invest offers a more comprehensive suite of trading tools and platform features. Both platforms lack desktop applications but provide browser-based platforms for trading. Ally Invest rates higher for its advanced charting capabilities and tool offerings, such as 120 technical indicators and 36 drawing tools, aspects that Public.com does not offer. Additionally, Ally Invest allows users to add notes to charts and save multiple chart profiles, which are not available with Public.com. As a result, Ally Invest earns a higher ranking, landing at #10 out of 15 brokers according to StockBrokers.com, while Public.com sits at #14.
Both Ally Invest and Public.com are limited in certain areas. Neither provides options for paper trading, trading journals, or the ability to adjust open orders on charts, which might be a consideration for users looking for these specific features. They also don’t allow customization of study fields for charting, with Ally Invest offering 8 fields for simple moving average (SMA) customization, in stark contrast to Public.com's none. Although Ally Invest lacks the ability to show historical trades and corporate events on charts, its superior offerings in charting and customization give it an edge over Public.com.
If you're looking to build detailed watch lists, Ally Invest allows for greater customization with 10 columns available, whereas Public.com offers only 3. Moreover, on Ally Invest, you can visualize complex data using index overlays and automated technical analysis, both unique advantages for users seeking in-depth market insight. While both platforms furnish the basics for online trading, Ally Invest stands out with a 3-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, surpassing Public.com's 2-star rating.
Feature |
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Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 10 | 3 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 120 | 0 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 36 | 0 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025
When considering education for beginner investors, both Ally Invest and Public.com offer comprehensive resources, though their strengths differ. Ally Invest provides extensive educational material on stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds, making it a well-rounded choice for those eager to explore various investment products. In contrast, Public.com focuses on stocks, ETFs, and options but does not cover mutual funds or bonds. Interestingly, Public.com supplements its learning tools with educational videos and webinars, providing a more dynamic learning experience compared to Ally Invest, which lacks these features. However, neither platform offers paper trading or interactive learning tools like quizzes to track progress.
In ratings, Ally Invest slightly outperforms Public.com with a 4-star rating compared to Public.com's 3.5-star rating in educational offerings. Additionally, StockBrokers.com ranks Ally Invest at #8 out of 15 brokers for education, while Public.com is ranked at #12. This suggests that while both platforms serve beginners well, Ally Invest provides a broader scope of materials, particularly for those interested in a detailed understanding of various investment options. However, if you prefer multimedia learning, Public.com might be the more engaging choice.
Feature |
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Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
Education (Bonds) | Yes | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Videos | No | Yes |
Webinars | No | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When deciding between Ally Invest and Public.com for stock trading app capabilities, there are some clear distinctions. Ally Invest generally receives a higher rating, boasting 4 stars compared to Public.com's 3.5 stars, and ranks marginally better at #13 among online brokers on StockBrokers.com, with Public.com trailing slightly at #14. However, your choice between the two could depend on specific features that matter most to you, such as creating custom watch lists or the ability to customize watch list columns.
For those who prioritize mobile app accessibility, both Ally Invest and Public.com deliver with availability on iOS and Android devices, though neither supports the Apple Watch. Users interested in after-hours trading can rely on Ally Invest's mobile app capability in this area, whereas Public.com may not offer the same feature. While neither app provides streaming quotes or live TV, both support mobile options trading and multiple time frames for charting. Ally Invest, however, does not allow stock comparisons on charts, which Public.com supports, offering a distinct advantage for those who rely on this feature.
Both platforms fall short in certain areas, lacking technical studies for charting, videos on demand, and stock alerts, which might be a consideration for those seeking more advanced analytics and notifications in their trading app. Ally Invest allows you to craft custom watch lists, unlike Public.com, which compensates with the ability to customize watch list columns. If these unique customization options are significant to your investment strategy, they might heavily influence your choice between the two. Ultimately, evaluating what features are non-negotiable for your trading style will help you determine which app aligns better with your needs.
Feature |
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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
When deciding between Ally Invest and Public.com, it’s important to consider their fee structures and charges to determine which platform better suits your investment strategy. Ally Invest stands out with a $0 minimum deposit and no charges for regular stock trades, but it has a $0.50 per contract fee for options trading. In contrast, Public.com has a $20 minimum deposit but does not charge for options contracts, offering an advantage for those interested in options trading at no extra cost.
For those investing on margin, Public.com offers more competitive rates compared to Ally Invest. On margin balances below $25,000, Public.com charges 8.75%, while Ally Invest charges 13%. This pattern continues for higher balances, with Public.com offering lower rates across all tiers. Both platforms offer fee-free IRAs, but Ally Invest has a lower IRA closure fee at $25, compared to Public.com's $150. Account transfer fees with Ally Invest are also notably lower, at $50 for both partial and full transfers, while Public.com charges $100 for the same services.
Overall, Public.com may appeal to investors with a focus on options trading and margin accounts due to its lower fees in these areas, whereas Ally Invest provides a cost-effective choice for those needing flexibility in their traditional IRAs and who prioritize lower account transfer fees. Each platform has its unique benefits, allowing investors to choose according to their financial goals and fee preferences.
Feature |
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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 |
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Streaming Time & Sales | No | No |
Streaming TV | No | No |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | 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 for 2025
When comparing Ally Invest and Public.com based on their market research capabilities, it's clear that Ally Invest provides a more comprehensive suite of resources. Ally Invest not only offers research for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, but also covers Pink Sheets/OTCBB and bonds, allowing investors to explore various asset classes. In contrast, Public.com lacks mutual fund and bond research, limiting its scope for those interested in a broader range of investment products.
Ally Invest excels in providing tools to refine investment strategies, such as a stock and ETF screener for generating trade ideas, while also giving users insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. Public.com falls short in these areas, as it does not offer screeners for stocks, ETFs, or bonds and lacks functionality for viewing portfolio allocation by asset class. Moreover, Ally Invest allows for stock research using social media sentiment data, a feature absent from Public.com.
Neither Ally Invest nor Public.com currently provide downloadable PDF research reports or ESG research, which might be a consideration for investors interested in these specific features. However, Ally Invest holds an edge with a 3.5-star rating for market research compared to Public.com's 2-star rating, ranking significantly higher on StockBrokers.com’s brokerage list. This overall evaluation suggests that, particularly for those looking for diverse research options and strategic trade tools, Ally Invest offers a more well-rounded platform than Public.com.
Feature |
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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 - Bonds | Yes | No |
Screener - Bonds | Yes | No |
Research |
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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 |
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Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
Debit Cards | Yes | No |
Credit Cards | Yes | No |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 15 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.
Ally Invest does not offer crypto trading, providing zero coins, while Public.com supports crypto enthusiasts by offering trading options for 22 different coins.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
In comparing online brokers, Ally Invest offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fee and a $25 closure fee, while Public.com does not provide IRA options but charges a $150 closure fee on other accounts.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
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Overall |
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Research |
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Customer Service |
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Education |
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Ease Of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Ally Invest Review | Public.com Review |
Broker Screenshots | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
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Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
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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 | 13% | 8.75% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.75% | 8.75% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12% | 6.75% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 10.75% | 6.75% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 9.75% | 5.75% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 9.25% | 5.75% | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.5% | 5.75% |
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 | |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares | No | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 0 | |
Futures Trading | No | No | |
Forex Trading | No | No | |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 | |
Mutual Funds (No Load) | 13000 | 0 | |
Mutual Funds (Total) | 14000 | 0 | |
Bonds (US Treasury) | Yes | Yes | |
Bonds (Corporate) | Yes | Yes | |
Bonds (Municipal) | Yes | No | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | No | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | No | |
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 (Bonds) | Yes | No | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | No | |
Videos | No | Yes | |
Webinars | No | Yes | |
Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - 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 | |
Watch Lists - 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 - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
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 | Yes | 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 - Stocks | No | No | |
Ladder Trading | No | No | |
Trade Hotkeys | 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 - Bonds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
Screener - Bonds | Yes | No | |
Misc - Portfolio Allocation | Yes | 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 - Strategy Overview | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No | No | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
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 - Strategy Overview | 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 - Basic View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Strategy View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Streaming | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Total Columns | 8 | 4 | |
Option Chains - Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Chains - Quick Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | No | Yes | |
Option Probability Analysis | Yes | No | |
Option Probability Analysis Adv | No | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks | Yes | Yes | |
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | No | No | |
Option Positions - Adv Analysis | No | No | |
Option Positions - Rolling | No | No | |
Option Positions - Grouping | Yes | No |
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 (Prospect Customers) | Yes | No | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | No | Yes | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | Yes | No |
Overall | Ally Invest | Public.com | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease Of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Ally Invest Review | Public.com Review |