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Ally Invest vs Robinhood 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

July 03, 2025

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

Ally Invest
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.50
Robinhood
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Range of investments

When choosing between Ally Invest and Robinhood, investors will find key differences in their offerings, which cater to various investment preferences. Ally Invest offers a comprehensive range of investment options, garnering a 4.5-star rating from StockBrokers.com with an #8 ranking out of 14 brokers. It provides numerous traditional trading opportunities, which are ideal for those seeking an extensive selection of stocks, mutual funds, and options. On the other hand, Robinhood, rated at 3.5 stars and ranked #12 for range of investments, is particularly appealing to those interested in the convenience of fractional shares and cryptocurrency trading, making it easier for beginners and tech-savvy investors to diversify their portfolios with ease.

Ally Invest stands out for its broad spectrum of traditional investment options. It offers stock trading, margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options trading, and a variety of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), all without providing forex, futures, or crypto trading. Furthermore, Ally Invest has the added benefit of providing advisor services, which can be essential for investors looking for professional guidance to enhance their financial strategies.

Conversely, Robinhood has carved a niche for itself by providing features that appeal to modern investors, including fractional shares and a notable collection of 22 cryptocurrencies. Despite the absence of mutual funds and OTC stocks, Robinhood supports stock trading, options trading, margin trading, and offers traditional and Roth IRAs. Although it lacks advisor services, Robinhood remains a popular choice for its user-friendly platform that helps democratize investing for people who may be new to the market or prefer a more digital approach to managing their investments.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Mutual Funds info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes info
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 22
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market

Trading platforms and tools

In comparing the trading platforms and tools of Ally Invest and Robinhood, Robinhood slightly edges out Ally Invest in overall usability and ranking, receiving a 3.5-star rating compared to Ally Invest's 3-star rating. Robinhood is positioned at number 9 among 14 brokers, while Ally Invest sits just behind at number 10. Both platforms do not offer downloadable trading software for Windows or Mac, but they do provide browser-based options, making them accessible from any internet-connected device. Despite having similar chart annotation tools, Robinhood has the edge in user-friendly features such as direct order adjustments on stock charts and setting custom date ranges.

Ally Invest offers a more comprehensive watchlist experience with 10 columns compared to Robinhood's 3. Furthermore, Ally Invest provides a richer set of charting options with 120 technical indicators and 36 drawing tools, far surpassing Robinhood’s 16 indicators and 23 drawing tools. Ally Invest also allows users to add notes to their charts and automates technical analysis by recognizing chart patterns, a feature not available with Robinhood. However, both platforms lack the ability to include paper trading as a practical feature and do not support a trading journal, potentially limiting the depth of risk-free practice and trading reflection.

When it comes to customizing stock studies, Ally Invest provides eight fields for editing Simple Moving Averages (SMA), in contrast to Robinhood's single customization field. Despite the additional flexibility in these areas, Ally Invest does not have the option for custom studies. Both platforms enable the saving of multiple chart profiles, but neither allow users to display historical trades or corporate events on their charts. Ultimately, while Robinhood might be more user-friendly for beginners or casual traders seeking straightforward features, Ally Invest provides more depth and flexibility where technical analysis is a focal point.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Paper Trading info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 10 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 120 16
Charting - Drawing Tools info 36 23
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025

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Beginners and education

When it comes to supporting beginners and fostering investor education, both Ally Invest and Robinhood offer foundational resources across various investment categories. Ally Invest provides educational materials on stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds, while Robinhood covers stocks, ETFs, and options but lacks resources for mutual funds and bonds. Neither platform includes paper trading, educational videos, or progress tracking features, and both are rated four out of five stars for their educational efforts. However, Robinhood does offer webinars, appealing to those who learn best through live sessions, a feature Ally Invest does not provide.

Despite their identical ratings, Ally Invest holds a slightly better educational ranking, placing 7th compared to Robinhood’s 8th in a StockBrokers.com assessment of 14 brokers. This slight edge is due in part to Ally Invest's comprehensive educational coverage, including mutual funds and bonds—areas where Robinhood offers no guidance. Both platforms lack quizzes and tools to track progress, indicating potential growth opportunities in delivering more interactive and personalized learning experiences for investors. Whether you’re starting out or looking to deepen your understanding, both Ally Invest and Robinhood present credible yet distinct pathways to building financial literacy.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) info Yes No
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No No
Webinars info Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

When choosing between Ally Invest and Robinhood for stock trading via their mobile apps, Robinhood emerges with a slight edge. Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, but Robinhood also extends its functionality to the Apple Watch. Additionally, Robinhood outshines Ally Invest with streaming quotes, the ability to provide stock alerts, and customizable watch list columns. It also offers mobile after-hours charting and provides technical studies for charting, which Ally Invest lacks. With a rating of 4.5 stars compared to Ally's 4 stars, Robinhood is ranked at #7 by StockBrokers.com, compared to Ally Invest's #13 position, heightening its appeal for tech-savvy traders seeking a comprehensive mobile trading experience.

Both Ally Invest and Robinhood cater to mobile traders by offering reliable services through well-designed mobile apps available on iPhone and Android devices. Traders who appreciate customizable experiences will find Robinhood's additional options like stock alerts and streaming quotes beneficial. Meanwhile, Ally Invest users may find solace in its straightforward charting capabilities, such as viewing multiple time frames, even without the extensive customization options Robinhood provides.

Those looking for additional features, such as after-hours stock trading via a mobile platform, are covered by both brokers. However, users prioritizing advanced analytics and personalized trading platforms may prefer Robinhood, which offers technical studies for charts. While both brokers provide the essential functionality needed for mobile trading, the distinction lies in Robinhood's additional features, making it a better choice for those who value advanced options and up-to-date trading data delivered on the go.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Robinhood logoRobinhood
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No Yes
Stock Alerts info No Yes
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 6
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When comparing Ally Invest and Robinhood, both offer $0 minimum deposits and charge no fees for regular stock trades, making them attractive options for cost-conscious investors. A notable distinction is in the options trading fees: Ally Invest charges $0.50 per contract, whereas Robinhood offers this service for free. Additionally, Ally Invest charges higher margin interest rates than Robinhood, with Ally’s rates starting at 13% for balances below $25,000 compared to Robinhood’s 5.75% for the same range. In terms of account transfers, Ally Invest is more economical, charging $50 for both partial and full transfers, while Robinhood has higher fees at $100 for each.

Ally Invest and Robinhood both provide commission-free trading, which is a significant advantage, offering a similar initial investment experience. However, Robinhood gains an edge with no fees on options contracts, making it more appealing to options traders or those looking to keep costs down. On the other hand, potential Ally Invest users should be mindful of various charges like the IRA closure fee of $25 compared to Robinhood’s lack of such fees, influencing financial strategies for retirement accounts.

For those planning on leveraging margin trading, Robinhood stands out due to its considerably lower margin rates, providing opportunity for greater cost savings. Nonetheless, for investors prioritizing ease with cost-effective account transfers, Ally Invest’s fee structure aligns better, potentially offsetting other higher charges they impose. Weighing these differences can help investors determine which brokerage aligns best with their individual trading needs and financial strategies.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.50 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $25.00 $0.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When it comes to day trading capabilities, both Ally Invest and Robinhood offer a streamlined, user-friendly experience, but their feature sets have several overlaps and differences to consider. For traders looking for advanced tools, neither platform provides streaming time and sales for stocks, streaming live TV, or direct market routing. Both also lack trading hotkeys for quick keyboard trade entries, and do not support level 2 quotes, which might be a drawback for those who need to see deeper market data.

However, one area where Robinhood edges ahead is its ladder trading feature, a useful tool for traders interested in viewing price action in a vertical format, while Ally Invest does not offer this. Nevertheless, both platforms fall short in areas like basic and advanced strategy backtesting and lack a short locator tool for real-time share shorting availability. Additionally, neither Ally Invest nor Robinhood offers order liquidity rebates, which could impact profitability for high-volume traders relying on maker/taker rebates. Overall, while each platform offers basic trading features, Robinhood might provide an edge with its ladder trading capability for those who find that useful in their trading strategies.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No info
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When comparing the market research capabilities of Ally Invest and Robinhood, it's clear that each platform has its strengths, though Ally Invest pulls ahead overall. With a rating of 3.5 stars for market research and a ranking of #8 by StockBrokers.com, Ally Invest outshines Robinhood, which holds a rating of 2 stars and is ranked #10. If comprehensive research tools are a priority for you, Ally Invest may offer more robust options. However, each platform excels in certain areas, making them worthwhile for different types of investors.

Ally Invest offers extensive research options including stock, ETF, mutual fund, and bond research, whereas Robinhood lacks research capabilities for mutual funds and bonds. Both platforms provide tools for researching Pink Sheets/OTCBB. Notably, Ally Invest gives users insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, an option not provided by Robinhood. Furthermore, Ally Invest incorporates social media sentiment data into its stock research, a feature absent from Robinhood.

While neither platform provides downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds, Ally Invest offers more comprehensive screeners for generating trade ideas. You can access stock, ETF, and bond screeners on Ally Invest, while Robinhood only offers stock screeners and lacks an ETF or bond screener. Although both platforms provide foundational tools for research, Ally Invest's broader capabilities make it a stronger choice for those who want more detailed insights and a wider array of research options.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Fixed Income info Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes No
Research 3.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Ally Invest and Robinhood, Ally Invest stands out with a range of banking services that Robinhood doesn't provide. Ally Invest offers checking and savings accounts, giving users more traditional banking options. In contrast, Robinhood does not offer these account types. Both platforms provide debit and credit cards, giving users access to some essential financial tools. Additionally, Ally Invest extends its services to include mortgage loans and certificates of deposit (CDs), both of which are not available with Robinhood. For individuals seeking a more comprehensive banking experience alongside investment services, Ally Invest offers more options compared to Robinhood's limited banking features.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes Yes
Credit Cards info Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Brokerage CDs info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025

Winner

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 Robinhood. Ally Invest finished with an overall score of 80.1%, while Robinhood finished with a score of 77.3%.

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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Ally Invest or Robinhood?

When comparing Ally Invest and Robinhood for trading options, Ally Invest does not offer crypto trading, while Robinhood supports crypto trading and provides access to 22 different coins.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Ally Invest or Robinhood offer IRAs?

Both Ally Invest and Robinhood offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with zero annual fees, though Ally Invest charges a $25 closure fee for IRA accounts while Robinhood does not impose a closure fee.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Ally Invest Robinhood
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 3.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 4/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Ally Invest Review Robinhood Review
Broker Screenshots Ally Invest Robinhood
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Ally Invest Robinhood
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $4.95 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $0.00 N/A
Options (Per Contract) info $0.50 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $20 N/A
Margin Rates Ally Invest Robinhood
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13% 5.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 12.75% 5.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 12% 5.55%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 10.75% 5.25%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 9.75% 5.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 9.25% 5.25%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 8.5% 5% info
Account Fees Ally Invest Robinhood
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $25.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $50.00 $100.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $50.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Ally Invest Robinhood
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 4
Futures Trading info No No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes info
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 22
Fixed Income (Treasurys) info Yes No
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) info Yes No
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) info Yes No
Traditional IRAs info Yes Yes
Roth IRAs info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Ally Invest Robinhood
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info No Yes
Order Type - OCO info No No
Order Type - OTO info No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners Ally Invest Robinhood
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) info Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No No
Webinars info Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Ally Invest Robinhood
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No Yes
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info No Yes
Stock App Features Ally Invest Robinhood
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info No Yes
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info No Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info No Yes
Stock App Charting Ally Invest Robinhood
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 6
Charting - Study Customizations info No Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No No
Trading Platforms Ally Invest Robinhood
Active Trading Platform info N/A Robinhood Legend
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 10 3
Stock Chart Features Ally Invest Robinhood
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 120 16
Charting - Drawing Tools info 36 23
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info No No
Charting - Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No Yes
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No Yes
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 8 1
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Ally Invest Robinhood
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info No No
Ladder Trading info No Yes
Trade Hot Keys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No info
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Ally Invest Robinhood
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes No
Portfolio Asset Allocation info Yes No
Stock Research Ally Invest Robinhood
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 0 info
Stock Research - Earnings info No Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes No
Stock Research - Social info Yes No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No No
ETF Research Ally Invest Robinhood
ETFs - Investment Objective info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure info No Yes
ETFs - Risk Analysis info No No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No info
Mutual Fund Research Ally Invest Robinhood
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info No No
Options Trading Ally Invest Robinhood
Option Chains - Total Greeks info 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info No Yes
Banking Ally Invest Robinhood
Bank (Member FDIC) info Yes No
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes Yes
Debit Cards info Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Customer Service Ally Invest Robinhood
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info No No
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info Yes Yes
Overall Ally Invest Robinhood
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 3.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Ally Invest Review Robinhood Review
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