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Ally Invest vs Robinhood 2023

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 11, 2023

Is Ally Invest better than Robinhood? After testing 17 of the best online brokers over three months, Ally Invest (84.59%) is better than Robinhood (83.65%). 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.

Select Brokers

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  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlly Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxE*TRADE
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFidelity
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFirstrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMerrill Edge
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSofi Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxtastytrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTD Ameritrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradier
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVanguard
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull

Compare

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Overall RatingAlly InvestRobinhood
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Ally Invest Review Robinhood Review
Trading FeesAlly InvestRobinhood
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $4.95 info N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $0.00 N/A
Options (Base Fee) $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.50 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) N/A N/A
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $20 N/A
Margin RatesAlly InvestRobinhood
Margin Rate Under $25,000 12.50% 11.50% info
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.25% 11.50% info
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 11.50% 11.50% info
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 10.25% 11.50% info
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 9.25% 11.50% info
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 8.75% 11.50% info
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 8.00% 11.50% info
Account FeesAlly InvestRobinhood
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $25.00 $0.00
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 OptionsAlly InvestRobinhood
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 4
Futures Trading No No
Forex Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 17
Mutual Funds (No Load) 13000 0
Mutual Funds (Total) 14000 0
Bonds (US Treasury) Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) Yes No
Advisor Services Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order TypesAlly InvestRobinhood
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 Yes
Order Type - OCO No No
Order Type - OTO No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes No
BeginnersAlly InvestRobinhood
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Bonds) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes No
Retirement Calculator No No
Investor Dictionary Yes Yes
Paper Trading No No
Videos No No
Webinars No No
Webinars (Archived) Yes No
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading AppsAlly InvestRobinhood
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App No Yes
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 No Yes
SB Gallery - Mobile Apps
Stock App FeaturesAlly InvestRobinhood
Market Movers (Top Gainers) Yes Yes
Stream Live TV No No
Videos on Demand No No
Stock Alerts No Yes
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) No No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields 21 3
Stock App ChartingAlly InvestRobinhood
Charting - After-Hours No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 17 6
Charting - Study Customizations No Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes No
Trading PlatformsAlly InvestRobinhood
Active Trading Platform 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 21 3
Stock Chart FeaturesAlly InvestRobinhood
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 117 6
Charting - Drawing Tools 36 0
Charting - Notes Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays 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 Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations 5 1
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day TradingAlly InvestRobinhood
Streaming Time & Sales No No
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks 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 OverviewAlly InvestRobinhood
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Bonds No No
Screener - Stocks No No
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds No No
Screener - Bonds Yes No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation No Yes
Stock ResearchAlly InvestRobinhood
Stock Research - PDF Reports 2 0
Stock Research - Earnings Yes 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 Yes No
ETF ResearchAlly InvestRobinhood
ETFs - Strategy Overview Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure No Yes
ETFs - Risk Analysis Yes No
ETFs - Ratings Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap No No
ETFs - PDF Reports Yes No
Mutual Fund ResearchAlly InvestRobinhood
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown Yes 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 TradingAlly InvestRobinhood
Option Chains - Basic View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming Yes Yes
Option Chains - Total Columns 8 17
Option Chains - Greeks 1 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv No No
Option Positions - Greeks Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming No Yes
Option Positions - Adv Analysis Yes No
Option Positions - Rolling Yes Yes
Option Positions - Grouping Yes Yes
BankingAlly InvestRobinhood
Bank (Member FDIC) Yes No
Checking Accounts Yes No
Savings Accounts Yes No
Credit Cards No No
Debit Cards Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans Yes No
Customer ServiceAlly InvestRobinhood
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes Yes
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) Yes No
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes Yes
OverallAlly InvestRobinhood
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Ally Invest Review Robinhood Review
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Ally Invest vs Robinhood Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2023 annual broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 17 brokerages to find the best online broker. Let's compare Ally Invest vs Robinhood.

Is Ally Invest or Robinhood better for beginners?

Ally Invest offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than Robinhood. Ally Invest offers investors access to Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), while Robinhood offers investors access to Education (Stocks) and Education (Options). Neither have Paper Trading and Videos. See our guide to Best Paper Trading Platforms for more.

What about Ally Invest vs Robinhood pricing?

Ally Invest and Robinhood charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Option contracts are pricier at Ally Invest, costing $0.50 per contract versus $0.00 per contract at Robinhood. For a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

Does Ally Invest or Robinhood offer a wider range of investment options?

Ally Invest offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds, Forex Trading and Advisor Services, while Robinhood offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares, Options Trading and OTC Stocks. Neither have Futures Trading. Looking at Mutual Funds, Robinhood trails Ally Invest in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with Ally Invest offering 3900 and Robinhood offering 0.

Which trading platform is better: Ally Invest or Robinhood?

To compare the trading platforms of Ally Invest and Robinhood, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, Ally Invest offers a better experience. With research, Ally Invest offers superior market research. Finally, we found Robinhood to provide better mobile trading apps.

Does either broker offer banking?

Online banking can be a benefit for investors, and some brokerages do provide banking services to customers. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards and Mortgage Loans are offered by Ally Invest while Robinhood offers Debit Cards. Neither have Credit Cards.

Is Ally Invest good?

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.

Is Robinhood good?

Robinhood is very easy to use and its educational content is a joy to read. But, in today’s competitive market for your investing dollars, there are several more compelling options among brokerages.

Ally Invest vs Robinhood Winner

Overall winner: Ally Invest

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