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Ally Invest vs eToro 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

January 23, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Ally Invest vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, 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
eToro
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $50.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Investment options

When considering which online broker best fits your financial needs, Ally Invest and eToro each offer unique advantages in terms of investment options. Ally Invest maintains a robust platform suitable for traditional investors, offering services like stock trading, margin trading, options trading, and mutual funds. The broker stands out with availability of OTC stocks and traditional and Roth IRA accounts, which are not found on eToro. With a higher ranking in investment options and a solid 4.5-star rating, Ally Invest is particularly appealing for those seeking comprehensive market exposure and tax-advantaged retirement account options.

eToro, on the other hand, is tailored towards the modern investor interested in accessible and flexible investment opportunities. It shines with features like fractional share trading and a strong cryptocurrency offering that includes 26 different coins. Despite these cutting-edge options, eToro lacks the depth seen in Ally Invest as it does not provide margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, or IRA accounts. This may impact investors seeking more diverse traditional market access.

In summary, while Ally Invest is the better-rated option for more traditional and retirement-focused investing, earning a higher ranking and rating from StockBrokers.com, eToro appeals to newer investors and those looking to engage in cryptocurrency and fractional share trading. Ultimately, your choice between these platforms should align with your financial goals, whether they lean towards contemporary or conventional investment opportunities.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
eToro logoeToro
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes No
Fractional Shares 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
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 26
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing Ally Invest and eToro for their trading platforms and tools, Ally Invest takes a slight lead with a rating of 3 stars out of five, compared to eToro's 2.5 stars. Ranked 10th among 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com, Ally Invest edges out eToro, which is ranked 12th. Although neither platform provides desktop downloads for Windows or Mac, both offer browser-based trading solutions. However, eToro gains an advantage by supporting paper trading, which is absent from Ally Invest's offerings.

Ally Invest excels in charting capabilities, providing 120 technical indicators compared to eToro's 46. It also offers a more comprehensive array of customization with eight fields for editing an SMA study, while eToro provides five. Ally Invest boasts superior watchlist functionality with 10 columns, surpassing eToro's seven. However, eToro offers more robust drawing tools with 48 options against Ally Invest's 36, which could appeal to traders seeking intricate charting features.

Both platforms exhibit certain limitations, lacking features like the ability to adjust open orders directly on charts, display historical trades or corporate events on charts, and provide custom date ranges. Ally Invest stands out by providing automated technical analysis on charts, a feature not available on eToro. Overall, while each broker has its unique strengths and limitations, the choice between Ally Invest and eToro largely depends on individual trading needs and the preferred set of functionalities offered by each platform.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
eToro logoeToro
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 10 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 120 46
Charting - Drawing Tools info 36 48
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

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

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Beginners and education

When comparing Ally Invest and eToro for their educational offerings aimed at beginner investors, Ally Invest clearly takes the lead. Ally Invest provides comprehensive education on a diverse range of investment topics including stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. Despite lacking in interactive tools like paper trading or educational videos, Ally Invest's in-depth educational resources have earned it a four-star rating, placing it at #8 out of 18 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. This makes Ally Invest a strong candidate for beginners seeking a broad understanding of various investment avenues.

On the other hand, eToro offers a more limited scope of educational content, focusing primarily on stock education. While it compensates with interactive features such as paper trading and educational videos, its absence of in-depth information on ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds—as well as lacking educational quizzes and webinars—results in a lower education rating of 2.5 stars. Ranked #15 by StockBrokers.com, eToro appeals more to those who benefit from visual learning and hands-on experience rather than depth and breadth in educational content for beginners.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
eToro logoeToro
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Bonds) info Yes No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info No No
Education 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

eToro and Ally Invest are popular platforms among online brokers for stock trading on mobile apps, each with its unique offerings catering to different investor needs. While both provide essential functionalities like iPhone and Android apps for seamless trading on the go, there are distinct differences. eToro, with a 4.5-star rating and ranked #11 by StockBrokers.com, offers superior features such as streaming quotes, videos on demand, stock alerts, after-hours charting, and comprehensive technical studies with 103 options. In contrast, Ally Invest, rated 4 stars and ranked #13, provides essential trading capabilities with strengths in mobile options trading and custom watch lists but lacks advanced features like streaming quotes and stock alerts.

Both Ally Invest and eToro deliver mobile apps compatible with iPhones and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for traders across major platforms. However, neither offers an Apple Watch app, which might be a consideration for tech-savvy users seeking maximum portability. Ally Invest and eToro enable traders to perform tasks like mobile after-hours stock and options trading and create and customize watch lists to a certain degree, although eToro has an edge in offering streaming quotes and stock alerts, enhancing real-time market engagement.

When evaluating charting capabilities, eToro again stands out, allowing after-hours charting, stock comparisons on charts, and extensive technical studies, which are beneficial for more analytical investors. On the other hand, Ally Invest provides only basic charting functionalities with multiple time frames but no technical studies or after-hours charting. Therefore, traders looking for a robust analysis platform may find eToro's offerings more comprehensive and suited to advanced trading strategies. Ultimately, the choice between Ally Invest and eToro might hinge on whether users prioritize basic trading functionalities or advanced analytical features for their mobile trading experience.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
eToro logoeToro
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info No Yes
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 103
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When comparing Ally Invest and eToro, investors' decisions will largely hinge on individual needs and preferences. Ally Invest impresses with its no-minimum deposit requirement, making it accessible for any investor, while eToro requires a minimum deposit of $50. Both platforms offer commission-free stock trades, providing a cost-effective entry into trading. On options trading, Ally Invest charges $0.50 per contract, whereas eToro charges nothing, presenting a potential edge for options traders favoring eToro. Furthermore, Ally Invest offers margin accounts with tiered interest rates for balances below $100,000, while eToro does not provide a margin account option. Thus, Ally Invest might appeal to investors interested in margin trading.

For investors focused on retirement accounts, Ally Invest does not charge annual fees for IRAs but imposes a $25 fee for IRA closure, while eToro does not provide detailed fee information on IRAs. In terms of account transfers, Ally Invest charges $50 for both partial and full transfers, which is more affordable than eToro's $75 fee for similar transactions. These factors could make Ally Invest the more appealing choice for those frequently managing multiple accounts or considering future transfers.

Both platforms provide a cost-free experience for options exercise and assignment fees, benefiting options traders who wish to control their investments without incurring additional costs. Overall, the comparison between Ally Invest and eToro reveals distinct advantages based on specific trading needs—whether focusing on basic stock trades, options trading, or leveraging retirement accounts. Investors should analyze their unique requirements and trading habits to determine which platform aligns best with their financial goals.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
eToro logoeToro
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $50.00
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
IRA Closure Fee info $25.00
Commissions & Fees N/A N/A

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When comparing Ally Invest and eToro for day trading capabilities, both platforms exhibit limitations. Neither broker provides direct market routing or the ability to engage in ladder trading, and both lack essential features like trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entry. Furthermore, neither Ally Invest nor eToro supports advanced trading tools such as level 2 quotes or strategy backtesting, which might be critical for serious day traders. Although eToro does offer streaming time and sales for stocks, it'll still fall short when compared to industry leaders in day trading features.

Beyond these limitations, Ally Invest and eToro don't support streaming live TV and lack features like order liquidity (maker/taker) rebates and a short locator tool to aid in real-time short selling strategies. This comparative analysis suggests that traders focused on day trading specifically might need to look beyond Ally Invest and eToro to find platforms with more robust tools and advanced functionalities designed to optimize their trading strategies. Thus, while both platforms serve certain trading needs, those with a deep focus on day trading may find them lacking in critical features.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
eToro logoeToro
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
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 choosing between Ally Invest and eToro for market research capabilities, it's essential to consider their unique offerings and limitations. Both brokers provide stock and ETF research, with Ally Invest excelling in mutual fund, pink sheet, and bond research, unlike eToro. Notably, Ally Invest offers robust portfolio allocation tools and various screeners for stocks, ETFs, and bonds, rating significantly higher than eToro by StockBrokers.com, where Ally Invest ranks 8th out of 18 brokers with a 3.5-star rating compared to eToro's 1.5-star rating and a 14th place ranking.

Ally Invest caters to investors with an interest in broad market research offerings, providing insights into diverse asset classes like mutual funds and bonds, and delivering strong tools for portfolio allocation and trade idea generation. Although lacking in ESG research, Ally Invest compensates by using social media sentiment data for stock research. Conversely, eToro provides ESG-focused research despite a limited scope of research content across other asset types, and unlike Ally Invest, does not offer tools for portfolio diversification or comprehensive research screeners.

While neither platform offers downloadable PDF reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds, Ally Invest stands out with advanced market screening tools unavailable on eToro. These tools enable investors to tailor their investment strategies more effectively using Ally Invest's comprehensive research landscape. On the other hand, eToro is more restricted in its research offerings, catering primarily to those keen on social sentiment and sustainable investing without the need for detailed asset class insights or screening capabilities.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
eToro logoeToro
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Research 3.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Ally Invest and eToro, Ally Invest clearly offers a more comprehensive suite of banking services. Ally Invest provides customers with checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, credit cards, mortgage loans, and certificates of deposit (CDs), making it a versatile choice for users seeking an all-in-one financial institution. On the other hand, eToro does not offer any of these banking products, focusing solely on its investment platform. For users interested in seamless banking and investing integration, Ally Invest stands out with its robust banking offerings compared to eToro.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
eToro logoeToro
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
CDs info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Ally Invest is better than eToro. Ally Invest finished with an overall score of 80.1%, while eToro finished with a score of 66.1%.

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 eToro?

When comparing online brokers, eToro stands out for cryptocurrency enthusiasts by offering trading in 26 different coins, while Ally Invest does not provide any options for crypto trading.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Ally Invest or eToro offer IRAs?

Ally Invest offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fee, but imposes a $25 closure fee, whereas eToro does not provide IRA accounts, making Ally Invest the favorable choice for IRA services.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Ally Invest eToro
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A N/A
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 3.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Ally Invest Review eToro Review
Broker Screenshots Ally Invest eToro
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 eToro
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $50.00
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 $0
Margin Rates Ally Invest eToro
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13% Not offered
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 12.75% Not offered
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 12% Not offered
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 10.75% Not offered
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 9.75% Not offered
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 9.25% Not offered
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 8.5% Not offered
Account Fees Ally Invest eToro
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $25.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $50.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $50.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Ally Invest eToro
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes No
Fractional Shares info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 0
Futures Trading info No No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 26
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 13000 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 14000 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) info Yes No
Traditional IRAs info Yes No
Roth IRAs info Yes No
Advisor Services info Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Ally Invest eToro
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes No
Order Type - After Hours info Yes No
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 eToro
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Bonds) info Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info No No
Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Ally Invest eToro
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes No
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info No Yes
Stock App Features Ally Invest eToro
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No Yes
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 No
Stock App Charting Ally Invest eToro
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 103
Charting - Study Customizations info No Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms Ally Invest eToro
Active Trading Platform info N/A N/A
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 10 7
Stock Chart Features Ally Invest eToro
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 120 46
Charting - Drawing Tools info 36 48
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info No No
Charting - Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations info 8 5
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Ally Invest eToro
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
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 eToro
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes No
Stock Research Ally Invest eToro
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 0
Stock Research - Earnings info No Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Social info Yes Yes
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No Yes
ETF Research Ally Invest eToro
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info No No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info No No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No
Mutual Fund Research Ally Invest eToro
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview 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 eToro
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 8 0
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 4
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info No No
Option Probability Analysis info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info No No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info No No
Option Positions - Grouping info Yes No
Banking Ally Invest eToro
Bank (Member FDIC) info Yes No
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Customer Service Ally Invest eToro
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info Yes No
Overall Ally Invest eToro
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A N/A
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 3.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Ally Invest Review eToro Review
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