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Ally Invest vs Public.com 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

March 11, 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.

Ally Invest
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.50
Public.com
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

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 Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
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 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

Trading platforms and tools

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 Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Public.com logoPublic.com
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 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 36 0
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025

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Beginners and education

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 Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Public.com logoPublic.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Bonds) info Yes No
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info No Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

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 Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Public.com logoPublic.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info No No info
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When considering online brokers for their fees and charges, Ally Invest and Public.com each bring unique strengths to the table. Ally Invest shines with its zero minimum deposit requirement, making it accessible for individuals looking to start investing without an upfront commitment. In contrast, Public.com requires a minimum deposit of $20, which might be less appealing to those who prefer no entry costs. On the other hand, Public.com stands out with its no-cost options trading, a feature that could be particularly attractive to active stock options traders looking to minimize their expenses.

Examining other charges, both Ally Invest and Public.com offer commission-free regular stock trading, ensuring buyers can trade without incurring additional fees. However, when it comes to options contracts, Ally Invest charges $0.50 per contract, whereas Public.com boasts no charge for this service. Additionally, for margin balances below $25,000, Ally Invest imposes a 13% rate, whereas Public.com charges a lower rate of 8.75%. This difference continues across higher margin balance tiers, with Public.com generally offering more competitive rates compared to Ally Invest.

In terms of other account fees, Ally Invest removes barriers with no charges for IRA annual fees, but a $25 fee applies for IRA closure. Both platforms do not charge any fees related to options exercise and assignment. For account transfer services, Ally Invest charges $50 for both partial and full ACAT transfers, whereas Public.com has higher fees of $75 for each. These differentiators can be crucial when deciding which broker aligns best with your investing goals and financial strategies.

Feature Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Public.com logoPublic.com
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Options (Per Contract) info $0.50 $0.00 info
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

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

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 logoAlly Invest
Public.com logoPublic.com
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
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 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 Ally Invest logoAlly Invest
Public.com logoPublic.com
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 2/5 Stars

Banking

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 logoAlly Invest
Public.com logoPublic.com
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 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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Ally Invest or Public.com?

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

Does Ally Invest or Public.com offer IRAs?

Ally Invest offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts without an annual fee, but charges a $25 closure fee, while Public.com does not offer traditional or Roth IRA accounts or related fees.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Ally Invest Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 3.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 4/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Ally Invest Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots Ally Invest Public.com
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
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $4.95 $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $0.00 n/a
Options (Per Contract) info $0.50 $0.00 info
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $20 n/a
Margin Rates Ally Invest Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13% 8.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 12.75% 8.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 12% 6.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 10.75% 6.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 9.75% 5.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 9.25% 5.75%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 8.5% 5.75%
Account Fees Ally Invest Public.com
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 Public.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
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 22
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 13000 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 14000 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes Yes
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes Yes
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 Public.com
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes info
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info No No
Order Type - OCO info No No
Order Type - OTO info No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners Ally Invest Public.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Bonds) info Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info No Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Ally Invest Public.com
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 Yes
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 No
Stock App Features Ally Invest Public.com
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info No No info
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info No No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization info No Yes
Stock App Charting Ally Invest Public.com
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 0
Charting - Study Customizations info No No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms Ally Invest Public.com
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 No
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 10 3
Stock Chart Features Ally Invest Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 120 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 36 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
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 No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 8 0
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Ally Invest Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
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 Public.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
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 info
Stock Research Ally Invest Public.com
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 Public.com
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes Yes
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 No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No
Mutual Fund Research Ally Invest Public.com
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 Public.com
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes No
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 8 4
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info No Yes
Option Probability Analysis info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info No No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes Yes
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 Public.com
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 Public.com
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 Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 3.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Ally Invest Review Public.com Review
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