Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Ally Bank vs E*TRADE
Ally Bank
Higher score in this comparison
E*TRADE
Ally Bank vs E*TRADE: the differences
| Compare | Ally BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | E*TRADEReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds, BondsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, FDICCovers more | FINRA |
| Options contract fee | $0.50Lower | $0.65 |
| Account types | Joint, IRA, Roth IRACovers more | IRA, Joint |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Ally Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only Ally Bank offers SEC, FDIC.
- Founded is lower at Ally Bank: 1919 vs 1982.
- Options contract fee is lower at Ally Bank: $0.50 vs $0.65.
- Markets: only Ally Bank offers Bonds.
- Account types: only Ally Bank offers Roth IRA.
- Support channels: only Ally Bank offers Email, Chat.
Our verdict on each
Ally Bank
Ally Bank suits US investors who want commission-free share dealing with a free account and a free inactivity charge, and it heads the cost table on the measures compared. The trade-off sits in the automated portfolios, which take a management fee of 0% to 0.3% and a starting investment of $100.
E*TRADE
E*TRADE suits US investors who want commission-free stock and ETF dealing with a joint or IRA account and a broker that has run since 1982. Costs stay at $0 for stocks, though options at $0.65 and the managed portfolio fee of 0.3% are the parts to watch.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ally Bank | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher$0 to trade shares, $0 account fee, $0 inactivity charge, with $0.50 per options contract and 0% to 0.3% on automated portfolios. | 9.2Stock trade fee of $0 and account fee of $0, with options contracts at $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.2 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Ally Bank | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 43 of 474 | 97 of 474 |
| Options trading platforms | 6 of 103 | 34 of 103 |
| Robo-advisors | 9 of 151 | 25 of 151 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Ally Bank | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 136131 FDIC FDIC cert 57803 | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Ally Bank | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Ally Bank | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
Also worth a look
Robinhood has options contract fee at $0, against $0.50 for Ally Bank and $0.65 for E*TRADE.
Robinhood reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Ally Bank | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Ally Bank | E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1919Lower | 1982 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Ally Bank | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% to 0.3%Lower | 0.3% |
| Minimum investment | $100Lower | $500 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash | ETF, Crypto, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ally Bank | E*TRADE | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | $0.50below the median | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
Median across 137 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Ally Bank
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the account fee is $0, so holding a US portfolio costs nothing at the platform level.
- The inactivity fee is $0, and Ally ranks 1 on that measure among 56, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained.
- Regulated in the US by SEC, FINRA and FDIC, with investor protection recorded as SIPC up to USD 500,000 and an FDIC certificate of FDIC cert 57803.
Cons
- The automated portfolios take a management fee of 0% to 0.3% a year, so a free account is not the whole cost picture.
- Options carry $0.50 per contract, so the commission-free model in commission free does not reach derivative trading.
- Account types run to joint, ira and roth ira, with no wrapper for a tax-sheltered investor who is not saving through a retirement account.
E*TRADE
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, so a simple holding pattern is cheap
- Minimum deposit is $0, so you can start small
- Joint and IRA account types are available, which suits couples and retirement saving
Cons
- Options contracts cost $0.65 each, so active options traders pay more
- The managed portfolio fee is 0.3% against a site median of 0.4%
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no live chat listed
Who each suits
Ally Bank
Who it suits
- US savers who want commission-free share dealing, a minimum deposit of $0 and an account fee of $0.
- Retirement investors, since joint, ira and roth ira covers individual retirement accounts and joint accounts.
- People who would rather ring than email, since email, chat and phone includes phone, chat, email and a help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, contracts for difference or crypto, since stocks, etfs and options stops at the US list while stocks, etfs and forex goes further.
- Anyone who wants leveraged index exposure on the same account, where CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex and Ally does not.
E*TRADE
Who it suits
- US investors building a long-term stock and ETF portfolio without per-trade fees
- Couples who want a joint account alongside a taxable brokerage account
- Retirement savers who want an IRA account with commission-free trades inside it
Who should look elsewhere
- Option scalpers, because $0.65 per contract is the cost that bites
- Hands-off investors, since the portfolio fee of 0.3% is above the site median
- Investors outside the US, as US and E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley point to a US setup
Country by country
| Country | Ally Bank | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Ally Bank
What does it cost to open a self-directed account and place a trade?+
Opening costs nothing beyond the deposit itself, and the minimum deposit is $0. Trading shares carries a fee of $0 and the account fee is $0, so a small starter order does not eat into the position. Options are the exception and are priced separately per contract.
Is there a charge if I leave the account empty?+
No. The inactivity fee is $0, which means an account you stop using carries no monthly drain on the balance. It matters most for anyone splitting cash between trading and holding, because a dormant account here does not quietly shave the value of what sits in it while a decision is pending.
E*TRADE
What does it cost to buy a stock?+
A stock trade costs $0, and the model is commission-free, so there is no ticket charge per order. The account fee is also $0. That makes the everyday cost of buying and holding shares small, with the minimum deposit at $0.
Is there any fee for the account itself?+
The account fee is $0, and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening and holding a brokerage account costs nothing at the entry point. Fees appear further down the line, in managed portfolios and in options trading, rather than in keeping the account open.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Ally Bank vs Acorns Checking
- Ally Bank vs Charles Schwab
- Ally Bank vs Betterment
- Ally Bank vs FOREX.com
- Ally Bank vs TradeStation
- Ally Bank vs Wealthsimple
- Ally Bank vs Stash
- Ally Bank vs Lightspeed Financial
- Ally Bank vs Webull
- Ally Bank vs FBS
- Ally Bank vs Moneybox
- Ally Bank vs Nutmeg
- Ally Bank vs Markets.com
- Ally Bank vs Finhabits
- Ally Bank vs NAGA
- Ally Bank vs UNest
- Ally Bank vs eToro
- Ally Bank vs Linxea
- Ally Bank vs Mintos
- Ally Bank vs Revolut
- Ally Bank vs Robinhood
- Ally Bank vs Empower Personal Dashboard
- Ally Bank vs S Broker
- Ally Bank vs Kraken
- Ally Bank vs Lightyear
Related by the facts
Ally Bank
E*TRADE