Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Ally Bank vs Empower Personal Dashboard
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Ally Bank |  Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds, BondsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Account types | Joint, IRA, Roth IRACovers more | IRA |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, FDIC | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.50 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Ally Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Markets: only Ally Bank offers Options, Bonds.
- Account types: only Ally Bank offers Joint, Roth IRA.
- Support channels: only Ally Bank offers Chat.
- Pricing model: only Empower Personal Dashboard offers Low fees.
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.
Empower Personal Dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard suits US savers who want a managed retirement account without a fee attached. The management fee is 0% and the minimum investment is $0, so the cost side is as light as it gets. It fits people who would rather set it and leave it than trade.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4$0 to trade shares, $0 account fee, $0 inactivity charge, with $0.50 per options contract and 0% to 0.3% on automated portfolios. | 9.9HigherManagement fee 0%, account fee $0 and minimum investment $0 sit at the free end of costs. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.8 | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 31 of 490 | 12 of 490 |
| Robo-advisors | 8 of 153 | 3 of 153 |
Where these facts come from
Ally Bank
- ally.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- files.brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Empower Personal Dashboard
- empower.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Legal entity | Ally Bank | Empower Advisory Group, LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1919 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% to 0.3% | 0% |
| Minimum investment | $100 | $0Lower |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, CashCovers more | ETF, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| 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 | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
Median across 99 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.
Empower Personal Dashboard
Pros
- Management fee of 0% and an account fee of $0, so nothing leaves the balance each year.
- Minimum investment of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0, so a small first contribution is enough.
- Stock trades cost $0 across stocks, etfs and funds, with managed portfolios in ETF and cash styles.
Cons
- The account type is an IRA, so it is a retirement account rather than a general dealing account.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and funds, with no crypto, options or forex added on.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so there is no live chat for quick questions.
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.
Empower Personal Dashboard
Who it suits
- US savers building a retirement account who want it run for them at no annual charge.
- People who prefer ETF and cash portfolios over picking their own shares.
- Long-term investors content with a conventional asset range.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the managed portfolios start at $500.
- Vivid Standard, which charges a management fee of 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Axos Invest, where managed portfolios start at $100.
Country by country
| Country | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Empower Personal Dashboard
What does Empower Personal Dashboard charge?+
The management fee is 0% and the account fee is $0, so nothing is taken out of the balance for holding or running the account. Trading is separate, and the stock trade fee is $0, which keeps running costs thin overall.
Is there a minimum to get started?+
The minimum investment is $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so you can begin with a small amount rather than waiting for a large balance. That makes it a practical first step for anyone building a retirement pot gradually.
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