Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Ally Bank vs FOREX.com
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Ally Bank |  FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $100 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds, Bonds | Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, FDIC | FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 1.2% |
| Options contract fee | $0.50 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Joint, IRA, Roth IRA | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Ally Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Ally Bank offers SEC, FINRA, FDIC.
- Regulators: only FOREX.com offers FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC.
- FOREX.com is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Ally Bank: $0 vs $100.
- Markets: only Ally Bank offers Stocks, ETFs, Options.
- Markets: only FOREX.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
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.
FOREX.com
FOREX.com suits UK retail traders who want one commission-free account covering forex, CFDs and crypto under a named UK regulator. The trade-off is the price of entry: a $100 minimum deposit sits well above the €4.64 median across the brands compared here.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ally Bank | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 8.3Commission-free pricing with a 1.2% EUR/USD spread, though the $100 minimum deposit is steep against the €4.64 site median. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.8 | 9.8 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Ally Bank | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 136131 FDIC FDIC cert 57803 | |
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
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
FOREX.com
- compareforexbrokers.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ally Bank | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Ally Bank | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1919 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Ally Bank | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% to 0.3% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $100 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ally Bank | FOREX.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $100above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74%above the median | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 1.2%highest quarter | 0.65% |
Median across 134 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.
FOREX.com
Pros
- Commission-free pricing means the 1.2% EUR/USD spread is the cost you can actually see before you trade
- Regulated in the UK by the FCA, in the US by the NFA/CFTC and in Australia by the ASIC
- UK clients have investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the firm
Cons
- The $100 minimum deposit sits above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage, so entry is the main hurdle
- Retail accounts lose money at 74%, above the 70.15% median for the brands compared here
- The range stops at forex, CFDs and crypto, without the shares, ETFs and futures that appear in stocks, etfs and forex
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.
FOREX.com
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want one commission-free account across forex, CFDs and crypto
- Traders who want a demo account to size up the platform before funding the $100 deposit
- People who put weight on a named UK regulator and FSCS up to GBP 85,000
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small sum, since CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5 against a $100 entry here
- Share and ETF investors, because eToro's range runs to stocks, etfs and forex
Country by country
| Country | Ally Bank | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
FOREX.com
What does it cost to trade forex on FOREX.com?+
Pricing is commission-free, so the cost sits in the spread rather than a separate deal charge. The euro against the dollar carries a spread of 1.2%, and that figure is the one to watch if you trade often or in size. The commission-free model runs across the account, not on one pair alone.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That is a clear step up from the €4.64 median across the brands compared here, and well above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage. Plan the funding before you open, because the threshold applies at the account level.
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