Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Ally Bank vs IG
Where Ally Bank and IG differ
| Compare |  Ally Bank |  IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread betting |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, FDIC | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69% |
| Options contract fee | $0.50 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView |
| Account types | Joint, IRA, Roth IRA | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
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Key differences
- Ally Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.5.
- Regulators: only Ally Bank offers SEC, FINRA, FDIC.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC.
- IG is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Ally Bank offers Funds, Bonds.
- Markets: only IG offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
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.
IG
IG suits traders who want shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting under a single roof, with an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5% on uninvested balances. Share dealing runs commission-free, while the retail loss rate is 69%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ally Bank | IG |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.6 | 9.6Commission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.5 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Ally Bank | IG |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 136131 FDIC FDIC cert 57803 | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
What each covers
| Markets | Ally Bank | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Ally Bank | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 31 of 490 | 39 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 5 of 103 | 11 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ally Bank | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Ally Bank | IG Europe GmbH |
| Headquarters | United States | Germany |
| Founded | 1919 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Ally Bank | IG |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | IG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69%below the median | 70.375% |
| Options contract fee | $0.50below the median | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
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.
IG
Pros
- Markets list stocks, etfs and forex, so shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting sit together.
- Regulated by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, with client protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Platform choice runs Mobile trading, L2 Dealer and ProRealTime.
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money come to 69%.
- The commission-free model in commission free applies to share dealing, and it does not extend to trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options or futures.
- Accounts sit with IG Europe GmbH in Germany, so compensation stops at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
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.
IG
Who it suits
- Traders who want stocks, etfs and forex reachable from the same account rather than several platforms.
- Share buyers who want dealing on a commission-free basis, since commission free covers their trades.
- EU clients who weight regulation and compensation, given Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a platform built around share dealing and crypto alone should compare CFI, whose stocks, etfs and forex is a shorter, simpler list.
- Investors priced in dollars rather than euros should weigh eToro, where the stock trade fee is $0.
- Anyone weighing only the account charge should know Vantage lists $0, so IG's €0 is not the only way to hold an account cheaply.
Country by country
| Country | Ally Bank | IG |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
IG
What does it cost to trade shares with IG?+
Share dealing runs on a commission-free model, with a stock trade fee of £0 and an account fee of €0. Those are the two figures that matter for holding and trading, and both sit at the floor of the site tables. Trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options and futures are quoted apart from share dealing.
Who regulates IG and is my money protected?+
The regulators are Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, and the licences listed are MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 and SIPC member 71021. Client protection in the EU is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so a claim against the firm is covered only up to that ceiling. Any balance above the cap is your own exposure.
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