Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Ally Bank vs Public
Where Ally Bank and Public differ
| Compare |  Ally Bank |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, FDICCovers more | FINRA, SEC |
| Options contract fee | $0.50 | $0.060 to $0.18Lower |
| Account types | Joint, IRA, Roth IRACovers more | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.2% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3% |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Ally Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Regulators: only Ally Bank offers FDIC.
- Options contract fee is lower at Public: $0.060 to $0.18 vs $0.50.
- Markets: only Ally Bank offers Funds.
- Markets: only Public offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Ally Bank offers Joint.
- Support channels: only Ally Bank offers Chat, Phone.
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.
Public
Public suits people building a retirement account who care most about what a trade costs and where the money sits. Stock trades are $0, the account opens from $0, and protection runs to SIPC up to USD 500,000 in the US.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ally Bank | Public |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.5 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Ally Bank | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 136131 FDIC FDIC cert 57803 |
Available in 1 country for both.
What each covers
| Markets | Ally Bank | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Ally Bank | Public |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Ally Bank | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 31 of 490 | 49 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 5 of 103 | 15 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ally Bank | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Ally Bank | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1919 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Ally Bank | Public |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Public | 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 | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.50below the median | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $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.
Public
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0, so a regular monthly purchase is not eaten by commission.
- The account opens from $0, which is below the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data.
- Cash parked in the high-yield account earns 3.3% while it waits to be invested.
Cons
- Options contracts add a fee of $0.06 to $0.18 each, on top of the premium you pay for the option itself.
- Margin borrowing runs at 4.2%, so borrowed positions carry an interest charge that keeps accruing.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for questions about a transfer or a tax form.
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.
Public
Who it suits
- You are saving for retirement in the US and want commission-free stock trades in one account
- You want to hold spare cash at a stated rate while you decide what to buy
- You are starting with small amounts and want fractional shares rather than whole shares
Who should look elsewhere
- You need forex, CFDs or futures, which CFI and eToro both list in stocks, etfs and forex and stocks, etfs and forex
- You want a UK ISA or SIPP wrapper, neither of which appears in ira and roth ira
- You want to talk to a broker on the phone, since support covers email and help centre
Current offers
Public
Current offer
Bonus
Transfer your portfolio. Earn an uncapped 1% match.: 1% match
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Ally Bank | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
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.
Public
Is Public really commission free for stock trades?+
Yes. A stock trade costs $0, so buying shares itself carries no charge. The costs sit elsewhere: options contracts cost $0.06 to $0.18 each, and margin borrowing runs at 4.2%. A simple monthly share purchase only pays the trade charge of $0.
What is the minimum deposit at Public?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded from a very small amount. That is well under the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data, where the upper quartile sits at €87.70. No threshold has to be cleared before the first trade.
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