Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Ally Bank vs Stash
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Ally Bank |  Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Account fee | $0Lower | $144 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds, BondsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, FDICCovers more | SEC, FINRA |
| Account types | Joint, IRA, Roth IRACovers more | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.50 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, iOS, Android |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade 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 9.0.
- Regulators: only Ally Bank offers FDIC.
- Founded is lower at Ally Bank: 1919 vs 2015.
- Account fee is lower at Ally Bank: $0 vs $144.
- Markets: only Ally Bank offers Options, Funds, Bonds.
- Account types: only Ally Bank offers Joint.
- Support channels: only Ally Bank offers Email, 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.
Stash
Stash suits US beginners who want a retirement pot built from a phone rather than a wide market. Trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is free, but the account fee of $144 a year is the price of that simplicity.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ally Bank | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.1A free minimum deposit and $0 trades rank 1 of 213 and 1 of 161, but the $144 account fee is the weight. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.0 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Ally Bank | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 136131 FDIC FDIC cert 57803 |
Available in 1 country for both.
The bill, worked out
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Ally Bank
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Stash
$144
48 × $0 + 1 × $144
Ally Bank costs $144 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Ally Bank | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Ally Bank | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Ally Bank | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 40 of 471 | 148 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 9 of 151 | 57 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ally Bank | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Ally Bank | Stash Investments LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1919Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Ally Bank | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% to 0.3% | $108 to $144 |
| Minimum investment | $100 | $5Lower |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, CashCovers more | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ally Bank | Stash | 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 | $144highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | $0.50below the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
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.
Stash
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so small orders carry no per-trade charge.
- The portfolio option is an etf portfolio alongside ira and roth ira accounts, which keeps retirement saving in one place.
- Access runs through Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares spread small contributions across holdings.
Cons
- The account fee of $144 a year leaves Stash at 134 of 138 brands on that measure, while eToro lists $0.
- Support runs on help centre only, so questions about a retirement account are left to articles.
- Trading is limited to stocks and etfs with an etf portfolio, so there is no forex, crypto or CFD route.
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.
Stash
Who it suits
- US beginners who want a retirement account, a phone app and a small starting amount rather than a wide market.
- Long-term savers content to hold stocks and etfs and an etf portfolio without picking markets themselves.
- Readers who weigh regulation first, since Stash is registered with SEC and FINRA in the US.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want forex, crypto or CFDs, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone put off by a yearly charge, as eToro lists $0 for its account.
- Readers who prefer a provider with a published entry figure, such as Vantage at $5, rather than a free minimum deposit.
Current offers
Stash
Current offer
Free trial
Try Stash for 7 days: 7-day trial
new Stash Plan subscriptions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Ally Bank | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Stash
How much does Stash cost to run?+
Running the plan costs a management fee of $108 to $144 a year, and the account fee is $144. Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so the charge sits with the subscription rather than the order. The site median account fee is €0, so Stash sits at the dear end of the table.
How much do I need to start?+
The minimum deposit is free, and the minimum investment is $5, so an account can be opened at a size that suits a monthly habit rather than a lump sum. Stash ranks 1 of 213 brands on this measure, against a site median of €4.64.
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 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 Tradier
- Ally Bank vs AJ Bell
- Ally Bank vs Freetrade
- Ally Bank vs NAGA
- Ally Bank vs UNest
- Ally Bank vs eToro
- Ally Bank vs Linxea
- Stash vs bunq
- 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
- Stash vs EBC Financial Group
- Ally Bank vs Lightyear