Ally Invest vs IC Markets

Ally Invest vs IC Markets Comparison Table 2024
Ally Invest IC Markets
3.2
4.8

Ally Invest was founded in 2005 and serves 11 million customers through its suite of investing and financial services products. The brokerage is regulated by the US SEC with FINRA and SIPC membership. The company has a substantial $197 billion in assets under management (AUM).

IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.

Customer Reviews
4
Comment by Reviewer
"Ally Invest is an all-in-one financial solution suitable for traders of all experience levels with self-directed and managed trading accounts alongside online banking, financial advice, credit cards and loans." "IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders."
Pros
  • Responsive customer support available 24/7 with local and international telephone help, live chat and email
  • Free demo account with $50,000 virtual funds and access to all platforms and tools
  • Competitive fees including commission-free trading on eligible US stocks and ETFs
  • Managed portfolios tailored to financial goals and risk appetite
  • Regulated by the SEC and a member of the SIPC
  • Online educational content and financial advice
  • High-quality proprietary web trading platform
  • You can reinvest dividends through DRIP
  • Leveraged trading up to $1 million
  • Access to MetaTrader 4
  • IC Markets offers among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for day traders.
  • As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC Markets prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
  • With ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 35 milliseconds and deep liquidity, IC Markets provides an optimal trading environment for scalpers, hedgers, and algorithmic traders.
  • IC Markets offers fast and dependable 24/5 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
  • You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
Cons
  • Some features such as the stock screener are not available on the mobile app
  • Deposits and withdrawals limited to wire transfers or cheques only
  • Forex trading is available on a separate account
  • Only US stocks are available
  • While IC Markets offers a selection of metals and cryptos for trading via CFDs, the range is not as extensive as brokers like eToro, limiting opportunities for traders interested in these asset classes.
  • The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
  • There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
  • Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
  • Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
Awards
  • Best MT4/MT5 Broker 2023 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Forex Broker 2022 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Overall Broker 2020 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Trading App 2020 - DayTrading.com
Instruments
Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto
Demo Account
No Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $200
Trading Platforms
  • Own
  • MT4
  • MT5
  • cTrader
  • TradingView
  • TradingCentral
  • DupliTrade
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots
Regulator
SEC, FINRA ASIC, CySEC, FSA
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
3.25%
STP Account
No No
ECN Account
No Yes
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No Yes
PAMM Account
No Yes
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
No Yes
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
App Review

IC Markets deliver mobile apps for their cTrader, MT4, MT5 and TradingView  platforms. They have been developed on Android and iOS separately, taking full advantage of the functionality available on each. With raw pricing, and spreads from 0.0, the apps deliver an excellent trading tool for all levels of trader. Yet what really stands out is how they’ve managed to maintain the lightning-fast execution speed IC Markets is known for, right within the apps. It’s a seamless trading experience that feels both professional and highly responsive.

Android App Rating
4.2
iOS App Rating
3.1
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade
Copy Trading
No Yes
Copy Trading Platform
Launched in February 2023, the IC Social app offers an intuitive way to learn, share, and mirror the positions of other traders with just a few clicks. Additionally, the app features risk management tools and supports dedicated trading groups. Alternatively, IC Markets grants access to Signal Start, along with well-known third-party copy trading platforms including ZuluTrade and cTrader Copy.
Social Trading
No Yes
Trade Signals
Signal Start
VPS Hosting
No Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
Yes No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
No Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
CFD trading not offered You gain access to over 2,250 CFDs, available for trading 24/5 across popular markets such as forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and bonds. Utilizing deep liquidity and advanced bridge technology, IC Markets ensures optimal conditions for scalpers, hedgers, and algo traders alike.
Leverage
1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
FTSE Spread
1.0
GBPUSD Spread
0.23
Oil Spread
0.03
Stocks Spread
0.02
Forex Trading
Ally Invest offers 50+ currency pairs with access to MetaTrader 4 and the Ally Invest Forex Advanced Desktop platforms. Spreads compare well to alternatives with a good range of majors, minors and exotics. IC Markets maintains its commitment to providing exceptionally tight 0.0-pip forex spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD. This makes it an excellent option if you are seeking superior execution, with an average of 35 milliseconds. Additionally, if you are a high-volume trader, you can benefit from rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot.
Forex App

IC Markets deliver mobile apps for both their cTrader and MT5 platforms. Both have been developed on android and iOS separately, taking full advantage of the functionality available on each. With raw pricing, and spreads from 0.0, the apps deliver an excellent trading tool for all levels of trader. The speed of execution synonymous with IC Markets is retained across their apps.

GBPUSD Spread
1 0.23
EURUSD Spread
1 0.02
EURGBP Spread
1 0.27
Assets
80 75
Cryptocurrency
Crypto trading not offered IC Markets offers 20+ cryptocurrencies which are tradable via CFDs, including lesser-known tokens such as Avalanche, Kusama and Uniswap. Commission-free trading is available, and experienced crypto traders can access high leverage up to 1:200 in the MetaTrader platforms.
Spread
BTC 42.036
Coins
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • DOT
  • DSH
  • EMC
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • LNK
  • LTC
  • NMC
  • PPC
  • XLM
  • XRP
  • ADA
  • BNB
  • DOG
  • UNI
  • XTZ
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
More Comparisons
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