Ally invest
Barclays
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Overview
Ally invest was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in United States, while Barclays was established in 2011 and is based in United Kingdom. Ally invest holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Barclays is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Ally invest serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Barclays has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Ally invest and $0 at Barclays.
| Feature | Ally invest | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $500 | $0 |
| Regulation | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2011 |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Ally invest and Barclays, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $500 at Ally invest). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Ally invest applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Barclays does not. Overall, Barclays scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Ally invest | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $500 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Ally invest offers MT5, cTrader, while Barclays supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Ally invest supports social and copy trading features, which Barclays does not offer. Barclays edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Ally invest | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop,Android,iPhone,Mac | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Ally invest and Barclays compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Ally invest | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Ally invest accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Barclays supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Ally invest | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Ally invest and Barclays offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Ally invest | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |