B
Ally invest logo

Ally invest

6.2/10

Bell Direct

5.6/10
5/10WinnerRegulation3/10
0/10FeesWinner6/10
7/10PlatformsTied7/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Ally invest was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in United States, while Bell Direct was established in 1983 and is based in New Zealand. Ally invest holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Bell Direct is regulated by Financial Markets Authority (FMA) among others. Ally invest serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Bell Direct has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Ally invest and $100 at Bell Direct.

Ally invest wins this category
FeatureAlly investBell Direct
Min. Deposit$500$100
RegulationCyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
Founded20131983
CountryUnited StatesNew Zealand
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Ally invest and Bell Direct, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bell Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $500 at Ally invest). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Bell Direct wins this category
FeatureAlly investBell Direct
Min. Deposit$500$100
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesYesYes
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

Ally invest offers MT5, cTrader, while Bell Direct supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Ally invest supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureAlly investBell Direct
MT4NoNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsDesktop,Android,iPhone,MacAndroid,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Ally invest and Bell Direct 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. Ally invest scores higher overall in education and research.

Ally invest wins this category
FeatureAlly investBell Direct
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesNo

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 Bell Direct supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureAlly investBell Direct
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

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 Bell Direct 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.

Tied
FeatureAlly investBell Direct
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese