Ally Invest vs TD Direct Investing : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Ally Invest

TD Direct Investing

Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

None

Years of Existence / Established Year

2005

1984

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

No information

17 M

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

SEC, FINRA

CIPF, CIRO

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

No major awards listed

Security Measures

SIPC

CIPF

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

10,800+ assets including, CDs, Treasuries, Crypto available through external parterns

Fixed income investments, GICs

Currency Pairs

Commodities

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Bonds

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Fractional Shares

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Yes

Precious Metals

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Yes

Equities

Yes

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

MT5

cTrader

Social Trading

Copy Trading

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Web and mobile platform

TD app, web trader, Advanced dashboard, TD active trader

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes except Mac

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

IRA plan, Traditional, Roth IRA, Self-directed trading, Ally Invest Robo portfolios, Personal advice

Margin account, cash trading account, TFSA, RSP, RESP, RIF, LIRA, LIF, RDSP

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Minimum Deposit

$100

Leverage Available

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Non-Pattern Day Trader-3-day trades in 5 business days, Pattern Day Trade- Unlimited day trades

Depends on asset types

Commission (per account type)

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners

Beginners and experienced traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

ACH, Wire transfer, Check

Direct bank account, Check

Withdrawal Methods

Wire transfer

SWIP, Wire payment

Other E-Wallets Supported

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Trading Education, Market Insights, Webinars, Online Trading Courses, Forex and Options Education

Learning Centre - Investing Education, Market Insights and Analysis, Webinars, Investing Guides, Video Tutorials, TD Direct Investing Community Forum

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Commission-$0

Commission -mutual funds- $0 , IPOs, Equities- $7.00- $9.99, Stock - $3- $43, Bonds- $40 + $1.50/1,000

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

$0.50

$9.99 + $1.25 per contract

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Maximum Leverage

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

Advisory Fees

$0.75-$0.85

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Statement or Document Fee

$2-$5

Account Opening Fee

Applicable, Depends on account types

Account Maintenance Fee

$25 per quarter

Deposit Fee

$17.50 U.S

Currency Conversion Fee

2.50%

Withdrawal Fee

Wire transfer- $75

$30-$100

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes- Occasionally

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Pre-market orders between 8:00 am - 9:30 am, ET or post-market orders between 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET.

Pre-market trading hours (8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET) and after-hours trading (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET)

Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

Mon - Fri 7am - 10pm ET, Sat 8am - 8pm ET

Monday to Friday, 7 am to 10 pm ET

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Hard of hearing call: 711, Phone: 1-888-925-2559, +1-316-652-6430, E-mail: Login to send a secure message, Live chat

Phone: 1-800-465-5463, , Book an appointment

Support Languages

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

66 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON M5K 1A2

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.

Ally Invest is known for competitive pricing on basic trades, especially for beginners. However, TD Direct Investing fee structure, though slightly higher, covers a broader range of services, making it more suitable for active traders.

Creating an account with Ally Invest is generally faster and more user-friendly, often taking just a few minutes, while TD Direct Investing requires more detailed steps and identity verification, which may suit more cautious investors.

Ally Invest excels in real-time trade execution with minimal latency, whereas TD Direct Investing complements its execution with strong analytical modules and educational support within the platform.

Ally Invest supports complex strategies and asset diversity, while TD Direct Investing offers clarity and low-cost access for long-term holders.

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