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Ally vs. Alliant online banks

Explore account lineups, rates, fees and more from these two digital financial institutions.

Peter Carleton's headshot

By

Peter Carleton

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Updated

Fact checked

Start comparing

Both Ally and Alliant operate entirely online, offering a range of banking products with competitive rates and low fees. Compare the two to find out which is best for your situation.

Pros and cons of Ally vs. Alliant

Ally

Pros
  • Wider range of CD options. Ally has a wider selection of CD options and terms than Alliant.
  • More intuitive website and app. Ally offers one of the best-rated digital platforms according to customers.
  • Slightly lower fees. You’ll pay lower monthly fees and service charges with Ally.
Cons
  • No branches. Ally operates entirely online, so you won’t be able to visit a branch.
  • Lower interest on checking accounts. You won’t earn as much interest on your checking balance if you decide to bank with Ally.
  • Fewer ATMs. Ally has 43,000 ATMs compared to Alliant’s 80,000.
  • No debit card for savings accounts. You won’t receive a debit card to access your savings.

Alliant

Pros
  • Two branch locations.Unlike Ally, Alliant has a couple of branch locations, so you can bank in person..
  • More interest on checking accounts. You’ll earn more interest with Alliant checking accounts.
  • More ATMs. Alliant has over 80,000 ATMs compared to Ally’s 43,000.
  • Savings accounts include debit cards. Alliant savings accounts come with debit cards that make it easier to access your money if needed.
Cons
  • Membership required. To open an account with Alliant, you’ll first need to become a member.
  • Fewer CD options. Alliant offers fewer CD terms and doesn’t offer a no-penalty CD like Ally.
  • Slightly higher fees. Alliant has slightly higher service charges and monthly fees than Ally.

Ally vs. Alliant savings accounts

Both Ally and Alliant offer one traditional savings account, but Alliant takes this category for its slightly higher interest rates and lower fees.

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Winner: Alliant

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1 - 3 of 3
Name Product USFSA Account type Annual Percentage Yield (APY) FDIC or NCUA insured amount Minimum balance to earn interest Minimum deposit to open Offer Estimated total balance
Ally Bank Savings Account
Finder Score: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Ally Bank Savings Account
Custodial account

3.85%

Up to $250,000
$0
$0
$1,038.50
View details
Alliant High-Rate Savings
Finder Score: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
Alliant High-Rate Savings

3.10%

Up to $250,000 by the NCUA
$100
$5
$5 opening deposit is paid for you
$1,031
View details
Ally Money Market
Finder Score: 4.7 / 5: ★★★★★
Ally Money Market
Money market

3.85%

Up to $250,000
$0
$0
$1,038.50
View details
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Ally vs. Alliant checking accounts

Ally and Alliant both have interest-bearing checking accounts, but Alliant stands out for its higher interest rates and larger ATM network.

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Winner: Alliant

1 - 2 of 2
Name Product USFSA-CHK Fee Minimum deposit to open Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Offer
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking
Finder Score: 4.2 / 5: ★★★★★
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking
$0 per month
$0
0.25%
View details
Ally Bank Spending Account
Finder Score: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
Ally Bank Spending Account
$0 per month
$0
0.25% on balances of $15,000+
0.10% on balances of to $15,000
View details
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Ally vs. Alliant certificates of deposit

Both have multiple CD terms with competitive rates, but Ally has no minimum deposit requirements and has more CD options.

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Winner: Ally

1 - 3 of 3
Name Product USFSA-CDS 6-month APY 1-year APY 5-year APY Minimum deposit to open
Ally High Yield CDs
Finder Rating: 4 / 5: ★★★★★
Ally logo
4.20%
4.00%
3.40%
$0
View details
Alliant Credit Union CDs
Finder Rating: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Alliant Credit Union logo
4.20%
4.25%
3.65%
$1,000
Go to siteView details
Ally Raise Your Rate CDs
Ally logo
N/A
N/A
N/A
$0
View details
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Ally and Alliant’s other products

Both banks offer a selection of other financial products.

    Ally

  • Credit cards
  • IRAs
  • IRA CDs
  • Home loans and refinancing
  • Brokerage accounts
  • Portfolio management
  • Money market account

    Alliant

  • Credit cards
  • IRAs
  • IRA CDs
  • Home loans and refinancing
  • Brokerage accounts
  • Portfolio management
  • Car, student and personal loans
  • Auto, home and life insurance
  • Kid and teen checking

Ally and Alliant branches and ATMs

With most of their business being conducted online, customer service is important. Here’s how the two compare:

AllyAlliant
Branches02
ATMs43,00080,000+
Customer service
  • Phone 24/7
  • Social media
  • Live chat
  • Email
  • Phone 24/7
  • Social media
  • Email

Ally and Alliant special features

Both institutions have a couple of features that make them stand out from their competitors:

Ally
  • No penalty and Raise your Rate CDs
  • Learning center
Alliant
  • One of the largest ATM networks
  • Hands-on customer service

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Winner: Tie

Bottom line

These online banks offer a wide range of personal banking products with competitive rates and almost no fees. Ally is the better choice for savings accounts and CDs, whereas Alliant might be better if you have a higher checking balance or prefer access to branches. Not sure either is right for you? Compare your options until you find the right fit.

Frequently asked questions

Holly Jennings's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Peter Carleton's headshot
Written by

Writer

Peter Carleton is a freelance writer that covers banking and investing, breaking down what you need to know about where you put your money. When Peter's not thinking about cutting-edge banking apps and robo-advisors, he runs a creative agency and spends his spare time cooking or reading. See full bio

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