Ally vs. Chime
Find out how a popular online bank compares to a millennial-focused mobile app.
Pros and cons of Ally vs. Chime
Ally
- More products. Ally has a much larger selection of accounts and banking products.
- 24/7 customer service. Contact customer service any time, any day of the week.
- More interest-bearing accounts. All of Ally’s accounts earns interest — even its checking account.
- Worse mobile app. While Ally offers a sound mobile app, Chime is entirely app-based so its mobile app is most effective.
- Higher fees. You’ll pay more fees on Ally’s deposit accounts.
- Fewer savings tools. Unlike Chime, Ally doesn’t have many savings tools.
Chime
- Automatic savings tools. Chime comes with a number of money management and savings tools that can help you get the most out of your money.
- Innovative mobile app. Chime is an mobile-based account with built-in notifications, instant transaction alerts and more.
- Almost no fees. You’ll pay almost no fees to open and use a Chime
- Limited products. Unlike Ally, Chime only offers checking and savings accounts.
- Under investigation. Due to several account closures in 2021 and customers’ inability to obtain their money, Chime is currently under investigation.
- Fewer interest-bearing accounts. The only account that earns you interest is Chime’s savings account.
Compare Ally vs. Chime savings accounts
Use the table to compare savings accounts from Ally and Chime. If you want to see in-depth features like transaction limits and minimum balance required to earn interest, click the “Compare” checkbox next to each account for a side-by-side view.
Both accounts have competitive APYs and no monthly fees and minimum opening deposit requirements. They also both have automatic savings tools to help you reach your goals. Chime Savings lets you transfer 10% of each paycheck to savings and save spare change by rounding up debit card purchases the nearest whole dollar.
Ally lets you categorize funds into different savings buckets and set up automatic payments. You can also let Ally analyze your checking account spending and sweep extra cash into savings. Where they differ? You need to open a Chime Checking account to access its savings account. For this reason, Ally wins the savings account category.
Winner: Ally
Compare Ally vs. Chime checking accounts
This table shows common features and fees for both bank’s checking accounts. Sort the table by specific fees or click the “Compare” box next to each account for a unique side-by-side comparison.
Winner: Chime
Compare Ally vs. Chime CDs
Winner: Ally
Ally vs. Chime other products
Ally is a much larger institution that caters to a much wider range of banking needs, so it’s the obvious choice for anyone looking for other financial products.Ally
- Credit cards
- Money market account
- IRAs
- IRA CDs
- Home loans and refinancing
- Brokerage accounts
- Portfolio management
Chime
- None
Ally vs. Chime branches and ATMs
Online and mobile banking means you won’t have access to branches, making good customer service essential. Here’s how the two compare:
Ally | Chime | |
---|---|---|
Branches | 0 | 0 |
ATMs | 43,000 | 60,000 |
Customer service |
|
|
Ally vs. Chime special features
Both of these options offer unique features that separate them from their competition:
Ally
- 24/7 customer service
- Raise Your Rate and No Penalty CDs
- Savings buckets and boosters
Chime
- 24/7 customer service
- Mobile-only financial app
- Money management and savings tools
Winner: Ally
Bottom line
These two digital banks offer competitive financial products that could be right for your situation. Pick Ally if you want a wider product selection and consistently high rates, or go with Chime if you prefer a mobile financial app to manage your money and if you want to avoid overdraft fees. In either case, it’s worth comparing your options to see what other accounts are out there.
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