Alpaca vs Trading212: Which Platform Should You Choose?

Amal Invest runs on two brokers: Alpaca and Trading212. The halal screening underneath is the same; the experience on top is quite different. And since one plan now covers both, the real question is just which experience fits you.

Key Takeaways

One Standard Plan at $249 (one-time) now unlocks both apps (Amal x Alpaca and Amal x Trading212) with a single login, and you can switch between them in-app anytime
Amal x Alpaca additionally offers a Pro Plan at $999 (one-time) with access to 10,000+ ETFs and mutual funds, plus investing in custom funds you build from hand-picked stocks
Trading212 focuses on simplified pie-based investing, while Alpaca offers both beginner-friendly and advanced options
Since one login covers both, your starting choice isn't permanent, so pick what fits and switch whenever you like

Two Platforms, Two Philosophies

Amal Invest (Main Offering - Alpaca Securities LLC)

The main Amal app, with two plans:

Standard Plan ($249 one-time):

Grow & Save Funds: Access to our curated Grow and Save investment funds
0% Expense Ratio: No additional fees on your investments
Unlimited Investment: No cap on how much you can invest

Pro Plan ($999 one-time):

Full Universe: Filter from over 10,000 ETFs and mutual funds
Custom Funds: Invest in funds you design yourself from hand-picked stocks (building and sharing custom funds is free on any plan)
Advanced Customization: Deep filtering options and full control over what's in your funds
0% Expense Ratio: No additional fees on your investments

Amal Invest x 212 (Trading212)

The simplified app, with one plan:

Standard Plan ($249 one-time):

Grow & Save Funds: Access to our curated Grow and Save investment funds
Simplified Experience: Pie-based investing with fewer options to reduce decision fatigue
0% Expense Ratio: No additional fees on your investments
Unlimited Investment: No caps on how much you can invest

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Amal x Alpaca	Amal x Trading212
Plans Available	Standard ($249) + Pro ($999)	Standard ($249) only
Investment Universe	Standard: Grow/Save funds Pro: 10,000+ ETFs/mutual funds	Grow/Save funds only
Custom Funds (hand-picked stocks)	Build & share free, invest with Pro	Not available
Customization Level	Standard: Basic Pro: Full control & 1000's of ETFs	Simplified, streamlined options
Interface	Standard: Guided Pro: Advanced tools	Pie-based, beginner-friendly
Best For	All experience levels	Beginners preferring simplicity
Geographic Focus	U.S. markets	U.S. markets
Expense Ratio	0% on both plans	0%
Investment Limits	Unlimited on both plans	Unlimited

One plan, one login, both apps

Your $249 Standard plan covers both the Alpaca and Trading212 apps, with no second purchase. Sign in with one email and password, and switch between the two apps in-app anytime, with no separate API keys to juggle. So if you start on one and decide the other suits you better, you're free to switch.

Getting Started with Your Chosen Platform

See Amal x Alpaca in Action

Watch the demo below to see the Alpaca app end to end, including the filtering and customization tools.

Starting with Amal x Alpaca

Sign up for your account at amalinvest.com
Choose your plan: Standard ($249) or Pro ($999)
Connect your Alpaca account or create one if needed
Start investing with your chosen plan features
Upgrade anytime from Standard to Pro if your needs grow

Demo and Support

See It in Action

Watch the demo below to get a feel for the pie-based approach on Trading212.

Starting with Amal x Trading212

Visit our Trading212 page
Complete the $249 payment for the Standard plan
Connect your Trading212 account or create one
Access your Grow & Save funds with pie-based investing
Start investing immediately with the simplified interface

Already have an Amal account? If you're already on the Standard plan from the Alpaca app, just sign in with your usual email. Your plan already covers Trading212, so there's no second payment. Switch to the Trading212 app and connect your account.

The Bottom Line

Your $249 Standard plan now covers both apps: one purchase, one login, with access to our Grow & Save funds on either side. That makes your starting choice low-stakes, so pick the experience that fits and switch in-app whenever you like. The key differentiators are:

Amal x Alpaca adds a Pro plan ($999) for filtering 10,000+ ETFs and mutual funds and investing in custom funds you build stock by stock
Amal x Trading212 focuses purely on simplicity with pie-based investing

Ready to pick?

Choose Your Platform →

And if you change your mind later, switching is built in.