Merrill Edge vs Ally Invest Review
Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. For our annual broker review, we assess over a dozen brokers on hundreds of different variables to find the best online broker. Yielding a database of over 5,000 data points, let's compare Ally Invest vs Merrill Edge.
To start this comparison, first, we will take a look at the online broker commission rates for placing regular stock and options trades. Merrill Edge charges $6.95 per stock trade which is $2.00 more than Ally Invest which charges customers $4.95 per trade. For options trading, Merrill Edge has a base fee of $6.95, and Ally Invest a base fee of $4.95. Each option contract then costs $0.75 at Merrill Edge and $0.65 at Ally Invest. It's important to note that not all brokers charge a flat fee per trade. Thus, it is important to read the full commission notes for each broker, which we include with each online broker review.
Next to commission rates, being able to trade what you want is important. Merrill Edge provides its clients with Stock Trading, Options Trading and Mutual Funds while Ally Invest provides clients access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, Mutual Funds and Forex Trading. Looking at mutual funds, Merrill Edge trails Ally Invest by 10,291 total mutual funds, with Ally Invest offering 14000 and Merrill Edge offering 3709. Commission free ETFs can also be valuable for customers, Ally Invest offers 116 commission free ETFs versus Merrill Edge's total of 0.
Trading access aside, by comparing popular features and functionality, we can break down relevant differences between both brokers. Neither Ally Invest and Merrill Edge offer virtual trading. Taking a look at mobile trading, Ally Invest along with Merrill Edge both support the iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Not to be left out, online banking is also a nice benefit for many investors, and some brokerages provide these services to clients. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are available to customers of Ally Invest and Merrill Edge. On the whole, when it comes to tools, research, and mobile trading, unfortunately, neither Ally Invest nor Merrill Edge received awards Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research and Best in Class - Mobile Trading.
Overall, Merrill Edge takes the upper hand with 4 stars over Ally Invest's 3 stars.
To start this comparison, first, we will take a look at the online broker commission rates for placing regular stock and options trades. Merrill Edge charges $6.95 per stock trade which is $2.00 more than Ally Invest which charges customers $4.95 per trade. For options trading, Merrill Edge has a base fee of $6.95, and Ally Invest a base fee of $4.95. Each option contract then costs $0.75 at Merrill Edge and $0.65 at Ally Invest. It's important to note that not all brokers charge a flat fee per trade. Thus, it is important to read the full commission notes for each broker, which we include with each online broker review.
Next to commission rates, being able to trade what you want is important. Merrill Edge provides its clients with Stock Trading, Options Trading and Mutual Funds while Ally Invest provides clients access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, Mutual Funds and Forex Trading. Looking at mutual funds, Merrill Edge trails Ally Invest by 10,291 total mutual funds, with Ally Invest offering 14000 and Merrill Edge offering 3709. Commission free ETFs can also be valuable for customers, Ally Invest offers 116 commission free ETFs versus Merrill Edge's total of 0.
Trading access aside, by comparing popular features and functionality, we can break down relevant differences between both brokers. Neither Ally Invest and Merrill Edge offer virtual trading. Taking a look at mobile trading, Ally Invest along with Merrill Edge both support the iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Not to be left out, online banking is also a nice benefit for many investors, and some brokerages provide these services to clients. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are available to customers of Ally Invest and Merrill Edge. On the whole, when it comes to tools, research, and mobile trading, unfortunately, neither Ally Invest nor Merrill Edge received awards Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research and Best in Class - Mobile Trading.
Overall, Merrill Edge takes the upper hand with 4 stars over Ally Invest's 3 stars.
Overall
Commissions & Fees
Offering of Investments
Platforms & Tools
Research
Customer Service
Mobile Trading
Ease of Use
Education
Order Execution
Banking
Minimum Deposit
Stock Trade Fee (flat)
Options Base Fee
Options Per Contract Fee
Mutual Fund Trade Fee
Broker Assisted Trades Fee
IRA Annual Fee
IRA Closure Fee
Stock Trading
OTCBB / Pink Sheets
Options Trading
Complex Options Max Legs
Futures Trading
Forex Trading
Commission-Free ETFs
Mutual Funds (No Load)
Mutual Funds (Total)
Bonds (US Treasury)
Bonds (Corporate)
Bonds (Municipal)
Advisor Services
International Trading
Advantage
Order Type - Market
Order Type - Limit
Order Type - Stop
Order Type - Trailing Stop
Order Type - Contingent
Order Type - MultiContingent
Order Type - OCO
Order Type - OTO
Order Type - OTOCO
Order Type - Algo
Advantage
Desktop Platform (Windows)
Desktop Platform (Mac)
Web Platform
Virtual Trading
Trade Journal
Watch Lists - Total Fields
Two-Factor Authentication Login
Charting - Trade Off Chart
Charting - Drawing Tools
Charting - Indicators / Studies
Charting - Historical Trades
Charting - Save Profiles
Charting - Study Customizations
Charting - Custom Studies
Option Chains - Total Columns
Option Chains - Greeks Viewable
Option Analysis - P&L Charts
Option Positions - Rolling
Heat Mapping
Advantage
Stock Alerts - Basic Fields
Stock Alerts - Advanced Fields
Streaming Time & Sales
Streaming TV
Direct Market Routing - Stocks
Direct Market Routing - Options
Ladder Trading
Trade Hot Keys
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks
Level 2 Quotes - Options
Trade Ideas - Backtesting
Short Locator
Client Liquidity Rebates
Research - Stocks
Research - ETFs
Research - Mutual Funds
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB
Research - Fixed Income
Research - Futures
Research - Forex
Screener - Stocks
Screener - ETFs
Screener - Mutual Funds
Screener - Options
Screener - Bonds
Misc - Portfolio Allocation
Misc - Portfolio Builder
Stock Research - Earnings
Stock Research - SEC Filings
Stock Research - Insiders
Stock Research - Social
Stock Research - ESG
Stock Research - Reports
ETF Research - Top 10 Holdings
ETF Research - Reports
ETF Research - Ratings
Mutual Fund Research - Reports
Advantage
iPhone App
Android App
Apple Watch App
Trading - Stocks
Trading - After-Hours
Trading - Conditional Orders
Trading - Mutual Funds
Trading - Simple Options
Trading - Complex Options
Trading - Option Rolling
Touch / Face ID
Watch List Syncing
Stock Alerts - Basic Fields
Stock Alerts - Advanced Fields
Charting - After Hours
Charting - Drawing
Charting - Study Customizations
Customizable Homescreen
Heatmapping
Stream Live TV
Barcode Lookup
Advantage
Retail Locations
Member FDIC
Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
Credit Cards
Debit Cards
Mortgage Loans
No Fee Banking
Advantage
Under $24,999.99
$25,000.00 to $49,999.99
$50,000.00 to $99,999.99
$100,000.00 to $249,999.99
$250,000.00 to $499,999.99
$500,000.00 to $999,999.99
Above $1,000,000.00
Has Education - Stocks
Has Education - ETFs
Has Education - Options
Has Education - Mutual Funds
Has Education - Fixed Income
Has Education - Retirement
Videos
Webinars (Monthly Avg)
Webinars (Archived)
Live Seminars
Progress Tracking
Interactive Learning - Quizzes
Magazine
Advantage
Overall
Advantage
Comparing 2 brokers
Merrill Edge
Special Offer
Invest in a new account and get up to $600 Learn More
Yes
Yes
Yes
2
No
No
0
2471
3709
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
285
Yes
Yes
22
95
Yes
Yes
8
No
69
5
Yes
No
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
3
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
check_circle
4400
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
check_circle
10.63%
9.50%
9.50%
8.13%
8.13%
7.88%
7.25%
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
0
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
check_circle
check_circle
Ally Invest
Special Offer
Up to $3,500 cash bonus + commission free trades for new accounts Learn More
Yes
Yes
Yes
4
No
Yes
116
7200
14000
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
check_circle
No
No
Yes
No
No
21
Yes
No
36
117
No
Yes
5
No
8
1
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
2
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
9.75%
9.50%
8.75%
7.50%
6.50%
6.00%
5.25%
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
17
No
Yes
No
No
No
All pricing data was obtained from a published web site as of 02/18/2019 and is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. The StockBrokers.com staff is constantly working with its online broker representatives to obtain the latest pricing data. If you believe any data listed above is inaccurate, please contact us using the link at the bottom of this page. For stock trade rates, advertised pricing is for a standard order size of 500 shares of stock priced at $30 per share. For options orders, an options regulatory fee per contract may apply.
