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Merrill Edge vs eToro 2023

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Written by StockBrokers.com

April 11, 2023

Is Merrill Edge better than eToro? After testing 17 of the best online brokers over three months, Merrill Edge (95.25%) is better than eToro (72.74%). Merrill Edge and its parent, Bank of America, make for a well-rounded offering, with $0 trades, robust research, reliable customer service; and its Stock Stories and Fund Stories are an industry standout. There are some gaps in investment offerings, including crypto and futures.

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  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlly Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxE*TRADE
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFidelity
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFirstrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMerrill Edge
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSofi Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxtastytrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTD Ameritrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradier
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVanguard
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull

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Overall RatingMerrill EdgeeToro
Overall 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars N/A
Education 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Merrill Edge Review eToro Review
Trading FeesMerrill EdgeeToro
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $10.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) N/A N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $19.95 N/A
Options (Base Fee) $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) N/A N/A
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $29.95 $0
Margin RatesMerrill EdgeeToro
Margin Rate Under $25,000 Varies Varies
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 Varies Varies
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 Varies Varies
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 Varies Varies
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 Varies Varies
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 Varies Varies
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 Varies Varies
Account FeesMerrill EdgeeToro
IRA Annual Fee $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $49.95
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $49.95
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment OptionsMerrill EdgeeToro
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes No
Fractional Shares No Yes
OTC Stocks Yes No
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 0
Futures Trading No No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 26
Mutual Funds (No Load) 2952 0
Mutual Funds (Total) 3466 0
Bonds (US Treasury) Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) Yes No
Advisor Services Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order TypesMerrill EdgeeToro
Order Type - Market Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit Yes No
Order Type - After Hours Yes No
Order Type - Stop Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop Yes Yes
Order Type - OCO No No
Order Type - OTO No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes No
BeginnersMerrill EdgeeToro
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Bonds) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes No
Retirement Calculator Yes No
Investor Dictionary Yes No
Paper Trading No Yes
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes No
Webinars (Archived) Yes No
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes Yes No
Stock Trading AppsMerrill EdgeeToro
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours Yes No
Trading - Simple Options Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes No Yes
SB Gallery - Mobile Apps
Stock App FeaturesMerrill EdgeeToro
Market Movers (Top Gainers) Yes Yes
Stream Live TV No No
Videos on Demand No No
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 285 7
Stock App ChartingMerrill EdgeeToro
Charting - After-Hours No No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 34 5
Charting - Study Customizations Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes No
Trading PlatformsMerrill EdgeeToro
Active Trading Platform Merrill Edge Market Pro N/A
Desktop Trading Platform No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) No No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Trade Journal No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 285 7
Stock Chart FeaturesMerrill EdgeeToro
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 104 46
Charting - Drawing Tools 23 13
Charting - Notes Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars Yes No
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations 8 5
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day TradingMerrill EdgeeToro
Streaming Time & Sales Yes Yes
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks No No
Ladder Trading No No
Trade Hot Keys No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research OverviewMerrill EdgeeToro
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes No
Research - Bonds Yes No
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Screener - Bonds Yes No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation Yes No
Stock ResearchMerrill EdgeeToro
Stock Research - PDF Reports 3 0
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders Yes Yes
Stock Research - Social No Yes
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG Yes Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes Yes
ETF ResearchMerrill EdgeeToro
ETFs - Strategy Overview Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis Yes No
ETFs - Ratings Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports Yes No
Mutual Fund ResearchMerrill EdgeeToro
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap Yes No
Options TradingMerrill EdgeeToro
Option Chains - Basic View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns 68 0
Option Chains - Greeks 5 4
Option Chains - Quick Analysis Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv No No
Option Positions - Greeks Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming Yes No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis Yes No
Option Positions - Rolling Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping Yes No
BankingMerrill EdgeeToro
Bank (Member FDIC) Yes No
Checking Accounts Yes No
Savings Accounts Yes No
Credit Cards Yes No
Debit Cards Yes No
Mortgage Loans Yes No
Customer ServiceMerrill EdgeeToro
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) No No
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes No
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes No
OverallMerrill EdgeeToro
Overall 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Merrill Edge Review eToro Review
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Merrill Edge vs eToro Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2023 annual broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 17 brokerages to find the best online broker. Let's compare Merrill Edge vs eToro.

Is Merrill Edge or eToro better for beginners?

Merrill Edge offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than eToro. Merrill Edge offers investors access to Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), while eToro offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos and Education (Stocks). See our guide to Best Paper Trading Platforms for more.

What about Merrill Edge vs eToro pricing?

Merrill Edge and eToro charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Option contracts are pricier at Merrill Edge, costing $0.65 per contract versus $0.00 per contract at eToro. For a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

Does Merrill Edge or eToro offer a wider range of investment options?

Merrill Edge offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds and Advisor Services, while eToro offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares and Options Trading. Neither have Futures Trading and Forex Trading. Looking at Mutual Funds, eToro trails Merrill Edge in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with Merrill Edge offering 3095 and eToro offering 0.

Which trading platform is better: Merrill Edge or eToro?

To compare the trading platforms of Merrill Edge and eToro, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, Merrill Edge offers a better experience. With research, Merrill Edge offers superior market research. Finally, we found Merrill Edge to provide better mobile trading apps.

Does either broker offer banking?

Online banking can be a benefit for investors, and some brokerages do provide banking services to customers. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are offered by Merrill Edge while eToro offers neither of these.

Is Merrill Edge good?

Merrill Edge and its parent, Bank of America, make for a well-rounded offering, with $0 trades, robust research, reliable customer service; and its Stock Stories and Fund Stories are an industry standout. There are some gaps in investment offerings, including crypto and futures.

Is eToro good?

Though its offerings have some limitations, eToro's approach will appeal to those interested in learning how to trade crypto or joining a crypto-focused community. The scope currently is limited in the U.S., so those looking for more advanced trading or trading a variety of underlyings will want to look elsewhere.

Merrill Edge vs eToro Winner

Overall winner: Merrill Edge

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Reink Media Group is compensated if you access certain of the products or services offered by eToro USA LLC and/or eToro USA Securities Inc. Any testimonials contained in this communication may not be representative of the experience of other eToro customers and such testimonials are not guarantees of future performance or success.

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