Merrill Edge vs Fidelity Investments Review
The StockBrokers.com annual broker review assesses more than a dozen different brokers over six months, surfacing the best online stock brokers. This review compares Fidelity Investments vs Merrill Edge. Is Fidelity Investments or Merrill Edge a better online broker?
First, we will make a comparison of the stock and option trading fees for trading with both brokers. Merrill Edge charges more than Fidelity Investments for placing regular stock trades ($6.95 and $4.95, respectively). Looking at trading options, Fidelity Investments's base fee is $4.95 while Merrill Edge's is $6.95. Each option contract then costs $0.75 at Merrill Edge and $0.65 at Fidelity Investments. Note that some brokers charge a per-share fee instead of a flat-fee commission. For a full breakdown of commissions, read our online broker reviews.
For our next comparison of these two brokers, being able to trade the way you want is a must. Fidelity Investments and Merrill Edge provide clients with Stock Trading, Options Trading and Mutual Funds. When it comes to mutual funds, Fidelity Investments boasts an offering of 12505 mutual funds compared to Merrill Edge's 3688 available funds. Commission free ETFs can also be a nice plus, with Fidelity Investments having the upper hand thanks to its 265 available commission free ETFs compared to Merrill Edge's offering of 0.
Last but not least, by breaking down important features, tools, etc that each broker offers, we can really help to separate the two. Fidelity Investments offers virtual trading while Merrill Edge does not. For mobile trading, Both Fidelity Investments and Merrill Edge offer clients access to an iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Furthermore, some investors like to bank online, and multiple brokerages provide these services to clients. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are available to clients of Merrill Edge while Fidelity Investments offers customers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards and Credit Cards. On the whole, when it comes to tools, research, and mobile trading, Fidelity Investments was rated Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research and Best in Class - Mobile Trading, while Merrill Edge was rated none of these.
Overall, Fidelity Investments comes out on top with 5.00 stars over Merrill Edge's 4.50 stars.
First, we will make a comparison of the stock and option trading fees for trading with both brokers. Merrill Edge charges more than Fidelity Investments for placing regular stock trades ($6.95 and $4.95, respectively). Looking at trading options, Fidelity Investments's base fee is $4.95 while Merrill Edge's is $6.95. Each option contract then costs $0.75 at Merrill Edge and $0.65 at Fidelity Investments. Note that some brokers charge a per-share fee instead of a flat-fee commission. For a full breakdown of commissions, read our online broker reviews.
For our next comparison of these two brokers, being able to trade the way you want is a must. Fidelity Investments and Merrill Edge provide clients with Stock Trading, Options Trading and Mutual Funds. When it comes to mutual funds, Fidelity Investments boasts an offering of 12505 mutual funds compared to Merrill Edge's 3688 available funds. Commission free ETFs can also be a nice plus, with Fidelity Investments having the upper hand thanks to its 265 available commission free ETFs compared to Merrill Edge's offering of 0.
Last but not least, by breaking down important features, tools, etc that each broker offers, we can really help to separate the two. Fidelity Investments offers virtual trading while Merrill Edge does not. For mobile trading, Both Fidelity Investments and Merrill Edge offer clients access to an iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Furthermore, some investors like to bank online, and multiple brokerages provide these services to clients. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are available to clients of Merrill Edge while Fidelity Investments offers customers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards and Credit Cards. On the whole, when it comes to tools, research, and mobile trading, Fidelity Investments was rated Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research and Best in Class - Mobile Trading, while Merrill Edge was rated none of these.
Overall, Fidelity Investments comes out on top with 5.00 stars over Merrill Edge's 4.50 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
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
Client Liquidity Rebates
Advantage
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 - 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 - 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
285
Yes
Yes
22
95
Yes
Yes
8
No
69
5
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
3
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
4400
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
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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
Fidelity Investments
Yes
Yes
Yes
4
No
No
265
4031
11782
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
91
Yes
Yes
22
166
Yes
Yes
5
No
26
5
Yes
Yes
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
12
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
check_circle
197
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
9.58%
9.08%
8.13%
8.08%
7.83%
5.50%
5.25%
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
8
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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All pricing data was obtained from a published web site as of 09/01/18 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.
