Merrill Edge vs Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers.
Is Merrill Edge or Interactive Brokers better for beginners?
Merrill Edge offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than Interactive Brokers. Merrill Edge offers investors access to Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), while Interactive Brokers offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement). See our guide to Best Paper Trading Platforms for more.
What about Merrill Edge vs Interactive Brokers pricing?
Merrill Edge and Interactive Brokers charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Merrill Edge and Interactive Brokers both charge $0.65 per option contract. For a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.
Does Merrill Edge or Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds and Futures Trading. Neither have Forex Trading. Looking at Mutual Funds, Merrill Edge trails Interactive Brokers in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with Interactive Brokers offering 4329 and Merrill Edge offering 3095.
Which trading platform is better: Merrill Edge or Interactive Brokers?
To compare the trading platforms of Merrill Edge and Interactive Brokers, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, Interactive Brokers offers a better experience. With research, Interactive Brokers offers superior market research. Finally, we found Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers offers Debit Cards.
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 Interactive Brokers good?
Interactive Brokers is a go-to choice for professionals because of its institutional-grade desktop trading platform, high-quality trade executions and rock-bottom margin rates.
Merrill Edge vs Interactive Brokers Winner
Overall winner: Merrill Edge
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