menuclose
StockBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn how we make money.

Merrill Edge vs J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing 2022

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

November 02, 2022

Is Merrill Edge better than J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing? After testing 15 of the best online brokers over six months, E*TRADE (92.52%) is better than Merrill Edge (84.89%). Founded in 1982 as one of the first online brokerages in the United States, E*TRADE highlights include $0 trades, two excellent mobile apps and the Power E*TRADE platform, which is great for beginners, active trading and options trading.

Select Brokers❯×
× Merrill Edge

Invest in a new account and get up to $600.

Visit Site

Advertisement
× J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Sponsored Broker
E*TRADE

Open and fund & get up to $600 or more.

Visit Site

Advertisement
+ Add Broker
Close Menu ×
navigate_before navigate_next
Overall RatingMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Overall4.5 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Commissions & Fees4.5 Stars4.5 Stars4.5 Stars
Investment Options4 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Platforms & Tools4 Stars2 Stars4.5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps4 Stars3.5 Stars5 Stars
Research4.5 Stars3.5 Stars4.5 Stars
Customer Service4.5 StarsN/A4.5 Stars
Education4.5 Stars3.5 Stars4.5 Stars
Ease Of Use4 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Winnercheck_circle
ReviewMerrill Edge ReviewJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing ReviewE*TRADE Review
Trading FeesMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Minimum Deposit$0.00$0.00$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00$0.00$0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTCCB)N/A$0.00$6.95
Mutual Fund Trade Fee$19.95$0$19.99
Options (Base Fee)$0.00$0.00$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65$0.65$0.65
Futures (Per Contract)N/AN/A$1.50
Broker Assisted Trade Fee29.95Varies$25
Margin RatesMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Margin Rate Under $24,999.99N/A11.00%11.95%
Margin Rate $25,000.00 to $49,999.99N/A10.75%11.45%
Margin Rate $50,000.00 to $99,999.99N/A10.25%10.95%
Margin Rate $100,000.00 to $249,999.99N/A10.00%10.45%
Margin Rate $250,000.00 to $499,999.99N/A10.00%9.95%
Margin Rate $500,000.00 to $999,999.99N/A9.25%9.45%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000.00N/A8.75%8.45%
Account FeesMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
IRA Annual Fee$0.00$0.00$0.00
IRA Closure Fee$49.95$75.00$0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial)$0.00$0.00$25.00
Account Transfer Out (Full)$49.95$75.00$75.00
Options Exercise Fee$0.00$0.00$0.00
Options Assignment Fee$0.00$0.00$0.00
Investment OptionsMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Stock TradingYesYesYes
Margin TradingYesYesYes
Fractional SharesNoNoNo
OTCBB / Pink SheetsYesYesYes
Options TradingYesYesYes
Complex Options Max Legs414
Futures TradingNoNoYes
Forex TradingNoNoNo
Crypto TradingNoNoNo
Crypto Trading - Total Coins000
Mutual Funds (No Load)295235006486
Mutual Funds (Total)346635007242
Bonds (US Treasury)YesYesYes
Bonds (Corporate)YesYesYes
Bonds (Municipal)YesYesYes
Advisor ServicesYesYesYes
International Countries (Stocks)000
Order TypesMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Order Type - MarketYesYesYes
Order Type - LimitYesYesYes
Order Type - After HoursYesNoYes
Order Type - StopYesYesYes
Order Type - Trailing StopYesNoYes
Order Type - OCONoNoYes
Order Type - OTONoNoYes
Order Type - Broker AssistedYesYesYes
BeginnersMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Education (Stocks)YesYesYes
Education (ETFs)YesYesYes
Education (Options)YesYesYes
Education (Mutual Funds)YesYesYes
Education (Bonds)YesYesYes
Education (Retirement)YesYesYes
Retirement CalculatorYesYesYes
Investor DictionaryYesNoYes
Paper TradingNoNoYes
VideosYesYesYes
WebinarsYesYesYes
Webinars (Archived)YesNoYes
Progress TrackingNoNoNo
Interactive Learning - QuizzesYesNoYes
Stock Trading AppsMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
iPhone AppYesYesYes
Android AppYesYesYes
Apple Watch AppYesNoYes
Trading - StocksYesYesYes
Trading - After-HoursYesNoYes
Trading - Simple OptionsYesYesYes
Trading - Complex OptionsYesNoYes
Order Ticket RT QuotesYesYesYes
Order Ticket SRT QuotesNoNoYes
Stock App FeaturesMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Market Movers (Top Gainers)YesYesYes
Stream Live TVNoNoYes
Videos on DemandNoNoNo
Stock AlertsYesNoYes
Option Chains ViewableYesYesYes
Watch List (Real-time)YesYesYes
Watch List (Streaming)YesNoYes
Watch Lists - Create & ManageYesYesYes
Watch Lists - Column CustomizationNoNoYes
Watch Lists - Total Fields285495
Stock App ChartingMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Charting - After-HoursNoNoYes
Charting - Can Turn HorizontallyYesNoYes
Charting - Multiple Time FramesYesYesYes
Charting - Technical Studies343510
Charting - Study CustomizationsYesNoYes
Charting - Stock ComparisonsYesNoYes
Trading PlatformsMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Active Trading PlatformMerrill Edge Market ProN/APower E*TRADE
Desktop Trading PlatformNoNoNo
Desktop Platform (Mac)NoNoNo
Web Trading PlatformYesYesYes
Paper TradingNoNoYes
Trade JournalNoNoNo
Watch Lists - Total Fields285495
Stock Chart FeaturesMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Charting - Adjust Trades on ChartYesNoYes
Charting - Indicators / Studies10436119
Charting - Drawing Tools231031
Charting - NotesYesNoYes
Charting - Index OverlaysYesYesYes
Charting - Historical TradesYesNoYes
Charting - Corporate EventsYesYesYes
Charting - Custom Date RangeYesNoYes
Charting - Custom Time BarsYesNoNo
Charting - Automated AnalysisYesNoYes
Charting - Save ProfilesYesNoYes
Trade Ideas - Technical AnalysisYesNoYes
Charting - Study Customizations836
Charting - Custom StudiesNoNoNo
Day TradingMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Streaming Time & SalesYesNoYes
Streaming TVNoNoYes
Direct Market Routing - StocksNoNoYes
Ladder TradingNoNoNo
Trade Hot KeysNoNoYes
Level 2 Quotes - StocksYesNoYes
Trade Ideas - BacktestingYesNoNo
Trade Ideas - Backtesting AdvNoNoNo
Short LocatorNoNoNo
Order Liquidity RebatesNoNoNo
Research OverviewMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Research - StocksYesYesYes
Research - ETFsYesYesYes
Research - Mutual FundsYesYesYes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBBYesYesYes
Research - BondsYesNoYes
Screener - StocksYesYesYes
Screener - ETFsYesYesYes
Screener - Mutual FundsYesYesYes
Screener - BondsYesYesYes
Misc - Portfolio AllocationYesYesYes
Stock ResearchMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Stock Research - PDF Reports326
Stock Research - EarningsYesYesYes
Stock Research - InsidersYesNoYes
Stock Research - SocialNoNoYes
Stock Research - NewsYesYesYes
Stock Research - ESGYesNoNo
Stock Research - SEC FilingsYesNoYes
ETF ResearchMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
ETFs - Strategy OverviewYesYesYes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception DateYesYesYes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense RatioYesYesYes
ETF Fund Facts - Net AssetsYesYesYes
ETF Fund Facts - Total HoldingsYesYesYes
ETFs - Top 10 HoldingsYesYesYes
ETFs - Sector ExposureYesYesYes
ETFs - Risk AnalysisYesNoYes
ETFs - RatingsYesYesYes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMapYesYesYes
ETFs - PDF ReportsYesNoYes
Mutual Fund ResearchMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Mutual Funds - Strategy OverviewYesYesYes
Mutual Funds - Performance ChartYesYesNo
Mutual Funds - Performance AnalysisYesYesYes
Mutual Funds - ProspectusYesNoYes
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party RatingsYesYesYes
Mutual Funds - Fees BreakdownYesYesYes
Mutual Funds - Top 10 HoldingsYesYesYes
Mutual Funds - Asset AllocationYesYesYes
Mutual Funds - Sector AllocationYesYesYes
Mutual Funds - Country AllocationYesYesYes
Mutual Funds - StyleMapYesYesYes
Options TradingMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Option Chains - Basic ViewYesYesYes
Option Chains - Strategy ViewYesNoYes
Option Chains - StreamingYesNoYes
Option Chains - Total Columns68631
Option Chains - Greeks505
Option Chains - Quick AnalysisYesNoYes
Option Analysis - P&L ChartsYesNoYes
Option Probability AnalysisYesNoYes
Option Probability Analysis AdvNoNoYes
Option Positions - GreeksYesNoYes
Option Positions - Greeks StreamingYesNoYes
Option Positions - Adv AnalysisYesNoYes
Option Positions - RollingYesNoYes
Option Positions - GroupingYesNoYes
BankingMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Bank (Member FDIC)YesYesYes
Checking AccountsYesYesYes
Savings AccountsYesYesYes
Credit CardsYesYesYes
Debit CardsYesYesYes
Mortgage LoansYesYesYes
Customer ServiceMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Phone Support (Prospect Customers)YesNoYes
Phone Support (Current Customers)YesYesYes
Email SupportYesYesYes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers)YesNoNo
Live Chat (Current Customers)YesNoYes
24/7 SupportYesYesYes
OverallMerrill EdgeJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingE*TRADE
Overall4.5 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Commissions & Fees4.5 Stars4.5 Stars4.5 Stars
Investment Options4 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Platforms & Tools4 Stars2 Stars4.5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps4 Stars3.5 Stars5 Stars
Research4.5 Stars3.5 Stars4.5 Stars
Education4.5 Stars3.5 Stars4.5 Stars
Ease Of Use4 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Winnercheck_circle
ReviewMerrill Edge ReviewJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing ReviewE*TRADE Review
  • 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_boxTD Ameritrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradier
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVanguard
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull
Compare 0 of 5
arrow_upward

Merrill Edge vs J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2022 annual broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 15 brokerages to find the best online broker. Let's compare Merrill Edge vs J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing.

Is Merrill Edge or J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing better for beginners?

E*TRADE offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than Merrill Edge. Both Merrill Edge and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offer Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), neither have Paper Trading.

What about Merrill Edge vs J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing pricing?

Merrill Edge and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Merrill Edge and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing 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 J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offer a wider range of investment options?

Both Merrill Edge and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offer Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTCBB / Pink Sheets, Mutual Funds and Advisor Services, neither have Fractional Shares, Futures Trading and Forex Trading. Looking at Mutual Funds, Merrill Edge trails J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offering 3500 and Merrill Edge offering 3095.

Which trading platform is better: Merrill Edge or J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing?

To compare the trading platforms of Merrill Edge and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, E*TRADE offers a better experience. With research, Merrill Edge offers superior market research. Finally, we found E*TRADE 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 available to customers of Merrill Edge and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing.

Is Merrill Edge good?

Merrill Edge offers $0 trades with industry-leading research tools — especially for ESG research — and excellent customer service. Better yet, the Preferred Rewards program at Bank of America, Merrill Edge’s parent, offers the best rewards of any bank broker we tested in 2022.

Is J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing good?

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, previously known as Chase You Invest, gives Chase Bank customers easy access to investing. The all-in-one platform makes money and asset management simple and straightforward.

Merrill Edge vs J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Winner

Overall winner: E*TRADE

Read Next

Explore our other online trading guides:

More Comparisons

Other related comparisons.

Merrill Edge vs J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Merrill Edge vs Tradier Merrill Edge vs Ally Invest Merrill Edge vs Firstrade Merrill Edge vs Fidelity Merrill Edge vs Robinhood J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs Charles Schwab J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs Interactive Brokers J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs Merrill Edge J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs Robinhood J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs Fidelity

Show all

Was this helpful?
Yes or No

*INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT · NOT FDIC INSURED · NO BANK GUARANTEE · MAY LOSE VALUE
close
navigate_before navigate_next