Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Merrill Edge vs Robinhood, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: choose Merrill Edge if you want mutual funds, and choose Robinhood if you want crypto, futures, or fractional shares. Both offer stock trading, options, margin, OTC stocks, IRAs, and advisor services, and neither supports forex. Each earns 4 stars for Range of Investments from StockBrokers.com, with Merrill Edge ranked #7 of 14 brokers and Robinhood ranked #10.
On tradable products, both brokers support stocks, options, margin, and OTC stocks. Key differences: Merrill Edge offers mutual funds while Robinhood does not; Robinhood offers fractional shares while Merrill Edge does not. For advanced markets, Robinhood offers futures and crypto with 22 coins, while Merrill Edge offers neither. Neither platform supports forex.
For account types and guidance, both Merrill Edge and Robinhood provide Traditional and Roth IRAs as well as advisor services. So your pick mostly hinges on what you plan to trade: mutual funds with Merrill Edge, or fractional shares, futures, and crypto with Robinhood.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
In the Merrill Edge vs. Robinhood matchup for trading platforms and tools, Merrill Edge holds a slight edge. It earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood earns 3 stars and ranks #8. Both rely on browser-based trading with no Windows or Mac desktop apps, and neither offers paper trading or a built-in trading journal.
Day-to-day use is similar in some areas: both platforms run in your browser, let you adjust open orders directly on charts, support custom date ranges, and allow you to save multiple chart profiles. Neither broker lets you build custom studies. However, watchlists are more detailed on Merrill Edge, which supports up to 285 data fields versus 34 on Robinhood.
Charting is where the differences grow. Merrill Edge provides 105 technical indicators and 23 drawing tools, while Robinhood offers 90 indicators and 26 drawing tools. Both let you add notes to charts, but Merrill Edge goes further by showing your historical trades, displaying corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends), and running automated chart pattern recognition—features Robinhood lacks. Even when editing a simple moving average, Merrill Edge gives more settings (8 fields) than Robinhood (6).
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 285 | 34 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 90 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 26 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Merrill Edge vs. Robinhood: Both online brokers offer beginner-friendly education on stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds. Merrill Edge is the only one with mutual fund education. Neither platform includes paper trading or tools to track your learning progress. You’ll find videos on both, but Merrill Edge adds webinars and interactive quizzes, which Robinhood does not provide.
For investor education, Merrill Edge earns 4 stars and ranks #6 of 14 on StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood scores 3.5 stars and ranks #7. If you want more ways to learn—especially webinars, quizzes, and mutual fund lessons—Merrill Edge has the edge. If you prefer simple, on-the-go lessons inside a streamlined app, Robinhood can still be a solid choice for beginners.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: In the Merrill Edge vs Robinhood app comparison, both deliver capable stock trading apps for iPhone and Android and each earns 4 stars from StockBrokers.com, with Robinhood ranked #7 and Merrill Edge #9. Robinhood pulls ahead if you want more built-in indicators, after-hours chart visibility, Apple Watch support, and customizable watchlist columns. Merrill Edge shines if you prefer landscape charting and the ability to compare multiple stocks on a single chart. Choose Robinhood for more technical depth and wearable access, or Merrill Edge for flexible chart viewing and comparison tools.
Core features are strong on both sides: streaming quotes, price alerts, custom watchlists, and mobile options trading are included in each app. Neither platform offers streaming live TV or videos on demand. Both apps are available on iPhone and Android; only Robinhood adds an Apple Watch app. Each app supports multiple time frames for charting.
Charting and customization differ in key ways. Robinhood offers 90 technical studies and includes after-hours charting, while Merrill Edge provides 34 studies. Merrill Edge lets you rotate your phone for landscape charts and overlay stock comparisons—features Robinhood lacks. For watchlists, Robinhood allows column customization; Merrill Edge does not.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 34 | 90 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
When comparing Merrill Edge and Robinhood for their account fees and charges, both platforms provide excellent options for commission-free stock trading. Both have no minimum deposit, making them accessible to new investors. However, there are notable differences regarding options trading and other service fees. While Merrill Edge charges $0.65 per options contract, Robinhood provides options trading without any contract fee. This cost difference may appeal to frequent options traders who prioritize minimizing fees.
In terms of margin rates, Robinhood offers a clear schedule, with a set rate of 5.75% for balances below $50,000 and a slightly reduced rate of 5.55% for higher balances. Merrill Edge's margin rates vary, potentially offering more competitive rates depending on the account tier. Both platforms offer IRA accounts with no annual fees, but Merrill Edge imposes a $49.95 fee for IRA closures, whereas Robinhood charges nothing.
Another factor to consider is the cost of account transfers. Merrill Edge charges nothing for both partial and full Account Transfers (ACAT), while Robinhood has a $100 fee for each. Additionally, neither platform charges fees for options exercise or assignment. For investors seeking a fee-free options trading platform, Robinhood could be the better choice. However, for those considering flexibility with account transfers and potentially variable margin rates, Merrill Edge may be more appealing.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $49.95 | $0.00 |
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Merrill Edge vs Robinhood for day trading: both platforms offer level 2 quotes, but their tools differ in ways active traders will notice. Merrill Edge includes streaming time and sales, which helps you see prints as they happen, while Robinhood does not. Robinhood offers ladder trading for quick order placement; Merrill Edge does not. Neither platform provides streaming live TV, direct market routing, or keyboard hotkeys for trading.
On strategy tools, Merrill Edge supports basic backtesting so you can try out simple ideas, while Robinhood lacks this. Neither offers advanced backtesting, a short locator to check borrow availability, or order liquidity (maker/taker) rebates. In short, choose Merrill Edge if you want streaming time and sales and basic backtesting, or pick Robinhood if ladder trading is your priority; just note both miss some features seasoned day traders often seek.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: In the Merrill Edge vs Robinhood market research matchup, Merrill Edge is the stronger pick. It covers more asset types, delivers downloadable analyst reports, and offers wider screening tools for finding ideas. Robinhood suits traders who just need basic stock and ETF info, but if you want fuller research and planning features, Merrill Edge fits better.
Merrill Edge provides research on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, OTC/pink sheets, and bonds. Robinhood covers stocks, ETFs, and OTC/pink sheets, but does not offer mutual fund or bond research. Both brokers let you view portfolio allocation by asset class and neither uses social media sentiment for stock research. Only Merrill Edge includes ESG research. For reports, Merrill Edge offers three downloadable PDF stock reports and also provides PDFs for ETFs and mutual funds, while Robinhood offers no downloadable PDF reports.
Idea-generation tools further separate the two: Merrill Edge has screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds; Robinhood has a stock screener only. Independent ratings reflect the gap—Merrill Edge earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 of 14 brokers for market research at StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood scores 2.5 stars and ranks #10 of 14.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking capabilities of Merrill Edge and Robinhood, several differences stand out. Merrill Edge offers a comprehensive range of banking services that include checking and savings accounts, providing users with a more traditional banking experience. They also offer debit cards, credit cards, mortgage loans, and CDs, providing options for various financial needs. On the other hand, Robinhood, while offering debit and credit cards to its users, does not provide checking accounts, savings accounts, mortgage loans, or CDs, which may limit the banking features available to its customers. This makes Merrill Edge a more suitable option for individuals seeking comprehensive banking solutions alongside investment services.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Merrill Edge is better than Robinhood. Merrill Edge finished with an overall score of 81.9%, while Robinhood finished with a score of 69.6%.
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.
While Merrill Edge does not offer crypto trading options, Robinhood provides access to 22 different cryptocurrencies, making it a more versatile platform for users interested in digital asset trading.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Merrill Edge and Robinhood offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, but while Merrill Edge charges a $49.95 closure fee for closing IRA accounts, Robinhood does not impose any closure fees, providing a cost-effective option for users considering account termination.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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| Review | Merrill Edge Review | Robinhood Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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| Trading Fees | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | N/A | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | $0.75 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $29.95 | N/A |
| Margin Rates | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | Varies | 5.75% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | Varies | 5.75% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | Varies | 5.55% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | Varies | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | Varies | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 5% |
| Account Fees | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $49.95 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 1 |
| Order Types | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 |
| Beginners | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | Yes | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | No | Yes |
| Stock App Features | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | No | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 34 | 90 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Merrill Edge Market Pro | Robinhood Legend | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 285 | 34 |
| Stock Chart Features | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 90 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 26 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 8 | 6 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 3 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | No | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | 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 Trading | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | Yes |
| Overall | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Merrill Edge Review | Robinhood Review |
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