Merrill Edge vs Robinhood 2025
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.
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.
When selecting an online broker, comparing Merrill Edge and Robinhood reveals distinct advantages depending on investment preferences. Merrill Edge stands out with a higher rating for a range of investments, offering a broader array of options that include stocks, margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options, and comprehensive advisor services. Robinhood, however, shines with unique features like fractional shares trading and an extensive selection of cryptocurrencies for those looking to diversify with digital currencies. Both platforms provide traditional and Roth IRA accounts and offer stock and options trading, though your choice may depend on whether you value a wide range of traditional investments or a straightforward, modern trading experience.
Merrill Edge provides traders with a solid foundation supported by traditional investment options, including mutual funds and OTC stocks, which are not available on Robinhood. While it falls short in offering fractional shares and cryptocurrency trading, it makes up for it with advisor services to guide investors through a personalized experience. This comprehensive support explains Merrill Edge's favorable 4.5-star rating for the range of investments and its #7 ranking by StockBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Robinhood appeals more to new-age investors attracted to quick and accessible trading. It allows users to engage with fractional shares and offers a selection of 22 cryptocurrencies, making it an appealing choice for those eager to explore new financial territories. Despite lacking advisory services and mutual fund options, Robinhood's offering aligns with its user-friendly, straightforward trading approach. However, it received a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and a #12 ranking, which may be a deciding factor for investors seeking a broader array of traditional investments.
Feature |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes |
OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | No | No |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Merrill Edge and Robinhood, it’s clear that Merrill Edge offers a more comprehensive suite of features, earning it a higher rating of 4 stars compared to Robinhood's 3.5 stars. According to StockBrokers.com, Merrill Edge ranks as the 6th best among 14 brokers for trading platforms and tools, while Robinhood comes in at 9th place. Both provide browser-based trading platforms, but neither offers downloadable options for Windows or Mac. While neither platform supports paper trading or trading journals, Merrill Edge stands out with its extensive 285 fields for watch lists, compared to Robinhood's basic 3. Additionally, both allow adjustments to open orders directly on stock charts.
Merrill Edge's charting capabilities are significantly more enhanced, offering 105 technical indicators and the ability to show historical trades, corporate events, and automated technical analysis on charts. Robinhood, on the other hand, offers only 16 technical indicators and lacks features like historical trades and corporate event displays on charts. Both platforms provide 23 drawing tools and the option to add notes to charts, set custom date ranges, and save multiple chart profiles. When it comes to SMA study customization on stock charts, Merrill Edge provides 8 customization fields, vastly exceeding Robinhood's single field.
Neither Merrill Edge nor Robinhood allows for the creation of custom studies for charts, keeping their personalization options somewhat limited. However, with its broader range of technical indicators and comprehensive charting features, Merrill Edge seems more suitable for traders seeking in-depth analysis and customization. Robinhood is more geared towards simplicity and ease of use, which might appeal to beginner investors or those looking for a straightforward trading experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on individual trading needs and preferences.
Feature |
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Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 285 | 3 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 16 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 23 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
When it comes to educating beginners and offering investor resources, both Merrill Edge and Robinhood provide a variety of options, although they differ in certain areas. Merrill Edge excels with its comprehensive educational materials, offering resources for stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. It also stands out by providing educational videos, webinars, and quizzes, creating a diverse learning environment. This strong emphasis on education results in Merrill Edge being ranked #5 for education among 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com and earning a 4.5-star rating.
On the other hand, Robinhood focuses on simplicity, making it approachable for new investors. While it offers educational content on stocks, ETFs, and options, it lacks resources on mutual funds and bonds, and doesn't include educational videos or quizzes. However, Robinhood does provide webinars, which can be helpful for interactive learning. Despite having fewer educational tools compared to Merrill Edge, Robinhood ranks #8 for education and is rated 4 stars. Neither platform offers paper trading or progress tracking, which could be a consideration for those new to investing.
Feature |
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Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Videos | Yes | No |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When it comes to choosing between Merrill Edge and Robinhood for stock trading app capabilities, the decision hinges on user preferences in functionality, design, and features. Both platforms earn a commendable rating of 4.5 stars for their stock trading apps, indicating high user satisfaction. However, Merrill Edge is ranked slightly higher by StockBrokers.com at #6, compared to Robinhood’s #7. This suggests a competitive edge for Merrill Edge, particularly for users seeking comprehensive technical analysis tools.
Merrill Edge and Robinhood each provide iPhone and Android apps, but Robinhood takes an extra step with an Apple Watch app, catering to users who prioritize convenience on wearable devices. Both platforms support mobile after-hours and options trading, allowing flexibility for traders to engage outside traditional market hours. A key differentiation is in charting tools: Merrill Edge offers 34 technical studies compared to Robinhood's 6, providing more depth for technical analysis. Merrill Edge also allows stock comparisons on charts and supports viewing multiple time frames, while Robinhood only supports the latter.
For those seeking customizable watch lists, both platforms deliver, though Robinhood allows further column customization. However, Merrill Edge supports viewing charts in landscape mode, which may appeal to users who prioritize detailed chart analysis, whereas Robinhood does better in offering after-hours charting capabilities. These subtle differences could influence decisions based on how users plan to use the app’s features, balancing advanced analytics with simplicity and accessibility.
Feature |
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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 | 6 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
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 |
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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 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
Merrill Edge and Robinhood both serve as popular platforms among traders, but they offer different tools for day trading enthusiasts. Merrill Edge provides streaming time and sales data for stocks, an essential feature for traders needing real-time market data. However, it lacks streaming live TV and direct market routing, which might be important for certain traders. Notably, Merrill Edge offers Level 2 quotes and basic strategy backtesting, providing a layer of depth in trading insights and strategies that Robinhood does not. These features cater to traders looking for detailed market information and the ability to test simple trading strategies without needing to commit real money.
Robinhood, on the other hand, is known for its user-friendly interface and unique feature of ladder trading. It's an attractive option for traders who prefer a simplified trading experience, though it falls short in offering critical tools like Level 2 quotes, streaming time and sales, and basic strategy backtesting. Both Merrill Edge and Robinhood lack trading hotkeys and advanced backtesting options, which may be a consideration for traders who rely heavily on these capabilities. Overall, while Merrill Edge may offer more depth in data and testing, Robinhood provides an easy-to-navigate platform with focused features for straightforward trades.
Feature |
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Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
Streaming TV | No | No |
Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025
When it comes to market research capabilities, Merrill Edge stands out compared to Robinhood, offering a comprehensive suite of tools and resources for investors. Merrill Edge provides detailed research across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. Notably, it includes access to downloadable research reports and portfolio allocation analysis—critical features absent in Robinhood. Merrill Edge is ranked as the top contender with a five-star rating by StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood lags behind in tenth place with only a two-star rating, reflecting its limited offerings.
For investors seeking in-depth analysis, Merrill Edge offers reports that cover a range of investment types, including pink sheets and OTCBB, with the added benefit of ESG research insights. In contrast, Robinhood offers basic stock and ETF research without extending its services to mutual funds or bonds research. Additionally, while both platforms provide stock screeners for generating trade ideas, Merrill Edge goes further by also offering ETF, mutual fund, and bond screeners, none of which are available on Robinhood.
Merrill Edge provides a well-rounded research experience with the availability of three downloadable PDF reports for stocks and similar resources for ETFs and mutual funds. This rich suite of research capabilities makes it particularly appealing for investors looking for a variety of data points and analytical tools to guide their investment strategies. Conversely, Robinhood lacks in offering such downloadable insights, limiting the depth of research and analysis available to its users.
Feature |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 2025
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 92.7%, while Robinhood finished with a score of 77.3%.
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 2025
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 2025
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Customer Service |
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Education |
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Ease of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Merrill Edge Review | Robinhood Review |
Broker Screenshots | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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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) | (Not offered) | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $29.95 | N/A |
Margin Rates | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
Futures Trading | No | No | |
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 | No | |
International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
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 | |
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Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | No | |
Videos | Yes | No | |
Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Progress Tracking | No | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
Stock Trading Apps | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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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 | |
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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 | Yes |
Stock App Charting | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 34 | 6 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
Trading Platforms | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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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 | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 285 | 3 |
Stock Chart Features | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 16 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 23 | |
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 | 1 | |
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 | No | |
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 | |
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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 | No |
Stock Research | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 3 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
Banking | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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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 | |
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Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | Yes | No | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Email Support | No | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | Yes | No | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | Yes | Yes |
Overall | Merrill Edge | Robinhood | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Merrill Edge Review | Robinhood Review |