Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Merrill Edge vs tastytrade, 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 a wide mix of traditional investments and access to advisor help; pick tastytrade if you prioritize active trading tools and modern assets. Both online brokers offer stocks, options, and margin trading, but they shine in different areas. According to StockBrokers.com, Merrill Edge earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #7 of 14, while tastytrade earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 of 14.
Merrill Edge supports stocks, OTC stocks, mutual funds, and options; it does not offer fractional shares, futures, forex, or crypto. Tactically, that favors investors who want stocks beyond the major exchanges and fund choices under one roof. Tastytrade offers stocks, options, margin, fractional shares, futures, forex, and crypto trading with 17 coins, but it does not provide OTC stocks or mutual funds. That setup suits traders who want more markets and the ability to buy small slices of shares and digital assets.
For retirement savers, both brokers offer Traditional and Roth IRAs. If you want guidance or managed support, Merrill Edge includes advisor services, whereas tastytrade is strictly self-directed. Match the platform to your goals: Merrill Edge for classic breadth and advice, tastytrade for active, multi-asset trading including crypto and derivatives.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 17 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
Merrill Edge vs tastytrade: both earn 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, according to StockBrokers.com. Merrill Edge ranks #6 of 14, while tastytrade ranks #8. Pick tastytrade if you want downloadable desktop apps, a huge indicator library, custom studies, and a built-in trading journal. Choose Merrill Edge if automated chart pattern detection and very detailed watch lists matter most. Both deliver solid browser platforms, but neither offers paper trading.
Platform access and core tools differ. Tastytrade provides downloadable platforms for both Windows and Mac; Merrill Edge does not offer desktop software. Each broker has a browser-based platform. Paper trading is not available at either. For tracking your activity, tastytrade includes a trading journal, whereas Merrill Edge does not. Watch lists are far more detailed at Merrill Edge, with 285 possible columns versus 33 at tastytrade.
Charting is strong on both, with the ability to adjust open orders on charts, add notes, view past trades, display earnings/splits/dividends, set custom date ranges, and save multiple chart layouts. Tastytrade packs 308 technical indicators and 31 drawing tools; Merrill Edge offers 105 indicators and 23 drawing tools. Merrill Edge adds automated chart pattern recognition, which tastytrade lacks. When editing an SMA, Merrill Edge shows 8 customization fields versus 7 at tastytrade. Creating custom studies is supported at tastytrade but not at Merrill Edge.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 285 | 33 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 308 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 31 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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Merrill Edge vs tastytrade for education: both brokers teach stocks, ETFs, and options, and both offer educational videos. Merrill Edge adds mutual funds and bonds education, which tastytrade does not cover. Neither broker provides paper trading. In independent reviews, Merrill Edge earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #5 of 14 brokers for education at StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 of 14.
Tastytrade stands out with webinars and the ability to track your learning progress. Merrill Edge counters with interactive quizzes to test what you’ve learned, though it lacks webinars and progress tracking. Choose Merrill Edge if you want quizzes and lessons on mutual funds and bonds; pick tastytrade if you prefer webinars and built-in progress tracking to guide your study plan.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
Bottom line: both Merrill Edge and tastytrade earn 4.5 stars for their stock trading apps, but Merrill Edge places higher in StockBrokers.com’s rankings (#6 vs. #10). Merrill Edge is the better pick if you care most about built-in chart tools and stock-to-stock comparisons. Tastytrade shines if you want after-hours charting and the ability to customize watch list columns. Both deliver the core tools most investors expect.
Merrill Edge and tastytrade each offer iPhone and Android apps with streaming quotes, mobile options trading, price alerts, custom watch lists, landscape chart views, and multiple time frames. Neither broker has an Apple Watch app, streaming live TV, or videos on demand.
Key differences: Merrill Edge supports mobile after-hours stock trading, while tastytrade’s mobile after-hours trading availability isn’t specified. For charting, Merrill Edge includes 34 technical studies and lets you compare stocks on the same chart; tastytrade offers no built-in studies and no stock-comparison overlay but does provide after-hours charting and lets you customize watch list columns.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 34 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When comparing the account fees and charges of Merrill Edge and tastytrade, both platforms offer competitive pricing with some key differences. Both Merrill Edge and tastytrade do not require a minimum deposit, and they provide commission-free trading for regular stocks. However, tastytrade has a slight edge in options trading, charging $0.50 per contract compared to Merrill Edge's $0.65. In terms of margin rates, tastytrade offers more transparency with specified rates, while Merrill Edge’s rates vary depending on the margin balance.
Regarding retirement accounts, both brokers offer $0 annual fees for IRAs, but Merrill Edge charges a $49.95 fee for account closure, slightly less than tastytrade's $60 fee. For account transfers, Merrill Edge shows a cost-effective advantage with no fees for both partial and full ACAT transfers, whereas tastytrade charges $75 for either. Additionally, Merrill Edge does not charge for options exercise or assignment fees, while tastytrade imposes a $5 fee for each.
Overall, both online brokers stand out by offering $0 commission stock trading and no IRA annual fees. Tastytrade presents lower options contract fees and clear margin rates, suitable for active options traders and those using margin. Meanwhile, Merrill Edge is attractive to cost-conscious investors with free account transfers and no fees for options exercises and assignments. Depending on your trading style and financial needs, both platforms offer unique benefits.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.50 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $49.95 | $60.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
Merrill Edge vs. tastytrade for day trading comes down to the tools you value most. Merrill Edge supplies streaming time and sales and Level II quotes for deeper market insight, plus basic strategy backtesting. However, it lacks direct market routing, ladder trading, trading hotkeys, a short locator, and live TV.
Tastytrade flips the script with ladder trading for quick order entry, streaming live TV, advanced strategy backtesting, and a short locator for finding shares to short. It does not provide streaming time and sales, Level II quotes, or trading hotkeys, and—like Merrill Edge—offers no direct market routing or maker/taker rebates. Choose Merrill Edge if you prioritize tape reading and market depth; pick tastytrade if you want ladder trading, advanced testing, and built-in tools for short selling.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | No | Yes |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes |
| Short Locator | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
In this Merrill Edge vs tastytrade market research comparison, Merrill Edge is the stronger choice. It earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #5 of 14 brokers for research on StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade gets 1.5 stars and ranks #13. If you want broad asset coverage and ready-to-use reports, Merrill Edge fits; if you mainly trade and don’t need deep research, tastytrade may suffice.
Both brokers offer stock and ETF research and let you view portfolio allocation by asset class. Only Merrill Edge adds mutual fund research, Pink Sheets/OTC research, and bond research, plus ESG coverage. Neither platform uses social media sentiment for stock analysis. For downloadable research, Merrill Edge supplies three stock PDF reports and also PDFs for ETFs and mutual funds; tastytrade does not offer downloadable research PDFs.
For trade ideas, each platform includes stock and ETF screeners. Merrill Edge also provides mutual fund and bond screeners, while tastytrade offers a bond screener but no mutual fund screener. Bottom line on features: Merrill Edge gives investors more ways to find opportunities and back them up with traditional research, whereas tastytrade focuses more on trading tools than in-depth research content.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Research |
|
|
When it comes to banking options, Merrill Edge outshines tastytrade with a more comprehensive range of services. Merrill Edge caters to customers with checking and savings accounts, while tastytrade doesn't provide these options. If you're looking for payment cards, Merrill Edge has you covered with debit and credit cards, a feature absent from tastytrade's offerings. Furthermore, Merrill Edge extends its banking capabilities with mortgage loans and certificates of deposit (CDs), areas where tastytrade again falls short. For those seeking a versatile banking experience alongside their online investing, Merrill Edge clearly offers a broader suite of financial services compared to tastytrade.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| 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 tastytrade. Merrill Edge finished with an overall score of 92.7%, while tastytrade finished with a score of 80.1%.
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.
Merrill Edge does not offer crypto trading, providing zero coins, while tastytrade offers a robust selection of 17 crypto coins for trading.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both Merrill Edge and tastytrade offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees; however, Merrill Edge charges a $49.95 closure fee, while tastytrade charges a higher closure fee of $60.00.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
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| Review | Merrill Edge Review | tastytrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Trading Fees | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $0.50 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | $1.00 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $29.95 | $0 |
| Margin Rates | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | Varies | 11% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | Varies | 10.5% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | Varies | 10% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | Varies | 9.5% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | Varies | 9% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 8.5% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 8% |
| Account Fees | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $49.95 | $60.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Investment Options | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 17 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Order Type - OCO | No | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | No | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
| Beginners | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | No | Yes | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | No | |
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 34 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Merrill Edge Market Pro | tastytrade | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 285 | 33 |
| Stock Chart Features | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 308 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 31 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | 7 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
| Day Trading | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Short Locator | No | Yes | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 3 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | No | |
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
| Overall | Merrill Edge | tastytrade | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Merrill Edge Review | tastytrade Review |
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