Merrill Edge vs TradeStation Securities Review

The StockBrokers.com 2017 Brokerage Review compares Merrill Edge vs TradeStation Securities. Compare Merrill Edge and TradeStation Securities trade commissions, fees and overall broker ratings by using the table below. Is Merrill Edge or TradeStation Securities a better online broker?

Looking at both brokers, first we will take a look at the commission rates for both placing regular stock and options trades. Merrill Edge charges $6.95 per stock trade which is $1.95 more than TradeStation Securities which charges clients $5.00 per trade. For options trading, Merrill Edge has a base fee of $6.95, and TradeStation Securities a base fee of $5.00. At a difference of $0.25 per contract, TradeStation Securities's per contract rate of $0.50 is less than Merrill Edge which charges $0.75. It should be noted that not every broker uses a flat rate stock trade fee structure, so it is important to read the full commission notes (head over to any online brokerage review page, then navigate to the "Commission Notes" section).

Alongside trade commissions, being able to trade the way you want is a must. TradeStation Securities provides its clients with Stock Trading, Options Trading, Mutual Funds and Futures Trading while Merrill Edge gives clients access to Stock Trading, Options Trading and Mutual Funds. When it comes to mutual funds, TradeStation Securities trails Merrill Edge by 2,795.00 total funds, with Merrill Edge offering 7649 and TradeStation Securities offering 4854. Commission free ETFs can also be a nice plus, which is a wash in this comparison as both Merrill Edge and TradeStation Securities offer 0 funds.

Last but not least, by breaking down important features that each broker offers, we can really help to separate the two brokers. TradeStation Securities offers virtual trading while Merrill Edge does not. For mobile trading, Merrill Edge and TradeStation Securities both have a iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Furthermore, some investors like to bank online, and multiple brokerages provide these services to clients. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are available to clients of Merrill Edge while TradeStation Securities offers clients none of these. On the whole, when it comes to tools, research, and trading on the go, TradeStation Securities posted awards for Best in Class - Platforms & Tools in 2014, while Merrill Edge found itself with Best in Class - Research.

Overall, Merrill Edge comes out on top with 4.00 stars over TradeStation Securities's 3.50 stars.