Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Merrill Edge vs Webull, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Here’s the quick takeaway: both Merrill Edge and Webull earn 4 stars for Range of Investments, with Merrill Edge ranked 7th of 14 and Webull 8th by StockBrokers.com. Choose Merrill Edge if you want traditional investments and access to advisor services. Choose Webull if you want more trading choices like crypto, forex, futures, and fractional shares.
What they share: both offer stock trading, margin trading, options trading, OTC stocks, and both Traditional and Roth IRAs. Where they differ: Merrill Edge offers mutual funds and advisor services, while Webull does not. Webull offers fractional shares, crypto (about 50 coins), forex, and futures; Merrill Edge does not offer fractional shares, crypto, forex, or futures.
If you value mutual funds, long-term investing in IRAs, and the ability to get guidance, Merrill Edge is a solid fit. If you want to trade stocks and options alongside crypto, dabble in forex and futures, and buy fractional shares, Webull may be the better match. That’s the core of Merrill Edge vs Webull for investment options.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 50 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
In the Merrill Edge vs Webull matchup for trading platforms and tools, the takeaway is clear: Merrill Edge wins on built-in charting depth and watch list power, earning 3.5/5 stars and a #7 of 14 ranking from StockBrokers.com, while Webull shines for desktop access, paper trading, and custom study creation, earning 3/5 stars and #9. Choose Merrill Edge if you want richer out-of-the-box charts and detailed watch lists; choose Webull if you want downloadable Windows and Mac apps, a practice mode, and the freedom to build your own studies.
Platform access: Merrill Edge offers a browser-based platform only—there’s no Windows or Mac download. Webull offers desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser platform. Paper trading is not available at Merrill Edge, but Webull includes it. Neither broker includes a trading journal. Both let you adjust open orders directly on a stock chart and save multiple chart profiles.
Charting and tools: Merrill Edge supplies 105 technical indicators, 23 drawing tools, custom date ranges, automated chart pattern recognition, notes on charts, historical trade markers, and corporate events on charts. Webull provides 52 indicators, 19 drawing tools, automated pattern recognition, notes, historical trades, and corporate events, but it does not support custom date ranges. For watch lists, Merrill Edge offers 285 fields versus 35 on Webull. Study controls differ as well: editing an SMA gives eight fields on Merrill Edge versus two on Webull. Only Webull allows creating custom studies; Merrill Edge does not.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 285 | 35 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 52 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 19 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Merrill Edge and Webull both offer beginner-friendly education on stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, along with educational videos, webinars, and quizzes. Merrill Edge also covers mutual funds, while Webull does not. Webull adds paper trading and lets you track your learning progress—two features Merrill Edge doesn’t provide. If you want broader topic coverage that includes mutual funds, Merrill Edge may be the better fit; if you want hands-on practice and progress tracking, Webull stands out.
For overall education quality, Merrill Edge is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 14 brokers for education by StockBrokers.com. Webull earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 14. In short, Merrill Edge scores higher for education coverage, while Webull appeals to new traders who value paper trading and a clear way to monitor learning progress.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
In the Merrill Edge vs Webull stock trading app comparison, Webull earns the higher score (4.5 stars, ranked #4 of 14) versus Merrill Edge (4 stars, ranked #9). Both cover the essentials for mobile stock trading, but Webull pulls ahead with Apple Watch support and deeper charts (56 technical studies vs Merrill Edge’s 34). Merrill Edge, meanwhile, confirms mobile after-hours trading and delivers a well-rated, straightforward experience. Choose Webull for richer chart tools and wearable access; choose Merrill Edge if mobile after-hours trading is a must.
Platform coverage is strong on both sides: iPhone and Android apps are available for Merrill Edge and Webull. Each app includes streaming quotes, mobile options trading, stock alerts, and the ability to create custom watch lists. Neither app offers streaming live TV or videos on demand, and neither allows customizing watch list columns. Webull adds Apple Watch support; Merrill Edge does not. Merrill Edge supports mobile after-hours stock trading.
Charting is a key differentiator. Both apps support landscape mode, multiple time frames, and stock-to-stock comparisons on charts. Merrill Edge provides 34 technical studies, while Webull supplies 56 and also includes after-hours charting. Traders who rely on more indicators and extended-session visuals may prefer Webull; those who prioritize confirmed mobile after-hours trading may lean toward Merrill Edge.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 56 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Bottom line: Merrill Edge and Webull both offer $0 minimum deposits and $0 stock trades, but their other fees differ in ways that can matter. Webull is friendlier for frequent options traders with a $0 per-contract fee, while Merrill Edge charges $0.65 per contract. If you think you might move your account, Merrill Edge stands out with $0 fees for both partial and full ACAT transfers, compared with $75 at Webull. For IRAs, ongoing fees are $0 at both, but Merrill Edge charges $49.95 to close an IRA, while Webull charges $0. Margin pricing also diverges: Webull lists 8.74% for balances under $100,000, whereas Merrill Edge’s margin rate varies by balance.
Core trading costs are similar for most investors: minimum deposit is $0 at both brokers, and regular stock trades cost $0. Options differ: Merrill Edge is $0.65 per contract, while Webull is $0 per contract. Options exercise and assignment fees are $0 at both firms. For retirement accounts, the annual IRA fee is $0 at both, but the IRA closure fee is $49.95 at Merrill Edge versus $0 at Webull.
On margin, Webull’s rate is 8.74% for balances below $25,000, $25,000–$49,999, and $50,000–$99,999. Merrill Edge’s margin rate varies across these same tiers. For transfers, Merrill Edge charges $0 for both partial and full ACATs, while Webull charges $75 for a partial ACAT and $75 for a full ACAT.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 2026
When it comes to day trading, both Merrill Edge and Webull have unique strengths and limitations. For investors looking at real-time decision-making, both platforms provide streaming time and sales data, as well as level 2 quotes, helping traders stay informed about market dynamics. However, Webull offers a slight edge by providing ladder trading and trading hotkeys, which can be attractive for traders seeking a bit more control and agility in executing trades. Unfortunately, neither platform offers streaming live TV or direct market routing, which may be a consideration for those who rely heavily on such features.
Merrill Edge, on the other hand, allows traders to perform basic strategy backtesting, a useful feature for those looking to refine their trading strategies. Conversely, neither Merrill Edge nor Webull supports advanced strategy backtesting or access to a short locator tool for finding available shares to short. Importantly, both platforms lack order liquidity rebates, which might be a disadvantage for traders who focus on high-frequency trading strategies. Ultimately, the best platform depends on the specific tools and features an individual day trader values most.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes |
| 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: For market research, Merrill Edge is the more complete choice, while Webull is better for quick, stock-focused insights. Merrill Edge earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, thanks to wide asset coverage, screeners, and downloadable reports. Webull scores 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 of 14, standing out mainly for its social media sentiment tools.
Both brokers offer stock and ETF research, plus Pink Sheets/OTC coverage. Only Merrill Edge adds mutual fund and bond research, ESG analysis, and the ability to see your portfolio allocation by asset class. Webull’s unique edge is social media sentiment for stocks, which Merrill Edge does not provide.
On tools, both have a stock screener for trade ideas. Merrill Edge goes further with ETF, mutual fund, and bond screeners. It also supplies downloadable PDF reports—three for stocks, plus PDFs for ETFs and mutual funds—while Webull does not offer downloadable research reports.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Merrill Edge and Webull for banking services, Merrill Edge clearly stands out as the more comprehensive option. Merrill Edge provides a complete suite of banking products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, and debit and credit cards, all of which Webull lacks. Additionally, Merrill Edge offers mortgage loans and certificates of deposit (CDs), whereas Webull does not provide these services. For anyone looking to consolidate their investments and banking needs under one roof, Merrill Edge offers a range of options that Webull simply does not match.
| Feature |
Merrill Edge
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Webull. Merrill Edge finished with an overall score of 81.9%, while Webull finished with a score of 69.9%.
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 cryptocurrency trading (0 coins). Webull supports crypto trading with access to 50 coins, making it the better choice for investors seeking digital asset exposure.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Merrill Edge and Webull offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, but unlike Webull, Merrill Edge charges a $49.95 closure fee when closing IRA accounts.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
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| Review | Merrill Edge Review | Webull Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
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| Trading Fees | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | $1.25 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $29.95 | N/A |
| Margin Rates | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | Varies | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | Varies | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | Varies | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | Varies | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | Varies | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 8.74% |
| Account Fees | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $49.95 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 50 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | No | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
| Beginners | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | No | Yes | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Trading Apps | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Stock App Charting | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 34 | 56 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Merrill Edge Market Pro | N/A | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 285 | 35 |
| Stock Chart Features | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 105 | 52 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 19 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 8 | 2 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
| Day Trading | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 3 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | Yes |
| ETF Research | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
| Overall | Merrill Edge | Webull | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Merrill Edge Review | Webull Review |
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