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Merrill Edge vs Webull 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

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.

Merrill Edge
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
Webull
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Range of investments

Merrill Edge and Webull both cover the basics well for everyday investors, since each offers stock trading, margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options trading, and both traditional and Roth IRA accounts. If you want a simple takeaway, Merrill Edge may appeal more to investors who want advisor services and a more traditional investing setup, while Webull stands out for people looking for more types of markets and digital-asset access. Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for range of investments, with Merrill Edge ranked #7 and Webull ranked #8 out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com.

When it comes to account investment choices, Merrill Edge offers a solid lineup of long-term and active trading tools, but it does not support fractional shares, forex, futures, or crypto trading. Webull offers the same core stock and options features, plus fractional shares, forex, futures, and crypto trading, making it a more flexible choice for investors who want access to a wider mix of assets.

For retirement investors, both brokers support traditional IRA and Roth IRA accounts, which makes either platform a possible fit for long-term saving. The main difference is that Merrill Edge includes advisor services for people who want more guidance, while Webull does not. If you want a broker with personal support and a familiar investing experience, Merrill Edge may be the better fit; if you want more account-level investment choices and expanded trading options, Webull has the edge.

Feature Merrill Edge logoMerrill Edge
Webull logoWebull
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) No Yes
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Futures Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 70
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms & Brokers for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026

Trading platforms and tools

For traders who want a strong mix of charting depth, watch list flexibility, and platform access, Merrill Edge has the edge overall, while Webull stands out for offering both Windows and Mac downloadable desktop platforms and paper trading. Merrill Edge, however, still comes out ahead in StockBrokers.com’s trading platforms and tools rankings, placing No. 7 out of 14 brokers versus Webull at No. 9. Merrill Edge also earns a slightly higher rating, 3.5 stars compared with Webull’s 3 stars.

Both brokers offer browser-based trading platforms, and each lets you adjust open orders directly on a stock chart, add notes to charts, show historical trades, display corporate events such as earnings and splits, and save multiple chart profiles. Merrill Edge offers more charting depth overall, with 105 technical indicators and 23 drawing tools, compared with Webull’s 60 indicators and 20 drawing tools. Merrill Edge also allows custom date ranges on charts, while Webull does not.

When it comes to extra trading tools, Merrill Edge offers a much larger watch list setup with 285 fields, compared with Webull’s 35, though Webull has one major advantage in this area: it supports custom studies for charts, while Merrill Edge does not. Merrill Edge also gives users more control when editing a simple moving average study, with 8 customization fields versus Webull’s 2. Neither broker offers a trading journal, but Webull does provide paper trading and desktop apps for both Windows and Mac, making it a useful choice for practice and for traders who want a downloadable platform.

Feature Merrill Edge logoMerrill Edge
Webull logoWebull
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 60
Charting - Drawing Tools 23 20
Advanced Trading 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Accounts and Online Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps and Simulators for 2026

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Beginners and education

Merrill Edge and Webull both give beginners plenty of ways to learn the basics of investing. Each broker offers education on stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds, along with educational videos, webinars, and quizzes. Merrill Edge stands out with a stronger overall education score, earning 4 out of 5 stars and ranking #6 out of 14 brokers for education by StockBrokers.com.

Webull also covers the major investing topics, but it adds two helpful features that Merrill Edge does not: paper trading and the ability to track your learning progress. Even so, Webull is rated 3 out of 5 stars for education and ranks #10 out of 14 brokers. For learners who want a more guided education experience, Merrill Edge has the edge, while Webull may appeal to those who want to practice trades and monitor their progress as they go.

Feature Merrill Edge logoMerrill Edge
Webull logoWebull
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes Yes
Education (Fixed Income) Yes Yes
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Trading Platforms for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

Merrill Edge and Webull both offer strong stock trading apps for everyday investors, with support for iPhone and Android, streaming quotes, stock alerts, custom watch lists, mobile options trading, after-hours charting, landscape chart views, multi-time-frame charting, and stock comparisons on charts. Both apps also support mobile after-hours stock trading, but Webull stands out a bit more overall thanks to its Apple Watch app, a larger set of technical studies, and a higher StockBrokers.com app ranking. For most traders, Merrill Edge is a solid choice, but Webull has the edge if you want a more feature-packed mobile trading experience.

On device support, both brokers make it easy to trade from a phone, since each offers an iPhone app and an Android app. Where Webull pulls ahead is wearable access, offering an Apple Watch app while Merrill Edge does not. That can be a helpful extra for investors who want quick market updates and account checks on the go.

For charting and market tools, both apps cover the basics well, including streaming quotes, alerts, watch lists, after-hours charting, and the ability to view charts in landscape mode. The main difference is depth: Merrill Edge offers 34 technical studies in its mobile charting tools, while Webull offers 56. Both earned 4 stars or better for stock trading apps, with Merrill Edge rated 4 stars and ranked #9 out of 14 brokers, while Webull scored 4.5 stars and ranked #4 out of 14.

Feature Merrill Edge logoMerrill Edge
Webull logoWebull
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App No Yes
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 34 56
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2026

Fees

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 logoMerrill Edge
Webull logoWebull
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 Stock Trading Platforms and Commission-Free Apps for 2026

Day Trading

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 logoMerrill Edge
Webull logoWebull
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 and Apps for 2026

Market Research

Merrill Edge comes out ahead for market research overall, thanks to a wider set of tools and stronger ratings from StockBrokers.com. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for market research and ranks #4 out of 14 brokers, while Webull scores 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #8. If you want deeper research support and more ways to study investments before trading, Merrill Edge is the better pick; Webull still covers the basics, but it is lighter in several key research areas.

Both online brokers offer research on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, pink sheets/OTCBB, and bonds. They also both include stock screeners and ETF and mutual fund research coverage, so either platform can help you scan the market and look for ideas. Where Merrill Edge pulls ahead is in the extra depth: it offers downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, plus a bond screener and a mutual fund screener for trade ideas.

Webull does stand out in one area: it offers stock research using social media sentiment data, which Merrill Edge does not. But Merrill Edge has more portfolio tools, including the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, while Webull does not. For most investors comparing Merrill Edge vs. Webull for market research, Merrill Edge provides the more complete research experience, while Webull is better for users who want a simpler platform with sentiment-based stock insights.

Feature Merrill Edge logoMerrill Edge
Webull logoWebull
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Fixed Income Yes No
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Banking

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 logoMerrill Edge
Webull logoWebull
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 Accounts with Checking: Top Bank Brokers

Winner

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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Merrill Edge or Webull?

Merrill Edge does not offer crypto trading, while Webull does, giving traders access to 70 coins. For investors looking to trade digital assets, Webull provides a clear advantage over Merrill Edge.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does Merrill Edge or Webull offer IRAs?

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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Merrill Edge Webull
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Merrill Edge Review Webull Review
Broker Screenshots Merrill Edge Webull
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Merrill Edge Webull
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) N/A $0.000
Mutual Fund Trade Fee Varies $14.95
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 70
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 Yes
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 Yes 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 60
Charting - Drawing Tools 23 20
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 Yes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
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 No 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
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Merrill Edge Review Webull Review
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