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Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge

Interactive Brokers scores 9.6 and Merrill Edge 9.5 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers

Higher score in this comparison

9.6/10
See alternatives
Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge

9.5/10
See alternatives

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge: the differences

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
CompareInteractive BrokersInteractive BrokersReviewSee alternativesSee alternativesMerrill EdgeMerrill EdgeReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives
MarketsBonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, StocksCovers moreStocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds
RegulatorsSEC, FCA, SIPCFINRA, SEC
PlatformsClient Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader WorkstationMerrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app
Account typesISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, CorporateIRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate
Account feeNot confirmed$0
Inactivity feeNot confirmed$0
Margin rate4.38%Not confirmed
Interest on cash3.38%Not confirmed

Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000), Options contract fee ($0.65).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.5.
  • Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers FCA, SIPC.
  • Regulators: only Merrill Edge offers FINRA.
  • Founded is lower at Merrill Edge: 1914 vs 1978.
  • Interactive Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
  • Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Forex, Futures.
  • Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
  • Platforms: only Merrill Edge offers Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app.
  • Account types: only Interactive Brokers offers ISA, SIPP.
  • Account types: only Merrill Edge offers Roth IRA.

Our verdict on each

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers suits active, self-directed investors who trade often and want low costs across many markets. Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, with SEC, FCA and SIPC oversight. Set aside time for a dense platform and remember most retail accounts lose money, 70.15% on site figures.

Read the full Interactive Brokers review

Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge suits people who want to trade US stocks and ETFs with no commission and no monthly charge. It suits beginners and experienced investors who want a retirement, joint or corporate account, and the minimum deposit is $0 with a stock trade fee of $0.

Read the full Merrill Edge review

Score breakdown

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
AreaInteractive BrokersMerrill Edge
Cost9.3Stock trades cost $0 on commissions and there is no minimum deposit, with options at $0.65.9.3Account fee $0, inactivity fee $0 and stock trade fee $0 are the lowest we rank.
Offer9.6Covers bonds, etfs and forex plus isa, sipp and ira accounts, fractional shares and a mobile app.9.6
Trust9.8Higher9.7

Availability and regulation

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
CountryInteractive BrokersMerrill Edge
United States
SIPC SIPC member 53615
United Kingdom
FCA 208159
Not confirmed

Where they rank in our lists

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
RankingInteractive BrokersMerrill Edge
Investing55 of 65466 of 654
Stock and ETF brokers33 of 35841 of 358
Robo-advisors9 of 15412 of 154

What each covers

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
MarketsInteractive BrokersMerrill Edge
StocksYesYes
ETFsYesYes
ForexYesNo
OptionsYesYes
FuturesYesNo
BondsYesYes
FundsYesYes
Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
Account typesInteractive BrokersMerrill Edge
ISAYesNo
SIPPYesNo
IRAYesYes
Roth IRANoYes
JointYesYes
CorporateYesYes

Where these facts come from

Interactive Brokers

  • interactivebrokers.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • brokersway.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • toponlineforexbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • euinvestinghub.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
  • eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

Merrill Edge

  • merrilledge.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

Every fact side by side

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
FactInteractive BrokersMerrill Edge
FeaturesFractional shares, Mobile appFractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, OptionsCovers more
Pricing modelCommission free, Low feesCovers moreCommission free
AudienceNot confirmedBeginners, Experienced
Legal entityINTERACTIVE BROKERS LLCMerrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated
HeadquartersUnited StatesUnited States
Founded19781914Lower
Support channelsHelp centre, CommunityPhone, Chat, Help centre, Email

Robo-advisors

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
FactInteractive BrokersMerrill Edge
Management feeNot confirmed0.45% to 0.85%
Minimum investmentNot confirmed$0 to $1,000
Portfolio typesETFETF

Where each stands against the rest

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
FactInteractive BrokersMerrill EdgeMedian
Minimum deposit$0below the median$0below the median$23.50
Stock trade fee$0at the median$0at the median$0
Account feeNot confirmed$0at the median$0
Inactivity feeNot confirmed$0at the median$0
Margin rate4.38%lowest quarterNot confirmed8.83%
Options contract fee$0.65at the median$0.65at the median$0.65

Median across 138 listed providers.

Pros and cons

Interactive Brokers

Pros

  • Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0
  • Options contracts cost $0.65 and cash earns 3.38%
  • Covers bonds, etfs and forex with isa, sipp and ira account types

Cons

  • Support runs on help centre and community only, with no phone line listed
  • Fractional shares and a mobile app are the only extras listed, so portfolio building is limited to etf
  • Most retail accounts lose money, 70.15% on site figures

Merrill Edge

Pros

  • Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0.
  • Nothing is charged for inactivity, at $0, and the minimum deposit is $0.
  • Fractional shares, a demo account, a mobile app and options are all available.

Cons

  • Options carry a fee of $0.65, so the commission-free deal stops at derivatives.
  • The advisory side adds a management fee of 0.45% to 0.85% and a minimum investment of $0 to $1,000.
  • Most retail accounts lose money, 72.05% on this ranking, so low charges say nothing about how the portfolio performs.

Who each suits

Interactive Brokers

Who it suits

  • Investors who place many trades and care more about the fee than the interface
  • Anyone holding several markets at once, given bonds, etfs and forex
  • Retirement savers, as isa, sipp and ira includes ISA, SIPP and IRA options

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone who wants phone or chat support, since Interactive Brokers runs on help centre and community
  • CFI, if you want a single app alongside stocks, etfs and forex
  • bunq, if you want a bank account with a minimum deposit of €10 rather than trading

Merrill Edge

Who it suits

  • First-time US share buyers using fractional shares and a demo account.
  • Experienced investors who want options and a mobile app in one place.
  • Anyone saving into an IRA, Roth IRA, joint or corporate account.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Traders after forex, CFDs or crypto: CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex.
  • Savers wanting a bank balance, since bunq personal plans start from a minimum deposit of €10.
  • Borrowing rather than investing, as Fiesta Credito MX answers to CONDUSEF.

Current offers

Merrill Edge

Current offer

  • First period offer

    $0 program fee for 6 months - Merrill Guided Investing: $0 for 6 months

    New enrollments, use offer code 6FREE

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
CountryInteractive BrokersMerrill Edge
United StatesNoYes

Questions about each

Interactive Brokers

What does it cost to trade stocks?+

Commissions are tiered, with the headline level listed as $0 for US stocks. Options contracts are charged at $0.65. Uninvested cash earns interest at 3.38%, and margin is available at a base rate of 4.38%.

Is there a minimum deposit?+

The listed minimum deposit is $0, so you can open and fund an account at a small starting balance. It ranks first on the site for the lowest entry point. Fractional shares also let you hold a slice of a share rather than a full unit.

Merrill Edge

What does it cost to hold a Merrill Edge account?+

The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so there is no monthly charge for keeping the account open. Costs appear in the products you pick, such as the options fee of $0.65, rather than in the account itself.

Is stock trading really commission free?+

Stock trades carry a fee of $0 and the pricing model is commission-free, so buying shares and ETFs in the usual way adds nothing per trade. Options are charged at $0.65, and the spread you receive can still widen as prices move.

Other options to compare

Interactive Brokers

See alternatives

Merrill Edge

See alternatives