Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Merrill Edge
Lightyear
Merrill Edge
Higher score in this comparison
Where Lightyear and Merrill Edge differ
| Compare | LightyearReviewVisitVisit | Merrill EdgeReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €1 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | $1 | $0Lower |
| Account fee | €0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, CorporateCovers more |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | Not confirmed |
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
- Merrill Edge scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Merrill Edge offers FINRA, SEC.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Merrill Edge: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Merrill Edge offers Options.
- Account types: only Merrill Edge offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Features: only Merrill Edge offers Demo account, Mobile app, Options.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Lightyear
Lightyear suits you if you want stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds and funds alongside easy access cash in a low-fees model. You pay stock trade fees of $1 with account fees of €0 and inactivity fees of €0 while keeping transfers simple.
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.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Account fees of €0 with inactivity fees of €0 anchor holding costs. | 9.3HigherAccount fee $0, inactivity fee $0 and stock trade fee $0 are the lowest we rank. |
| Offer | 8.9Markets of stocks, ETFs and crypto span shares, funds, bonds and crypto alongside cash. | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Licence MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 under Estonian supervision frames oversight. | 9.7Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Lightyear | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Lightyear | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Lightyear | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 51 of 654 | 66 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 29 of 358 | 41 of 358 |
| Robo-advisors | 6 of 154 | 12 of 154 |
What we checked
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 13 facts, checked September 29, 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
| Fact | Lightyear | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Options |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1914 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Chat, Help centre, Email |
Savings
| Fact | Lightyear | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.42% | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Variable | Not confirmed |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Access terms | Easy access: interest accrues daily and is paid monthly; withdrawal within 2 business days | Not confirmed |
| Monthly fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Account kind | Easy access | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.45% to 0.85% |
| Minimum investment | €1 | $0 to $1,000 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Merrill Edge | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65at the median | $0.65 |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%below the median | Not confirmed | 2.875% |
Median across 94 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Lightyear
Pros
- Account fees of €0 and monthly fees of €0 keep ongoing holding costs low
- Inactivity fees of €0 suit buy and hold investors who trade at intervals
- Markets of stocks, ETFs and crypto give broad choice across shares, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto
Cons
- Stock trade fees of $1 look pricey next to ActivTrades at $0 and XTB at €0
- Currency conversion is 0.35%, which adds cost when you deal across currencies
- Support runs on email and help centre only, which limits how you can get help
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
Lightyear
Who it suits
- You invest at intervals across shares and funds and prefer Lightyear over DKB for lower per trade dealing costs
- You hold spare cash alongside shares and prefer Lightyear over ActivTrades for Vault interest paired with broking
- You start modestly and prefer Lightyear over XTB for low entry balances with broad market access
Who should look elsewhere
- You want commission free share dealing on every trade, so XTB may suit better given stock trade fees of €0 against Lightyear at $1
- You want phone based help, so DKB may suit better as Lightyear support runs on email and help centre only
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
| Country | Lightyear | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Lightyear
What does Lightyear charge for investing?+
Stock trade fees are $1 per execution. Account fees are €0 and inactivity fees are €0, while monthly fees are €0. Currency conversion is 0.35%, so cross currency dealing adds a separate charge to weigh.
How is Lightyear regulated and protected?+
Lightyear holds licence MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 and names Estonian Financial Supervision Authority as regulator. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 and deposit protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Cover applies within stated limits and eligibility rules.
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
Other matchups
Lightyear
Merrill Edge