AJ Bell
merrill edge
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Overview
AJ Bell was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in UK, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. AJ Bell holds licences including Central Bank of UAE, while merrill edge is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. AJ Bell serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at AJ Bell and $250 at merrill edge.
| Feature | AJ Bell | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Regulation | Central Bank of UAE | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F277 |
| Founded | 1997 | 2010 |
| Country | UK | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AJ Bell and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. AJ Bell has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Overall, AJ Bell scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AJ Bell | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
AJ Bell offers MT5, cTrader, while merrill edge supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. merrill edge supports social and copy trading features, which AJ Bell does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | AJ Bell | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop,Android,iPhone,Mac | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how AJ Bell and merrill edge compare. merrill edge has a video library; AJ Bell does not. merrill edge integrates third-party research tools (Autochartist); AJ Bell does not. merrill edge scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AJ Bell | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | No |
| Weekly Webinars | No | No |
| Daily Commentary | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. AJ Bell accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while merrill edge supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). merrill edge uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. merrill edge scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | AJ Bell | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both AJ Bell and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AJ Bell supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AJ Bell | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |