Bell Direct
merrill edge
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while merrill edge is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $250 at merrill edge.
| Feature | Bell Direct | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | 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 | 1983 | 2010 |
| Country | New Zealand | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bell Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; merrill edge does not. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Bell Direct 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 Bell Direct does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Bell Direct | 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 | Android,WEB,Desktop,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 Bell Direct and merrill edge compare. Bell Direct runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Bell Direct maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Bell Direct scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Bell Direct | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Bell Direct 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 | Bell Direct | 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 Bell Direct and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Bell Direct supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Bell Direct | 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 |