Circle Markets
merrill edge
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Overview
Circle Markets was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Circle Markets holds licences including Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), while merrill edge is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Circle Markets serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Circle Markets and $250 at merrill edge.
| Feature | Circle Markets | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) | 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 | 2007 | 2010 |
| Country | New Zealand | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Circle Markets and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Circle Markets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Circle Markets charges withdrawal fees while merrill edge does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Circle Markets charges deposit fees; merrill edge does not. Overall, Circle Markets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Circle Markets | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Circle Markets offers MT4, 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 Circle Markets does not offer. Circle Markets edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Circle Markets | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps | 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 Circle Markets and merrill edge compare. Circle Markets runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. Circle Markets publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Circle Markets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Circle Markets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Circle Markets | 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. Circle Markets 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 | Circle Markets | 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 Circle Markets and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Circle Markets supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Circle Markets | 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 |