Commonwealth Securities
merrill edge
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Overview
Commonwealth Securities was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Australia, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Commonwealth Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while merrill edge is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Commonwealth Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $5000 at Commonwealth Securities and $250 at merrill edge.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5000 | $250 |
| Regulation | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | 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 | 1999 | 2010 |
| Country | Australia | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Commonwealth Securities and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. merrill edge has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $5000 at Commonwealth Securities). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Commonwealth Securities charges deposit fees; merrill edge does not. Overall, merrill edge scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5000 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Commonwealth Securities offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while merrill edge supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Commonwealth Securities edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | 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 | Metatrader 4 - desktop, iOS and Android versions available. | 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 Commonwealth Securities and merrill edge compare. Commonwealth Securities runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. Commonwealth Securities publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Commonwealth Securities maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Commonwealth Securities scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | 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. Commonwealth Securities 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 | Commonwealth Securities | 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 Commonwealth Securities and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Commonwealth Securities supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | 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 |