B
Forex.com logo

Forex.com

7.4/10
merrill edge logo

merrill edge

7.4/10
10/10RegulationTied10/10
0/10FeesWinner1/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms7/10
6/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
6.5/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Forex.com was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in United States, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Forex.com serves 150,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is Typical at Forex.com and $250 at merrill edge.

Tied
FeatureForex.commerrill edge
Min. DepositTypical$250
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), National Futures Association (NFA)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
Founded20012010
CountryUnited StatesUSA
Clients150,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Forex.com 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 Typical at Forex.com). Forex.com charges withdrawal fees while merrill edge does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Forex.com applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; merrill edge does not. Forex.com charges deposit fees; merrill edge does not. Overall, merrill edge scores higher on fees in our assessment.

merrill edge wins this category
FeatureForex.commerrill edge
Min. DepositTypical$250
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

Forex.com 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. Forex.com edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Forex.com wins this category
FeatureForex.commerrill edge
MT4YesNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, WebTrader, Advantage Trader Pro, TradingView, Tablet and mobile appsMT4, 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 Forex.com and merrill edge compare. Forex.com runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. Forex.com publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Forex.com maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Forex.com scores higher overall in education and research.

Forex.com wins this category
FeatureForex.commerrill edge
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
AutochartistNoYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Forex.com accepts 3 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal), while merrill edge supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). merrill edge uniquely supports Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. merrill edge scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

merrill edge wins this category
FeatureForex.commerrill edge
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Forex.com and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Forex.com supports 3 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureForex.commerrill edge
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Chinese, ArabicEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic