Fortrade
merrill edge
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Overview
Fortrade was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in UK, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Fortrade holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN: 609970, while merrill edge is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Fortrade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Fortrade and $250 at merrill edge.
| Feature | Fortrade | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN: 609970, National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) FRN: 193075810, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) ABN: 33 614 683 831 | AFSL: 493520, Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) CRN: BC1148613, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with CIF license number 385/20 | 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 | 1992 | 2010 |
| Country | UK | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Fortrade and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Fortrade has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Fortrade charges deposit fees; merrill edge does not. Overall, Fortrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Fortrade | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Fortrade 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 Fortrade does not offer. Fortrade edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Fortrade | 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 | MT4, Binary, 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 Fortrade and merrill edge compare. merrill edge has a video library; Fortrade does not. merrill edge integrates third-party research tools (Autochartist); Fortrade does not. merrill edge scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Fortrade | 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. Fortrade accepts 4 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller), while merrill edge supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). merrill edge uniquely supports Skrill among the two brokers. merrill edge scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Fortrade | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | Yes | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Fortrade and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Fortrade supports 1 language and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Fortrade | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |