B

Hirose Financial

7.3/10
merrill edge logo

merrill edge

7.4/10
7/10RegulationWinner10/10
10/10WinnerFees1/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms7/10
6/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.

Overview

Hirose Financial was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in UK, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Hirose Financial serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Hirose Financial and $250 at merrill edge.

merrill edge wins this category
FeatureHirose Financialmerrill edge
Min. Deposit$1$250
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)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
Founded20042010
CountryUKUSA
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Hirose Financial and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Hirose Financial has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Hirose Financial charges withdrawal fees while merrill edge does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Overall, Hirose Financial scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Hirose Financial wins this category
FeatureHirose Financialmerrill edge
Min. Deposit$1$250
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

Hirose Financial 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. Hirose Financial edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Hirose Financial wins this category
FeatureHirose Financialmerrill edge
MT4YesNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Binary, Tablet & 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 Hirose Financial and merrill edge compare. Hirose Financial runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. Hirose Financial publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Hirose Financial maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Hirose Financial scores higher overall in education and research.

Hirose Financial wins this category
FeatureHirose Financialmerrill 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. Hirose Financial 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.

merrill edge wins this category
FeatureHirose Financialmerrill edge
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Hirose Financial and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Hirose Financial supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureHirose Financialmerrill edge
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic