B
ifc markets logo

ifc markets

7.3/10
merrill edge logo

merrill edge

7.4/10
10/10RegulationTied10/10
0/10FeesWinner1/10
7/10PlatformsTied7/10
4/10Education & ResearchTied4/10
10/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

ifc markets was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. ifc markets serves 60,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $250.

merrill edge wins this category
Featureifc marketsmerrill edge
Min. Deposit$250$250
RegulationFinancial 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-F259Financial 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
Founded20162010
CountryCyprusUSA
Clients60,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ifc markets and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $250. Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ifc markets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; merrill edge does not. Overall, merrill edge scores higher on fees in our assessment.

merrill edge wins this category
Featureifc marketsmerrill edge
Min. Deposit$250$250
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

ifc markets offers 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 ifc markets does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
Featureifc marketsmerrill edge
MT4NoNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, 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 ifc markets and merrill edge compare. Both provide video tutorials. Both integrate third-party research tools. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
Featureifc marketsmerrill edge
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationNoNo
Weekly WebinarsNoNo
Daily CommentaryNoNo
Trading CentralNoNo
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. ifc markets accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while merrill edge supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
Featureifc marketsmerrill edge
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesYes
SkrillYesYes
NetellerYesYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both ifc markets and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 8 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
Featureifc marketsmerrill edge
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and ArabicEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic