B

IKON Finance

7.5/10
merrill edge logo

merrill edge

7.4/10
8/10RegulationWinner10/10
6/10WinnerFees1/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms7/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

IKON Finance was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in London, while merrill edge was established in 2010 and is based in USA. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. IKON Finance serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $200 at IKON Finance and $250 at merrill edge.

IKON Finance wins this category
FeatureIKON Financemerrill edge
Min. Deposit$200$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
Founded20112010
CountryLondonUSA
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between IKON Finance and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. IKON Finance has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $200 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. IKON Finance applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; merrill edge does not. Overall, IKON Finance scores higher on fees in our assessment.

IKON Finance wins this category
FeatureIKON Financemerrill edge
Min. Deposit$200$250
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

IKON Finance 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 IKON Finance does not offer. IKON Finance edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

IKON Finance wins this category
FeatureIKON Financemerrill edge
MT4YesNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, ZuluTrade, 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 IKON Finance and merrill edge compare. IKON Finance runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. IKON Finance publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. IKON Finance maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. IKON Finance scores higher overall in education and research.

IKON Finance wins this category
FeatureIKON Financemerrill edge
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. IKON Finance 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
FeatureIKON Financemerrill 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 IKON Finance and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. IKON Finance supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

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