Interactive Investor
merrill edge
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Overview
Interactive Investor was founded in 1995 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. Interactive Investor serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; merrill edge has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Interactive Investor and $250 at merrill edge.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial 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 |
| Founded | 1995 | 2010 |
| Country | UK | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Investor and merrill edge, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Investor has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Interactive Investor applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; merrill edge does not. Overall, Interactive Investor scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Interactive Investor 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. Interactive Investor edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | 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 | Web Trader, ProTrader, 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 Interactive Investor and merrill edge compare. Both provide video tutorials. Both integrate third-party research tools. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | No |
| Weekly Webinars | No | No |
| Daily Commentary | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Interactive Investor 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.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Interactive Investor and merrill edge offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Interactive Investor supports 2 languages and merrill edge supports 8, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | merrill edge |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |