merrill edge
Plus500
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Overview
merrill edge was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in USA, while Plus500 was established in 2008 and is based in Israel. merrill edge holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Plus500 is regulated by Plus500UK Ltd authorized & regulated by the FCA (#509909) among others. merrill edge serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Plus500 has 1,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at merrill edge and $100 at Plus500.
| Feature | merrill edge | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Regulation | 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 | Plus500UK Ltd authorized & regulated by the FCA (#509909), Plus500CY Ltd authorized & regulated by CySEC (#250/14), Plus500AU Pty Ltd (ACN 153301681), ASIC in Australia AFSL #417727, FMA in New Zealand, FSP #486026 and Authorised Financial Services Provider in South Africa FSP #47546 |
| Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Country | USA | Israel |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 1,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between merrill edge and Plus500, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Plus500 has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Plus500 applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; merrill edge does not. Overall, Plus500 scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | merrill edge | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
merrill edge offers MT5, cTrader, while Plus500 supports MT4, 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. Plus500 edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | merrill edge | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how merrill edge and Plus500 compare. Plus500 runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. Plus500 publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Plus500 maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Plus500 scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | merrill edge | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. merrill edge accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Plus500 supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill). merrill edge uniquely supports Neteller among the two brokers. merrill edge scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | merrill edge | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both merrill edge and Plus500 offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. merrill edge supports 8 languages and Plus500 supports 15, giving Plus500 broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | merrill edge | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew, Danish, Norwegian, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian and Chinese |