merrill edge
td ameritrade
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
merrill edge was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in USA, while td ameritrade was established in 2016 and is based in Malta. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. merrill edge serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; td ameritrade has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $250.
| Feature | merrill edge | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $250 |
| 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 | 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-F319 |
| Founded | 2010 | 2016 |
| Country | USA | Malta |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between merrill edge and td ameritrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $250. Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | merrill edge | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
merrill edge offers MT5, cTrader, while td ameritrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. merrill edge supports social and copy trading features, which td ameritrade does not offer. td ameritrade edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | merrill edge | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 merrill edge and td ameritrade compare. merrill edge has a video library; td ameritrade does not. merrill edge integrates third-party research tools (Autochartist); td ameritrade does not. merrill edge scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | merrill edge | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | No | No |
| Weekly Webinars | No | No |
| Daily Commentary | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
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 td ameritrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | merrill edge | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes |
| Neteller | Yes | Yes |
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 td ameritrade 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.
| Feature | merrill edge | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |