merrill edge
ThinkMarkets
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Overview
merrill edge was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in USA, while ThinkMarkets was established in 2010 and is based in Australia & United Kingdom. merrill edge holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250 among others. merrill edge serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ThinkMarkets has 475,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at merrill edge and $0 at ThinkMarkets.
| Feature | merrill edge | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $0 |
| 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 | the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with license no. 215/13, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 629628) in the UK, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC 424700), the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa and the Financial Services Authority (FSA SD060) Seychelles. TF Global Markets (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 629628. TF GLobal Markets (Aust) Limited is the holder of Australian Financial Services Licence number 424700. TF GLobal Markets (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No 49835). TF Global Markets Int Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, Firm Reference Number SD060 Seychelles |
| Founded | 2010 | 2010 |
| Country | USA | Australia & United Kingdom |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 475,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between merrill edge and ThinkMarkets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ThinkMarkets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ThinkMarkets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; merrill edge does not. Overall, ThinkMarkets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | merrill edge | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
merrill edge offers MT5, cTrader, while ThinkMarkets supports MT4, MT5, a proprietary platform. merrill edge offers a mobile trading app; mobile availability for ThinkMarkets is limited. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. merrill edge edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | merrill edge | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | No |
| iOS App | Yes | No |
| Android App | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5 and ThinkTrader |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how merrill edge and ThinkMarkets compare. ThinkMarkets runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. ThinkMarkets publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. ThinkMarkets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. ThinkMarkets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | merrill edge | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ThinkMarkets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | merrill edge | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ThinkMarkets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. merrill edge supports 8 languages and ThinkMarkets supports 13, giving ThinkMarkets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | merrill edge | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Czech, Greek, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Italian, Arabic, German, Spanish and Japanese |