merrill edge
Virtual Brokers
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Overview
merrill edge was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in USA, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. merrill edge holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. merrill edge serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at merrill edge and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.
| Feature | merrill edge | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1000 |
| 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 Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) |
| Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Country | USA | Canada |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between merrill edge and Virtual Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Virtual Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1000 (vs $250 at merrill edge). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while merrill edge does not, giving merrill edge an edge for frequent withdrawers. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; merrill edge does not. Overall, merrill edge scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | merrill edge | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1000 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
merrill edge offers MT5, cTrader, while Virtual Brokers 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. Virtual Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | merrill edge | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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,Desktop,iPhone/iOS |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how merrill edge and Virtual Brokers compare. Virtual Brokers runs regular live webinars; merrill edge does not. Both provide video tutorials. Virtual Brokers publishes daily market commentary; merrill edge does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Virtual Brokers maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Virtual Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | merrill edge | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Virtual Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). merrill edge uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. merrill edge scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | merrill edge | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | No |
| 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 Virtual Brokers offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. merrill edge supports 8 languages and Virtual Brokers supports 2, giving merrill edge broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | merrill edge | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, and Chinese |