Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Bitpanda vs Merrill Edge
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Bitpanda |  Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €1 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | €1 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FMA (Austria), BaFin (Germany), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), AT FMA | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Merrill Edge scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Bitpanda offers FMA (Austria), BaFin (Germany), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA).
- Regulators: only Merrill Edge offers FINRA, SEC.
- Bitpanda is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only Bitpanda offers Crypto, Metals.
- Markets: only Merrill Edge offers Options, Bonds, Funds.
- Support channels: only Merrill Edge offers Phone, Chat, Email.
- Features: only Bitpanda offers Crypto.
- Features: only Merrill Edge offers Options.
Our verdict on each
Bitpanda
Bitpanda suits retail investors in Europe who want one app for shares, ETFs, crypto and metals, starting from a minimum deposit of €1. Regulated in Austria, Germany and Malta, it charges €1 for a stock trade, a per-trade cost active traders will notice.
Merrill Edge
Merrill Edge is a US brokerage that suits investors who want commission-free stock and ETF dealing alongside a brokerage account. Stock trade fees of $0 and an account fee of $0 put it in the cheapest band we rate, though options and managed portfolios carry their own charges.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bitpanda | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9A minimum deposit of €1 and stock trade fees of €1, with free deposits, sit well against the site medians. | 9.3HigherStock trade fee of $0, account fee of $0 and no inactivity charge at $0, with options at $0.65 per contract. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 10.0Higher | 9.7 |
How they place
| Ranking | Bitpanda | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 11 of 471 | 50 of 471 |
What each covers
| Markets | Bitpanda | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Bitpanda | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) MiCA CASP 5493007WZ7IFULIL8G21 AT_FMA PSD_EMI AT_FMA_54966 | Not confirmed |
| Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 9845005X9B7N610K0093 | Not confirmed |
| Malta | Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) MiCA CASP 984500DEID7B03J77118 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Where these facts come from
Bitpanda
- bitpanda.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Merrill Edge
- merrilledge.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bitpanda | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Options |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Bitpanda GmbH | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated |
| Headquarters | Austria | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1914 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre, EmailCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Bitpanda | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.45% to 0.85% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $0 to $1,000 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bitpanda | Merrill Edge | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Bitpanda
Pros
- The minimum deposit is €1, low against the site median of €4.64
- A stock trade costs €1 and deposits are free
- Regulated by the FMA, BaFin and the MFSA, with investor protection stated as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
Cons
- Stock trade fees of €1 are higher than a commission-free model, where eToro charges $0
- Support runs on help centre only
- A flat stock trade fee of €1 does not suit frequent small trades
Merrill Edge
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, so the everyday cost of holding a brokerage account is minimal
- No inactivity charge at $0, unlike several rivals that bill dormant accounts
- Minimum deposit of $0 means an account can be opened and funded without a large starting balance
Cons
- Options cost $0.65 per contract, so the free stock dealing does not extend to derivatives
- Managed portfolios charge 0.45% to 0.85% in advisory fees, where commission-free dealing applies only to self-directed trading
- Account types are limited to retirement and joint and corporate forms, so it does not cover the wider account range some rivals offer
Who each suits
Bitpanda
Who it suits
- Beginners building a first portfolio in euro amounts
- Investors who want shares and crypto in one app
- Retail investors who value a low deposit of €1
Who should look elsewhere
- Active traders, since eToro charges $0 on a stock trade
- Anyone wanting phone or live chat help, as support runs on help centre
- Anyone wanting to start without funding, since CFI asks for a minimum deposit of $0 against €1 here
Merrill Edge
Who it suits
- US investors who want commission-free stocks and ETFs plus a retirement account in one place
- Long term holders who would rather avoid an inactivity charge of $0 and the account fees some rivals levy
- Beginners and experienced traders who appreciate support across phone, chat and help centre
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who want forex or crypto, as the market list holds stocks, etfs and options
- Anyone looking for a fully managed portfolio without paying advisory fees of 0.45% to 0.85%
- Readers who want the wider market spread offered by CFI or eToro, where the asset mix runs wider than stocks, etfs and options
Current offers
Merrill Edge
Current offer
First period offer
$0 program fee for 6 months - Merrill Guided Investing: $0 for 6 months
New enrollments, use offer code 6FREE
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Bitpanda | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Bitpanda
What is the minimum deposit at Bitpanda?+
The minimum deposit is €1, below the site median of €4.64, and Bitpanda ranks at 75 of 213 brands on that measure. Money can also be added at no charge, since deposits are free.
How much does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade costs €1. That sits above a commission-free model, where eToro charges $0, and Bitpanda ranks at 116 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, so the cost per order is the figure to weigh.
Merrill Edge
What does it cost to trade stocks at Merrill Edge?+
Online stock dealing is priced at a stock trade fee of $0, with an account fee of $0 on the brokerage account. The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant account is not billed. Options trades are charged separately at $0.65 per contract.
Which regulator supervises Merrill Edge?+
Merrill Edge is supervised in the US, and the regulators recorded for it are FINRA and SEC. The legal entity behind the brand is Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated. Securities held in the account fall under the investor protection arrangement stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Merrill Edge vs LANDE
- Merrill Edge vs Afranga
- Merrill Edge vs Nectaro
- Bitpanda vs flatex Online-Broker (DE)
- Bitpanda vs Trading 212
- Bitpanda vs Charles Schwab
- Bitpanda vs Freedom24
- Bitpanda vs Capital.com
- Bitpanda vs LYNX
- Bitpanda vs Swissquote
- Bitpanda vs TradeZero
- Bitpanda vs Wealthyhood
- Bitpanda vs M1
- Bitpanda vs Public
- Bitpanda vs tastyfx
- Bitpanda vs Betterment
- Bitpanda vs EC Markets
- Bitpanda vs Freetrade
- Bitpanda vs InvestEngine
- Bitpanda vs Saxo
- Bitpanda vs quirion
- Bitpanda vs Zacks Trade
- Bitpanda vs ActivTrades
- Bitpanda vs XTB
- Bitpanda vs NAGA
- Bitpanda vs UNest
- Merrill Edge vs eToro
- Bitpanda vs Linxea
- Bitpanda vs Mintos
- Merrill Edge vs Revolut
- Bitpanda vs Robinhood
- Merrill Edge vs Empower Personal Dashboard
- Merrill Edge vs S Broker
- Bitpanda vs Kraken
- Bitpanda vs EBC Financial Group