Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Capital.com vs Merrill Edge
Where Capital.com and Merrill Edge differ
| Compare |  Capital.com |  Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £20 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app, MT4, TradingView | Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Merrill Edge scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Capital.com offers FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Regulators: only Merrill Edge offers FINRA, SEC.
- Founded is lower at Merrill Edge: 1914 vs 2016.
- Capital.com is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Capital.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Merrill Edge offers Options, Funds.
- Platforms: only Capital.com offers Web platform, Mobile app, MT4.
- Platforms: only Merrill Edge offers Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app.
- Support channels: only Merrill Edge offers Phone, Email.
Our verdict on each
Capital.com
Capital.com suits traders who want one account across shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds without a monthly or inactivity charge. UK clients sit under FCA regulation with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The minimum deposit of £20 is the only cost barrier, above CFI at $0.
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 | Capital.com | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Account fee of £0, stock trade fee of $0 and no inactivity charge, with free deposits and withdrawals. | 9.3HigherStock trade fee of $0, account fee of $0 and no inactivity charge at $0, with options at $0.65 per contract. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.7Higher |
Sources behind this comparison
Capital.com
- capital.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investingreviews.co.uk: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexrev.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sashares.co.za: 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
How they place
| Ranking | Capital.com | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 56 of 490 | 41 of 490 |
| Low-fee brokers | 7 of 11 | 5 of 11 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital.com | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, OptionsCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | CAPITAL VAULT LTD | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | 1914Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre, EmailCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Capital.com | 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 | Capital.com | Merrill Edge | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.59 |
Median across 81 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Capital.com
Pros
- No account fee at all, which puts it joint first on that measure in our data (£0).
- No inactivity charge, also joint first in our data, so an unused balance is not quietly billed (£0).
- Stock trades cost $0 under a commission-free model.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of £20 is far higher than CFI, which asks for $0.
- Support runs on chat and help centre, so there is no phone line for questions about a leveraged position.
- Retail accounts lose 65% of money, and the market is open around the clock.
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
Capital.com
Who it suits
- Traders who want shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds in one account
- UK residents who want FSCS protection alongside a CySEC regulated entity
- People who keep a balance and would otherwise pay inactivity fees
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you want a social platform with copy trading
- Vantage, if you would rather start from a smaller deposit of $5
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 | Capital.com | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Capital.com
What is the minimum deposit at Capital.com?+
The minimum deposit is £20 in the UK. That is higher than CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5. Clients who want a smaller opening balance may prefer a rival on that measure.
What does it cost to open and hold an account?+
There is no account fee, so the account costs £0. There is also no inactivity charge, at £0. Both rank the brand joint first on our data, so an unused balance is not billed.
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.
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