Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs Merrill Edge
What sets them apart
| Compare |  FBS |  Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0), Inactivity fee ($0).
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 9.1.
- Regulators: only FBS offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only Merrill Edge offers FINRA, SEC.
- Founded is lower at Merrill Edge: 1914 vs 2009.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Merrill Edge: $0 vs $5.
- Markets: only FBS offers Forex, CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only Merrill Edge offers Options, Bonds, Funds.
- Platforms: only FBS offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Merrill Edge offers Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app.
- Support channels: only Merrill Edge offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
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 | FBS | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | 9.3Stock trade fee of $0, account fee of $0 and no inactivity charge at $0, with options at $0.65 per contract. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 8.8 | 9.7Higher |
What each covers
| Markets | FBS | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | FBS | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 101 of 490 | 41 of 490 |
| Low-fee brokers | 10 of 11 | 5 of 11 |
| Brokers for beginners | 33 of 88 | 15 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, OptionsCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners, ExperiencedCovers more |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2009 | 1914Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre, EmailCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | FBS | 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 | FBS | Merrill Edge | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43%below the median | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.6% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in stocks, etfs and forex.
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
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
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 | FBS | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
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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