Freetrade vs Merrill Edge - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Freetrade vs Merrill Edge

Compare Freetrade and Merrill Edge side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Freetrade

Freetrade

Low-cost long-term investors

Freetrade is an investing platform with £0 dealing commissions, free ISA and SIPP access, stocks, ETFs, funds…

VS
Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge

Bank of America customers and long-term investors

Merrill Edge is a Bank of America brokerage offering commission-free stocks, ETFs and options, integrated ban…

Head-to-head comparison

Freetrade vs Merrill Edge
Feature Freetrade Merrill Edge
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee £0 dealing commission per trade $0 per online trade; broker-assisted: $29.95
Regulators FCA FINRA, SEC
Best for Low-cost long-term investors Bank of America customers and long-term investors
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
-
Bonds
Options
-
Funds
Fractional Shares
-
Ready Made Portfolios
Isa
-
Sipp
-
Margin
-
Money Market Funds
-

Pros & cons

Freetrade

Freetrade

Pros

  • £0 dealing commission per trade
  • Basic plan has no monthly subscription fee
  • ISA and SIPP available on the £0 Basic plan
  • FX fees fall from 0.99% to 0.39% on Plus
  • US fractional shares support smaller orders
  • Cash earns 1% to 3.5% AER on plan-based limits
  • Recurring, limit and stop-loss orders are available
  • Eligible cash protection is listed up to £120,000

Cons

  • Basic FX fee is 0.99% on non-GBP trades
  • Standard costs £5.99 per month when billed monthly
  • Plus costs £11.99 per month when billed monthly
  • Fractional share elements cannot be transferred
  • Direct Debit cash is not usually withdrawable for 3 working days
  • Crypto ETNs are not protected by FSCS
  • Treasuries cannot be sold before maturity
  • Cash additions must be in pounds sterling
Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge

Pros

  • No commissions on online stock and ETF trades
  • No account minimum and no inactivity fee
  • Integrated with Bank of America banking via single login
  • BofA Rewards program offers banking perks for combined account holders
  • SIPC protection up to $500,000 plus additional Lloyd's of London coverage
  • MarketPro platform for active traders with Level II quotes
  • Extensive research tools and educational resources
  • Merrill Guided Investing robo-advisor available from $1,000

Cons

  • No fractional shares
  • No cryptocurrency trading
  • No futures or forex trading
  • No paper trading or demo account
  • Margin rates are high compared to some competitors
  • Mobile app options trading experience is limited
  • No-transaction-fee mutual fund list is smaller than some competitors
Freetrade

Freetrade

Freetrade is an investing platform with £0 dealing commissions, free ISA and SIPP access, stocks, ETFs, funds, gilts, ready-made portfolios and Crypto ETNs.

Visit Freetrade Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge is a Bank of America brokerage offering commission-free stocks, ETFs and options, integrated banking rewards, and a robo-advisor service.

Visit Merrill Edge Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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