Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Merrill Edge vs One (One Finance)
Where Merrill Edge and One (One Finance) differ
| Compare |  Merrill Edge |  One (One Finance) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $0 to $1,000Lower | $1 |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | FINRA, SIPC, NMLS |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, CorporateCovers more | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, CryptoCovers more |
| Management fee | 0.45% to 0.85% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- One (One Finance) scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.5.
- Regulators: only Merrill Edge offers SEC.
- Regulators: only One (One Finance) offers SIPC, NMLS.
- Minimum investment is lower at Merrill Edge: $0 to $1,000 vs $1.
- Account types: only Merrill Edge offers Joint, Corporate.
- Portfolio types: only One (One Finance) offers Crypto.
- Support channels: only Merrill Edge offers Email.
Our verdict on each
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.
One (One Finance)
One Finance offers a US robo portfolio of ETFs and crypto, wrapped in ira and roth ira accounts and backed by SIPC up to USD 500,000. It suits US savers who want automated retirement investing, a small starting amount and help by phone, chat or a help centre.
Score breakdown
| Area | Merrill Edge | One (One Finance) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock trade fee of $0, account fee of $0 and no inactivity charge at $0, with options at $0.65 per contract. | 9.6HigherEntry amount of $1 sits well under €560.82, the level that three quarters of robo advisors fall below. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 9.7 | 9.9Higher |
What we checked
Merrill Edge
- merrilledge.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
One (One Finance)
- onepay.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- one.app: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Merrill Edge | One (One Finance) |
|---|---|---|
| Robo-advisors | 13 of 153 | 11 of 153 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Merrill Edge | One (One Finance) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated | One Finance, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1914 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre, EmailCovers more | Phone, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Merrill Edge | One (One Finance) | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.45% to 0.85%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.35 |
| Minimum investment | $0 to $1,000lowest quarter | $1below the median | $100 |
Median across 67 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
One (One Finance)
Pros
- Retirement account choice of ira and roth ira for long-term savers.
- Registered with FINRA, SIPC and NMLS and backed by SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- Help on phone, chat and help centre, so a phone call is possible as well as chat.
Cons
- Built for the US market, with the entity based in the United States and accounts limited to ira and roth ira.
- Crypto sits in etf and crypto, which can add sharp swings to a portfolio.
- Across the brands compared here, 70.15% of retail money was lost, so losses should be expected.
Who each suits
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
One (One Finance)
Who it suits
- US savers building a retirement pot rather than trading frequently.
- People happy with an automated etf and crypto portfolio decided for them.
- Anyone who values phone, chat and help centre when they need help.
Who should look elsewhere
- UK and European investors, since Vivid Standard is set up in euro at €2.
- People starting with a much larger sum, who can compare Axos Invest and its $100 entry point.
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 | Merrill Edge | One (One Finance) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
One (One Finance)
What is the minimum investment at One?+
You can start from $1. That sits well under €560.82, the point that three quarters of the robo advisors compared here fall below. For anyone building a portfolio in stages, the entry amount is unlikely to be the obstacle.
Which accounts can I open?+
One offers ira and roth ira accounts. That is a retirement focus rather than a spread of general investment accounts, so the service is built around long-term saving in a US wrapper. If you want a taxable general account, this is not the range to look at.
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