Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Merrill Edge vs Revolut
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Merrill Edge |  Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.45% to 0.85% | 0%Lower |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate | ISA, Joint |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more |
| Minimum investment | $0 to $1,000 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Revolut scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.5.
- Regulators: only Merrill Edge offers FINRA, SEC.
- Regulators: only Revolut offers Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), LT BL.
- Founded is lower at Merrill Edge: 1914 vs 2015.
- Revolut is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Management fee is lower at Revolut: 0% vs 0.45% to 0.85%.
- Account types: only Merrill Edge offers IRA, Roth IRA, Corporate.
- Account types: only Revolut offers ISA.
- Portfolio types: only Revolut offers Cash, Crypto.
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.
Revolut
Revolut charges a management fee of 0% on its stocks and shares ISA, and it operates in the UK under the Financial Conduct Authority with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. It suits savers who want an ISA or a joint account and support by phone as well as chat and email.
Score breakdown
| Area | Merrill Edge | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock trade fee of $0, account fee of $0 and no inactivity charge at $0, with options at $0.65 per contract. | 9.9HigherA management fee of 0% against a robo-advisor median of 0.35%, ranking 1 of 49 on that measure. |
| Offer | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.4 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Merrill Edge | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Robo-advisors | 13 of 153 | 5 of 153 |
Choosing between them
Pick Merrill Edge if trust matter most.
Pick Revolut if cost, management fee, and portfolio types matter most.
What we checked
Merrill Edge
- merrilledge.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Revolut
- revolut.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Merrill Edge | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated | Revolut Digital Assets (Europe) Ltd |
| Headquarters | United States | Cyprus |
| Founded | 1914Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre, Email | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Merrill Edge | Revolut | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.45% to 0.85%above the median | 0%lowest quarter | 0.35 |
| Minimum investment | $0 to $1,000lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $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
Revolut
Pros
- A management fee of 0% on the stocks and shares ISA.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, with support by email, chat and phone.
- Account types include isa and joint, and portfolios can hold etf, cash and crypto.
Cons
- Investor protection stops at FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Account types come down to isa and joint, so there is no pension or SIPP wrapper here.
- Crypto sits inside etf, cash and crypto, so an ISA here is not a pure stocks and shares plan.
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
Revolut
Who it suits
- UK savers who want a tax-sheltered ISA and a joint account in one app.
- Anyone who wants to reach a person by phone as well as by chat or email.
- Investors comfortable holding cash and crypto next to ETFs, the etf, cash and crypto mix here.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants a percentage-based plan: Vivid Standard charges a management fee of 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Readers who want a wider regulatory spread: eToro is regulated by Cyprus Securities Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
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 | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
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.
Revolut
What does Revolut charge as a management fee?+
Revolut's management fee is 0% on its stocks and shares ISA, and it places 1 of 49 brands on that measure. Robo-advisors in the same group charge a median of 0.35%, so the gap to the typical plan is clear.
How is my money protected?+
Investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000 for the stocks and shares ISA. The account is held with a firm regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, licence 933846, and Revolut also appears under Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and LT BL.
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