Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Merrill Edge vs S Broker
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Merrill Edge |  S Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | €0.95 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, European Central Bank |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app | Mobile App, Desktop, Profi Software |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds).
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Key differences
- Merrill Edge scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Merrill Edge offers FINRA, SEC.
- Regulators: only S Broker offers Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, European Central Bank.
- Platforms: only Merrill Edge offers Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app.
- Platforms: only S Broker offers Mobile App, Desktop, Profi Software.
- Support channels: only Merrill Edge offers Chat.
- Features: only Merrill Edge offers Fractional shares, Options.
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.
S Broker
S Broker keeps the running costs of a German brokerage account down, with an account fee of €0 and a stock trade fee of €0.95, and it is supervised by the Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht. It suits investors who want a single account for stocks, funds, bonds and options in a regulated German firm.
Score breakdown
| Area | Merrill Edge | S Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock trade fee of $0, account fee of $0 and no inactivity charge at $0, with options at $0.65 per contract. | 8.9Account fee of €0 ranks 1 of 138 on the site; stock trades at €0.95 sit above the site median. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.5 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Merrill Edge | S Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Merrill Edge: 1. Additional countries for S Broker: 1.
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Merrill Edge | S Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Merrill Edge | S Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 41 of 490 | 15 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 12 of 103 | 2 of 103 |
Sources behind this comparison
Merrill Edge
- merrilledge.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
S Broker
- sbroker.de: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Merrill Edge | S Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, OptionsCovers more | Mobile app, Demo account |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated | S Broker AG & Co. KG |
| Headquarters | United States | Germany |
| Founded | 1914 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre, EmailCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Merrill Edge | S Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.45% to 0.85% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $0 to $1,000 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Merrill Edge | S Broker | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
Median across 99 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
S Broker
Pros
- An account fee of €0 and stock trades at €0.95 keep the running cost of the account low.
- Regulated in Germany by the Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht and the European Central Bank, with deposits covered by the EU investor compensation scheme.
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and funds.
Cons
- Stock trades cost €0.95 each, which adds up for anyone dealing often.
- The market list is stocks, etfs and funds, so forex, CFDs and crypto traders have to look elsewhere.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with no live chat listed.
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
S Broker
Who it suits
- Investors who want stocks, ETFs, funds and bonds in a single account with an account fee of €0.
- German residents who want a supervised German firm and phone support as well as email.
- Options traders who also hold stocks, funds or bonds and want a single account for all of it.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if a stock trade fee of $0 matters more than a German account with funds and bonds on the platform.
- CFI, if forex, CFDs and crypto matter, since its markets of stocks, etfs and forex reach well past stocks, etfs and funds.
- Anyone who wants live chat support, since support runs on email, phone and help centre only.
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 | S Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
| 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.
S Broker
What does S Broker charge for a stock trade and for the account?+
Stock trades cost €0.95 and the account fee is €0, so holding the account costs nothing. Across the site the median stock trade fee is €0, which leaves S Broker a little dearer than the cheapest stock platforms but with no account charge to set against it.
Who regulates S Broker and what happens to the money in the account?+
The legal entity is S Broker AG & Co. KG, supervised by the Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht and the European Central Bank. Deposits sit under the EU investor compensation scheme, so a firm failure is covered within that scheme's stated limits rather than by the broker itself.
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