Interactive Brokers vs Merrill Edge
Interactive Brokers comes out ahead of Merrill Edge on 3 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Interactive Brokers takes it, 3–0 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Interactive Brokers takes 3 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
- • You want Interactive Brokers's edge on what stockbrokers.com scored it and what customers say on trustpilot
Choose Merrill Edge if…
- • You have a reason to pick Merrill Edge that is not on this list
Round by round
- Round 1What StockBrokers.com scored itInteractive Brokers winsMerrill Edge5/10
4.5 out of 5 stars
StockBrokers.com rating
- 4.5 out of 5 stars, against 5 out of 5 stars
Source: stockbrokers.com ↗
Interactive Brokers wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2What customers say on TrustpilotInteractive Brokers winsInteractive Brokers8/10
3.1 out of 5
TrustScore from 5,511 reviews on Trustpilot
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Merrill Edge5/101.3 out of 5
TrustScore from 128 reviews on Trustpilot
- 1.3 out of 5, against 3.1 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Interactive Brokers wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3What an options contract costsTieInteractive Brokers7/10
USD 0.15 to 0.65
per US option contract
- per options contract
Source: stockbrokers.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 4What a stock trade costsTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 5What it takes to open an accountTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 6How many Trustpilot reviewsInteractive Brokers winsInteractive Brokers8/10
5,511 reviews
reviews on Trustpilot, rated 3.1 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Merrill Edge5/10128 reviews
reviews on Trustpilot, rated 1.3 out of 5
- 128 reviews, against 5,511 reviews
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Interactive Brokers wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
Side by side
- IBKR Pro margin rate; tiered, so the same rate applies at 50,000 and 100,000 dollars
- per options contract
- 65 cents, against 0 cents
- 3.1 out of 5, against 3.9 out of 5
- 5,511 reviews, against 14,081 reviews
- 4.5 out of 5 stars, against 5 out of 5 stars
- 128 reviews, against 1,169 reviews
- 1.3 out of 5, against 1.5 out of 5
- 128 reviews, against 782 reviews