AvaTrade
Merrill Edge
VS
Higher Rated
AvaTrade
Capital at risk · T&Cs apply
Choosing between AvaTrade and Merrill Edge depends on your trading style, preferred markets, and budget. AvaTrade is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, while Merrill Edge operates from Charlotte, USA. AvaTrade has the longer track record, established in 2006, compared to Merrill Edge which was founded in 2010. This in-depth comparison covers regulation, fees, platforms, markets, and overall ratings to help you decide which broker is the better fit in 2026.
AvaTrade
Merrill Edge
AvaTrade is the better choice overall, scoring 4.0/5 vs 3.2/5 on BrokerRank's independent rating. On fees, Merrill Edge offers lower spreads (0 pips).
See full side-by-side comparison belowOverall Rating
AvaTrade
4.0 vs 3.2
Lowest Fees
Merrill Edge
0.9 vs 0 pips
Regulation
AvaTrade
3 vs 1 licences
Min. Deposit
Merrill Edge
$100 vs $0
AvaTrade
Merrill Edge
AvaTrade
Merrill Edge
Lower feesAvaTrade holds licences from FCA, ASIC, MAS. Merrill Edge is regulated by SEC.
Both brokers offer access to Stocks, Indices markets. AvaTrade additionally covers Forex, Cfd, Crypto.
On spreads, Merrill Edge is more competitive with EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips, compared to 0.9 pips at AvaTrade.
AvaTrade supports MT4, MT5, Proprietary Mobile. Merrill Edge offers Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile. Both brokers are available on Proprietary Mobile.
AvaTrade requires a minimum deposit of $100, while Merrill Edge sets no minimum deposit. This makes Merrill Edge accessible to traders with any budget.
BrokerRank scores AvaTrade at 3.98/5 and Merrill Edge at 3.19/5, based on 50+ data points covering regulation, fees, platforms, markets, and user experience. AvaTrade leads overall with a clear advantage.
AvaTrade scores higher overall on our independent rating system. AvaTrade holds a 4.0/5 rating vs Merrill Edge's 3.2/5. The best choice ultimately depends on your trading style — see our full verdict above for a detailed breakdown.
AvaTrade offers spreads from 0.9 pips, while Merrill Edge starts at 0 pips. Check the fees section above for a full breakdown.
AvaTrade requires a minimum deposit of $100. Merrill Edge requires $0.
AvaTrade is regulated by FCA, ASIC, MAS, while Merrill Edge holds licences from SEC.
AvaTrade supports MT4, MT5, Proprietary Mobile. Merrill Edge supports Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile.
Yes, you can hold accounts at multiple brokers simultaneously. Many traders diversify across platforms to access different markets and tools.
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Trading involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Capital at risk. Full risk disclosure.