Robinhood
Merrill Edge
VS
Higher Rated
Robinhood
Capital at risk · T&Cs apply
Choosing between Robinhood and Merrill Edge depends on your trading style, preferred markets, and budget. Robinhood is headquartered in Menlo Park, USA, while Merrill Edge operates from Charlotte, USA. Merrill Edge has the longer track record, established in 2010, compared to Robinhood which was founded in 2013. This in-depth comparison covers regulation, fees, platforms, markets, and overall ratings to help you decide which broker is the better fit in 2026.
Robinhood
Merrill Edge
Robinhood is the better choice overall, scoring 3.6/5 vs 3.2/5 on BrokerRank's independent rating. On fees, Robinhood offers lower spreads (0 pips).
See full side-by-side comparison belowOverall Rating
Robinhood
3.6 vs 3.2
Lowest Fees
Tied
0 vs 0 pips
Regulation
Robinhood
2 vs 1 licences
Min. Deposit
Tied
$0 vs $0
Robinhood
WinnerMerrill Edge
Robinhood
Merrill Edge
Robinhood holds licences from SEC, CFTC. Merrill Edge is regulated by SEC.
Both brokers offer access to Stocks markets. Robinhood additionally covers Crypto, Cfd. Merrill Edge adds Indices.
Robinhood supports Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile. Merrill Edge offers Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile. Both brokers are available on Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile.
Robinhood requires no minimum deposit, while Merrill Edge sets no minimum deposit. This makes Robinhood accessible to traders with any budget.
BrokerRank scores Robinhood at 3.60/5 and Merrill Edge at 3.19/5, based on 50+ data points covering regulation, fees, platforms, markets, and user experience. Robinhood leads overall with a clear advantage.
Robinhood scores higher overall on our independent rating system. Robinhood holds a 3.6/5 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.
Robinhood offers spreads from 0 pips, while Merrill Edge starts at 0 pips. Check the fees section above for a full breakdown.
Robinhood requires a minimum deposit of $0. Merrill Edge requires $0.
Robinhood is regulated by SEC, CFTC, while Merrill Edge holds licences from SEC.
Robinhood supports Proprietary Web, 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.