Ally Invest

4(1100)

SEC/FINRA

Merrill Edge

4.1(1500)

SEC/FINRA

Ally Invest vs Merrill Edge

Head-to-Head Comparison 2026

Our Verdict

Merrill Edge has a higher rating of 4.1/5 compared to Ally Invest (4/5). Ally Invest offers 6 instrument types, while Merrill Edge offers 5. Ally Invest has been in the market since 2005, making it the more experienced provider.

Comparison Table

Criteria	Ally Invest	Merrill Edge
Rating	4/5 (1100 reviews)	4.1/5 (1500 reviews)✓
Regulation	SEC/FINRA	SEC/FINRA
Fees	$0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.50 per contract	$0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract
Min. Deposit	0 $	0 $
Instruments	Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Forex	Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds
Platforms	Ally Invest Web, Ally Invest App	Merrill Edge Web, Merrill Edge App, MarketPro
Options Trading	Yes, options from $0.50 per contract	Yes, US options available
Founded	2005	2010
Headquarters	Charlotte	New York

Detailed Comparison

Fee Comparison

Ally Invest: $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.50 per contract. Minimum deposit: 0 $.

Merrill Edge: $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract. Minimum deposit: 0 $.

Product Range

Ally Invest (6 categories)

StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual FundsForex

Merrill Edge (5 categories)

StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual Funds

Trading Platforms

Ally Invest

Ally Invest Web
Ally Invest App

Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge Web
Merrill Edge App
MarketPro

Regulation & Security

Ally Invest is regulated by SEC/FINRA (HQ: Charlotte).

Merrill Edge is regulated by SEC/FINRA (HQ: New York).

Who Is It For?

Ally Invest

US online broker with commission-free trading and integrated banking

✓ Commission-free stock and ETF trading

✓ Low options fees ($0.50 per contract)

✓ Integrated banking with savings account

✗ Only available for US customers

✗ Fewer research tools than Fidelity or Schwab

Merrill Edge

Online broker by Bank of America with integrated banking

✓ Seamless integration with Bank of America

✓ Commission-free stock and ETF trading

✓ Access to Merrill Lynch research

✗ Only available for US customers

✗ MarketPro platform less powerful than competitors

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ally Invest or Merrill Edge cheaper?

Ally Invest charges $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.50 per contract. Merrill Edge charges $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract. The minimum deposit is 0 $ at Ally Invest and 0 $ at Merrill Edge.

Which broker offers more products: Ally Invest or Merrill Edge?

Ally Invest offers Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Forex. Merrill Edge offers Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds.

Which broker is better regulated?

Ally Invest is regulated by SEC/FINRA. Merrill Edge is regulated by SEC/FINRA.

Is Ally Invest or Merrill Edge better for beginners?

Ally Invest has a minimum deposit of 0 $ and offers Ally Invest Web, Ally Invest App as platforms. Merrill Edge has a minimum deposit of 0 $ and offers Merrill Edge Web, Merrill Edge App, MarketPro. Ally Invest has the lower entry barrier.

Ally Invest vs Merrill Edge: Which broker is better overall?

The choice between Ally Invest (4/5, 1100 reviews) and Merrill Edge (4.1/5, 1500 reviews) depends on your needs. Ally Invest: US online broker with commission-free trading and integrated banking. Merrill Edge: Online broker by Bank of America with integrated banking.

Ally Invest

US online broker with commission-free trading and integrated banking

Open Account →

From 0 $ min. deposit

Merrill Edge

Online broker by Bank of America with integrated banking

Open Account →

From 0 $ min. deposit

Ally Invest read review →Merrill Edge read review →