Tool Comparison
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley vs Merrill Edge
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, Desktop
Best if
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, Desktop
Best if
Pick E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley if
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · Desktop
Pick Merrill Edge if
Merrill Edge
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · Desktop
Skip both if: These two cover the same ground; it really comes down to price and which interface you enjoy using.
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Our take
The bottom line
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Edge cover a lot of the same ground (6 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
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Merrill Edge
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- E*TRADE from Morgan StanleyAdds cryptos
What E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley does best
- Self-directed taxable, IRA, custodial, education, trust, estate, and eligible business accounts.
- E*TRADE and Power E*TRADE web, desktop, and mobile trading workflows.
- Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, and selected fractional listed securities.
- ACH, wire, check, direct-deposit, and brokerage-transfer funding methods.
- Default FDIC Bank Deposit Program sweep with tiered variable APY.
What Merrill Edge does best
- Individual, joint, custodial, trust, estate, IRA, and eligible small-business self-directed accounts.
- Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, options, margin, and research tools.
- Merrill website, mobile app, and MarketPro trading workflows.
- Connected Bank of America and Merrill account visibility with immediate eligible internal transfers.
- Tiered Bank Deposit Program sweep for uninvested brokerage cash.
Side by side
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 6 | 6 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Try it | Visit E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley | Visit Merrill Edge |
Standout features
The best features of E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Edge.ShowHide
Standout features
What E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley does best
- Self-directed taxable, IRA, custodial, education, trust, estate, and eligible business accounts.
- E*TRADE and Power E*TRADE web, desktop, and mobile trading workflows.
- Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, and selected fractional listed securities.
- ACH, wire, check, direct-deposit, and brokerage-transfer funding methods.
- Default FDIC Bank Deposit Program sweep with tiered variable APY.
What Merrill Edge does best
- Individual, joint, custodial, trust, estate, IRA, and eligible small-business self-directed accounts.
- Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, options, margin, and research tools.
- Merrill website, mobile app, and MarketPro trading workflows.
- Connected Bank of America and Merrill account visibility with immediate eligible internal transfers.
- Tiered Bank Deposit Program sweep for uninvested brokerage cash.
All details
Every attribute we track for E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Edge.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual FundsCryptos | StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLCCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith IncorporatedCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone and Chat |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Edge?
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Merrill Edge puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 6 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Edge cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
What asset classes do E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Edge cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley also handles cryptos.
Can I export data from E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Edge?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley or Merrill Edge?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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