Tool Comparison
Merrill Edge vs Scalable Capital
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, Desktop
Best if
- You want advanced order types and options.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You want wealth management.
Pick Merrill Edge if
Merrill Edge
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · Desktop
- You want advanced order types and options.
Pick Scalable Capital if
Scalable Capital
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You want wealth management.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Merrill Edge and Scalable Capital cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Merrill Edge includes advanced order types and options, and Scalable Capital includes wealth management.
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Merrill Edge
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Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Scalable Capital
- Desktop app
- Merrill Edge
- Asset coverage
- Merrill EdgeAdds options
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.
What Scalable Capital does best
- Stock and ETF trading through supported European venues, with FREE and PRIME+ plans using different fee rules and order-size assumptions.
- Free savings plans, including small recurring investments where supported.
- PRIME+ charges €0 for eligible European Investor Exchange orders of at least €250; Xetra and gettex orders cost €1.99 on both plans.
- Supported stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, derivatives, and crypto ETPs from a web or mobile brokerage workflow.
- Scalable Wealth runs automated ETF-based portfolios, with management fees that step down at higher account sizes.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
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 | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 5 limits: FREE: european investor exchange order from250 eur: 0.99, FREE: prime etf purchase on eix from250 eur: 0 +3 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | No |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | — | Scalable CLI and Scalable MCP |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 6 | 5 |
Regions | North America | Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | Timezone: Europe/Berlin |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit Merrill Edge | Visit Scalable Capital |
Standout features
The best features of Merrill Edge and Scalable Capital.ShowHide
Standout features
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.
What Scalable Capital does best
- Stock and ETF trading through supported European venues, with FREE and PRIME+ plans using different fee rules and order-size assumptions.
- Free savings plans, including small recurring investments where supported.
- PRIME+ charges €0 for eligible European Investor Exchange orders of at least €250; Xetra and gettex orders cost €1.99 on both plans.
- Supported stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, derivatives, and crypto ETPs from a web or mobile brokerage workflow.
- Scalable Wealth runs automated ETF-based portfolios, with management fees that step down at higher account sizes.
All details
Every attribute we track for Merrill Edge and Scalable Capital.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual Funds | StocksETFsMutual FundsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | Europe |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | 6 countriesExchanges: XETR, XMUN, and European Investor ExchangeIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Not specified | Scalable CLIScalable MCP |
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
Vendor & support | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith IncorporatedCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone and Chat | Scalable Capital GmbHCountry: GermanyFounded 2014Support: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Freeeuropean investor exchange order from250 eur: 0.99 · prime etf purchase on eix from250 eur: 0 · +1 more |
| Entry paid plan | — | €4.99/mo“PRIME+ Broker”european investor exchange order from250 eur: 0 · xetra and gettex order eur: 1.99 |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Merrill Edge and Scalable Capital?
Merrill Edge leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Scalable Capital puts more weight on brokerage, wealth management, and portfolio. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Merrill Edge and Scalable Capital 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.
Should I choose Merrill Edge or Scalable Capital?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Merrill Edge if advanced order types and options matter to you; go with Scalable Capital if you'd rather have wealth management. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Merrill Edge and Scalable Capital cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds. Merrill Edge also handles options.
Which covers international markets: Merrill Edge or Scalable Capital?
Scalable Capital has documented international coverage (Europe), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Merrill Edge is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Merrill Edge and Scalable Capital?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with Merrill Edge or Scalable Capital?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.