Tool Comparison
Merrill Edge vs Vanguard Brokerage
- 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
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 Vanguard Brokerage if
Vanguard Brokerage
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
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 Vanguard Brokerage 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. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
Merrill Edge
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Vanguard Brokerage
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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 Vanguard Brokerage does best
- Individual, joint, IRA, custodial, education, trust, estate, and eligible organization accounts.
- Vanguard and third-party mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, options, Treasuries, bonds, and brokered CDs.
- Dollar-based Vanguard ETF investing from $1 and recurring investment workflows.
- Choice of Vanguard Cash Deposit or VMFXX as the brokerage settlement option.
- Web and mobile portfolio administration, statements, tax forms, beneficiaries, and transfers.
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 | No |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 6 | 4 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Try it | Visit Merrill Edge | Visit Vanguard Brokerage |
Standout features
The best features of Merrill Edge and Vanguard Brokerage.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 Vanguard Brokerage does best
- Individual, joint, IRA, custodial, education, trust, estate, and eligible organization accounts.
- Vanguard and third-party mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, options, Treasuries, bonds, and brokered CDs.
- Dollar-based Vanguard ETF investing from $1 and recurring investment workflows.
- Choice of Vanguard Cash Deposit or VMFXX as the brokerage settlement option.
- Web and mobile portfolio administration, statements, tax forms, beneficiaries, and transfers.
All details
Every attribute we track for Merrill Edge and Vanguard Brokerage.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual Funds | 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 | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith IncorporatedCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone and Chat | Vanguard Marketing CorporationCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Merrill Edge and Vanguard Brokerage?
Merrill Edge leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Vanguard Brokerage puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Merrill Edge and Vanguard Brokerage 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 Vanguard Brokerage?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Merrill Edge if advanced order types and options matter to you; go with Vanguard Brokerage if you prefer its overall approach. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
Can I export data from Merrill Edge and Vanguard Brokerage?
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 Vanguard Brokerage?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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