Like most brokers, both Merrill Edge and Robinhood offer zero-commission stock trading, and no monthly maintenance fees. But that's where the similarities end on fee structures. Robinhood has a big advantage for options traders, as it is one of the only brokers where investors can buy and sell options commission-free. Merrill Edge charges a per-contract fee of $0.65, which is in line with most of its peers. Plus, Robinhood offers commission-free cryptocurrency trading, while Merrill Edge doesn't offer cryptocurrencies at all.