Deriv Review 2025

Trust

Deriv Regulations

In our reviews, we examine the licenses and regulations of each entity operated by a broker, allowing us to compare their different levels of protection. We rank licenses by various regulatory bodies on a three-tier system, where Tier-1 licensing indicates the highest level of regulation.

This is what I discovered about the several entities operating under the Deriv trade name:

• Deriv (SVG) LLC is registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines. It is not regulated, but it is a member of The Financial Commission, an international independent organization dedicated to resolving disputes within the financial services industry.
• Deriv Investments (Europe) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). We rate the MFSA as a Tier-1 regulator.
• Deriv (BVI) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC) under license number SIBA/L/18/1114. We rate the FSC as a Tier-3 regulator.
• Deriv (FX) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA) under license number MB/18/0024. We rate the LFSA as a Tier-3 regulator.
• Deriv (V) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) under license number 14556. We rate the VFSC as a Tier-3 regulator.

Understanding the Regulatory Protections of Your Account

Brokers operate multiple entities to serve clients worldwide. However, licenses obtained from regulators in different jurisdictions do not always entail the same degree of protection.

Some regulators mandate compliance with the strictest financial frameworks, while others are less rigid. That is why traders must familiarize themselves with the safety mechanisms ensured by the entity they want to open an account.

Here is what you need to be looking for in a broker in terms of safety mechanisms:

• Segregation of client funds. Keeping client funds in segregated bank accounts from the ones used for the broker’s corporate capital negates the risk of accounting errors. Deriv keeps client funds in segregated accounts.
• Negative balance protection. This safety mechanism removes the risk of trading losses exceeding the account balance. In other words, the losses you incur from trading are capped at the amount you have put in your trading account. Deriv guarantees negative balance protection.
• Compensation scheme. A compensation scheme protects traders against the broker’s liabilities if the company becomes insolvent. Deriv Investments (Europe) Ltd participates in the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), protecting clients by up to EUR 20,000. All other Deriv entities participate in The Financial Commission, and their clients are protected by up to EUR 20,000.
• Maximum leverage. Capping the maximum leverage restricts the extent of market exposure to retail traders. The higher the leverage, the higher the potential profits and potential losses. The maximum retail leverage with Deriv is 1:1000.

Stability and Transparency

In our Trust category assessments, we evaluate factors tied to stability and transparency, including the broker’s longevity, company size, and information transparency.

I went through Deriv’s legal documents and found all relevant information quite accessible and easy to understand. However, the broker does not list the commission rate for its Raw Spread account on the website.

Is Deriv Safe to Trade With?

I concluded that Deriv is safe enough due to the following factors:

• 25+ years of operational history
• Holds one license of the Tier-1 regulator
• Is a member of The Financial Commission

Fees

Deriv Trading Fees

Deriv Spreads

I tested Deriv’s spreads on 19 July 2024 during the London and the New York open. The results are shown in the table below:

Broken down by asset class and compared to the industry average, Deriv charges low spreads on currency pairs and commodities, low-to-average spreads on indices, average-to-high spreads on share CFDs, and high spreads on cryptocurrencies. Based on my tests, I concluded that Deriv is one of the best options for trading spot crude oil.

Deriv Swaps

A swap fee is a trader’s cost for holding an open position overnight because of changing interest rates. Swap long refers to the charge deductible or credit receivable for holding a buy position open overnight. In turn, swap short relates to the charges/credits deductible or receivable for holding a selling position open overnight.

The values listed below are for one full base currency contract (100,000 units).

My tests indicate that Deriv charges average swaps. This is suitable for longer-term trading.

Deriv Non-Trading Fees

Dormant accounts with Deriv that have been inactive for over 12 months are subject to a $25 monthly inactivity fee. The fee is applied until activity resumes or the account balance drops to zero.

The broker does not charge a handling fee for deposits or withdrawals, though third-party banking fees may apply.

Are Deriv’s Fees Competitive?

Except for cryptocurrencies and some share CFD instruments, Deriv’s trading fees are very favorable. The combination of zero commissions and spreads that beat the industry average on instruments from different asset classes is quite competitive. Furthermore, deposits and withdrawals with Deriv are free of charge.

Platforms and Tools

Deriv X Platform

In this review, I tested the Deriv X trading platform, which features multiple essential tools, such as one-click trading, an alarm setting option, and a market depth tool. These allow traders to examine various market developments from different angles and to exploit the underlying trading opportunities in multiple ways.

Another great advantage of the Deriv X platform is that it has a built-in trading journal feature, which helps traders track their performance over time and learn from their mistakes. The platform also offers automated technical analyses that help traders make sense of currently developing setups.

Deriv X supports advanced technical analysis via its fluid charts, easy order execution, copy trading, and automated trading. It also has an easy-to-use mobile app version.

General Ease of Use

Deriv X’s layout may seem a little overwhelming at first glance, but it actually follows a very familiar design. Account info is displayed at the top of the screen. Charts and watch lists occupy the right-hand side of the screen, whereas the section on the left can be populated with different panels depending on the trader’s preferences.

Charts

The charts screen is arguably a platform’s most important feature. It facilitates technical analysis by providing an overview of price action behavior. Chart artists use many analytical tools and chart configuration possibilities to examine it from multiple angles. In my experience, the really important aspect of a chart is how easy it is to scale price action up and down.

I have broken down the available analytical tools and TradingView chart configurations on Deriv X below:

• 97 technical indicators. The platform supports trend-based, volume-based indicators, oscillators, and more. These can be applied to study price action behavior and determine the underlying market sentiment. In general, technical indicators are used to gauge where the market is likely to head next.
• 14 drawing tools. Drawing tools, such as Fibonacci retracement levels and Elliott waves, are used to study repeatable price patterns. Additionally, they can be applied to determine key support and resistance levels and potential breakout or breakdown levels.
• 9 timeframes. Deriv X allows multi-timeframe analysis of price action behavior. The greater the number of timeframes, the more intricate examinations that can be carried out across the short-term and long-term.
• 9 chart types. Price action can be represented as a line, bars, or candlesticks. This diversity allows traders to examine potential trading opportunities from different angles.

Orders

I have broken down the available order types on the Deriv X platform below:

• Market orders. Market orders are used for immediate entry at the best possible price. If triggered, they guarantee volume filling, though there could be a discrepancy between the requested price and the price where the order gets filled.
• Limit orders. Unlike market orders, limit orders guarantee exact price execution. However, a limit order will not be filled if the price action does not reach the pre-determined execution price.
• Stop orders. They are used to support open positions by limiting the maximum loss that can be incurred if the market turns in the opposite direction. A stop-loss order is placed at a fixed price below or above the spot price. If the market does indeed turn and triggers the stop-loss, it will transform into a market order and get filled at the best possible price.

Deriv X Platform: My Key Takeaways

Testing the different features of Deriv X was a breeze. The platform stands out with its impressive assortment of 97 technical indicators, an in-built trading journal feature, and multiple technical analyses. While the platform may scare less experienced traders at first glance, it is easy to get used to because of its easy learning curve.

Deriv’s Execution Model

With respect to CFD trading, Deriv offers instant execution at the market price. The broker operates without a dealing desk. In addition to CFD contracts, clients of Deriv can also place options or trade on its unique multipliers contracts.

Deriv MT5 Trading App

The mobile app version of Deriv MT5 affords quick and easy access to the market on the go. It is very useful for opening, terminating, and adjusting open positions.

The market is continually evolving, marked by periodic surges and declines in volatility. For this reason, staying on top of the latest market developments is crucial, a task made simpler through the mobile app version of MT5.

You can also use the app to place market, limit, and stop orders, as well as to adjust the exposure of your open trades.

MT5 App: My Key Takeaways

Deriv MT5’s mobile app suffers from the same underlying problem inherent to other mobile apps. Analyzing price action behavior on low-resolution devices is extremely difficult. That is why I recommend using the mobile app only to monitor the development of your open positions and make changes if needed.

Deriv GO App

Deriv has developed its own proprietary mobile app – Deriv GO – for account management and market assessment. The software is more intuitive and user-friendly than the rugged MT5, though price action examination is still difficult. Presently, the app does not feature any drawing tools or technical indicators, though the broker is in the process of integrating the most important ones.

Tradable Instruments

Compared to the industry average, Deriv offers a high number of commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, an average number of currency pairs, and a low number of share CFDs.

What Are CFDs?

Contracts for difference (CFDs) are derivatives used to speculate on the underlying asset’s price without physical delivery.

For example, a long position on gold would generate profit as the price rises or incur a loss as it falls, all without the need to purchase actual gold bars.

One of the biggest advantages of trading CFDs is that traders can get in and out of the market almost instantaneously, thereby catching even minute changes in the price of the derivative.

What Can You Trade With Deriv?

Detiv Instruments: My Key Takeaways

I found Deriv’s instrument offering pretty diverse. The broker provides lower-risk securities, such as ETFs, and higher-yield/risk assets, such as cryptocurrencies, which offer traders the opportunity to diversify their market exposure.

I also appreciated the availability of both CFDs and options contracts. Deriv should be commended for creating some pretty unique contract types, such as its multipliers.

Customer Support

Customer Support Channels

Customer Support Test

When we test a broker’s customer support, we evaluate the agent’s knowledge of their own website, how long it takes them to respond to questions, and how detailed their answers are.

I conducted my test on 2 December at around 2:43 p.m. CET via live chat. Before connecting to an agent, I had to navigate a chatbot, which is incorporated for general queries regarding Deriv’s service.

I appreciated that you can choose whether to use Deriv’s own live chat feature or connect using WhatsApp. Furthermore, you can choose your preferred language and see if there is an agent currently available.

The agent was polite and seemed generally interested in answering my rather complex question regarding Deriv’s client protections. She referred me to all relevant sources of information and documents but was ultimately unable to give me a direct answer. Nevertheless, she had no problem with answering more straightforward questions.

Deposit and Withdrawal

Deriv Deposit Methods

For a detailed list of Deriv’s payment methods, please visit here.

Deriv Withdrawal Methods

Account Types and Terms

To open an account with Deriv, follow these easy steps:

1. Click ‘Open account’ at the top-right corner of the main page.
2. Provide an email address and confirm it.
3. Choose an account currency.
4. Enter your personal details.
5. Fill in your address information.
6. Read and accept the terms of use.
7. Choose a platform.
8. Upload proof of ID and proof of address to verify your account.

Deriv Account Types

Deriv offers both commission-free trading and raw spreads, depending on the account type selected. It also has accounts suited for options and multipliers trading. The broker has extremely low minimum deposit requirements, making its accounts quite accessible.

Demo Accounts

Deriv offers a demo account that introduces traders to the broker’s services and allows them to tweak their strategies in a risk-free environment. The market is continually evolving and never static, so it is important to hone your skills in a safe environment. You can set up a demo account along with a live CFD account.

Swap-free Account

Deriv offers swap-free trading via its Swap-free account in accordance with Shariah law.

What is CFD Leverage?

Leverage determines a trader’s overall market exposure. When trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs), positions can be opened for a fraction of their value because of leverage. Essentially, the broker lends the trader money so that the latter can open bigger positions. Leverage multiplies the profits a trader generates from winning positions but also the losses incurred from failed trades.

Maximum Leverage By Asset Class

In the table below, I have listed the maximum retail leverage available with Deriv for instruments from different asset classes:

Deriv Restricted Countries

Deriv does not accept clients residing in certain countries, including, but not limited to, the USA, Canada, North Korea, or other jurisdictions that may have regulatory frameworks incompatible with Deriv’s products.

Research

Research Tools

Deriv’s market research articles offer traders a broad overview of current market developments, covering entire industries or specific setups on particular instruments. While I appreciate the comprehensive scope of this content, I expected more supporting charts and graphs to help readers better understand the information.

The Deriv X platform offers technical analyses that contextualize the underlying market sentiment for a given instrument, typically examining its price action using various technical indicators. While this content is highly informative, it does not provide actionable trading signals.

Deriv Research: My Key Takeaways

My biggest issue with Deriv’s research content is that it lacks nuance and diversity. A good example of this is the absence of an economic calendar, which is extremely rare. Traders are limited in their choices and cannot rely on the broker’s in-house materials alone to develop a robust picture of market behavior.

Education

Deriv has developed a highly informative e-book that covers topics pertaining to trading forex, share CFDs, indices, synthetic instruments, and how to read different chart patterns. The book is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Vietnamese.

The broker also publishes informative articles in the blog section of the website. The content is primarily focused on strategy building and understanding how financial markets work. However, these articles are thrown alongside its research articles, and it may be difficult for less experienced traders to tell them apart.

Deriv can greatly improve the quality of its educational content if it makes it more structured and streamlined.

The Bottom Line

Founded in 1999, Deriv offers its clients a choice of forex and CFD instruments, options, and quite rare multipliers.

Deriv provides a $5 minimum deposit and has very affordable trading fees, with its crude oil spread among the lowest in the industry. It also impresses with its extensive platform offering, comprising five proprietary trading stations along with MetaTrader 5 and cTrader.

On the other hand, the scope of Deriv’s research and educational content is pretty limited, and it lacks phone support.

Thanks to a variety of feature-rich platforms and tools and fair prices, Deriv is a great choice for day traders, copy traders, and algorithmic traders.

FAQ