ActivTrades vs Deriv Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and Deriv across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.3 / 5
2 bonusesFCA-regulated UK broker with 23 years of history, SMSG membership, and a proprietary ActivTrader platform featuring built-in volatility protection - strong in southern European markets.
VS
Veteran retail broker with MFSA, VFSC, FSC BVI, and LFSA licensing, best known for synthetic indices - volatility-simulated instruments that trade around the clock - alongside a standard forex and CFD offering.
Our Verdict
ActivTrades winsby 0.2 pts
ActivTrades edges ahead with a score of 4.3/5 vs Deriv's 4.1/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.5 pips.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
ActivTrades has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
Deriv offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
ActivTrades edges out Deriv with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4.1/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
ActivTrades vs Deriv: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 1999 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Birkirkara, Malta |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $5 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.5 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | VFSC LFSA FSC BVI MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile DXtrade |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit Deriv |
ActivTrades vs Deriv Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
FCA regulated with supplemental insurance up to GBP 1,000,000 per client
ActivTrader's volatility protection feature is a genuine risk management differentiator
No minimum deposit
Strong southern European presence - Italian, Spanish, Portuguese support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Synthetic indices trade 24/7 - unique offering unavailable at mainstream brokers
Very low $5 minimum deposit
Multi-platform: DTrader, MT5, Deriv X, SmartTrader
MFSA (Malta/EU) licensing for European clients
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
Synthetic indices are proprietary instruments, not conventional regulated assets
Regulatory quality varies significantly by entity (MFSA vs VFSC/FSC BVI)
Customer support can be slow during peak periods
No top-tier regulatory licence
No investor compensation scheme
No raw spread account option
Limited charting capabilities
No phone support
ActivTrades vs Deriv: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
4
ActivTrades
criteria wins
0
Deriv
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Fail |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
ActivTrades vs Deriv: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ActivTrades ranks higher with a score of 4.3/5 vs 4.1/5 for Deriv. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and Deriv may each suit different trader profiles.
Both ActivTrades and Deriv offer spreads starting from 0.5 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Consider commissions and account types when evaluating total trading costs.
ActivTrades has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Deriv requires at least $5. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
ActivTrades holds top-tier regulation (FCA, CMVM, SCB), providing stronger investor protections. Deriv may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Always verify regulatory status with the broker directly before depositing funds.
For beginners: ActivTrades has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ActivTrades offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while Deriv offers up to 1000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader and Deriv offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade; ActivTrades exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader; Deriv exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade.
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Score 4.1 / 5
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