ADS Securities vs Deriv Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ADS Securities and Deriv across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.3 / 5
2 bonusesUAE-headquartered broker regulated by FSRA (Abu Dhabi Global Market) and FCA, providing institutional-quality execution and capital markets access to GCC institutional and high-net-worth retail traders.
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
ADS Securities winsby 0.2 pts
ADS Securities 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
ADS Securities has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, segregated funds.
Best for platform choice
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer an equivalent platform selection with similar exclusive and proprietary options.
Best for beginners
Recommended
ADS Securities edges out Deriv with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4.1/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
ADS Securities 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 | 4.8 / 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 | 2011 | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Birkirkara, Malta |
| Min deposit | $2,000 | $5 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.5 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 200:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA FSRA | FSC BVI VFSC LFSA MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile DXtrade |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ADS Securities | Visit Deriv |
ADS Securities vs Deriv Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
FSRA (ADGM) and FCA dual regulation - institutional-grade UAE framework
Institutional prime brokerage liquidity for tight spreads
Multi-asset including equities and fixed income
FIX API available for algorithmic and professional clients
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Raw spread account available
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
$2,000 minimum deposit - not accessible to entry-level retail traders
Primary focus on institutional and HNW clients; limited retail tools
Less suitable for traders seeking educational support or copy trading
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
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
ADS Securities vs Deriv: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
4
ADS Securities
criteria wins
1
Deriv
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ADS Securities | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Fail |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | 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 |
ADS Securities vs Deriv: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ADS Securities 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; ADS Securities and Deriv may each suit different trader profiles.
Both ADS Securities 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.
Deriv has a lower minimum deposit of $5, while ADS Securities requires at least $2000. This makes Deriv more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
ADS Securities holds top-tier regulation (FCA, FSRA), 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: Deriv has a lower minimum deposit ($5), lowering the barrier to entry; Deriv offers negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ADS Securities offers maximum leverage of 200:1, 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.
ADS Securities supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile and Deriv offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade; both support MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile; ADS Securities exclusively offers MetaTrader 4; Deriv exclusively offers DXtrade.
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Score 4.1 / 5
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