AvaTrade and Deriv face off on regulation, pricing, and platform breadth. The matchup tests whether safety and instrument variety trump low deposits and 24/7 offerings.
AvaTrade edges Deriv on overall trust, regulation, and instrument variety, reflected in a higher editorial score.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Deriv offers tighter spreads from 0.50 pips vs 0.90 pips for AvaTrade, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Pros
Heavily regulated across 6+ jurisdictions
AvaOptions platform for vanilla options trading
Strong educational content and structured courses
Multiple platforms including MT4, MT5 and proprietary AvaTradeGo
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AvaTrade | 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) | Fail | Fail |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | 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 |
The scores are close: AvaTrade rates 4.4/5 and Deriv rates 4.1/5. AvaTrade has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Deriv starts from 0.5 pips, tighter than AvaTrade's 0.9 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Deriv has $5, while AvaTrade requires at least $100. This makes Deriv more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
AvaTrade holds top-tier regulation (ASIC, FSCA, MFSA), providing stronger investor protections. Deriv may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Deriv requires a lower minimum deposit ($5), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
AvaTrade lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while Deriv lists up to 1000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AvaTrade supports ZuluTrade, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Deriv supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and Proprietary Web/Mobile. AvaTrade has exclusive access to ZuluTrade and MetaTrader 4. Deriv has exclusive access to DXtrade.
AvaTrade wins for safety and regulation with multi-jurisdiction top-tier authorities.
Deriv wins for active traders due to 24/7 synthetic indices and high leverage.
Deriv is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.50 pips.
Deriv wins for platform choice with multiple proprietary platforms and MT5 support.
AvaTrade wins for beginners with strong educational content and structured courses.
AvaTrade wins for instrument variety with about 1250 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 1999 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland | Birkirkara, Malta |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | $5▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.9 pips | 0.5 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 400:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $50/month (after 3 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FSCA MFSA CBI ADGM | LFSA FSC BVI MFSA VFSC |
|---|
| Platforms | ZuluTrade MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile DXtrade |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app 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
Inactivity fee of $50 after 3 months of no trading
Not available to US residents
Spread-only model means no raw ECN pricing
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we’ll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker