A head-to-head comparison of Axi and Deriv across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
No minimum deposit, strong ASIC regulation, excellent MT4 infrastructure for EA traders, DXtrade for a modern web experience, and competitive Pro account pricing.
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.
Axi and Deriv are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Axi offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.5 pips for Deriv, reducing trading costs.
Axi has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Axi has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Deriv offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.1/5, but Axi requires a lower minimum deposit ($0 vs $5 for Deriv), making it more accessible for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Founded | 2007 | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Birkirkara, Malta |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $5 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.5 pips |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA | FSC BVI VFSC LFSA MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 DXtrade | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile DXtrade |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Axi | Visit Deriv |
Pros
No minimum deposit
Strong ASIC, FCA, and DFSA regulation
MT4-focused with excellent EA and algorithmic trading support
No inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
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
No MT5 or cTrader support
Pro account commission of $7/lot is above some ECN peers
Research and education tools are more limited than some peers
No proprietary platform
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Axi | 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 | 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 | Fail | 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 |
Axi and Deriv share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
Axi offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Deriv's spreads from 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Axi has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Deriv requires at least $5. This makes Axi more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Axi holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, DFSA), 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: Axi 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.
Axi offers maximum leverage of 500:1, 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.
Axi charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Axi supports MetaTrader 4, DXtrade and Deriv offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade; both support DXtrade; Axi exclusively offers MetaTrader 4; Deriv exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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