Capital.com and Deriv face off over regulation breadth and platform ecosystems. The tension centers on safety, costs, and instrument breadth.
Capital.com edges Deriv on editorial score, driven by stronger multi‑jurisdictional regulation and a vastly larger instrument universe (6300 vs 200).
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Capital.com if…
Choose Capital.com if you want strong regulatory oversight and a low starting deposit.
Choose Deriv if…
Choose Deriv if you want MT4/MT5 access and a multi-platform setup.
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 0.60 pips for Capital.com, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Pros
Very low $20 minimum deposit
AI-powered pattern recognition built into proprietary platform
Zero commission on all trades
FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and MAS regulation
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Capital.com | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Capital.com rates 4.3/5 and Deriv rates 4.1/5. Capital.com 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 Capital.com's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Deriv has $5, while Capital.com requires at least $20. This makes Deriv more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Capital.com holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, MAS), 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.
Capital.com lists maximum leverage of 30:1, 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.
Capital.com supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Deriv supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Deriv has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and DXtrade.
Capital.com wins safety & regulation due to FCA/ASIC/CySEC/MAS oversight.
Deriv is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.50 pips.
Deriv offers more platform options, including MT4/MT5, DTrader, Deriv X, and SmartTrader.
Capital.com wins for beginners with low $20 deposit and user-friendly platform.
Capital.com leads with 6300 instruments, ahead of Deriv's 200.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 1999 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Birkirkara, Malta |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $20 | $5▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0.5 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 3 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPalApple PayGoogle Pay | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA | LFSA FSC BVI MFSA VFSC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile DXtrade |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
Proprietary platform only, no MT4 or MT5
Limited product range for advanced traders
No phone support
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
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