Deriv vs Plus500 Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Deriv and Plus500 across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
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.
VS
LSE-listed with zero commission, intuitive proprietary platform, and negative balance protection - though limited research and no MT4.
Our Verdict
Too close to call0.1 pts apart
Deriv and Plus500 are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
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
Recommended
Deriv offers tighter spreads from 0.5 pips vs 0.6 pips for Plus500, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
Plus500 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, DXtrade, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Deriv edges out Plus500 with a higher editorial score (4.1/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
Deriv vs Plus500: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Founded | 1999 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Birkirkara, Malta | Haifa, Israel |
| Min deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 1000:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FSC BVI VFSC LFSA MFSA | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile DXtrade | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Deriv | Visit Plus500 |
Deriv vs Plus500 Forex Broker Pros & Cons
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
Pros
LSE-listed providing strong institutional credibility
Zero commission on all trades
Intuitive proprietary platform with a clean mobile app
Negative balance protection across all accounts
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer 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
Cons
No MT4 or MT5 support
Limited research tools and market analysis
US residents not accepted
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
Limited charting capabilities
No phone support
Deriv vs Plus500: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
2
Deriv
criteria wins
2
Plus500
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Deriv | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Deriv vs Plus500: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Deriv ranks higher with a score of 4.1/5 vs 4/5 for Plus500. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Deriv and Plus500 may each suit different trader profiles.
Deriv offers tighter spreads starting from 0.5 pips, compared to Plus500's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Deriv has a lower minimum deposit of $5, while Plus500 requires at least $100. This makes Deriv more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Plus500 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. 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; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Deriv offers maximum leverage of 1000:1, while Plus500 offers up to 30:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Deriv supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade and Plus500 offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; Deriv exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, DXtrade.
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