Deriv vs Skilling Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Deriv and Skilling 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
Modern Swedish-founded broker with CySEC and FCA regulation, a visually polished proprietary platform, and cTrader for advanced traders - well-positioned for EU retail clients seeking a contemporary alternative to legacy MetaTrader brokers.
Our Verdict
Too close to call
Deriv and Skilling are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4.1/5. 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 0.7 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
Skilling has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for active traders
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
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
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.1/5, but Deriv requires a lower minimum deposit ($5 vs $100 for Skilling), making it more accessible for new traders.
Deriv vs Skilling: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 1999 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Birkirkara, Malta | Valletta, Malta |
| Min deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 1000:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FSC BVI VFSC LFSA MFSA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile DXtrade | MetaTrader 4 cTrader Skilling Trader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Deriv | Visit Skilling |
Deriv vs Skilling 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
Clean modern Skilling Trader platform - excellent UX for new-to-intermediate traders
cTrader available with raw spreads from 0.0 pips
CySEC and FCA regulation with EU and UK investor protections
Growing Latin American presence with local-language support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
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
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
Newer broker - less track record than IG or Pepperstone
Product range narrower than multi-asset brokers
No phone support
Deriv vs Skilling: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
0
Deriv
criteria wins
4
Skilling
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Deriv | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Deriv vs Skilling: Frequently Asked Questions
Deriv and Skilling share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
Deriv offers tighter spreads starting from 0.5 pips, compared to Skilling's spreads from 0.7 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 Skilling requires at least $100. This makes Deriv more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Skilling holds top-tier regulation (FCA, FSCA, CySEC), 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 Skilling offers up to 500:1. 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 Skilling offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader; Deriv exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade; Skilling exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader.
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Score 4.1 / 5
Score 4.1 / 5
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