Comparison of ActivTrades and Deriv
| Feature | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2020 |
| Broker Type | MM | STP |
| Dealing | B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | LFSA, BVIFSC, VFSC, SVGFSA, JFSC, MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Deriv X, cTrader |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:4000 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, USDC |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Trustly, Ngan Luong, ZingPay, DragonPhoenix, Help2pay, PayTrust88, Volet.com, 1foryou, AstroPay, Beyonic, OnlineNaira, Paylivre, Boleto, Airtm, SticPay, Jeton, PaySafeCard, WebMoney, Neteller, Skrill, Perfect Money, FasaPay, Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), Litecoin (LTC), USD Coin (USDC), Ethereum (ETH) |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $25 per month after 12 months |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | Financialcommission.org |
| Protection Size | £85 000 | €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✖ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✖ |
| Copy Trading | ✖ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✖ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Metals, Energies, Cryptocurrencies |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Deriv Review |
About ActivTrades
ActivTrades is a well-regarded Forex and CFD broker known for its robust trading platforms, extensive range of financial instruments, and strong regulatory compliance. Established in 2001, ActivTrades serves clients globally, offering access to major and minor currency pairs, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more. The broker provides multiple trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as its proprietary ActivTrader platform, catering to both desktop and mobile users. ActivTrades is regulated by several top-tier financial authorities, ensuring a secure and trustworthy trading environment. Additionally, the broker offers a variety of account types to accommodate different trading styles and experience levels, complemented by comprehensive educational resources and responsive customer support. With competitive spreads, flexible leverage options, and efficient withdrawal processes, ActivTrades stands out as a reliable choice for both novice and experienced Forex traders.
Pros
- Regulated by multiple reputable financial authorities
- Offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the proprietary ActivTrader platform
- Provides access to Forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more
- Extensive tutorials, webinars, and market analysis tools available
- Offers tight spreads across numerous trading instruments
- Multilingual support available through various channels
Cons
- Maximum leverage available might be lower than what some experienced traders seek
- The proprietary ActivTrader platform offers fewer customization options
About Deriv
Deriv is a prominent online trading platform that has evolved from its origins as Binary.com to offer a diverse range of trading instruments suitable for both novice and experienced traders. Renowned for its user-friendly interfaces, including the proprietary Deriv X platform alongside the widely acclaimed MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Deriv provides flexible trading solutions tailored to various trading strategies. The broker offers an extensive array of financial instruments, including Forex, CFDs, cryptocurrencies, synthetic indices, and commodities, ensuring ample opportunities for diversification. With competitive spreads, high leverage options up to 1:4000 (subject to regulatory restrictions), and a low minimum deposit requirement, Deriv appeals to a broad spectrum of traders. Additionally, Deriv emphasizes security and transparency by being regulated by reputable authorities such as the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and offering segregated accounts to safeguard clients' funds. Comprehensive customer support is available 24/7 through multiple channels, enhancing the overall trading experience. While Deriv excels in providing advanced trading tools and a wide range of instruments, it may have some limitations in terms of educational resources and platform availability in certain regions.
Pros
- Offers multiple platforms
- Provides access to a variety of financial instruments
- Features competitive spreads and leverage options
- Requires a low minimum deposit
- Regulated by reputable authorities
- Supports automated trading through the DBot platform and Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT5, facilitating algorithmic and high-frequency trading strategies
- Provides intuitive and easy-to-navigate trading platforms, enhancing the overall trading experience
Cons
- Lacks comprehensive educational materials
- Absence of fixed spread account options
ActivTrades & Deriv Regulation
| Feature | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
Companies | ActivTrades Corp, ActivTrades PLC, ActivMarkets - Empresa de Investimento, S.A., ActivTrades Europe SA, ACTIVTRADES CORRETORA LTDA | Deriv (FX) Ltd, Deriv (BVI) Ltd, Deriv (V) Ltd, Deriv (SVG) LLC, Deriv Limited, Deriv Investments (Europe) Limited |
Countries | Bahamas, United Kingdom, Portugal, Luxembourg, Brazil | Malaysia, British Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jersey, Malta |
Regulators | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | LFSA, BVIFSC, VFSC, SVGFSA, JFSC, MFSA |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | Financialcommission.org |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Pro | — |
| Min Deposit | $1 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.5 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | — |
| Stop Out | 30% | — |
| Margin Call | 100% | — |
STP Account | ||
| Account Name | — | CFD |
| Min Deposit | — | $1 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.5 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:4000 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
Crypto Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Crypto |
| Min Deposit | — | $1 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.5 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:1000 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Binary Options | ||
| Account | — | Options |
| Minimum Deposit | — | $1 |
| Option Types | — | Call/Put, Turbos, Rise/Fall, Higher/Lower, Touch/No Touch, Matches/Differs, Even/Odd, Over/Under |
| Minimum Stake | — | $0.35 |
| Payout | — | from 68% to 100% |
| Expiration Time | — | from 60 seconds to 365 days |
Funding and Fees
| Feature | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, USDC |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Trustly, Ngan Luong, ZingPay, DragonPhoenix, Help2pay, PayTrust88, Volet.com, 1foryou, AstroPay, Beyonic, OnlineNaira, Paylivre, Boleto, Airtm, SticPay, Jeton, PaySafeCard, WebMoney, Neteller, Skrill, Perfect Money, FasaPay, Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), Litecoin (LTC), USD Coin (USDC), Ethereum (ETH) |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $25 per month after 12 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Deriv X, cTrader |
Execution Speed | 5 ms | - |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 49 | 57 |
Indices | 31 | 63 |
Stocks | 1035 | 57 |
Cryptocurrencies | 12 | 31 |
Bonds | 6 | 0 |
Metals | 3 | 11 |
Energies | 7 | 2 |
Soft Commodities | 9 | 0 |
ETFs | 75 | 31 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | ActivTrades | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
Email | englishdesk@activtrades.bs | support@deriv.com |
Phone | +12426035200 | — |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing ActivTrades and Deriv, Deriv comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
More Comparisons
Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.