Comparison of Deriv and IC Markets
| Feature | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2020 | 2007 |
| Broker Type | STP | ECN, DMA |
| Dealing | A-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | LFSA, BVIFSC, VFSC, SVGFSA, JFSC, MFSA | SFSA, ASIC, CySEC, CMA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Deriv X, cTrader | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, TradingView |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:4000 | 1:500 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $200 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, USDC | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, NZD, SGD, HKD |
| Funding Methods | 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) | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Bpay, FasaPay, Klarna, POLi, Rapidpay |
| Inactivity Fee | $25 per month after 12 months | ✖ |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | Financialcommission.org | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | €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, Metals, Energies, Cryptocurrencies | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | Deriv Review | IC Markets Review |
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
About IC Markets
IC Markets is a leading forex and CFD broker, well-known for its exceptional trading conditions and advanced technology. Established in 2007 and regulated by multiple top-tier authorities, including ASIC, CySEC, and the FSA Seychelles, IC Markets has earned a solid reputation among retail and institutional traders alike. The broker is particularly favored by scalpers, day traders, and algorithmic traders for its ultra-tight spreads, fast execution speeds, and no-dealing-desk (NDD) model. With access to powerful platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, IC Markets offers a seamless trading experience across various asset classes, including forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Its focus on transparency, competitive pricing, and exceptional liquidity ensures that traders can execute strategies efficiently. However, while IC Markets excels in trading infrastructure, it offers limited educational resources, which may not fully cater to beginners.
Pros
- Regulated by top-tier authorities (ASIC, CySEC)
- Tight spreads starting from 0.0 pips on Raw Spread accounts
- No dealing desk (NDD) model ensures transparent and fast execution
- Excellent platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader
- High liquidity and competitive pricing ideal for scalping and algorithmic trading
- Wide range of tradable assets, including cryptocurrencies
- Dedicated 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Restricted availability in some regions due to regulatory constraints
- Withdrawal fees may apply for certain methods
Deriv & IC Markets Regulation
| Feature | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Deriv (FX) Ltd, Deriv (BVI) Ltd, Deriv (V) Ltd, Deriv (SVG) LLC, Deriv Limited, Deriv Investments (Europe) Limited | Raw Trading Ltd, International Capital Markets Pty Ltd, IC Markets (EU) Ltd, IC Markets (KE) Limited |
Countries | Malaysia, British Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jersey, Malta | Seychelles, Australia, Cyprus, Kenya |
Regulators | LFSA, BVIFSC, VFSC, SVGFSA, JFSC, MFSA | SFSA, ASIC, CySEC, CMA |
Investor Protection | Financialcommission.org | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
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% | — |
ECN Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Standard |
| Min Deposit | — | $200 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.6 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:500 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
Zero Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Raw Spread |
| Min Deposit | — | $200 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0 |
| Fee | — | $7 per 1 lot |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:500 |
| 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 | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, USDC | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, NZD, SGD, HKD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | 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) | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Bpay, FasaPay, Klarna, POLi, Rapidpay |
Inactivity fee | $25 per month after 12 months | |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Deriv X, cTrader | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, TradingView |
Execution Speed | - | 40 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 57 | 61 |
Indices | 63 | 25 |
Stocks | 57 | 2175 |
Cryptocurrencies | 31 | 21 |
Bonds | 0 | 10 |
Metals | 11 | 7 |
Energies | 2 | 5 |
Soft Commodities | 0 | 8 |
ETFs | 31 | 38 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@deriv.com | support@icmarkets.com |
Phone | — | +2484671976 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | — |
Instagram | ||
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing Deriv and IC Markets, 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.
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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.