Side-by-side
AvaTrade vs Deriv
Both AvaTrade and Deriv are licensed brokers — but each is stronger in different areas. We compare spreads and commissions, regulators and licences, leverage and trading platforms.
In short. Choose AvaTrade if you are AU or EU retail and want CBI + ASIC double cover with 20 years of operating history. Choose Deriv if you trade synthetic indices (Volatility, Crash, Boom) — Deriv invented this product category.
Pros and cons
AvaTrade
Pros
- ✓Regulated in 6 jurisdictions
- ✓1,450+ CFDs
- ✓Copy trading via DupliTrade
Cons
- ✕Spread-only pricing at 0.9 pip = ~$9/lot round-turn — wider than ECN/Raw brokers at similar volume
- ✕Inactivity fee $50 per 3 months of inactivity + $100 annual admin fee after 12 months
- ✕Not available in 20 jurisdictions including US, UK, Belgium, New Zealand, India, Russia/Belarus, Lebanon, and OFAC-sanctioned countries
Deriv
Pros
- ✓$5 minimum + 25 years of operating history (since 1999 as Binary.com, rebranded Deriv in 2020)
- ✓MFSA-licensed Malta entity gives EU retail clients tier-1 MiFID investor protection
Cons
- ✕Forex is secondary to synthetic indices (their proprietary product) — CFD instrument breadth is narrower than ECN-focused brokers like Tickmill
- ✕Offshore entities (Labuan, Vanuatu, BVI) carry light regulatory oversight; not available in 17 jurisdictions including Canada, Israel, Singapore, UAE, OFAC-sanctioned countries
- ✕Broker publishes "from" spreads only — realised typical is not disclosed on trading pages
- ✕Inactivity fee up to $25 / €25 / £25 after 12 months, then every 6 months
Who should choose which
Choose AvaTrade if:
- ✓You are AU or EU retail and want CBI + ASIC double cover with 20 years of operating history
- ✓You prefer spread-only pricing with no commission math — 0.9 pip typical is stable at ~$9/lot round-turn
- ✓You're into copy trading — DupliTrade integration is the strongest of our brokers
- ✓You want 1,400+ CFDs across forex, indices, stocks, commodities in one account
- ✓You have $100+ and want a straightforward single-tier account (not Standard vs Raw)
Choose Deriv if:
- ✓You trade synthetic indices (Volatility, Crash, Boom) — Deriv invented this product category
- ✓You have $5 to start and want an EU-grade (MFSA Malta) MiFID entity at entry level
- ✓You want Deriv P2P for local-currency funding via agents and other traders
- ✓You value 25+ years of operating history (originated 1999 as Binary.com, rebranded 2020)
- ✓You fund via crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT) and want it credited to a fiat trading balance
AvaTrade vs Deriv comparison: fees, licences, platforms
Verdict at a glance
Deriv leads
- AvaTrade
- ahead on 2 dimensions
- Deriv
- ahead on 3 dimensions
Cost per lot
AvaTrade: $9.00/lot, Deriv: $7.00/lot. Lower at Deriv.
Minimum deposit
AvaTrade: $100, Deriv: $5. Smaller minimum at Deriv.
Maximum leverage
AvaTrade: 1:400, Deriv: 1:1000. Higher leverage at Deriv.
Regulator and licence
AvaTrade: ASIC, FSCA, CBI, BVI, Deriv: BVI, MFSA. Stronger licensing at AvaTrade.
Trading platforms
AvaTrade: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, DupliTrade, Deriv: MetaTrader 5, Deriv X. Wider platform choice at AvaTrade.
Frequently asked
Which is better — AvaTrade or Deriv?+
Across our 5 dimensions: AvaTrade leads in 2, Deriv in 3, ties: 0. Overall verdict: Deriv. Full breakdown below.
Which broker has lower fees?+
Cost-per-lot in our calculation: AvaTrade — $9.00, Deriv — $7.00. Lower at Deriv.
Which is better for beginners?+
Minimum deposit: AvaTrade — $100, Deriv — $5. Easier onboarding at Deriv.
What trading platforms do they offer?+
AvaTrade: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, DupliTrade. Deriv: MetaTrader 5, Deriv X.
Who regulates each broker?+
AvaTrade: ASIC, FSCA, CBI, BVI. Deriv: BVI, MFSA.
Also compared
Tracked byIndependent review teamUpdated