Side-by-side
AvaTrade vs Deriv
AvaTrade vs Deriv — Direct comparison across cost, regulation, leverage, platforms and operating history.
Tracked byBrokerlist Editorial · Independent review teamUpdated
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.
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.
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
We may earn a commission if you open an account — it never affects our ranking or scores. How we’re paid.
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.