| Feature | Deriv | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 1989 |
| Regulation | Regulated by MFSA, VFSC, LFSA | Regulated by FCA, ASIC, MAS, IIROC, BaFin, FMA, and others |
| Headquarters | Malta | London, United Kingdom |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Platforms | Deriv MT5, Deriv X, Deriv Trader, Binary.com WebTrader | Next Generation, MetaTrader 4, Mobile Apps, Web Platform |
| Tradable Instruments | Forex, Commodities, Synthetic Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Stock Indices, Options | Forex, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Shares, ETFs, Treasuries |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 (varies by regulation) | Up to 1:500 (varies by regulation) |
| Spreads | From 0.3 pips (variable) | From 0.7 pips (variable) |
| Commissions | No commission on most accounts, commissions apply for certain account types | Commission-free on most instruments, commission on shares trading |
| Trading Fees | Low for Forex and Synthetic Indices | Competitive, varies by instrument |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Cards, E-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), Cryptocurrencies, Bank Transfer | Credit/Debit Cards, E-wallets, PayPal, Bank Transfer |
| Withdrawal Methods | Same as deposit methods, typically processed within 1–3 business days | Same as deposit methods, typically processed within 1–5 business days |
| Account Types | Standard, Financial STP, Synthetic | CFD Account, Corporate Account, Spread Betting Account (UK only) |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited virtual funds | Yes, unlimited virtual funds |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, email support | 24/5 live chat, phone, email support |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, Tutorials, Blog, Help Center | Webinars, Articles, News & Analysis, Trading Guides |
| Research Tools | Economic Calendar, Chart Analysis, News Feed | Advanced Charting, Economic Calendar, Reuters News, Pattern Recognition Tools |
| Mobile Trading | Available on iOS and Android | Available on iOS and Android |
| Order Execution Speed | Fast execution, less than 1 second | Fast execution, less than 1 second |
| Security Features | SSL Encryption, Two-Factor Authentication | SSL Encryption, Two-Factor Authentication |
| Social Trading | Not Available | Available through third-party integrations |
| Algorithmic Trading | Available via MT5 API and DTrader bot | Available via MT4 and custom API integration |
| Copy Trading | Not Available | Available via third-party platforms |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Islamic Accounts | Yes, swap-free options available | Yes, swap-free options available |
| Spread Betting | Not Available | Available for UK residents |
| Bonus and Promotions | No bonuses due to regulatory restrictions | Occasional promotions, depends on region |
| Best For | Beginners to intermediate traders focusing on forex, synthetic indices, and options | Intermediate to advanced traders focusing on a wide range of instruments |
| Algorithmic Trading Compatibility | Supports DTrader Bots, MT5 API, and Python-based automation | Supports Next Generation API, MT4 EAs, and third-party APIs |
| Charting Tools | Includes tick charts, candlestick, line, and bar charts with basic indicators | Offers 80+ indicators, drawing tools, and chart patterns with advanced customization |
| Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, Good 'Til Cancelled (GTC) | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stop, Guaranteed Stop, OCO |
| Scalping and Hedging | Permitted | Permitted |
| Volatility Indices | Offers a wide range of synthetic indices (exclusive to Deriv) | Does not offer synthetic indices |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Risk Calculator | Guaranteed Stop Loss, Trailing Stops, Price Alerts |
| Trading Hours | 24/7 for synthetic indices, standard market hours for other assets | Follows standard market hours, extended hours for select assets |
| Interest on Unused Funds | Does not offer interest on idle funds | Does not offer interest on idle funds |
| Account Currency Options | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and multiple cryptocurrencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, SGD, and others |
| Contract Types for Options | Up/Down, Touch/No Touch, In/Out, Asians, Digits | Offers Knock-Outs (in some regions), Vanilla Options |
| Leverage Control | Adjustable leverage for different assets | Adjustable leverage, varies by instrument and region |
| Execution Model | Market Maker and STP (Straight-Through Processing) | NDD (No Dealing Desk), STP, ECN (for some accounts) |
| Fee Structure Transparency | Transparent with no hidden fees, clear spreads and commissions | Transparent, detailed fee structure with market-based spreads and commissions |
| Platform Customization | Limited customization on proprietary platforms, more on MT5 | Highly customizable on Next Generation platform |
| API Access | Offers WebSockets and REST API for automated trading | Provides REST API for trading automation |
| Social Sentiment Indicators | Not Available | Available with sentiment analysis tools |
| Volume Discounts | Not provided | Offers volume-based fee reductions for high-frequency traders |
| Integration with Third-Party Tools | Compatible with TradingView for charting, limited integrations | Extensive integrations including TradingView, Reuters News, and third-party analytics |
| Supported Languages | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, and others | 15+ languages including English, German, Spanish, French, and more |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Fees | No fees on most methods, blockchain fees apply for crypto | No deposit fees, withdrawal fees apply for certain methods |
| Account Verification Requirements | KYC required for withdrawals, varies by region | KYC required for all accounts, comprehensive verification process |
| Partner and Affiliate Programs | Offers affiliate programs with revenue sharing | Offers partner programs with CPA and revenue share options |
| Supported Cryptocurrencies | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, USD Coin, Tether, and more | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple |
| Trading Signals | Provides in-house signals for limited assets | Offers trading signals via third-party integration |
| Compliance with ESMA Regulations | Complies in relevant regions | Fully compliant, offers negative balance protection in line with ESMA regulations |
| Commission on Cryptocurrency Trading | No commissions, spreads apply | Commission-based for CFDs, varies by cryptocurrency |
| Trade Execution Technology | Uses high-frequency, low-latency servers for fast execution | Utilizes Equinix data centers for ultra-low latency execution |
| IPO and New Market Listings | Does not offer IPO trading | Offers IPO and new market listings for eligible clients |
| Point Value Customization | Offers flexible lot sizes and point value customization | Provides flexible lot sizes with more standardization on point value |
| Inactivity Fees | No inactivity fees | Charges after 12 months of inactivity |
| Deposit Insurance Coverage | Depends on regulatory jurisdiction | FSCS protection up to £85,000 for UK clients |
| Commission-Free Trading | Available for most instruments | Available for most instruments, commission on share CFDs |
| Market Depth Information | Limited depth view on MT5 platform | Full Level 2 market depth on Next Generation |
| Fractional Share Trading | Not available | Available for US, UK, and EU shares |
| Speed of Withdrawals | Typically 1–3 business days | 1–5 business days depending on method |
| Custom Indicators | Allows custom indicators on MT5 | Supports custom indicators on Next Generation and MT4 |
| Interest Rates Swaps | Swaps apply for overnight positions | Swaps apply, offers swap-free accounts |
| Securities Lending for CFDs | Not available | Available, generates additional revenue for clients |
| Price Improvement Technology | Not available | Available, passes positive slippage to clients |
| Mobile Alerts and Push Notifications | Custom alerts on Deriv app | Extensive alerts on mobile apps with price, news, and economic events |
| Trade History Reporting | Standard reporting on MT5 and Deriv platforms | Advanced trade reporting with P/L analysis, tax reports |
| VPS (Virtual Private Server) Access | Available for MT5 users with high-volume trading | Available for Next Generation and MT4 clients |
| Micro Lot Trading | Available (0.01 lots) | Available (0.01 lots) |
| Slippage Protection | Standard, no guaranteed stop loss | Offers guaranteed stop loss for an additional fee |
| Auto-Close on Margin Call | Automatic closure to prevent negative balances | Automatic closure based on margin requirements |
| Access to Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading | Not available | Available for select US stocks |
| Corporate Actions Handling | Proportional adjustments for dividends and splits | Full handling of dividends, splits, and other corporate actions |
| Order Rejection Policy | Orders may be rejected during high volatility | Minimal rejections due to deep liquidity |
| User Interface Complexity | Simple and beginner-friendly | Advanced with customizable widgets |
| Swap Rate Transparency | Displayed on MT5, varies by asset | Transparent swap rates displayed in platform |
| Synthetic Account Features | Offers continuous trading with no market hours for synthetic indices | Does not offer synthetic accounts |
| Proprietary Indicators | Limited proprietary indicators | Offers proprietary indicators like client sentiment, pattern recognition |
| Event-Based Trading | Limited, no direct event trading | Advanced tools for trading on economic events |
| Cash Rebates Program | Not available | Available for high-volume traders |
| Cloud-Based Trading | No cloud-based platform | Web-based platform with cloud sync |
| FIFO (First In First Out) Compliance | Compliant for US clients | Compliant for US clients |
| Forex Pair Offering | 50+ pairs including majors, minors, exotics | 300+ pairs including majors, minors, exotics |
| Market Sentiment Tools | Limited sentiment data | Comprehensive sentiment tools with client positioning |
| Multi-Currency Support for Accounts | Supports multiple fiat and cryptocurrencies | Supports multiple fiat currencies |
| Trading Contests and Competitions | Occasionally available | Occasionally available for clients |
| Retail vs Professional Accounts | Offers retail accounts with leverage limits | Offers both retail and professional accounts with different leverage options |
| Asset Management Services | Does not provide | Does not provide |
| Guaranteed Fill Policy | No guarantee during volatile periods | Offers guaranteed fill for stop-loss orders at an additional cost |
| Multi-Monitor Support | Supported on MT5 and WebTrader | Fully supported on Next Generation platform |
| Deposit Bonus Programs | No bonus due to regulatory restrictions | No bonus due to regulatory restrictions |
| Hot Key and Shortcuts | Available on MT5 and WebTrader | Extensive shortcuts available on Next Generation |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | Available on MT5 for some assets | Advanced DOM on Next Generation and MT4 |
| Trading Psychology Tools | Not available | Available through third-party integrations |
| Partial Close Functionality | Available on MT5 | Available on both Next Generation and MT4 |
| Spread Type Options | Fixed and variable spreads available | Primarily variable spreads |
Deriv offers a beginner-friendly approach with synthetic indices and low fees, while CMC Markets provides advanced tools, a broader asset range, and extensive regulatory coverage, making it ideal for experienced traders.