| Feature | Deriv | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 (as Binary.com), rebranded to Deriv in 2020 | 1999 |
| Regulation | Regulated by MFSA, VFSC, FSC, LFSA | Regulated by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), IIROC (Canada) |
| Headquarters | Malta | London, United Kingdom |
| Trading Platforms | DTrader, DBot, MetaTrader 5, SmartTrader | Trading Station, MetaTrader 4, NinjaTrader, ZuluTrade |
| Account Types | Standard, Financial STP, Synthetic | Standard, Active Trader, Islamic Accounts |
| Assets Available | Forex, Commodities, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Synthetic Indices | Forex, Commodities, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks, Bonds |
| Number of Instruments | 100+ | 300+ |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 (varies by jurisdiction and account type) | Up to 1:400 (varies by jurisdiction and account type) |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 for most accounts |
| Spread Type | Variable, Tight | Variable, Tight |
| Average EUR/USD Spread | 0.5 – 1.2 pips (varies by account type) | 0.2 – 1.3 pips (varies by account type) |
| Commission Fees | No commissions on most accounts, STP account has commission | Commission on some account types, starting at $0.03 per 1k lot |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, E-wallets, Cryptocurrencies | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, E-wallets, Cryptocurrencies |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Fees | No fees for most methods | No fees for most methods |
| Order Execution | Market Execution | No Dealing Desk, Market Execution |
| Trading Tools | Charting Tools, Technical Indicators, Automated Trading (DBot) | Advanced Charting, Automated Trading, API Trading |
| Education Resources | Webinars, Tutorials, Blog, Knowledge Base | Webinars, Trading Guides, Market News, Research Tools |
| Customer Support | 24/7 via Live Chat, Email | 24/5 via Phone, Live Chat, Email |
| Copy Trading | Not available | Available via ZuluTrade |
| Islamic Accounts | Available | Available |
| Cryptocurrency Support | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and more |
| Regulatory Protection for EU Clients | Investor Compensation Scheme, Negative Balance Protection | Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Negative Balance Protection |
| Security Features | Two-Factor Authentication, SSL Encryption | Two-Factor Authentication, SSL Encryption |
| API Trading | Available | Available |
| Scalping and Hedging | Allowed | Allowed |
| Social Trading | Not supported | Supported through ZuluTrade |
| Mobile Trading | Available for iOS and Android | Available for iOS and Android |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop |
| Bonuses and Promotions | Occasional promotions (subject to region) | Occasional promotions (subject to region) |
| Research and Analysis Tools | Basic tools with market news and analysis | Comprehensive tools including research reports, news feeds, and analysis |
| Best For | Beginners and intermediate traders, Synthetic Indices trading | Advanced traders, Algorithmic trading, Institutional-level services |
| Algorithmic Trading | Supports automated strategies via DBot and MetaTrader 5 | Supports via MetaTrader 4, NinjaTrader, and API trading |
| Virtual Private Server (VPS) | Available for MetaTrader 5 users | Offers VPS services for active traders |
| Options Trading | Provides binary options on multiple assets | Does not offer binary options |
| Synthetic Indices | Unique offering with volatility indices not tied to real-world assets | Does not offer synthetic indices |
| Risk Disclosure and Transparency | Detailed risk disclosures and transparent fee structure | Comprehensive risk disclosures with detailed trading costs |
| Order Types Supported | Market Orders, Limit Orders, Stop Orders, Trailing Stops | Market Orders, Limit Orders, Stop Orders, OCO (One Cancels Other), Trailing Stops |
| Swap-Free Accounts | Available for Islamic traders | Available for Islamic traders |
| Fractional Trading | Supports fractional lot sizes for Forex | Supports fractional trading for Forex |
| Contract for Difference (CFD) Availability | Offers CFDs on multiple asset classes | Extensive CFD offerings including stocks, indices, and commodities |
| Funding Currency Options | Multiple currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and cryptocurrencies | Multiple currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CAD, cryptocurrencies |
| Market Research Access | Basic market analysis and news | In-depth market analysis with proprietary research reports |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | Compatible with MetaTrader 5 | Compatible with MetaTrader 4 and other platforms |
| Trading Competitions | Occasionally hosts trading competitions | Offers trading contests periodically |
| PAMM and MAM Accounts | Not supported | Provides MAM (Multi-Account Manager) accounts |
| Latency and Execution Speed | Optimized for low latency with STP accounts | Low latency execution with no dealing desk |
| Advanced Order Features | Limited advanced order options | Includes Good Till Cancelled (GTC), Good Till Date (GTD), and advanced OCO orders |
| Customer Segmentation | Focus on retail traders | Caters to retail, professional, and institutional traders |
| Third-Party Integrations | Supports MetaTrader 5 plugins and API integrations | Extensive third-party integrations including TradingView, ZuluTrade |
| Backtesting Capabilities | Available through MetaTrader 5 | Comprehensive backtesting with Strategy Tester and Python API |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for most methods | Instant to 2 business days depending on the method |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 1 to 3 business days | 1 to 5 business days |
| Partnership Programs | Offers affiliate and IB (Introducing Broker) programs | Offers affiliate, IB, and White Label programs |
| Volatility Protection Settings | Basic settings for stop loss and margin calls | Advanced settings including slippage control and order cancellation protection |
| Fee for Inactivity | Charges after 12 months of inactivity | Charges after 12 months of inactivity |
| Charting Tools | Standard charting with technical indicators | Advanced charting with multiple time frames and drawing tools |
| Currency Conversion Fees | Applicable if trading in a different currency | Applicable with competitive rates |
| Social Media Integration for Updates | Limited to blog and website updates | Active on multiple social media platforms with regular updates |
| Dedicated Account Manager | Not provided for standard accounts | Available for Active Trader accounts |
| Market Execution Policy | No re-quotes with market execution | No re-quotes with market execution |
| Data Security Measures | Encryption, 2FA, secure servers | Encryption, 2FA, and segregated client funds |
| Support for Advanced Indicators | Supports custom indicators in MetaTrader 5 | Extensive support for custom and proprietary indicators |
| Reputation and Awards | Known for synthetic indices and user-friendly platforms | Multiple awards for execution speed, customer service, and trading technology |
| Withdrawal Limits | High limits depending on account verification level | Flexible limits based on account type |
| Tax Reporting Support | Basic reporting available through platform statements | Comprehensive tax reports and downloadable statements |
| User Interface Customization | Moderately customizable interface | Highly customizable with themes and layout adjustments |
| Trade Execution Model | Straight-Through Processing (STP), Dealing Desk for specific accounts | No Dealing Desk (NDD), Straight-Through Processing (STP) |
| Stop-Out Level | Typically 50% | Ranges from 20% to 50% depending on account type |
| Automated Risk Management | Built-in margin call and stop-out protections | Advanced margin monitoring and risk management tools |
| Weekend Trading | Available for Synthetic Indices | Limited to cryptocurrencies |
| Margin Call Level | 100% | 50% to 100% depending on account type |
| Custom Indicators Support | Available in MetaTrader 5 | Available in MetaTrader 4, NinjaTrader |
| Historical Data Access | Offers historical price data for backtesting | Comprehensive historical data for multiple assets |
| Multi-Account Management | Not directly supported | Supports MAM and PAMM accounts for money managers |
| Currency Pairs Available | 50+ pairs | 70+ pairs |
| Execution Slippage Control | Limited settings available | Advanced slippage control options |
| Institutional Services | Focused on retail traders | Offers institutional-grade services including API and Prime accounts |
| Interest on Free Margin | Not provided | Not provided |
| Volume Discounts | Not available | Discounts available for high-volume traders |
| Mobile App Features | Charting, One-click trading, Notifications | Advanced charting, One-click trading, Market alerts |
| Multiple Account Support | Allows multiple trading accounts | Supports multiple accounts with consolidated management |
| Hedging Capabilities | Supported | Supported |
| Risk Warnings and Alerts | Basic risk warnings and alerts | Advanced alerts and risk management tools |
| Fixed Spread Accounts | Not available | Available on select account types |
| Non-Trading Fees | Inactivity fee after 12 months, No deposit fees | Inactivity fee, No deposit fees |
| Advanced Trading Analytics | Limited analytics available | Comprehensive analytics including sentiment and performance reports |
| Account Verification Requirements | Proof of identity and address for withdrawals | Proof of identity, address, and sometimes financial status |
| Copy Portfolio Trading | Not supported | Available via ZuluTrade |
| Swap Rates Transparency | Visible on platform | Visible on platform |
| Account Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, Cryptocurrencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CAD, CHF, Cryptocurrencies |
| Futures Contracts | Not offered | Offers limited futures trading |
| Trading Incentives | Occasional bonuses and promotions | Occasional rebates and promotions |
| Order Execution Speed | Fast execution for STP accounts | Average execution speed of 0.020 seconds |
| Price Improvement Feature | Limited availability | Offers price improvement on orders |
| Risk Appetite Profiling | Basic suitability assessments | Detailed risk profiling and questionnaires |
| Web-Based Platform | DTrader (custom web platform) | Web-based Trading Station platform |
| Leverage Customization | Adjustable based on jurisdiction and experience | Adjustable based on account type and jurisdiction |
| Overnight Financing (Swap) Rates | Competitive rates | Transparent and competitive swap rates |
| Earnings Announcements Calendar | Not available | Available for stock and index traders |
| Client Fund Segregation | Segregated accounts | Segregated accounts |
| Microlot Trading (0.01 lot) | Available | Available |
| Trading Volume Requirements for Pro Accounts | Not required | Requires high trading volume for Active Trader accounts |
| Swap-Free Instruments | Available for Islamic accounts | Available for Islamic accounts |
| Requotes Policy | No requotes | No requotes |
| Corporate Account Support | Not offered | Available |
| Spot Trading | Available for Forex and commodities | Available |
| Trading Competitions and Challenges | Occasionally offered | Offered periodically |
| Sentiment Indicators | Limited to basic indicators | Advanced sentiment indicators |
| Performance Reports | Basic performance tracking | Detailed reports with win rate, profit factors, and risk metrics |
| Client Risk Exposure | Limited disclosure | Detailed risk exposure and VAR (Value at Risk) reporting |
| Advanced Risk Control Features | Basic stop-loss and take-profit | Advanced risk control including guaranteed stops |
| Scalping Restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Negative Balance Protection | Offered | Offered |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | Not available | Available on Trading Station and MetaTrader 4 |
| Broker Assistance | Limited to customer support | Dedicated account managers for Active Traders |
Deriv and FXCM cater to different trader profiles, with Deriv excelling in beginner-friendly tools and synthetic indices, while FXCM offers advanced platforms, institutional services, and comprehensive market analysis.