| Feature | Deriv | HF Markets (HotForex) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.3/10 | 7.55/10 |
| Regulation | MFSA (Malta), LFSA (Labuan), VFSC (Vanuatu), BVIFSC (British Virgin Islands), FSC (Mauritius), SVGFSA (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), DFSA (Dubai), FSA (Seychelles), CMA (Kenya), SVGFSA (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Trading Platforms | Deriv MT5, Deriv X, DTrader, SmartTrader, DBot | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), HotForex FIX/API |
| Maximum Leverage | Up to 1:1000 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Trading Instruments | Forex, CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, synthetic indices | Forex, CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, metals, energies, ETFs, bonds, physical stocks |
| Account Types | Real account, demo account | Demo, Micro, Premium, Zero Spread, Auto, PAMM (Premium), HFcopy, Islamic account |
| Spreads | Fixed spreads starting from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD | Variable spreads starting from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD |
| Commission | No commission on standard accounts | Commissions apply on certain accounts (e.g., $3 per side on USD accounts) |
| Deposit & Withdrawal Methods | Bank wire, credit/debit cards, e-wallets (Neteller, Skrill, WebMoney, Perfect Money, FasaPay), cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, USD Coin), paysafecard, AdvCash, AstroPay | Bank wire, credit/debit cards, e-wallets (Neteller, Skrill, WebMoney, Perfect Money, FasaPay), cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Tether) |
| Deposit & Withdrawal Fees | No fees | No fees |
| Inactivity Fee | $25 | $25 |
| Trading Features | Hedging, swaps, trading contests, automated trading, bonus offers, free education | Hedging, swaps, trading contests, automated trading, bonus offers, free education |
| Educational Resources | Articles, videos, demo account | Webinars, articles, videos, demo account |
| Customer Support | 24/7 via email and live chat | 24/5 via email, phone, and live chat |
| Promotions & Bonuses | Affiliate program with three types: monthly income share, options probability payments, referral bonuses | Super Charged bonus (e.g., $2 per lot for deposits from $250, up to $8,000), credit bonus to increase leverage, affiliate and IB programs, regional representative opportunities, white label partnerships |
| Order Execution Type | Market execution, instant execution | Market execution, instant execution |
| Scalping Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Stop-Out Level | 50% | 10% - 20% (depending on account type) |
| Margin Call Level | 100% | 50% |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Hours | 24/7 for synthetic indices, market hours for other assets | 24/5 for forex, standard market hours for other assets |
| Available Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD | USD, EUR, GBP, NGN (Nigeria only) |
| Copy Trading | No built-in copy trading, but possible via MT5 third-party tools | Yes, HFcopy Account for copy trading |
| Automated Trading (Bots & API) | Available (DBot, Deriv API) | Yes (MT4/MT5 Expert Advisors, FIX API) |
| Advanced Order Types | Market orders, limit orders, stop orders, trailing stop, take profit, stop loss | Market orders, limit orders, stop orders, trailing stop, take profit, stop loss |
| Lot Size Range | 0.01 (micro lot) to 100 lots | 0.01 (micro lot) to 60 lots |
| Swap-Free (Islamic) Accounts | No dedicated Islamic account, but swaps are not applicable for synthetic indices | Yes, Islamic account available |
| Execution Speed | Fast execution, under 1 second | Fast execution, under 1 second |
| Trading Contests | Yes, available periodically | Yes, regular trading contests with cash prizes |
| VIP or Loyalty Programs | No VIP program, but has an affiliate program | Yes, HotForex Loyalty Program with rewards and cashback |
| Partnership Programs | Affiliate program, Introducing Broker (IB) program | Affiliate program, IB program, regional representative, white label partnership |
| Security Measures | Two-factor authentication (2FA), SSL encryption, segregated client funds | Two-factor authentication (2FA), SSL encryption, segregated client funds |
| Company Foundation Year | 1999 (Binary.com, rebranded to Deriv in 2020) | 2010 |
| Countries Accepted | Worldwide, except restricted regions (e.g., USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel) | Worldwide, except restricted regions (e.g., USA, Canada, North Korea, Iran) |
| Mobile Trading App | Yes (Deriv GO) | Yes (HF App for mobile trading) |
| Social Trading Integration | No | Yes, via HFcopy |
| Technical Analysis Tools | Built-in tools on DTrader and MT5 | Advanced charting tools on MT4, MT5 |
| Economic Calendar & Market News | Yes | Yes |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | Usually within 1 business day | 24 hours for e-wallets, 2-5 business days for bank withdrawals |
| Spread Type | Fixed and variable spreads depending on the instrument | Only variable spreads |
| Tick Trading | Available on SmartTrader for binary options | Not available |
| Volatility Index Trading | Offers synthetic indices like Volatility 75, Crash 1000, Boom 500 | Does not offer synthetic indices |
| Customizable Indicators | Supports custom indicators on MT5 | Supports custom indicators on MT4 and MT5 |
| Trailing Stop Flexibility | Can be applied on all trading platforms | Available but varies based on account type |
| Depth of Market (DOM) Data | Limited availability | Available on MT5 for certain accounts |
| Interest on Unused Funds | No interest on idle balances | No interest on idle balances |
| Profit Withdrawal Restrictions | No restrictions on profit withdrawals | No restrictions on profit withdrawals |
| KYC (Know Your Customer) Requirements | Requires identity verification before withdrawals | Requires identity verification before withdrawals |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for e-wallets and crypto, bank transfers take longer | Instant for most e-wallets, 1-5 business days for bank transfers |
| Leverage for Cryptocurrencies | Up to 1:50 | Up to 1:50 |
| Leverage for Indices | Up to 1:100 | Up to 1:200 |
| Leverage for Commodities | Up to 1:100 | Up to 1:500 |
| Execution Type for Synthetic Indices | Market execution only | Not applicable |
| Available Lot Sizes for Synthetic Indices | Micro to standard lot sizes depending on index type | Not applicable |
| Profit Payout Ratio (For Binary Options) | Varies between 80%-90% depending on market conditions | Not applicable |
| Rolling Expiry on Contracts | Available on selected instruments | Not applicable |
| Direct Bank Transfers | Supports local bank transfer options in some regions | Supports local bank transfers in multiple regions |
| Market Sentiment Tools | Offers trader sentiment indicators | Offers sentiment analysis via third-party providers |
| Withdrawal Currency Options | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, cryptocurrencies | USD, EUR, GBP, NGN (Nigeria) |
| Timeframe Options for Charts | Supports multiple timeframes from tick charts to monthly | Supports multiple timeframes from M1 to MN1 |
| Custom Trading Algorithms | Supported through Deriv API and MT5 | Supported through Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT4 and MT5 |
| Server Location & Speed | High-speed servers with global distribution | Multiple servers across regions for fast execution |
| Trade Execution Transparency | Provides real-time trade confirmation | Offers real-time order execution tracking |
| Requotes on Orders | Minimal requotes due to market execution | Possible requotes depending on liquidity and execution type |
| Slippage Handling | Slippage can occur during high volatility | Slippage can occur but is minimized on premium accounts |
| News Trading Feasibility | Allows high-impact news trading | Allows news trading but execution speed may vary |
| Trading Session Availability | 24/7 for synthetic indices, market hours for other instruments | Forex and CFDs follow standard market hours |
| Real-Time Trade Notifications | Provides push notifications on mobile and web platforms | Sends notifications through MT4/MT5 and mobile app |
| Multi-Account Management (MAM/PAMM) | No built-in MAM/PAMM system | Offers MAM and PAMM accounts for money managers |
| Affiliate Commission Structure | Offers multiple commission tiers for referrals | Provides volume-based rebates for affiliates |
| Personalized Account Managers | Available for high-tier affiliates | Available for premium and VIP clients |
| Market Making vs. ECN Model | Operates as a market maker and STP broker | Operates as a hybrid model with both market making and ECN accounts |
| Slippage Policy | Slippage may occur but is minimized with advanced trade execution | Provides slippage control on certain account types |
| High-Frequency Trading (HFT) Support | Supports algorithmic and HFT strategies | Supports HFT on certain account types |
| Trading Limits per Trade | Varies depending on asset type and account settings | Varies depending on liquidity and account type |
Deriv excels in synthetic indices, automated trading, and flexible platforms, while HF Markets (HotForex) offers diverse account types, high leverage, and copy trading. Both provide strong regulation, tight spreads, and competitive trading conditions.