| Feature | Deriv | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | MFSA (Malta), LFSA (Labuan), BVIFSC (British Virgin Islands), VFSC (Vanuatu) | SEC (USA), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), among others |
| Account Types | Standard CFD, Derived (synthetics), Swap-Free (Islamic) | IBKR Lite (for casual investors), IBKR Pro (for professionals) |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary platforms (Deriv Trader, Deriv X, Deriv GO, Deriv Bot), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Trader Workstation (TWS), Client Portal, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, Impact |
| Tradable Instruments | Forex, CFDs on indices, commodities, stocks, cryptocurrencies, synthetic indices | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, bonds, mutual funds, cryptocurrencies, prediction markets |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 for forex, up to 1:100 for cryptocurrencies | Varies by asset and region; up to 1:50 for major forex pairs in the U.S. |
| Spreads & Commissions | Commission-free with spreads from 0.5 pips on forex | $0 commissions on U.S. stocks and ETFs for IBKR Lite; options at $0.65 per contract |
| Margin Rates | Not specified | Competitive rates; IBKR Pro offers rates starting at benchmark plus 1.5% |
| Research & Education | Basic blog, limited advanced resources | Extensive resources including Trader’s Academy, IBKR Campus, and PortfolioAnalyst |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support via live chat, WhatsApp; no phone support | Phone and email support; live chat for existing clients; no 24/7 support |
| Deposit & Withdrawal Methods | 28 methods including bank transfers, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies | Bank transfers, checks; limited e-wallet options |
| Regulatory Protection | Negative balance protection for Derived Accounts; €20,000 compensation via Financial Commission membership | SIPC protection up to $500,000 for U.S. clients; additional Lloyd’s of London coverage |
| Demo Accounts | Available with $10,000 virtual balance | Paper trading available |
| Mobile Trading | Deriv GO app for trading on the go | IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, Impact apps |
| Algorithmic Trading | Deriv Bot for code-free strategy creation | API integration for custom strategies |
| Copy Trading | Not specified | cTrader Copy supported |
| Inactivity Fees | $25 after 12 months of inactivity | $1 or more per withdrawal if exceeding one per month |
| Additional Features | Synthetic indices, multipliers, accumulator options | Fractional shares, 24-hour trading, prediction markets |
| Order Types | Market, limit, stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stop | Market, limit, stop, stop-limit, trailing stop, bracket orders, OCO, iceberg orders, and more |
| Execution Speed | Fast execution, particularly for synthetic indices | Ultra-low latency execution, optimized for professional traders |
| Market Access | Limited to CFDs, forex, and synthetic markets | Global market access, covering 150+ markets in 33 countries |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Available as CFDs (no direct ownership) | Available as CFDs, direct trading for certain coins |
| Options Trading | Limited options through multipliers | Extensive options trading with advanced strategies |
| Futures Trading | Not available | Extensive futures markets with direct exchange access |
| Short Selling | Not available | Available on stocks, ETFs, and other assets |
| Hedging & Scalping | Allowed | Allowed |
| Fractional Shares | Not available | Available for U.S. and European stocks |
| Interest on Idle Cash | No interest on idle cash balances | Pays interest on uninvested cash in IBKR Pro accounts |
| Automated Trading Support | Deriv Bot (simplified automation) | API support for Python, Java, C++, Excel, and FIX protocol |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop-loss, take-profit, and risk-management alerts | Advanced risk controls, including stress testing and VaR calculations |
| Tax Reporting | Limited, user must track their own tax obligations | Tax optimization tools, detailed reports for multiple countries |
| Social Trading Features | None | Available through third-party integrations |
| Regulatory Restrictions by Region | Restricted in some countries, mainly for synthetic indices | Complies with strict regulations in multiple jurisdictions |
| Multi-Currency Accounts | Single currency per account | Multi-currency accounts available |
| Institutional Trading | Not available | Institutional accounts for hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and advisors |
| ESG & Sustainable Investing | Not a focus | Impact App supports ESG-focused investing |
| Bonus & Promotions | Occasional promotions for new users | No promotional offers, focuses on low-cost trading |
| MetaTrader Support | Offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No support for MetaTrader (uses its proprietary TWS) |
| Trading Signals | No built-in signal services | Offers IBKR GlobalAnalyst, third-party signal providers |
| Custom Indicators | Available on MT5 | Available through TWS with API scripting support |
| Market Depth Data | Limited market depth on CFDs | Full market depth for stocks, options, and futures |
| News & Insights | Basic news updates on the platform | Real-time news from Reuters, Dow Jones, and other premium providers |
| Web-Based Trading | Yes, through Deriv Trader and Deriv X | Yes, through IBKR Client Portal |
| Charting Tools | Basic to moderate charting tools | Advanced charting with professional-grade indicators |
| Order Execution Transparency | Market Maker model, limited visibility into order routing | SmartRouting system optimizes execution across multiple venues |
| Exchange Connectivity | OTC markets only (no direct exchange access) | Direct market access (DMA) to global exchanges |
| Price Alerts & Notifications | Available | Available with extensive customization |
| Slippage Protection | No guaranteed stop-loss | Smart order routing reduces slippage risk |
| Trading Fees & Rebates | No rebates, commission-free structure | Tiered pricing with volume-based rebates |
| Penny Stocks Trading | Not available | Available, with direct exchange access |
| IPO Access | Not available | Available for select IPOs |
| Mutual Funds Trading | Not available | 48,000+ mutual funds available |
| Forex Trading Model | Market Maker (internal liquidity) | ECN/STP model with interbank liquidity |
| Bond Trading | Not available | Wide range of government, municipal, and corporate bonds |
| Corporate Actions Support | Limited, manual processing for corporate actions | Automated support for dividends, splits, mergers, and buybacks |
| Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP) | Not supported | Supported for eligible securities |
| Lending Program for Stocks | Not available | Stock Yield Enhancement Program (lends out shares for extra income) |
| Crypto Wallet Support | No wallet integration, only CFDs on crypto | Some direct crypto trading, but no built-in wallet |
| Margin Trading Restrictions | High leverage but limited regulatory oversight | Strict margin rules with regulatory compliance |
| Regulatory Audits & Compliance | Fewer regulatory requirements | Frequent audits, fully compliant with global regulators |
| P2P Transfers | Not available | Available for certain accounts |
| Account Security Features | 2FA, basic security measures | Advanced security with two-factor authentication, physical security keys |
| Insurance Protection | Compensation up to €20,000 via the Financial Commission | SIPC protection up to $500,000, plus additional Lloyd’s coverage |
| Fee Transparency | Clear, with commission-free trading | Transparent fee structures with detailed breakdowns |
| API Access for Developers | Limited API support | Comprehensive API support for professional traders and institutions |
| Multi-Language Support | Supports multiple languages | Extensive global language support |
| Regional Payment Methods | Supports localized deposit methods | Supports bank transfers in multiple currencies |
| Community Support & Forums | Limited | Active community and user forums for traders |
Deriv is a user-friendly platform offering synthetic indices and high leverage, while Interactive Brokers provides global market access, advanced trading tools, and institutional-grade features. Choose Deriv for simplicity and leverage or IB for professional trading and diverse assets.