| Feature | Deriv | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 (as Binary.com, rebranded to Deriv in 2020) | 2014 |
| Regulation | MFSA, VFSC, FSC (BVI), FSA (Seychelles), Labuan FSA | FCA (UK), CySEC, FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles) |
| Trading Platforms | DTrader, DBot, Deriv MT5 (MetaTrader 5), Deriv X | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Tickmill Web Trader |
| Asset Classes | Forex, Commodities, Indices, Synthetic Indices, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, Commodities, Indices, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 (depending on regulation) | Up to 1:500 (depending on regulation) |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 (varies by method) | $100 (varies by region and account type) |
| Spread Type | Variable spreads, typically starting from 0.5 pips | Variable spreads, starting from 0.0 pips (Pro and VIP accounts) |
| Commission | No commission on most accounts, spreads only | Commission on Pro and VIP accounts, starting from $2 per lot |
| Execution Type | Market Execution | Market Execution |
| Account Types | Standard, Financial STP, Synthetic | Classic, Pro, VIP |
| Islamic Accounts | Available | Available |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited | Yes, unlimited |
| Deposit Methods | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards, e-wallets, crypto | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards, e-wallets |
| Withdrawal Methods | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards, e-wallets, crypto | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards, e-wallets |
| Processing Time for Withdrawals | 1–3 business days | 1–2 business days |
| Trading Instruments | 100+ including unique Synthetic Indices | 80+ including Forex, CFDs, and Bonds |
| Education and Research | Limited educational content, basic market analysis | Comprehensive education, webinars, market analysis |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, email | 24/5 live chat, email, phone |
| Regulated Regions | Limited regulation in the EU and the US | Regulated in the EU, UK, and multiple regions |
| Copy Trading | Not available | Available via MetaTrader platforms |
| Trading Bots and Automation | DBot for automated trading | Supports EAs on MetaTrader |
| Affiliate Program | Yes, attractive commission structure | Yes, with various commission plans |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Security of Funds | Segregated accounts, SSL encryption | Segregated accounts, SSL encryption |
| Trust Score | Medium, due to offshore regulations | High, due to multiple top-tier regulations |
| Best For | Beginners, synthetic indices traders | Experienced traders, ECN and scalping strategies |
| Trading Styles Supported | Scalping, hedging, day trading, swing trading | Scalping, hedging, day trading, swing trading |
| Order Types | Market, limit, stop, trailing stop | Market, limit, stop, trailing stop |
| Mobile Trading | Native apps for iOS and Android | MetaTrader mobile apps for iOS and Android |
| Charting Tools | Advanced with indicators, drawing tools, multi-chart layouts | Comprehensive with indicators, drawing tools, multi-timeframe |
| Algorithmic Trading | Supports DMT5 API, DBot for automated strategies | Supports MQL4, MQL5 for Expert Advisors (EAs) |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop-loss, take-profit, margin call alerts | Stop-loss, take-profit, margin call alerts |
| Volatility Indices | Offers unique synthetic indices (24/7) | Does not offer synthetic indices |
| Social Trading Features | Limited to community forums | Myfxbook, ZuluTrade integration for copy trading |
| Contests and Promotions | Occasional trading contests | Frequent contests and rebate programs |
| Analytics Tools | Basic analytics on Deriv platforms | Advanced analytics on MetaTrader |
| Transaction Fees | Zero deposit fees, withdrawal fees vary by method | Zero deposit fees, low withdrawal fees |
| Account Currency Options | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, cryptocurrencies | USD, EUR, GBP, PLN, and more |
| Crypto Trading Pairs | Extensive selection including BTC, ETH, LTC, and more | Limited selection of crypto pairs |
| Staking and Interest | Offers staking options for crypto holdings | Does not offer staking |
| Market News Integration | Basic market news | Integrated news on MetaTrader |
| Custom Indicators | Limited support for custom indicators | Supports custom indicators on MT4 and MT5 |
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | Not available | Available for fund managers |
| API Access | Proprietary API for trading automation | MetaAPI for advanced users |
| Spreads on Major Pairs (EUR/USD) | Typically 0.5–1.0 pips | 0.0–0.2 pips on Pro accounts |
| Trading Hours | 24/7 for synthetic indices, 24/5 for other assets | 24/5 for all assets |
| Trading Competitions | Offers internal competitions occasionally | Regular trading competitions with cash prizes |
| Affiliate Dashboard | User-friendly with detailed analytics | Comprehensive with multi-tier options |
| Client Fund Security | Insurance policy under some regulators | Investor Compensation Fund for EU clients |
| Deposit Bonus | Occasional promotions | Offers deposit bonuses regularly |
| VPS Hosting for Traders | Not directly available | Free VPS for high-volume traders |
| Interest on Unused Funds | Does not offer interest | Does not offer interest |
| CTrader Platform | Not available | Not available |
| Order Execution Speed | Fast, optimized for retail traders | Ultra-fast with an average of 0.20 seconds |
| Slippage Control | Minimal slippage reported | Low slippage with ECN accounts |
| Funding Methods for Cryptocurrencies | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether | Bitcoin, Ethereum, limited to major cryptos |
| Regional Restrictions | Does not accept clients from the US, Canada, certain EU regions | Does not accept clients from the US, some restricted countries |
| User Experience and Interface | Intuitive, clean, beginner-friendly | Professional, feature-rich |
| Maximum Trade Size | Up to 30 standard lots per trade | Up to 100 standard lots per trade |
| Minimum Trade Size | 0.01 micro lot | 0.01 micro lot |
| Stop Out Level | 50% for most accounts | 30% for most accounts |
| Margin Call Level | 100% | 100% |
| Hedging Margin Requirement | Reduced margin for hedged positions | Reduced margin for hedged positions |
| Slippage Protection | Offers some slippage protection on volatile markets | Advanced slippage control for ECN accounts |
| Futures Trading | Offers synthetic futures | Offers standard futures contracts |
| Corporate and Institutional Accounts | Limited support for institutional clients | Comprehensive support for institutional accounts |
| Tick Charts | Available on DMT5 | Available on MetaTrader |
| Price Alerts and Notifications | Available via mobile and web | Available via MetaTrader and email |
| Trailing Stops | Supported | Supported |
| Scalping Restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Hedging Restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Data Fees | No data fees | No data fees |
| Requote Policy | No requotes | No requotes |
| Market Depth | Limited to DMT5 | Available on MT5 and Pro accounts |
| Tick History and Data Access | Provides historical tick data | Limited access to tick data |
| Backtesting Capabilities | Available with DBot and DMT5 | Comprehensive on MetaTrader |
| Custom Scripts Support | Supports DMT5 scripts | Supports MQL4 and MQL5 scripts |
| Market Sentiment Indicators | Basic sentiment tools | Advanced sentiment tools on MT5 |
| Custom Leverage Settings | Adjustable based on asset and account | Adjustable based on asset and account |
| Cashback and Rebates | Occasionally available | Regular rebate programs |
| Security Protocols | 2FA, SSL encryption, segregated funds | 2FA, SSL encryption, segregated funds |
| Inactivity Fees | No inactivity fees | Inactivity fee applies after 12 months |
| Currency Conversion Fees | Conversion fees apply for non-base currency transactions | Conversion fees apply for non-base currency transactions |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | Supported on DMT5 | Fully supported on MT4 and MT5 |
| One-Click Trading | Available on all platforms | Available on all platforms |
| Execution Model | STP and Market Maker | ECN and STP |
| Price Improvement | Offers price improvement on some orders | Advanced price improvement for ECN |
| Advanced Chart Types | Heikin Ashi, Renko, and Range bars on DMT5 | Heikin Ashi, Renko, and Range bars on MetaTrader |
| Micro Accounts | Available | Available |
| Multi-Account Management | Limited support | MAM and PAMM accounts available |
| Latency and Execution Speed | Optimized for retail traders | Ultra-low latency with fiber optic connections |
| Server Locations | Multiple global locations | Multiple global locations, including London and New York |
| Leverage on Cryptos | Up to 1:50 | Up to 1:20 |
| Order Duration Types | GTC, IOC, FOK | GTC, IOC, FOK |
| Volatility Protection Settings | Limited options | Advanced volatility protection tools |
| Deposit Protection Limit | Varies by regulator | Up to €20,000 (EU clients) |
| Referral Programs | Comprehensive affiliate and IB programs | Comprehensive affiliate and IB programs |
| Advanced Order Types | OCO (One Cancels the Other) available | OCO, and other advanced types available |
| Competition with Prizes | Offers trading competitions with cash prizes | Regular contests with substantial cash prizes |
| Research Reports | Limited market insights | Extensive research reports and analysis |
| Cloud-Based Trading | No dedicated cloud-based trading | VPS integration for cloud trading |
| Multi-Language Support | 20+ languages | 15+ languages |
| User Feedback and Ratings | Mixed to positive, appreciated for simplicity | Highly positive, praised for execution speed and spreads |
| Integration with TradingView | Limited integration | Supported via MetaTrader bridge |
| Customer Verification Process | Simple and fast KYC process | Comprehensive KYC with proof of address and ID |
Deriv is ideal for beginners with lower deposits and unique synthetic indices, while Tickmill suits experienced traders with low spreads and advanced tools.