| Feature | Deriv | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2015 |
| Regulation | Regulated by MFSA, VFSC, FSC | Regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) |
| Headquarters | Malta | Bahamas |
| Trading Instruments | Forex, Commodities, Synthetic Indices, Stock Indices, Cryptocurrencies | Stocks, ETFs, Options |
| Platform Types | DTrader, MT5, Binary Bot, Deriv X, SmartTrader | ZeroPro, ZeroWeb, ZeroFree, Mobile App |
| Account Types | Standard, Synthetic, Financial, Financial STP | Margin Accounts (Standard, Active, Professional) |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $200 |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 | Up to 1:6 for stocks, 1:2 for options |
| Commissions | Zero-commission on most instruments | $0 for trades over $1, commission on sub-$1 trades |
| Spreads | Floating, starts from 0.1 pips | Typically zero spread for stocks |
| Execution Speed | Fast, market execution | Direct market access (DMA) |
| Trading Fees | Low spreads, no hidden fees | ECN fees, routing fees |
| Deposit Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, E-wallets, Crypto | Bank Wire, ACH, Credit/Debit Cards |
| Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, E-wallets, Crypto | Bank Wire, ACH, Credit/Debit Cards |
| Mobile Trading | Yes, Android and iOS | Yes, Android and iOS |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited virtual funds | No |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, email support | 24/5 live chat, email, phone support |
| Educational Resources | Articles, Webinars, Video Tutorials | Webinars, Video Tutorials, Blog |
| Advanced Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, OCO (One Cancels the Other) | Market, Limit, Stop, Short Selling |
| API Access | Yes, for automated trading | Yes, with advanced trading features |
| Copy Trading | Available via MT5 | No |
| Short Selling | Limited | Yes, with locates service |
| Charting Tools | Advanced, integrated TradingView charts | Advanced, includes hotkeys and multiple indicators |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop | Stop Loss, Trailing Stop, Price Alerts |
| Security | SSL encryption, segregated funds | SSL encryption, SIPC insurance |
| Geographic Restrictions | Limited in some countries including the USA | Not available to U.S. residents |
| User Interface | User-friendly, customizable | Advanced, more suited for experienced traders |
| Trading Bots | Yes, supports automated trading through Binary Bot and APIs | No direct support, manual scripting required |
| Account Currency Options | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, Crypto | USD only |
| Social Trading | Available | No |
| Overnight Fees | Applicable on leveraged positions | Applicable on margin accounts |
| Best For | Beginners and intermediate traders | Active and professional stock traders |
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Options Trading | Vanilla options with flexible expiries | Equity options with direct routing |
| Synthetic Markets | Offers synthetic indices that simulate real-world volatility | Not available |
| Fee Transparency | Clear, displayed on the platform | Detailed breakdown with routing fees |
| Payment Processing Time | Instant for e-wallets and crypto, 1–3 days for bank transfers | 1–5 business days depending on the method |
| Tick Trading | Available with binary options | Not available |
| Leverage Customization | Allows selection of leverage per asset | Fixed leverage based on asset type |
| Slippage Control | Built-in features to minimize slippage | Direct market routing reduces slippage |
| Chart Timeframes | From tick charts to monthly | 1-minute to daily charts |
| Trading Contests | Offers trading competitions with prizes | No contests available |
| Market Analysis Tools | Integrated sentiment analysis, economic calendar | Level 2 data, time and sales |
| Corporate Actions Handling | Automatic adjustment for dividends and splits | Detailed adjustments for dividends and splits |
| Interest on Margin | No interest charged | Interest charged on borrowed margin funds |
| Stop Out Level | 50% margin level | 30% margin level |
| Scalping | Allowed | Actively supported with tools |
| Hedging | Permitted on MT5 | Permitted, with specific requirements |
| Spread Betting | Available in some regions | Not offered |
| Weekend Trading | Available on synthetic indices | Not available |
| Order Execution Types | Instant, market, pending | Market, limit, conditional orders |
| Market Depth | Limited | Full Level 2 access |
| Custom Indicators | Supports custom scripts on MT5 | Supports custom indicators on ZeroPro |
| Platform Security Features | 2FA, IP whitelisting, SSL | 2FA, encryption, hardware token option |
| Interest on Free Balance | No interest on unused funds | No interest offered |
| Rebate Programs | Offers cash rebates based on volume | Available for high-volume traders |
| Trading View Integration | Direct integration with TradingView charts | Uses in-house charting tools |
| Hotkey Support | Limited to MT5 and web platform | Extensive hotkey support in ZeroPro |
| Conditional Orders | Available (OCO, stop-limit) | Advanced conditional orders |
| Dark Pool Access | Not available | Available for larger orders |
| Day Trading Support | Supported with no PDT rules | Requires $25,000 balance for day trading |
| Order Book Access | Limited | Detailed order book views |
| Margin Call Policy | Triggered at 100% margin level | Triggered at 50% margin level |
| Localization and Languages | Supports multiple languages including Hindi, Spanish, French | English only |
| Tax Reporting | Provides basic reports | Detailed tax reporting features |
| Payout Ratios (for Options) | Up to 90% for binary options | Based on market conditions |
| Community and Forums | Active community forums | No official community forum |
| Backtesting Features | Available on MT5 for automated strategies | Limited, manual testing required |
| Auto-Close Positions | Configurable with take-profit and stop-loss settings | Available with conditional orders |
| Time in Force Options | Day, GTC (Good 'Til Canceled), IOC (Immediate or Cancel) | Day, GTC, IOC, FOK (Fill or Kill) |
| Fractional Shares Trading | Not supported | Supported |
| Regional Limitations | Available in most countries except a few restricted regions | Not available for U.S. residents |
| High-Frequency Trading (HFT) | Not optimized for HFT | Optimized for HFT with direct market access |
| Algo Trading Support | API and MT5 allow automated trading strategies | API access for custom algorithmic trading |
| Inactivity Fees | No inactivity fees | $50 after 12 months of inactivity |
| Micro Lot Trading | Available (0.01 lots) | Not available |
| Trailing Stops | Supported on MT5 | Available with advanced order types |
| Cash Account Option | Only margin accounts available | Offers cash accounts without margin |
| Trade Volume Requirements | No minimum volume requirements | Minimum volume required for rebates |
| Price Alerts | Customizable price alerts | Push notifications for price alerts |
| Cross-Asset Trading | Supports cross-asset strategies (e.g., forex and crypto) | Limited to stocks, ETFs, and options |
| Tick Charts | Available for binary options | Not available |
| Futures Trading | Not supported | No |
| Transaction Costs Visibility | Clear breakdown on the trading platform | Displayed before trade execution |
| Cash Back Rewards | Available through loyalty programs | High-volume traders only |
| Scalability | Scalable platforms with API integration | High-frequency and large volume support |
| Smart Order Routing | Not available | Available to optimize order execution |
| Partial Close Functionality | Supported | Available for multi-leg orders |
| Grid Trading Support | Available via MT5 | Manual only, no direct grid trading tools |
| Portfolio Margin | Not available | Available for professional accounts |
| Trading Competitions | Offers tournaments with rewards | No trading competitions available |
| Execution Quality | STP (Straight Through Processing) and ECN execution | Direct market access with no payment for order flow |
| Virtual Trading Environment | Demo account with full market access | No virtual trading environment available |
| Technical Analysis Tools | Over 50 indicators on MT5 | Advanced with VWAP, RSI, MACD, Fibonacci |
| Market Maker Status | Not a market maker | Not a market maker |
| Spread Types | Fixed and floating spreads | Typically zero spreads with ECN fee |
| Auto-Chartist Integration | Supported on MT5 | Not available |
| Ladder Trading | Available for options | Not available |
| Custom Stop-Loss Settings | Flexible with adjustable offsets | Supports complex stop-loss settings |
| Multi-Currency Accounts | Available | USD only |
| Order Matching Engine | Uses STP and ECN protocols | Direct routing to exchanges |
| Chart Export Options | Export as image or CSV | Export to PDF, CSV, and image |
| News Feed Integration | Economic calendar and news feed available | Benzinga news feed for real-time updates |
| Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading | Not available | Available |
| Volume Analysis | Available with indicators | Advanced volume profile analysis |
| Historical Data Access | Available for MT5 users | Advanced historical data with tick-by-tick information |
| Leverage on Cryptocurrencies | Up to 1:100 | Not available |
| Leverage on Indices | Up to 1:100 | Not available |
| Hotlist Scanners | Not available | Available for pre-market, post-market, and real-time scans |
| Integration with Other Platforms | API allows integration with third-party platforms | Integrates with DAS Trader Pro |
| Cross-Margining | Not supported | Supported on professional accounts |
| IPO Trading | Not available | No |
| Dividend Payments | Paid on relevant assets | Passed through on dividend-paying stocks |
| Recurring Investments | Not supported | Not available |
| Chart Patterns Recognition | Limited to MT5 add-ons | Advanced recognition with alerts |
| IPO and SPAC Access | Not available | Not available |
| Income Statements and Balance Sheets | Limited to web-based financial summaries | Detailed financials with integrated reports |
| Heatmap Analysis | Not available | Available for stocks and sectors |
| Industry Exposure Analysis | Limited | Detailed exposure analysis based on holdings |
| Social Sentiment Analysis | Available on specific assets | Not available |
| AI Trading Bots | Customizable via API | No AI support, manual programming only |
| Sector Performance Analysis | Limited | Detailed sector performance comparison |
| Cash Transfer Between Accounts | Instant for internal transfers | 1–3 days depending on method |
| Currency Conversion Fees | Applicable based on account type | Fixed fee per conversion |
Deriv offers diverse assets, low fees, and user-friendly platforms ideal for beginners, while TradeZero caters to advanced stock traders with direct market access and detailed analytics.