Deriv review
Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Deriv suits beginners and day-traders who want a $0 stock trade fee, a $5 minimum deposit and a demo account to practise on. Most retail accounts here lose money, at 74%, so the cheap entry is not a reason to trade lightly.
Key facts
- Best for
- Beginners and day-traders who want cheap entry, a demo account and one account for several asset classes.
- Minimum deposit
- $5 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Stock trade fee
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Inactivity fee
- $25 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Markets
- Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Retail accounts that lose money
- 74% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto
- Pricing model
- Commission-free
- Audience
- Day traders, Beginners
- Official website
- deriv.com
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App Store
Pros and cons
Pros
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so no second broker is needed
- demo account, mobile app and crypto covers a demo account and a mobile app alongside Deriv Trader and Deriv MT5
- Built for beginners and day traders (day traders and beginners) rather than experienced traders only
Cons
- An inactivity fee of $25 applies to dormant balances, against $0 at Vantage
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone line or live chat listed
- Deriv reports that 74% of retail accounts lose money, above the 70.15% site median
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a demo account and a small minimum deposit before going live
- Day-traders who want stocks, etfs and forex in a single account
- Traders already comfortable with charting platforms, since Deriv MT5 is one of the platforms listed (Deriv MT5 and Deriv Trader)
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone leaving money parked for long: Vantage lists an inactivity fee of $0
- Traders who want futures in the same account: the markets at eToro, stocks, etfs and forex, include them
- Traders who want the smallest possible entry: CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0
What trading costs
The account opens on a minimum deposit of $5, and stock trades are charged at $0. That makes the visible cost of buying a share small. The line to watch is the inactivity fee of $25, which applies to a balance left unused and can outweigh a small account on its own.
Where it sits among rivals
Against the rivals here, Deriv ranks 92 of 213 on the minimum deposit, 1 of 161 on the stock trade fee and 48 of 56 on the inactivity fee. The entry requirement reads as generous and the trading price the better of the three, while the inactivity fee is the weak spot.
How Deriv compares
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 8.7
MarketScreener
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 8.7
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 8.7
8.9 vs 8.6
8.9 vs 9.2Its markets stocks, etfs and forex add futures to the list at Deriv, stocks, etfs and forex.
8.9 vs 8.7
Kitco
8.9 vs 9.1
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.0Pepperstone
Vaulted
wikifolio.com
Intellectia
Winvest
Libertex International
XM VN
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to open a Deriv account?+
The minimum deposit is $5, so the account opens on a small balance. Stock trades are charged at $0, which sits inside a commission-free model, so no commission is added per trade. Beginners and day traders are the stated audience.
Will I be charged if my account sits idle?+
Yes. Deriv charges an inactivity fee of $25 on an account left unused, which is the main cost trap here. Vantage lists an inactivity fee of $0 by comparison, so a dormant balance is cheaper elsewhere. Move money you are not using rather than leaving it parked.
Which markets can I trade on Deriv?+
A single login covers stocks, etfs and forex, so shares, forex, crypto and CFDs all sit on the same platform. Deriv Trader and Deriv MT5 are the platforms offered. The markets at eToro, stocks, etfs and forex, also include futures, which is the gap to check.
What platforms and apps does Deriv offer?+
Deriv MT5 and Deriv Trader are the platforms listed. demo account, mobile app and crypto covers a demo account and a mobile app, so practice orders and live trading sit in the same place. Beginners are a stated audience, and the demo account lets you learn the order ticket before risking money.
What support can I get?+
Support runs on help centre only, so most questions are answered by Deriv's own articles rather than by a person on the phone. For a broker that markets itself to beginners and day-traders, that is worth weighing against how much hand-holding you expect to need.
How risky is trading on Deriv?+
Deriv reports that 74% of retail accounts lose money, and the site median across brands is 70.15%. In other words, most accounts here finish down, so a low minimum deposit and commission-free pricing say nothing about the odds. Use the demo account to learn first.
Can I practise before risking money?+
A $5 minimum deposit makes a first account easy to open, and day traders and beginners is the stated audience. demo account, mobile app and crypto includes a demo account, which is the practical place to learn Deriv Trader or Deriv MT5 before putting real money in.
Sources
- brokeranalysis.com/broker-review/deriv/fees checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Pricing model, Stock trade fee
“suitable for day traders and swing traders”
- deriv.com/eu checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Markets, Platforms, Retail accounts that lose money, Support channels
“Trade multipliers on financial markets - Deriv Trader demo and mobile app”
- fxempire.com/brokers/deriv checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Inactivity fee
“If your account has no transactions for over 12 months, Deriv charges a dormant fee of up to 25 USD/EUR/GBP”
- fxleaders.com/forex-brokers/forex-brokers-review/deriv-re... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Minimum deposit
“Minimum Deposit 5 USD on Deriv standard account”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Account fee, Regulators, Investor protection.
Deriv
Beginners and day-traders who want cheap entry, a demo account and one account for several asset classes.