Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Deriv vs Exness
Deriv vs Exness: the differences
| Compare |  Deriv |  Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5Lower | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | $25 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Platforms | Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade App |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | FCA, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSCA |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | no deposit or withdrawal fee |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:Unlimited |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Exness scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Deriv: $5 vs $10.
- Inactivity fee is lower at Exness: $0 vs $25.
- Markets: only Deriv offers ETFs, Bonds.
- Markets: only Exness offers Metals.
- Platforms: only Deriv offers Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader.
- Platforms: only Exness offers MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal.
- Pricing model: only Exness offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Deriv
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.
Exness
Exness suits beginners and day traders who want to place stock trades without a dealing charge, with a stock trade fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0. Regulators listed are the FCA, CySEC, the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 stated for UK clients.
Score breakdown
| Area | Deriv | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9An inactivity fee of $25 is the weak spot, against $0 at Vantage. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
Pick Deriv if, pick Exness if
Pick Deriv if minimum deposit matter most.
Pick Exness if cost, offer, and inactivity fee matter most.
What each covers
| Markets | Deriv | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Deriv | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| Seychelles | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | FSCA 51024 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Sources behind this comparison
Deriv
- deriv.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokeranalysis.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxempire.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Exness
- brokerchampion.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokeranalysis.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- e-trading.cn.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- exness.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- newyorkcityservers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Deriv | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 160 of 471 | 54 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 69 of 147 | 22 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 67 of 145 | 20 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 58 of 122 | 17 of 122 |
| Brokers for beginners | 42 of 88 | 18 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Deriv | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Day traders, Beginners | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Exness (SC) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2008 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Deriv | Exness | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $10below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $25highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74%above the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Deriv
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
Exness
Pros
- A $0 stock trade fee, with the pricing model read as commission-free and low-fee.
- An inactivity fee of $0, so a dormant balance is not billed.
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge, so moving money costs nothing.
Cons
- Retail leverage is listed at 1:Unlimited, and 70.15% of retail accounts on this site lose money.
- Regulators listed include the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA alongside the FCA and CySEC, so the entity behind an account can differ by market.
- The market list, stocks, forex and cfds, stops short of ETFs and futures, so share investors wanting those should look elsewhere.
Who each suits
Deriv
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
Exness
Who it suits
- Beginners and day traders, the audiences the brand names.
- Traders who want a $0 stock trade fee and an inactivity fee of $0 on the same account.
- Desktop and mobile users who want to trade across MT4, MT5 and Exness Terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, where the minimum deposit is $0.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5.
- eToro, which also covers ETFs and futures beyond the markets listed here.
Questions about each
Deriv
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.
Exness
What does Exness charge to buy a stock?+
Share dealing runs at a stock trade fee of $0, and the pricing model is listed as commission-free and low-fee. On this site's stock trade fee ranking Exness sits at 1 of 161, so the per-trade cost sits at the cheap end of the brands compared. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either.
Does Exness charge an inactivity fee?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant account is not billed for sitting still. Exness ranks 1 of 56 on this measure, at the top of the table of brands compared. Some rivals charge for unused accounts, so this saves money for anyone who opens an account and leaves it quiet for a while.
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