Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Deriv vs FBS
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Deriv |  FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | $25 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | 66.43% |
| Platforms | Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($5), Stock trade fee ($0).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- FBS scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Inactivity fee is lower at FBS: $0 vs $25.
- Markets: only Deriv offers Crypto, Bonds.
- Markets: only FBS offers Metals.
- Platforms: only Deriv offers Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader.
- Platforms: only FBS offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Support channels: only FBS offers Email, Phone.
- Features: only Deriv offers Crypto.
- Audience: only Deriv offers Day traders.
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.
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
Score breakdown
| Area | Deriv | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9An inactivity fee of $25 is the weak spot, against $0 at Vantage. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.8 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Deriv | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Deriv | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
What we checked
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
FBS
- investing.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fbs.eu: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Deriv | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 160 of 471 | 110 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 69 of 147 | 47 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 67 of 145 | 45 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 58 of 122 | 37 of 122 |
| Brokers for beginners | 42 of 88 | 33 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Deriv | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Day traders, BeginnersCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Tradestone Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2009 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Deriv | FBS | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $5below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $25highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74%above the median | 66.43%below the median | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.5%below the median | 0.65% |
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
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in stocks, etfs and forex.
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
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
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.
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
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