Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Deriv vs IG
Deriv vs IG: the differences
| Compare |  Deriv |  IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread betting |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | 69% |
| Platforms | Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $25 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
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Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Markets: only Deriv offers Bonds.
- Markets: only IG offers Options, Futures, Spread betting.
- Platforms: only Deriv offers Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Features: only Deriv offers Crypto.
- Features: only IG offers Fractional shares.
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.
IG
IG suits traders who want shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting under a single roof, with an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5% on uninvested balances. Share dealing runs commission-free, while the retail loss rate is 69%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Deriv | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9An inactivity fee of $25 is the weak spot, against $0 at Vantage. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
How they place
| Ranking | Deriv | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 160 of 471 | 48 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 69 of 147 | 18 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 67 of 145 | 16 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 58 of 122 | 14 of 122 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Deriv | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
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
IG
- ig.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Deriv | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Day traders, Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | IG Europe GmbH |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Deriv | IG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $25highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74%above the median | 69%below the median | 72.05% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
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
IG
Pros
- Markets list stocks, etfs and forex, so shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting sit together.
- Regulated by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, with client protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Platform choice runs Mobile trading, L2 Dealer and ProRealTime.
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money come to 69%.
- The commission-free model in commission free applies to share dealing, and it does not extend to trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options or futures.
- Accounts sit with IG Europe GmbH in Germany, so compensation stops at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
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
IG
Who it suits
- Traders who want stocks, etfs and forex reachable from the same account rather than several platforms.
- Share buyers who want dealing on a commission-free basis, since commission free covers their trades.
- EU clients who weight regulation and compensation, given Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a platform built around share dealing and crypto alone should compare CFI, whose stocks, etfs and forex is a shorter, simpler list.
- Investors priced in dollars rather than euros should weigh eToro, where the stock trade fee is $0.
- Anyone weighing only the account charge should know Vantage lists $0, so IG's €0 is not the only way to hold an account cheaply.
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.
IG
What does it cost to trade shares with IG?+
Share dealing runs on a commission-free model, with a stock trade fee of £0 and an account fee of €0. Those are the two figures that matter for holding and trading, and both sit at the floor of the site tables. Trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options and futures are quoted apart from share dealing.
Who regulates IG and is my money protected?+
The regulators are Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, and the licences listed are MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 and SIPC member 71021. Client protection in the EU is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so a claim against the firm is covered only up to that ceiling. Any balance above the cap is your own exposure.
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