Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Deriv vs VT Markets
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Deriv |  VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5Lower | $100 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, BondsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | 74% to 89% |
| Platforms | Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader | MT4, MT5, TradingView, VT Markets App |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $25 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | ASIC, FSCA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | zero fees on deposits and withdrawals |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:500 |
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Key differences
- VT Markets scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Deriv: $5 vs $100.
- Markets: only Deriv offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only Deriv offers Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader.
- Platforms: only VT Markets offers MT4, MT5, TradingView.
- Features: only VT Markets offers Copy trading.
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.
VT Markets
VT Markets suits traders who want a single account across stocks, etfs and forex, with zero fees on deposits and withdrawals, regulation by ASIC, FSCA and SIPC and a demo account, copy trading and a mobile app. The catch: the minimum deposit is $100, and retail accounts that lose money run 74% to 89% here.
Score breakdown
| Area | Deriv | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherAn inactivity fee of $25 is the weak spot, against $0 at Vantage. | 8.5 |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.2 |
What each covers
| Markets | Deriv | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | Deriv | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | ASIC 428901 |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | FSCA 50865 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
How they place
| Ranking | Deriv | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 160 of 471 | 153 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 69 of 147 | 67 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 67 of 145 | 65 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 58 of 122 | 56 of 122 |
Pick Deriv if, pick VT Markets if
Pick Deriv if cost, minimum deposit, and markets matter most.
Pick VT Markets if offer matter most.
A third option
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $5 for Deriv and $100 for VT Markets.
ActivTrades reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Deriv | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Day traders, Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Australia |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Deriv | VT Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $100above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $25highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74%above the median | 74% to 89%above the median | 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
VT Markets
Pros
- Deposits and withdrawals carry zero fees on deposits and withdrawals.
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs, equities and crypto share one login.
- Regulation by ASIC, FSCA and SIPC, with investor protection stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $100 sits above the site median of €4.64, ranking 148 of 213 on that measure.
- Retail accounts that lose money run 74% to 89%, above the site median of 70.15%.
- Retail leverage of 1:500 magnifies losses as readily as gains, so position sizing matters more here than 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
VT Markets
Who it suits
- Traders holding several asset classes who want forex, CFDs, equities and crypto under a single login.
- Anyone who puts a regulated broker and a stated protection scheme above a low headline deposit.
- Copy traders and app traders, since demo account, copy trading and mobile app and MT4, MT5 and TradingView are both offered.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, whose minimum deposit is $0, if you want to start with a small balance.
- Vantage, asking $5 to open an account, suits a lighter starting balance.
- eToro, whose markets list of stocks, etfs and forex adds futures to the range offered 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.
VT Markets
What is the minimum deposit at VT Markets?+
The listed minimum is $100. That is well above the site median of €4.64, and it leaves the broker ranked 148 of 213 on this measure. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so smaller balances point elsewhere.
What do deposits and withdrawals cost?+
Deposits and withdrawals carry zero fees on deposits and withdrawals. That removes a steady drip of small charges from the account, which matters more over time than a single low trade price. It applies to the account rather than to a particular payment method.