| Feature | Deriv | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Year Established | 1999 | 2006 |
| Regulation | Regulated by MFSA, VFSC, FSC | Regulated by ASIC, FSA, FSCA, FFAJ, Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, ISA |
| Headquarters | Malta | Dublin, Ireland |
| Trading Platforms | DTrader, MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Deriv X, SmartTrader, Binary Bot, Deriv GO | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions |
| Assets Offered | Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Synthetic Indices | Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, ETFs, Bonds, Options |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 (varies by asset and region) | Up to 1:400 (varies by asset and region) |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Trading Fees | Low spreads, no commissions on most assets | Competitive spreads, no commissions on most assets, overnight fees apply |
| Deposit Methods | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit cards, E-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), Cryptocurrency | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit cards, E-wallets (Skrill, Neteller, PayPal), Cryptocurrency |
| Withdrawal Methods | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit cards, E-wallets, Cryptocurrency | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit cards, E-wallets, Cryptocurrency |
| Execution Type | Market Execution | Market Execution |
| Spreads | Variable, starting from 0.1 pips | Variable, starting from 0.9 pips |
| Commission | None on most assets | None on most assets, except specific options contracts |
| Mobile Trading | Yes, via Deriv GO and MetaTrader apps | Yes, via AvaTradeGO and MetaTrader apps |
| Educational Resources | Limited, basic tutorials and blogs | Extensive, including video tutorials, eBooks, webinars, and market analysis |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Not available | Yes, via AvaSocial and ZuluTrade |
| Trading Signals | Available on MT5 | Available on MT4 and MT5, including DupliTrade and third-party signals |
| Customer Support | 24/7 via live chat, email | 24/5 via live chat, email, phone |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Islamic Account | Yes | Yes |
| Bonus & Promotions | Rare, limited promotions | Frequent bonuses and promotions, subject to regulations |
| Languages Supported | Multiple, including English, Spanish, French, Chinese | Multiple, including English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Chinese |
| Algo Trading | Yes, supports MT5 Expert Advisors and Binary Bot | Yes, supports MT4/MT5 Expert Advisors |
| Market Instruments | CFDs, Binary Options, Multipliers | CFDs, Options, Forex, Cryptocurrencies |
| API Access | Yes, via Binary.com API | No direct API access |
| Trust Score | High | Very High |
| Best For | Binary options and synthetic indices traders | Beginner to advanced traders looking for diverse assets and education |
| Social Trading | Lacks integrated social trading features | Offers social trading via AvaSocial and ZuluTrade |
| Charting Tools | Advanced charting with indicators on DTrader and MT5 | Extensive charting tools with technical indicators on MT4, MT5, and WebTrader |
| Scalping and Hedging | Supports both strategies | Supports both strategies |
| Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop | Market, Limit, Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop, One Cancels Other (OCO) |
| VPS Hosting | Offers VPS for MT5 users | Provides free VPS for qualifying accounts |
| Risk Management Tools | Built-in risk management on DTrader and MT5 | Advanced tools including AvaProtect for loss protection |
| Transaction Fees | No deposit fees, potential withdrawal fees based on method | No deposit fees, withdrawal fees vary by method |
| Trading Hours | 24/7 trading available for synthetic indices | 24/5 trading for most assets, some cryptocurrencies available 24/7 |
| Interest on Unused Funds | Does not offer interest on unused funds | Does not offer interest on unused funds |
| Partnership Programs | Affiliate and IB programs with competitive commissions | Multiple partnership options including affiliate and white label programs |
| Contests and Challenges | Rare, limited to specific events | Frequent trading contests and challenges |
| Account Currencies Supported | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and multiple cryptocurrencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, and more |
| Regulatory Protections | Segregated client funds, investor compensation schemes | Segregated client funds, investor compensation schemes, additional regulatory protections |
| Spread Betting | Not available | Available in the UK for tax-efficient trading |
| Direct Market Access (DMA) | No direct market access | No direct market access |
| Micro-Lot Trading | Available for forex and other assets | Available for forex and other assets |
| Automated Trading Support | Allows algorithmic trading on MT5 and Binary Bot | Allows algorithmic trading on MT4 and MT5 |
| Rebate Programs | Offers rebates for high-volume traders | Offers rebates based on trading volume |
| Security Features | Two-factor authentication, SSL encryption | Two-factor authentication, SSL encryption, negative balance protection |
| Advanced Orders | Customizable contracts on Binary Bot | Advanced order types on AvaOptions |
| Geographic Restrictions | Restricted in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, and a few others | Restricted in the US, Iran, and a few other regions |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | Typically 1-3 business days depending on the method | Typically 1-2 business days depending on the method |
| Community Support | Active community forums and resources | Active community support through AvaTrade Academy and social platforms |
| Crypto Pairs Offered | Extensive selection including BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, and more | Broad selection including BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, EOS, and more |
| Cross-Platform Compatibility | Web, desktop, and mobile compatibility | Web, desktop, and mobile compatibility |
| Account Types | Standard, Financial STP, Synthetic, and Islamic | Standard, Retail, Professional, Islamic |
| Margin Requirements | Flexible margin based on account type and asset | Tiered margin system based on asset and region |
| News Feed Integration | Limited news integration on platforms | Integrated news feed from Dow Jones and other providers |
| User Interface Customization | Highly customizable on DTrader and MT5 | Customizable on MT4, MT5, and AvaTradeGO |
| Customer Support Languages | English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Arabic, and more | Over 15 languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic |
| Onboarding Process | Simple, requires ID verification, quick account approval | Streamlined, requires ID verification, generally fast approval |
| KYC Requirements | Mandatory for withdrawals, proof of identity and address required | Mandatory for withdrawals, proof of identity and address required |
| Server Location Options | Limited, primarily in Europe | Multiple server locations globally for lower latency |
| Leverage Flexibility | Adjustable leverage on MT5 based on asset and region | Customizable leverage settings on MT4 and MT5 |
| Institutional Services | Focused on retail traders, lacks institutional-grade services | Offers institutional accounts and white-label solutions |
| Asset Expiry Options | Expiry options for binary contracts | No expiry on most CFDs except options contracts |
| Integration with Third-Party Tools | Supports integration with MT5 plugins and APIs | Extensive integrations including Trading Central and AutoChartist |
| Forex Pairs Available | Over 50 major, minor, and exotic pairs | Over 55 major, minor, and exotic pairs |
| Synthetic Indices | Exclusive synthetic indices with 24/7 trading | Does not offer synthetic indices |
| Order Execution Speed | Generally fast, optimized for retail traders | Low latency execution, optimized for both retail and professional traders |
| Trading Psychology Support | Limited resources focused on risk management | Dedicated materials on trading psychology and emotional control |
| Public API Documentation | Comprehensive API for developers | Lacks public API documentation |
| HFT (High-Frequency Trading) Support | Not explicitly supported | Not explicitly supported, but low latency helps HFT traders |
| Interest Rate CFDs | Not available | Offers interest rate CFDs in some regions |
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | Does not support PAMM/MAM accounts | Supports PAMM (Percentage Allocation Management Module) accounts |
| Trading Contest Frequency | Rare, occasional events | Frequent, with cash prizes and bonuses |
| Market Depth Information | Available on MT5 for specific accounts | Available on MT4 and MT5 |
| Trading Hours Flexibility | 24/7 for synthetic indices, 24/5 for other assets | 24/5 with some assets like cryptocurrencies available 24/7 |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for most methods | Instant for most methods, bank transfers may take longer |
| Privacy Policy Transparency | Detailed and GDPR-compliant | Detailed and GDPR-compliant |
| Public Reviews and Ratings | Generally positive, praised for low fees and platform variety | High ratings, praised for regulation and diverse asset classes |
| Cryptocurrency Staking | Not available | Not available |
| Reputation Among Professional Traders | Growing, recognized for binary options and synthetic markets | Established, trusted for forex and CFD trading |
| Integration with Trading Bots | Supports Binary Bot and MT5 Expert Advisors | Supports MT4 and MT5 Expert Advisors |
| Security of Funds | Segregated accounts, encryption protocols | Segregated accounts, encryption protocols, insurance in some regions |
| Tick Trading | Offers tick-based contracts on DTrader | Does not offer tick-based contracts |
| Cross-Asset Trading | Available, supports trading across forex, stocks, and cryptocurrencies | Available, supports trading across forex, stocks, commodities, and more |
| ETF Trading | Not available | Offers ETF CFDs |
| Market Sentiment Indicators | Limited, mainly on MT5 | Integrated market sentiment tools on WebTrader and AvaTradeGO |
| Affiliate Commission Structure | Competitive, offers CPA and revenue share | Attractive, offers CPA, revenue share, and hybrid models |
| Synthetic Leverage | Available for synthetic indices | Not available |
| Inactivity Fees | Charges after 12 months of inactivity | Charges after 3 months of inactivity |
| Custom Trading Instruments | Allows creating custom synthetic contracts | Does not support custom trading instruments |
| Managed Account Services | Lacks managed account services | Offers managed account options for higher-tier clients |
| Mobile App Features | Supports notifications, alerts, and charting on Deriv GO | Comprehensive features including alerts, charting, and news on AvaTradeGO |
| Algorithmic Strategy Builder | Binary Bot allows drag-and-drop strategy creation | No drag-and-drop builder, but supports coding in MQL4 and MQL5 |
| Contingent Orders | Limited to MT5 | Available on MT4, MT5, and AvaOptions |
Deriv offers unique synthetic indices and a low-cost trading environment, while AvaTrade excels with extensive asset classes, educational resources, and advanced trading tools. Both cater to different trader preferences with distinct strengths.