| Feature | Deriv | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| Regulation | MFSA, VFSC, Labuan FSA, FSC Mauritius | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, SCB, CMA |
| Headquarters | Malta | Australia |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 (Recommended $200) |
| Trading Platforms | Deriv Trader, DMT5 (MetaTrader 5), DTrader, DBot, SmartTrader, Binary WebTrader | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader |
| Account Types | Standard, Financial STP, Synthetic Indices, Options | Standard, Razor, Swap-Free, Active Trader |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Spreads | Variable, starting from 0.5 pips | Razor Account: 0.0 pips, Standard Account: from 1.0 pip |
| Commission Fees | No commissions on most accounts | Razor Account: $3.5 per lot per side |
| Instruments | Forex, Commodities, Synthetic Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Options | Forex, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Shares, ETFs |
| Order Execution | Market Execution | ECN/STP Execution |
| Education and Research | Basic tutorials, blog articles, market analysis | Advanced tutorials, webinars, market analysis, trading guides |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited | Yes, unlimited |
| Copy Trading | Not available | Yes, via Myfxbook and MetaTrader signals |
| Automated Trading | DBot (drag-and-drop), DMT5 with EAs | cAlgo for cTrader, EAs for MetaTrader |
| Payment Methods | Bank transfers, Credit/Debit cards, E-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), Cryptocurrencies | Bank transfers, Credit/Debit cards, E-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), Cryptocurrencies |
| Withdrawal Fees | No fees for most methods | No fees for most methods |
| Customer Support | 24/7 via live chat, email | 24/5 via live chat, email, phone |
| Security of Funds | Segregated accounts, negative balance protection | Segregated accounts, negative balance protection |
| Mobile App | Yes, Deriv GO | Yes, MT4, MT5, cTrader apps |
| Trading Fees | Low to medium | Low on Razor, medium on Standard |
| Swap-Free Accounts | Yes, for Islamic traders | Yes, for Islamic traders |
| Regulatory Protection | Moderate, offshore jurisdictions | High, top-tier regulations |
| Best For | Synthetic indices trading, low-budget traders | Scalpers, ECN traders, advanced users |
| Bonus Programs | Occasionally, but limited | No bonus programs due to regulatory restrictions |
| User Interface | Simplified, user-friendly | Professional, advanced features |
| Social Trading | No | Yes, via third-party platforms |
| Execution Speed | Fast | Ultra-fast (ECN execution) |
| Spreads on Major Pairs (EUR/USD) | From 0.5 pips | From 0.0 pips (Razor) |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes, multiple pairs | Yes, multiple pairs |
| Unique Features | Synthetic indices, DBot, low minimum deposit | Razor account, advanced ECN execution, cTrader platform |
| VPS Hosting | Available for DMT5 (MetaTrader 5) users | Free VPS for Razor accounts with a minimum balance or monthly trade volume |
| Algo Trading Compatibility | Supports MQL5 for DMT5, DBot for drag-and-drop automation | Supports cAlgo for cTrader and MQL4/MQL5 for MetaTrader platforms |
| Market Data Fees | Free | Free for most markets; some charges may apply for premium data feeds |
| Advanced Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, and advanced options contracts | Market, Limit, Stop, Stop-Loss, Take-Profit, Trailing Stops |
| Volatility Indices | Yes, exclusive Synthetic Indices available 24/7 | No |
| Trading Hours | 24/7 for synthetic indices, standard market hours for other assets | 24/5 for most assets, crypto available 24/7 |
| API Access | Yes, Deriv API for custom applications and bots | Yes, API for institutional and high-frequency traders |
| Trading Competitions | Occasionally available for synthetic indices traders | No |
| Account Currency Options | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, CAD, NZD, SGD, and more |
| CFDs on ETFs | No | Yes, wide range of ETF CFDs |
| Requote Policy | No requotes, market execution | No requotes, ECN execution |
| Execution Transparency | Moderate, detailed contract specifications | High, ECN pricing and detailed reports |
| Leverage Customization | Yes, adjustable up to 1:1000 based on region and asset | Yes, adjustable up to 1:500 based on region and asset |
| Account Verification Speed | Typically fast, within 24-48 hours | Fast, usually within 24 hours |
| Backtesting Tools | Available on DMT5 (MetaTrader 5) | Available on cTrader and MetaTrader with historical data |
| Fractional Lot Sizes | Available | Available |
| Pending Order Expiry Options | Yes, with specific expiry settings | Yes, with GTC (Good Till Cancelled) and GTD (Good Till Date) options |
| Interest on Free Margin | No | No |
| Currency Conversion Fees | Yes, if depositing or withdrawing in a non-account currency | Yes, competitive rates but applicable |
| Stop-Out Level | 50% for most accounts | 20% for Razor accounts, 50% for Standard accounts |
| Negative Balance Recovery | Yes, negative balance protection | Yes, negative balance protection |
| Partnership Programs | Affiliates, IBs (Introducing Brokers), API partnerships | Affiliates, IBs, White Label solutions |
| Advanced Indicators | Yes, for DMT5 and DTrader, including custom indicators | Yes, extensive range for cTrader and MetaTrader platforms |
| Charting Tools | Candlestick, Heikin-Ashi, Line, and custom indicators | Advanced charting with multiple timeframes, Renko, Kagi, Heikin-Ashi |
| Localization and Languages | 20+ languages | 15+ languages |
| Rebate Programs | Occasionally for specific accounts | Yes, for active traders and high-volume accounts |
| Trading Central Integration | No | Yes, with technical analysis and signals |
| Server Locations | Multiple, including Asia and Europe | Multiple, including New York, London, and Amsterdam |
| Trustpilot Rating | Moderate, 4.0/5 (varies) | High, 4.7/5 (varies) |
| Mobile Notifications | Yes, through Deriv GO and DMT5 apps | Yes, via MT4, MT5, and cTrader apps |
| Referral Bonuses | Occasionally available | No, restricted by regulatory compliance |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes, limited range of futures contracts |
| Dark Mode on Platforms | Yes, available on most platforms | Yes, available on all major platforms |
| Institutional Services | No, retail-focused | Yes, including Prime services and API trading |
| Risk Management Tools | Take Profit, Stop Loss, Multipliers on options trades | Advanced risk management, margin alerts, and guaranteed stops (on selected instruments) |
| Smart Order Routing | Direct market access with optimized routing | Advanced smart order routing for ECN execution |
| Custom Indicators | Supports custom indicators on DMT5 and DTrader | Extensive library of custom indicators on MetaTrader and cTrader |
| Market Depth (Level 2 Data) | Limited to DMT5 | Available on cTrader with full depth of market |
| Scalping Compatibility | Permitted on most accounts | Fully compatible, especially with Razor accounts |
| Hedging Options | Supported on DMT5 | Allowed on all platforms |
| Volatility Protection Settings | Limited, with stop-loss and take-profit | Advanced settings including slippage control and order duration |
| Economic Calendar Integration | Basic calendar available | Integrated economic calendar with alerts |
| Sentiment Analysis Tools | None | Available via third-party plugins for MetaTrader |
| OCO (One Cancels the Other) Orders | Not supported | Available on cTrader |
| Customizable Watchlists | Available on DTrader and DMT5 | Highly customizable on MetaTrader and cTrader |
| Trailing Stops | Supported on DMT5 | Available on all platforms |
| Trading Signals Integration | Basic signals on DMT5 | Advanced signal integration with MetaTrader, including Autochartist |
| Mobile Chart Customization | Moderate customization | Extensive customization on all mobile platforms |
| Web-Based Platform Speed | Fast execution with low latency | Low latency with ECN infrastructure |
| Weekend Trading Options | Available for synthetic indices | Limited to cryptocurrencies |
| Affiliate Commission Structure | Percentage-based, multi-tiered | Fixed CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) and hybrid models |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | Typically within 1-2 business days | Fast processing, often within 24 hours |
| Market Sentiment Tools | Lacking comprehensive tools | Available through MetaTrader plugins |
| Price Alerts | Available on mobile and web platforms | Highly customizable alerts |
| Depth of Research Reports | Basic market analysis | Detailed reports with fundamental and technical analysis |
| Latency for High-Frequency Traders | Moderate | Ultra-low latency with direct market access |
| Regional Restrictions | Limited availability in the US and Canada | No service in the US, Japan, and some other countries |
| Advanced Risk Alerts | Lacking detailed alerts | Margin call and risk alerts on all platforms |
| TradingView Integration | No integration | Available for charting and analysis |
| Cross-Platform Compatibility | Web, mobile, desktop | Seamless cross-platform experience on MT4, MT5, and cTrader |
| Automated Bot Marketplace | Limited to DBot strategies | No built-in marketplace, but third-party EAs available |
| Interest-Free Trading (Islamic Accounts) | Available for select accounts | Available without additional fees |
| Fixed Spread Accounts | Not offered | Not offered; all accounts have variable spreads |
| Cloud-Based Trading Features | No cloud-based solutions | cTrader offers cloud-based settings and profile storage |
| Language Support for Customer Service | Multilingual support via chat and email | Extensive language support, including phone assistance |
| Manual Trading Tools | Charting and basic analytics | Advanced manual tools, including DOM (Depth of Market) |
| Algorithmic Trading Strategies | Supports MQL5 and DBot-based strategies | Supports C# for cAlgo and MQL4/5 for MetaTrader |
| Market-Making or ECN Model | Market Maker for most assets, STP for DMT5 | True ECN model for Razor accounts |
| Execution Speed (in ms) | Typically 30-50ms | 30ms or less for ECN accounts |
| Investor Compensation Scheme | Limited protection based on jurisdiction | Covered under FCA, CySEC, ASIC regulations |
| Regulatory Audits | Regular audits by offshore regulators | Regular audits by top-tier regulators |
| Trading Community and Forums | Basic community support | Active community and support via forums |
| Payment Processing Security | SSL encryption for all transactions | SSL encryption and additional authentication protocols |
| Options Trading Complexity | Wide range of contract types, including touch/no-touch | Does not offer options trading |
| Swap Rates Transparency | Swap rates available on the platform | Transparent swap rates for all assets |
| Multi-Account Management (MAM/PAMM) | Not supported | Supports MAM/PAMM accounts for professional traders |
| FIFO (First In, First Out) Compliance | Not mandatory | Compliant for U.S. clients trading CFDs |
| Price Improvement Policy | No specific policy | Best execution policy with potential price improvement |
| Rebate Programs for High Volume Traders | Limited availability | Extensive rebate programs for active traders |
| Real-Time News Feeds | Limited news integration | Integrated news feeds from Reuters and other sources |
| Algo Trading Backtesting Speed | Moderate for DMT5 | High-speed backtesting for cAlgo and MetaTrader |
| Security of Login (2FA) | Supports 2FA for account security | 2FA available across all platforms |
| Support for Complex Trading Strategies | Limited to DMT5 | Comprehensive support on cTrader and MetaTrader |
Deriv offers a diverse range of trading options with low minimum deposits and unique synthetic indices, while Pepperstone stands out with advanced ECN execution, low spreads, and comprehensive platform support.