Side-by-side
Alpari vs Deriv
Alpari vs Deriv — Direct comparison across cost, regulation, leverage, platforms and operating history.
Tracked byBrokerlist Editorial · Independent review teamUpdated
In short. Choose Alpari if you have $500+ and want commission-based Pro ECN pricing at ~$7.50/lot with 27 years of operating history. Choose Deriv if you trade synthetic indices (Volatility, Crash, Boom) — Deriv invented this product category.
Alpari vs Deriv comparison: fees, licences, platforms
Verdict at a glance
Deriv leads
- Alpari
- ahead on 0 dimensions
- Deriv
- ahead on 3 dimensions
- Tied
- 2 tied
Cost per lot
Alpari: $7.50/lot, Deriv: $7.00/lot. Lower at Deriv.
Minimum deposit
Alpari: $500, Deriv: $5. Smaller minimum at Deriv.
Maximum leverage
Alpari: 1:1000, Deriv: 1:1000. Same maximum leverage.
Regulator and licence
Alpari: MISA, Deriv: BVI, MFSA. Stronger licensing at Deriv.
Trading platforms
Alpari: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Deriv: MetaTrader 5, Deriv X. Same platform selection.
Pros and cons
Alpari
Pros
- ✓27 years of operating history (founded 1998) — predates most current retail brokers
- ✓Pro ECN: 0.1–0.4 typical spread + $5 round-turn ≈ $7.50/lot — competitive commission tier
- ✓Standard account available at $50 min for lower entry (spread-only ~1.2 pip from)
Cons
- ✕Regulated only by offshore entities (Mauritius / St. Vincent) after losing its FCA licence in 2015 — no tier-1 regulator, no FSCS-equivalent protection
- ✕Pro ECN tier requires $500 minimum deposit — not accessible for small accounts
- ✕Inactivity fee $10/month after period of inactivity
- ✕Not available in 38 jurisdictions (all of EU + UK, US, Japan, Canada, India, Myanmar, OFAC-sanctioned countries)
Deriv
Pros
- ✓$5 minimum + 25 years of operating history (since 1999 as Binary.com, rebranded Deriv in 2020)
- ✓MFSA-licensed Malta entity gives EU retail clients tier-1 MiFID investor protection
Cons
- ✕Forex is secondary to synthetic indices (their proprietary product) — CFD instrument breadth is narrower than ECN-focused brokers like Tickmill
- ✕Offshore entities (Labuan, Vanuatu, BVI) carry light regulatory oversight; not available in 17 jurisdictions including Canada, Israel, Singapore, UAE, OFAC-sanctioned countries
- ✕Broker publishes "from" spreads only — realised typical is not disclosed on trading pages
- ✕Inactivity fee up to $25 / €25 / £25 after 12 months, then every 6 months
Who should choose which
Choose Alpari if:
- ✓You have $500+ and want commission-based Pro ECN pricing at ~$7.50/lot with 27 years of operating history
- ✓You're in a jurisdiction outside EU/UK/US/Japan/Canada where Alpari's MISA (Comoros) entity onboards you
- ✓You want offshore high-leverage access (up to 1:3000 on Standard) at a legacy retail brand
Choose Deriv if:
- ✓You trade synthetic indices (Volatility, Crash, Boom) — Deriv invented this product category
- ✓You have $5 to start and want an EU-grade (MFSA Malta) MiFID entity at entry level
- ✓You want Deriv P2P for local-currency funding via agents and other traders
- ✓You value 25+ years of operating history (originated 1999 as Binary.com, rebranded 2020)
- ✓You fund via crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT) and want it credited to a fiat trading balance
We may earn a commission if you open an account — it never affects our ranking or scores. How we’re paid.
Frequently asked
Which is better — Alpari or Deriv?+
Across our 5 dimensions: Alpari leads in 0, Deriv in 3, ties: 2. Overall verdict: Deriv. Full breakdown below.
Which broker has lower fees?+
Cost-per-lot in our calculation: Alpari — $7.50, Deriv — $7.00. Lower at Deriv.
Which is better for beginners?+
Minimum deposit: Alpari — $500, Deriv — $5. Easier onboarding at Deriv.
What trading platforms do they offer?+
Alpari: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Deriv: MetaTrader 5, Deriv X.
Who regulates each broker?+
Alpari: MISA. Deriv: BVI, MFSA.