List & Comparison of Deriv's Account Types & Platforms

Deriv offers a mix of Forex and CFD accounts combined with several trading platforms. Understanding how these accounts and platforms fit together lets you choose a setup that matches your Forex strategy instead of trading on random settings.

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How Deriv organises accounts and platforms

Deriv separates two things:

• Trading accounts – pricing profile, asset coverage, leverage, swap policy.
• Platforms – where you actually place trades: MT5, cTrader, Deriv X, DTrader, SmartTrader, DBot, Deriv GO.

In practice, you first open a Deriv Wallet, then create one or more CFD or options accounts on your chosen platform. For Forex traders, most of the flexibility sits inside Deriv MT5 and Deriv cTrader, with extra tools on Deriv X and DTrader.

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Deriv MT5 account types: overview

On Deriv MT5 (DMT5), you can choose among several account profiles, each tuned for a different way of trading Forex and CFDs:

• Standard account
• Zero Spread account
• Swap-Free account
• Financial account
• Financial STP account
• Gold account

Deriv also segments markets internally into financial instruments (Forex, stocks, indices, commodities, crypto, ETFs) and derived/synthetic indices that trade 24/7. Most MT5 accounts tell you clearly which of these you can use.

Let’s go through the core accounts from a Forex perspective.

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MT5 Standard account: default multi-asset choice

The MT5 Standard account is the all-round CFD profile on Deriv MT5. It combines financial instruments and derived indices under one login.

Key characteristics

• Markets
  • Forex majors, minors, and exotics
  • Stock indices, individual shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs
  • Derived/synthetic indices on selected symbols
• Leverage
  • Up to 1:500 on many Forex majors and minors
  • 1:100 on exotic Forex pairs
  • 1:10 on stocks and ETFs
  • 1:100 on stock indices
  • 1:400 on commodities
  • 1:20 on cryptocurrencies
• Pricing
  • Floating spreads from around 0.6 pips on major Forex pairs
  • No commission on MT5 Standard trades
• Swap policy
  • Classic swap/rollover charges or credits when you hold positions overnight

Who should use it

• Forex traders who want one account for everything, including indices and commodities.
• Short-term traders who rely on variable spreads and do not mind overnight swap charges.
• Those who need Forex, synthetic indices and crypto under one umbrella.

If you want maximum instrument coverage and standard floating spreads, the Standard account is the straightforward choice for MT5 Forex trading.

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MT5 Swap-Free account: Forex and synthetics without swaps

The MT5 Swap-Free account targets traders who prefer not to pay or receive interest via swap/rollover. It is often used by traders following Islamic finance principles or anyone who likes transparent overnight costs.

Key characteristics

• Markets
  • Forex pairs
  • Stock indices, selected stocks, commodities
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Synthetic indices and other derived instruments on MT5
• Leverage & coverage
  • Up to 1:500 on many Forex pairs, similar to Standard, but coverage is limited to swap-free eligible assets (for example, a reduced list of Forex pairs and commodities).
• Pricing
  • Spreads typically start higher than Standard, around 2.2 pips on major Forex pairs
  • No swaps on overnight positions
  • Admin fee applied after a grace period when positions stay open for several days, calculated by lot size and instrument type

Who should use it

• Forex traders following Sharia-compliant trading rules.
• Position traders who keep Forex or synthetic index positions open for days and want predictable overnight funding.
• Traders who prefer an admin-fee model instead of variable swaps.

If your Forex strategy relies on multi-day trades and you care more about fixed structural costs than the tightest pip spread, Swap-Free is the logical account to pick.

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MT5 Zero Spread account: tight entry prices with fixed commission

The Zero Spread account removes the bid–ask spread and introduces a fixed commission per lot. With many Forex pairs priced from 0.0 pips, entries and exits sit closer to visible market prices.

Key characteristics

• Markets
  • Focus on major and minor Forex pairs
  • Indices, commodities and some synthetic instruments on MT5, depending on jurisdiction
• Pricing
  • Bid and ask shown at the same price (spread zero), with fixed commission charged per trade
  • Commission is published in trading specifications and does not expand during volatility
• Leverage
  • High leverage (often up to 1:1000 on many Forex pairs) on the instruments assigned to this profile

Who should use it

• Forex scalpers and high-frequency traders who want extremely tight entry prices.
• Algorithmic traders running MT5 Expert Advisors where spread size heavily influences performance.
• Short-term Forex traders who prefer fixed commission over wider spreads.

If your Forex strategy is built on small intraday moves, the Zero Spread account gives you very direct pricing at the expense of a clear commission per lot.

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MT5 Financial account: focused pricing on financial instruments

The Financial account on Deriv MT5 is dedicated to traditional markets rather than synthetics. It specialises in Forex, commodities, indices, stocks, crypto and ETFs, with no synthetic indices attached.

Key characteristics

• Markets
  • Forex pairs
  • Commodities such as gold, oil and base metals
  • Stock indices
  • Single stocks
  • Cryptocurrencies and ETFs
• Pricing & leverage
  • Tight spreads tuned specifically for financial markets
  • High leverage on Forex (similar brackets to Standard), with different caps per asset type
• Swap & costs
  • Standard swap policy for overnight positions
  • No commissions when using the standard financial profile; costs sit in the spread

Who should use it

• Forex traders who do not need synthetic indices and want a clean set of financial markets.
• Traders who blend Forex with stock indices, individual shares and commodities in one MT5 account.
• Intraday and swing Forex traders who want spreads focused on real-market instruments.

If you only trade financial assets and want their pricing ring-fenced from synthetics, the Financial account keeps things clean.

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MT5 Financial STP account: direct-style pricing

The Financial STP account aims to give more direct exposure to financial markets with an STP-style flow. Deriv academy materials describe it as an account with zero commission and wider spreads, targeting traders who prefer direct market exposure through straight-through processing.

Key characteristics

• Markets
  • Forex, indices, commodities, some stocks and crypto, focused on financial instruments
• Pricing
  • Wider, transparent spreads instead of commission
  • STP-oriented execution for those who want an institutional-style feed
• Who should use it
  • Forex traders who care about execution style and prefer spread-only pricing instead of per-lot commission.
  • Those running strategies that mirror institutional setups with an STP approach.

If you want to trade Forex on MT5 with a more direct, market-style feed without commissions, the Financial STP account is the specialist option.

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MT5 Gold account: metal-centric profile

The Gold account focuses on trading gold and other precious metals. It is designed for traders who use metals alongside Forex, especially those who hedge currency exposure with XAU-based positions.

Key characteristics

• Tight spreads and targeted conditions on gold and selected metals
• Built for traders who allocate a large share of their risk to XAU/USD or similar pairs
• Syncs with MT5’s full charting and Expert Advisor environment for metal strategies

If metals play a core part in your Forex risk management or macro strategy, the Gold account gives them a dedicated structure instead of treating them as just another symbol.

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Derived / Synthetic vs Financial accounts: how they differ

Deriv also distinguishes between derived (synthetic) markets and financial markets across accounts and platforms:

• Derived / synthetic indices
  • Simulated indices that follow programmed volatility patterns
  • Trade 24/7, including weekends and holidays
  • Unaffected by economic news or central-bank events
• Financial instruments
  • Forex currency pairs
  • Stocks, stock indices, commodities, crypto, ETFs
  • Move with real economic data and market sentiment

On MT5, the Standard and many Swap-Free profiles combine both, while the Financial and Financial STP profiles concentrate on financial markets. The choice matters for Forex traders who either want exposure to macro events or want to trade volatility that ignores traditional sessions.

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Platform comparison: where each Forex trader fits

After choosing an account type, you pick a platform. Deriv offers several, each tuned to different trading styles.

Deriv MT5 (DMT5)

• Type: Full CFD platform
• Markets: Forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto, synthetic indices
• Tools:
  • 21 timeframes, 38+ built-in indicators
  • Depth of Market, one-click trading
  • Expert Advisors (EAs) and algorithmic trading
• Best for:
  • Systematic Forex traders
  • Discretionary traders who want classic MT5 tools and synthetic indices in the same environment

Deriv cTrader

• Type: CFD platform with strong focus on copy trading and high-granularity execution
• Markets: 150+ assets including Forex, indices, commodities and crypto
• Tools:
  • Depth of Market ladder, advanced order types
  • Built-in strategy cBots and copy trading
  • AI-assisted insights and modern interface
• Best for:
  • Forex traders who want a cTrader environment with direct-style execution
  • Traders who copy other strategies while still controlling risk settings

Deriv X

• Type: Multi-asset CFD platform with a modern, panel-based interface
• Markets: Forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto, synthetics
• Tools:
  • TradingView-style layout with multiple charts
  • Custom watchlists and drag-and-drop panels
• Best for:
  • Forex traders who manage several charts at once and prefer a browser-based desktop interface

DTrader

• Type: Browser platform for multipliers and options on financial and synthetic markets
• Markets: Forex, stock indices, commodities, synthetic indices
• Best for:
  • Forex traders who like multipliers – a structure that lets you magnify exposure while limiting downside to stake size.
  • Those who prefer simple tickets and stake-based trading over full CFD margin calculations.

SmartTrader

• Type: Advanced web interface for digital options
• Markets: Forex, indices, commodities, synthetic indices
• Best for:
  • Forex traders who use fixed-payout digital options to express directional views.
  • People who are comfortable defining payout and duration instead of lot size.

DBot

• Type: No-code automation platform for options and multipliers
• Markets: Same underlyings as DTrader and SmartTrader
• Best for:
  • Traders who want to automate repeatable Forex logic without coding in MQL5 or other languages.

Deriv GO

• Type: Mobile app for trading on the move
• Markets: Forex, derived indices, cryptocurrencies via multipliers and options
• Best for:
  • Forex traders who manage positions from a phone and use multipliers for shorter-term trades.
  • Monitoring synthetic index and crypto exposure with push notifications.

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Matching Forex strategies to accounts and platforms

To choose the right deriv setup, think in terms of strategy + account + platform:

1. Intraday Forex scalping

• Account:
  • Zero Spread (MT5) for near-zero pip spread and fixed commission
  • Standard if you prefer spread-only pricing and still want synthetics
• Platform:
  • Deriv MT5 for full EA support and custom indicators
  • Deriv cTrader if you want granular Depth of Market and ladder trading

2. Swing trading Forex with multi-day holds

• Account:
  • Swap-Free on MT5 to avoid overnight swaps and use the admin-fee model
  • Financial if you are comfortable with classic swaps and focus only on financial markets
• Platform:
  • Deriv MT5 for flexible charting and alerts
  • Deriv X if you like running multiple Forex and index charts side by side in a browser

This suits traders who hold EUR/USD, GBP/JPY, XAU/USD or stock index CFDs for days and want clarity on financing.

3. Forex plus synthetic volatility

• Account:
  • Standard or Swap-Free MT5 profiles that include synthetic indices
• Platform:
  • Deriv MT5 for one account handling both Forex and synthetic indices
  • DTrader or SmartTrader if you prefer options and multipliers on volatility indices

Here, you use Forex to trade macro moves and synthetic indices to trade constant volatility independent of news.

4. Copy trading and semi-passive Forex strategies

• Account:
  • Financial or Standard-style CFD profile on Deriv linked to cTrader
• Platform:
  • Deriv cTrader for copy trading, where you choose strategies to follow and apply your own risk caps

This fits traders who want exposure to Forex strategies without building everything themselves.

5. Mobile-first Forex multipliers

• Account:
  • Multipliers account in the Deriv Wallet linked to DTrader and Deriv GO
• Platform:
  • Deriv GO for mobile
  • DTrader on desktop

You stake a fixed amount with a chosen multiplier instead of managing margin manually, which keeps risk straightforward on a phone.

Deriv’s Forex offering is built from two layers: account profiles that control spreads, commissions, swaps and leverage, and platforms that define how you interact with the market.

• Use Standard when you want broad coverage and spread-only pricing.
• Use Zero Spread when you care about very tight execution for scalping and automated Forex trading.
• Use Swap-Free when overnight financing transparency matters more than the lowest spread.
• Use Financial, Financial STP, or Gold when you focus on specific financial markets or metal strategies.
• Pair those accounts with MT5, cTrader, Deriv X, DTrader, SmartTrader, DBot, or Deriv GO depending on whether you trade CFDs, digital options, multipliers, or copy trading.

Once you map your Forex strategy to these choices, the structure of Deriv’s accounts and platforms becomes clear and you can concentrate on trade quality, risk control and consistent performance.

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Deriv Account Opening Steps for Forex Traders

Deriv is a Forex and CFD broker that structures account opening in a clear sequence. You move from a simple registration to a fully verified trading profile, then create platform-specific trading accounts for MT5, Deriv X, DTrader, cTrader and other interfaces.

How Deriv structures accounts for Forex and CFDs

Before you start the sign-up flow, it helps to understand how Deriv organises accounts:

• You first create a Deriv main account.
• Inside it, you have a Deriv Wallet (demo and real) where balances sit.
• From the Trader’s Hub, you create individual trading accounts:
  • CFD accounts (Deriv MT5, Deriv X, cTrader)
  • Options and multipliers accounts (DTrader, SmartTrader, Deriv GO)
  • Demo versions of each platform for practice

You always start with one main login and then add specific Forex and CFD accounts under that profile.

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Step one: sign up and create your Deriv login

The first action is to create your Deriv login. You can do this with an email and password, or by using an existing social profile.

Option A: sign up with email

1. Go to the registration page and type your email address.
2. Choose your home country from the list.
3. Create a strong password that you will use for every login.
4. Accept the terms and submit the form.

Deriv immediately sends a verification message to the email address you entered. Open that email and click the button or link inside to confirm your address. You are then redirected to the Trader’s Hub.

Option B: sign up with social login

You can also sign in with Google, Apple ID or Facebook.

In that case:

• Choose the social icon on the registration form.
• Log in to your chosen service.
• Authorise Deriv to use your basic profile information.

Deriv then creates your main account using that identity. You still need to complete profile and verification steps, but you skip the separate password creation at the start.

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Step two: explore your demo Forex environment

As soon as your login is active, Deriv loads the Trader’s Hub and credits a demo balance (often 10,000 in virtual funds) for practice.

At this stage you can:

• Open demo CFDs on Deriv MT5 to test Forex, indices, commodities, crypto and synthetic indices.
• Use DTrader demo to try multipliers and options.
• Look at Deriv X or cTrader demo accounts for alternative layouts and Forex tools.

This demo phase does not require identity verification or deposits. It exists to help you become familiar with spreads, margin, leverage and order types on each platform before you create a real Forex account.

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Step three: create your first real wallet and account currency

To trade Forex with real money, you must create a real account in the Trader’s Hub.

1. In the Trader’s Hub, choose the Real tab.
2. Click to create a fiat wallet (such as USD, EUR or other supported currencies) or a crypto wallet if you intend to fund with digital assets.
3. Select your account currency. This choice affects how your Forex profits and losses are expressed, and how conversion works when funding or withdrawing.
4. Confirm to create the wallet.

This wallet becomes the core balance for all linked Forex and CFD accounts. You can later add more wallets in different currencies, but the first one is the base for deposits and internal transfers.

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Step four: complete your personal profile

Once you move from demo to real trading, Deriv requires a complete personal profile to meet financial regulations.

In the Account settings area you enter:

• Full legal name exactly as it appears on your identity document
• Date of birth
• Citizenship and country of residence
• Residential address (street, city, postal code, country)
• Phone number and sometimes an alternative contact method

These details must match your proof of identity and proof of address documents. If they differ, verification fails and you need to correct either your profile or your documents, so it is better to enter them carefully at this stage.

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Step five: complete the financial assessment

Deriv uses a financial assessment to understand your experience and ensure its Forex and CFD products fit your profile. This is a structured questionnaire inside your account.

Typical sections include:

• Employment status (employed, self-employed, student, retired, etc.)
• Industry and job role
• Approximate annual income and savings bracket
• Source of funds you plan to use (salary, business, investments, etc.)
• Trading knowledge, such as your understanding of:
  • Forex margin and leverage
  • CFD risks
  • Stop-loss and take-profit use
• Past trading experience, including:
  • Number of years you have traded Forex or derivatives
  • Average trade volume
  • Instruments used in the past (Forex, indices, commodities, crypto, options)

Your answers determine which products you can access. For example, some high-risk products may only appear if you show sufficient experience with Forex and leveraged derivatives.

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Step six: verify your identity (proof of identity)

With your profile and financial assessment complete, you move to identity verification, often called KYC (Know Your Customer). Deriv runs this through the Proof of identity section.

You upload a government-issued photo ID. Accepted documents include:

• National identity card
• Passport
• Driving licence
• Other government-issued cards, depending on your country

The ID must:

• Be valid and not expired
• Show your photo clearly
• Show your full name and date of birth
• Match the personal details in your Deriv profile

The system captures images of the front and sometimes the back of the document. Use a high-quality scan or a clear smartphone photo, with all edges visible and no glare.

Some jurisdictions also require a tax identification number when you create specific MT5 accounts, especially for Forex and CFD trading under certain regulators.

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Step seven: verify your address (proof of address)

Next, Deriv confirms your residential address. This step runs through the Proof of address page.

You upload a document issued in your name, such as:

• Utility bill (electricity, water, gas)
• Bank statement
• Municipal tax or property tax bill
• Landline telephone or home internet bill
• Official residence declaration or affidavit
• Government-issued letter or statement

The proof of address document must:

• Show your full name
• Show your current residential address
• Show the issuer name (bank, utility provider, government agency)
• Be recent (commonly within three to six months, depending on jurisdiction)

If your document contains multiple addresses or languages, make sure the residential address matches what you typed in your profile.

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Step eight: complete liveness and selfie checks

Deriv uses a liveness check to ensure the person opening the account matches the identity document. This is done by uploading a selfie or following on-screen video instructions.

In this step:

• Your webcam or phone camera opens a capture screen.
• You align your face inside an on-screen circle.
• You move your head slightly or follow prompts until the system confirms that the motion is natural.
• You remove hats, sunglasses or masks and stand in a well-lit place so your face is clear.

The system compares this selfie or short recording with the photo on your ID. Once this match is confirmed and address verification is complete, your Deriv account is fully authenticated for Forex and CFD trading.

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Step nine: create Deriv MT5, Deriv X and cTrader Forex accounts

After KYC approval, you are ready to create platform-specific trading accounts from the Trader’s Hub.

Creating a Deriv MT5 account

On the Deriv MT5 panel you choose the type of CFD account you want for Forex:

• Standard – multi-asset account for Forex, indices, commodities, crypto and synthetic indices
• Financial – focused on financial markets such as Forex, indices, commodities, stocks and ETFs
• Swap-Free – Forex and other CFDs without overnight swap charges (with an admin fee model)
• Zero Spread, Gold, Financial STP – specialist profiles offered under specific jurisdictions

To create one:

1. In the MT5 section, click Get or Add account next to your chosen profile.
2. Set a separate MT5 password (different from your main login password).
3. Confirm the account currency and review the leverage brackets that apply to Forex pairs.
4. The system generates your MT5 login number and the correct server name.

You then use these details to log in on the MT5 desktop, web or mobile application and start placing Forex and CFD trades.

Creating Deriv X and cTrader CFD accounts

For Deriv X and cTrader:

• In Trader’s Hub, open the panel for the platform and click Get to add a real account.
• Confirm linked wallet, account currency and agree to the product terms.

Deriv X focuses on multi-chart layouts for Forex and indices, while cTrader gives you a more depth-of-market style environment for Forex and crypto CFDs with rich order controls.

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Step ten: create DTrader, SmartTrader and Deriv GO accounts for multipliers and options

If you also want stake-based trading in addition to classic Forex CFDs, you can create accounts for:

• DTrader – multipliers and options on Forex, indices, commodities and synthetic indices
• SmartTrader – digital options with fixed payouts
• Deriv GO – mobile app for multipliers and options on Forex, synthetic indices and crypto

Each of these lives under the same Deriv profile. From the Trader’s Hub:

1. Open the panel for the platform.
2. Click to create a real account.
3. The account automatically links to your real wallet.

These products use margin in a different way from MT5 CFDs. Instead of managing lots and margin levels, you choose stake size, duration or multiplier settings. They sit alongside your Forex MT5 or cTrader account, sharing the same funding source.

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Step eleven: deposit funds and move money between accounts

With KYC verified and platform accounts created, you can fund your trading.

Depositing to your main wallet

In the Cashier section you choose Deposit and pick a method such as:

• Bank cards (where supported)
• E-wallets
• Local online payment methods
• Crypto transfers to a Deriv crypto wallet

The funds land in your main Deriv wallet in the currency you selected earlier.

Transferring funds to Forex accounts

From the Trader’s Hub you then:

• Open the MT5, Deriv X, DTrader or cTrader panel.
• Use the Transfer option to move funds from your wallet into the chosen trading account.

Internal transfers are instant. You can move profits back to the wallet the same way, then withdraw to your funding method from the Cashier.

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Step twelve: link Deriv accounts to MT5 and other platforms

For MT5:

• Open your MT5 desktop or mobile platform.
• Choose Log in to an existing account.
• Search for Deriv Limited or the correct Deriv server name shown on your MT5 dashboard.
• Enter:
  • The login number given with your MT5 account
  • The MT5 password you set
  • The correct server

Once connected, you see your Deriv MT5 balance and can start placing Forex and CFD trades with your chosen account profile.

For cTrader and Deriv X, you log in directly through the web or mobile platforms using your Deriv login or the specific credentials issued for those platforms. Positions and balances stay synchronised with your main Deriv Wallet.

When you look at the full flow, Deriv’s account opening for Forex trading follows a strict order:

1. Create a Deriv login with email or social login.
2. Explore demo accounts to understand Forex spreads, leverage and interfaces.
3. Create a real wallet and choose your account currency.
4. Fill your personal profile with accurate identity and address information.
5. Complete the financial assessment so Deriv can assign appropriate Forex and CFD products.
6. Upload proof of identity and proof of address, plus any tax or extra documents requested.
7. Pass the selfie and liveness checks so your identity matches your documents.
8. Add MT5, Deriv X, cTrader and other platform accounts from the Trader’s Hub for Forex and CFDs.
9. Deposit funds into your wallet and transfer them into your chosen Forex account.
10. Connect to MT5, cTrader, DTrader or Deriv GO and start trading under your chosen structure.

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