Comparison: IC Markets vs Deriv – Which Broker Is Better for Traders?
When choosing a reliable Forex broker, Vietnamese traders often care about transparency, trading fees, execution speed, and available products. Among them, IC Markets and Deriv are two popular names in recent years.
Today, let’s compare both in detail based on the most important criteria:
| Criteria | IC Markets | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Year founded | 2007 | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Australia | Malta / UK |
| Broker type | ECN | Market Maker |
| Most popular with | Professional traders – Scalpers – EA users | Small-capital traders – BO – Volatility Index |
Licenses & Trust Level
IC Markets
- ASIC (Australia)
- CySEC (Cyprus)
- FSA Seychelles
→ Strong regulation, high transparency, suitable for large capital trading.
Deriv
- MFSA (Malta)
- VFSC
- FSC
→ Decent reputation but lower than IC Markets.
→ However, Deriv offers more diverse instruments and higher leverage.
► Conclusion: If safety is your priority → Choose IC Markets.
Trading Instruments
| Instruments | IC Markets | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Indices | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Commodities | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Stock CFD | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Crypto | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Volatility Index | ❌ | ✔️ Exclusive |
| Binary Options | ❌ | ✔️ Main strength |
➡ Highlight:IC Markets fits traditional Forex & CFD trading.
Deriv is famous for Volatility Index & Binary Options – fast profit, low capital, high risk.
Trading Platforms
IC Markets:
- MT4
- MT5
- cTrader (super-fast execution)
→ Perfect for scalping and EA/robots.
Deriv:
- Deriv MT5
- Deriv X
- Deriv Bot (create trading bots without coding)
→ Very user-friendly, innovative, great for beginners.
Spread – Fees – Execution Speed
| Criteria | IC Markets | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Spread EUR/USD | from 0.0 pip | low, but not as low as IC |
| Commission | $3–$7/lot depending on account | No commission for BO |
| Execution | Fast – true ECN | Fast but not ECN |
➡ If you need low cost + fast execution → IC Markets wins.
Leverage – Accounts – Minimum Deposit
| Category | IC Markets | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Max leverage | 1:500 | 1:1000 |
| Minimum deposit | $200 | from $10 |
| Cent account | ❌ No | ✔️ Yes |
| Best for | Large capital, fast trading | Small capital, strategy testing |
Deposit – Withdrawal
Both offer:
✔ Support for Vietnamese banks
✔ Fast processing
✔ No broker withdrawal fees
However:
Deriv allows very low minimum deposits → beginner-friendly.
IC Markets is highly trusted for withdrawing large amounts.
Pros of IC Markets
- Strong licenses, high transparency
- Ultra-low spread
- cTrader is ideal for scalping & EAs
- Lightning-fast execution
Cons of IC Markets
- Higher minimum deposit
- No Binary Options – not suitable for small-capital fast-profit style
Pros of Deriv
- Deposit from just $10
- Cent accounts available
- Volatility Index & BO – fast profit potential
- Great for beginners
Cons of Deriv
- Weaker regulatory profile
- Spreads higher than true ECN brokers
- High risk with Binary Options
Which Broker Should You Choose?
| Trader Type | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Scalpers, EA robots, professional traders | ⭐ IC Markets |
| Beginners, small capital, BO traders | ⭐ Deriv |
| Long-term Forex & stock CFD traders | ⭐ IC Markets |
| Testing strategies with small accounts | ⭐ Deriv |
Final Conclusion
✔ Want safety – transparency – low cost → Choose IC Markets
✔ Want small capital – high leverage – unique products → Choose Deriv
➡ Both are reputable, but they suit different trading needs.
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