Deriv Account Types Compared: Which Account Should You Choose?

By BrokaBoy Research Team · Reviewed 14 October 2026 · Updated 14 October 2026 · 5 min read

Deriv gives each person one account with a Wallet, under which you open trading accounts: six MT5 types (Standard, Zero Spread, Swap-free, Financial, Gold and Crypto), plus Deriv cTrader and the options platforms Deriv Trader and Deriv Bot. Most beginners should start with MT5 Standard; active forex traders should compare Zero Spread costs, and overnight holders Swap-free.

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Key takeaways

One Deriv account per person; MT5, cTrader and options accounts are added beneath it
Deriv lists six MT5 types: Standard, Zero Spread, Swap-free, Financial, Gold and Crypto
MT5 Standard covers both financial markets and synthetic indices in one account
Leverage is set per instrument and cannot be changed manually
Compare total cost per lot (spread plus any commission), not the "from" spread

First, understand Deriv's account structure

Deriv does not work like a broker where "account type" means one login with one set of conditions. It has three layers:

One Deriv account per person. Deriv's help centre says each person may hold only one Deriv account.
A Wallet inside that account, where deposits and withdrawals happen (in USD or a cryptocurrency).
Trading accounts you add and fund from the Wallet: Deriv MT5 accounts, a Deriv cTrader account, and access to the options platforms Deriv Trader and Deriv Bot. You can hold several at once, including demo and real MT5 accounts.

So the question "which Deriv account should I choose?" really means "which MT5 account type, and do I also want cTrader or options?"

The six Deriv MT5 account types

Deriv's help centre (October 2026) says it offers six CFD account types on MT5. Not every type is shown in every country, and Deriv publishes detailed numbers only for some of them.

MT5 account	What it is for	What Deriv publishes
Standard (CFDs)	The all-rounder: forex, stocks, indices, commodities, crypto, ETFs and derived (synthetic) indices in one account	Spreads "from 0.1 pips" on Deriv's MT5 page; "from 0.6 pips" and leverage up to 1:1000 on its UAE help page; no commission
Zero Spread	Lowest spreads on selected financial assets	Spread is zero most of the time on selected assets, may widen to raw spread in thin markets; it does not apply to synthetic indices
Swap-free	No overnight swap on selected instruments	UAE help page: leverage up to 1:1000, 39 forex pairs plus oil (not natural gas), spreads from 2.2 pips
Financial	Traditional financial instruments with market execution	No numbers published on the pages we checked
Gold	Focused on precious metals	No numbers published on the pages we checked
Crypto	Focused on cryptocurrency CFDs	No numbers published on the pages we checked

Two published figures for Standard spreads ("from 0.1" and "from 0.6" pips) come from different Deriv pages. "From" figures are best-case minimums anyway; the instrument tables are more useful. For example, Deriv's forex table lists AUD/USD with a minimum spread of 0.00011 (1.1 pips) and a target spread of 0.02% of price.

Leverage is fixed per instrument rather than per account, and Deriv says you cannot change it manually. Forex majors show up to 1:1000, while some exotics (AUD/SGD) show 1:200 and soft commodities 1:20.

Beyond MT5: cTrader and options

Platform	Product	Who it suits
Deriv cTrader	CFDs on financial and derived indices	Traders who prefer cTrader's interface and order tools over MT5
TradingView (linked to Deriv)	CFDs on financial and derived indices	Chart-first traders who want to place trades from TradingView
Deriv Trader	Options-style contracts on derived and some financial markets	Traders who want a fixed maximum loss equal to the stake
Deriv Bot	Automated options trading with a block-based builder	Traders testing rule-based strategies without coding

Options on Deriv Trader limit risk to the stake you put in, which is a meaningful difference from leveraged CFDs. That does not make them safer in practice: a series of small losing stakes adds up just as fast.

Which account fits which trader

Beginner with 10–100 USD who wants to learn forex and synthetic indices. Standard MT5. It covers both asset groups in one login, needs no commission maths, and pairs with a free MT5 demo. Start with micro forex contracts (1,000 units) where available.

Active forex or gold scalper. Compare Zero Spread with Standard on the exact pairs you trade. A spread saving of 1 pip on one standard lot of EUR/USD is worth 10 USD per round trip, so for 20 lots a month that is 200 USD. But if Zero Spread charges a commission for your entity (Deriv's public pages did not state the figure), subtract it before deciding. Ask live chat for the commission per lot in writing.

Trader who holds positions for days or follows Islamic finance principles. Swap-free. Expect wider spreads (from 2.2 pips on Deriv's UAE help page) and a narrower instrument list. Holding a position for one night on a standard account might cost a few dollars in swap; paying 1.6 pips more on entry might cost more than that. Our Deriv Islamic account guide runs the comparison.

Gold-only or crypto-only trader. The Gold and Crypto accounts exist for you, but Deriv did not publish their spreads or specs on the pages we read. Open a demo of each and compare live spreads at your trading hours before choosing.

How the cost difference works, with numbers

Suppose you trade 10 round turns a month of 1 standard lot on a USD-quoted pair.

Scenario	Spread per trade	Cost per lot (pip value 10 USD)	Monthly cost
Account A	1.2 pips	12 USD	120 USD
Account B	0.2 pips + 4 USD commission	2 USD + 4 USD = 6 USD	60 USD

These are illustrative numbers, not Deriv quotes. The point: compare total cost per lot, not just the advertised spread. Our spread glossary and pip value calculator help you do this on real quotes.

How to open an additional account type

From your Deriv dashboard, choose the MT5 account type, review the details and select Activate. You set an MT5 password (separate from your Deriv login) and receive a unique login ID. Then transfer funds from your Wallet. Because all trading accounts sit under one profile, you can test a second type with a small transfer without opening a new Deriv account. See the MT5 login and server guide for connecting.

Things to check before choosing

Which entity serves your country (it determines what you are offered): see is Deriv legit.
Whether the instrument you want is available on that account type (Swap-free and Zero Spread have narrower lists).
Live spreads at the hours you trade, not the "from" figure.
Whether you understand market maker versus ECN models. On synthetic indices, Deriv itself generates the price.

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Full risk disclosure.

Deriv

BrokaBoy score 7.6/10Listed min deposit $5Advertised spread 0.5 pipsRegulators VFSC, LFSA, MFSA, BVIFSC, FSCM

Visit Deriv

CFDs are high risk. Capital at risk.

Affiliate link - see our Methodology

Frequently asked questions

Which Deriv account is best for beginners?

MT5 Standard is the simplest starting point. It covers forex, commodities, indices and synthetic indices in one login, has no commission, and you can practise first on a free MT5 demo that does not expire. Keep position sizes very small, because leverage of up to 1:1000 on selected instruments amplifies losses as much as gains.

What is the difference between Deriv Standard and Zero Spread?

Standard has a variable spread on all instruments and no commission. Zero Spread aims for zero spread most of the time on selected financial assets, but spreads can widen when liquidity is thin and the account does not cover synthetic indices. Deriv's public pages did not state Zero Spread commission, so ask support before comparing.

Can I have more than one Deriv account?

Deriv allows one Deriv account per person, but you can open several trading accounts under it: different MT5 types, demo and real accounts, cTrader and options platforms. Funds move between them through your Wallet, so you can test a second account type without a new registration.

Does Deriv have a raw spread or ECN account?

Deriv's MT5 line-up includes Zero Spread and Financial accounts, the latter described as offering market execution. Deriv does not use the term ECN on the pages we checked. On synthetic indices, Deriv generates the price itself, so no account type gives you access to an external market for those instruments.

Can I change leverage on a Deriv account?

No. Deriv's help centre says leverage on MT5 cannot be adjusted manually; it is fixed per instrument. Majors may show up to 1:1000, while some exotic pairs and commodities have much lower limits. You control your real exposure through position size, which matters more than the maximum leverage on offer.

Sources

HFM Account Types Compared: Which Account Should You Choose?

HFM's global site offers five live accounts: Cent (micro trading in US cents), Premium (no minimum, no commission, spreads from 1.4 pips), Pro ($100, spreads from 0.6 pips, no commission), Zero (spreads from 0.0 pips plus commission) and InfinityX ($500, unlimited leverage on selected instruments). For most beginners Cent or Premium makes sense; active traders usually compare Pro and Zero on all-in cost.

XM Account Types Compared: Standard vs Ultra Low vs Shares

XM's global entity offers three accounts: Standard and Ultra Low from $5, and Shares from $10,000. Standard is bonus-eligible but has wider spreads (about 1.6 pips on majors per reviews); Ultra Low drops the bonus for spreads from about 0.8 pips, which makes it the better choice for anyone who trades regularly.

XM Demo Account: How to Open It and Practise Properly

An XM demo account is a free MT4 or MT5 account with virtual funds that you open from xm.com without depositing. Set its balance, leverage and account type to match the live account you plan to fund. XM's app listing says the demo has no time limit, but log in regularly, as some reviews report closure after inactivity.

XM Islamic (Swap-Free) Account: Eligibility and Conditions

Yes, XM offers an Islamic (swap-free) option on all its accounts, Standard, Ultra Low and Shares, as a status you request after verifying a live account. XM's public pages don't publish detailed terms, so confirm fees, excluded instruments and holding limits with support before relying on it.