To open a Deriv MT5 real account, sign up and verify your Deriv profile, fund your USD or crypto Wallet, then choose an MT5 account type in your dashboard, tap Activate and set an MT5 password. Deriv offers six MT5 account types: CFDs (Standard), Financial, Zero Spread, Swap-free, Gold and Crypto.
This guide covers each account, which Deriv company holds it, the leverage on offer, and how to download MT5 and log in, as at October 2026.
Deriv MT5 account types
| MT5 account | Best for | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| CFDs (Standard) | Most traders | Financial markets and Derived Indices, spreads from 0.1 pips, no commission |
| Financial | Forex, stocks, indices and commodities | Financial CFDs; the Labuan company offers financial CFDs only |
| Zero Spread | Traders who want zero spreads on selected instruments | Offered by Deriv (BVI) Ltd on financial instruments and Derived Indices |
| Swap-free | No overnight charges, including Islamic traders | No swap, wider spreads, smaller instrument list; provided by Deriv (SVG) LLC |
| Gold | Gold traders | Separate MT5 account listed by Deriv |
| Crypto | Crypto CFD traders | Separate MT5 account listed by Deriv |
Availability can vary by country, so the list you see in your dashboard is the one that applies to you. Deriv says it charges no entry fees, exit fees or commission on its MT5 accounts; your main costs are the spread and, unless you use Swap-free, overnight swap.
Which Deriv MT5 account is best?
- New to MT5: CFDs (Standard). It covers forex, indices, commodities and trading on Synthetic Indices in one account.
- No overnight charges: Swap-free, if you accept wider spreads and fewer instruments.
- Short-term, high-volume trading: Zero Spread, where the instruments you trade are covered.
- Gold or crypto only: the Gold or Crypto account keeps that activity separate.
Leverage and jurisdictions
Deriv offers leverage of up to 1:1000 on forex, with lower limits on some pairs. Leverage on Synthetic Indices ranges from 1:100 up to 1:4000 depending on the index. Earlier guides quoted 1000:1 as a flat figure; the actual maximum now depends on the instrument. Leverage this high can wipe out a small balance in one move, so read how leverage works before you choose a setting.
When you create an MT5 account, Deriv shows a jurisdiction. That decides which Deriv company holds the account:
- Deriv (BVI) Ltd (BVI FSC), Deriv (V) Ltd (Vanuatu VFSC), Deriv (Mauritius) Ltd (FSC Mauritius) or Deriv Investments (Cayman) Limited (CIMA): MT5 CFDs including Derived Indices.
- Deriv (FX) Ltd (Labuan FSA): financial CFDs only, no Derived Indices.
- Deriv (SVG) LLC (St Vincent and the Grenadines, no regulator named by Deriv): Swap-free CFDs, plus your Wallet and Deriv P2P.
Deriv is not authorised by the FSCA, so none of these companies gives South Africans access to the FAIS Ombud or FSCA complaint routes. Write down the entity on each account before you deposit.
How to open a Deriv MT5 real account
- Create and verify your profile. Sign up on deriv.com or the Deriv App, choose South Africa as your country and upload ID and proof of address. Our Deriv real account registration guide covers each verification step.
- Fund your Wallet. Wallets are held in USD or crypto, not ZAR. The lowest deposit is USD 5, depending on the method; see the ways to fund your account.
- Choose an MT5 account. Switch your dashboard to real, pick the MT5 account type and check the jurisdiction shown.
- Activate and set a password. Review the specifications, tap Activate and set your MT5 trading password.
- Transfer funds. Move money from your Wallet to the new MT5 account.
- Log in to MT5. Use the MT5 login number, password and server shown in your dashboard.
Deriv MT5 download and login
Deriv MT5 runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android (Google Play and AppGallery), and in a web terminal with no download. Use the links on the Deriv MT5 page rather than third-party sites.
Your MT5 login is separate from your Deriv login. The Deriv login opens your dashboard, Wallet, Deriv Trader and Deriv Bot; the MT5 login only opens the MT5 terminal. If you forget the MT5 password, open the MT5 account in your dashboard, choose Details and then Forgot password; Deriv emails a code to confirm the reset. For a refresher on the platform, see what is MT5.
Before you deposit
Practise first on a Deriv demo account, which uses the same MT5 setup with virtual funds. Make a small withdrawal early to test processing time and any fees charged by your bank. Read the full Deriv review, and if FSCA authorisation matters to you, compare brokers that hold it.
FAQs
Can I open a Deriv MT5 account in ZAR?
No. Deriv Wallets are held in USD or crypto, so your MT5 account is funded in dollars and a rand deposit is converted at your bank’s rate.
What is the Deriv Financial account?
It is the MT5 account for financial CFDs such as forex, stocks, indices and commodities. If it sits with the Labuan company, it does not include Derived Indices.
What leverage does Deriv MT5 offer?
Up to 1:1000 on forex and from 1:100 to 1:4000 on Synthetic Indices, depending on the instrument.
Is my Deriv MT5 password the same as my Deriv password?
No. Deriv MT5 uses its own trading password, set when you activate the account.
Trading CFDs is high risk. Leverage can magnify losses, and you may lose your deposit. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
