I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to evaluate Deriv against other brokers, and I keep running into the same problem: the numbers don’t add up the same way twice.
What I mean is, when I look at raw spreads, one broker seems cheaper. But then when I factor in rebates from GlobeGain or other cashback services, suddenly a different broker looks better. And then I’m confused about which comparison is actually fair.
I know some traders just look at spreads and call it a day. Others only focus on rebates. But I feel like I’m missing something important about how to actually do this comparison correctly.
How do you guys think about this? Do you have a system for comparing brokers when rebates are on the table? And specifically, how does Deriv stack up when you’re doing a proper apples-to-apples comparison?
Track total cost per lot. Spread plus commission minus rebate.
Test both brokers. Real execution matters more than math.
Here’s the right way to think about it. Calculate your total cost per lot traded. That’s spread plus any commission minus your rebate. Do this for your most-traded pairs. For example, EUR/USD: if Deriv charges 1.2 pips spread, zero commission, and you get 0.3 pip rebate through GlobeGain, your actual cost is 0.9 pips per lot. Compare that exact number against competitor’s costs. Second thing: test execution quality. A broker that slips you 1 pip on entry and exit costs more than any spread advantage. Open small accounts at both and trade for a week. Numbers on a website mean nothing compared to real trading conditions.
Volume matters too. Some brokers charge less per lot if you trade high volume. If you’re moving 50 lots a day, your cost structure might look different than someone trading five lots. Calculate based on your actual trading volume, not hypothetical scenarios.
I use a simple spreadsheet to track this. I list my top three pairs, write down the spread for each broker, add any commission, subtract the rebate I’d get, and compare the final number.
Deriv usually falls in the middle for me. Not the cheapest, but solid once rebates are factored in.
The key is doing this for YOUR pairs, not just the ones everyone talks about. Some brokers are cheaper on certain pairs and more expensive on others.
Another thing I do is paper trade for a few days on each broker before deciding. The numbers tell part of the story, but how the platform feels and performs matters too.
You might find one broker is technically cheaper by 0.1 pip, but you actually make more money on the other one because you’re more comfortable using it. That’s worth something.
Spreadsheets help. List spread, commission, rebate. That’s your real cost.
Deriv is competitive. Test it yourself to see if it works for you.
One thing people miss: not all rebates are equal. Some cashback programs are reliable, others delay payouts or have weird conditions. GlobeGain has been solid in my experience, but make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting and when you’ll get it.
Also, high rebates from a smaller service sometimes aren’t worth it if the broker itself is less reliable or has execution issues. The rebate only matters if the broker doesn’t slow you down or create problems elsewhere.