How to Open a Deriv Account & Link MT5 (2026): Full Setup Guide

Illustration of a laptop and smartphone being linked for Deriv MT5 trading

Key takeaways

A Deriv demo account is free and comes with $10,000 virtual money, no deposit needed
MT5 is a separate app: Deriv creates the login, MT5 is where you trade
You need three details to log in: server, login number, and password
Verify your identity early, it makes future withdrawals smooth
Total setup time: about 10 minutes on a phone

Step 1: Create your Deriv account

Go to the Deriv signup page, enter your email, and confirm the verification email they send you. Choose your country of residence and set a password. No deposit is required at this stage, don't let anything rush you into one.

Step 2: Open Trader's Hub

After logging in you land on Trader's Hub, the dashboard listing every account type. You'll see two toggles at the top: Demo and Real. Start on Demo.

Step 3: Add an MT5 account

Under CFDs, find MT5 Standard and click Get. Deriv instantly creates your MT5 login and shows you three details:

Server (e.g. DerivSVG-Server or similar)
Login (a number)
Password (you choose it)

Screenshot these or write them down: MT5 will ask for all three.

Step 4: Download MetaTrader 5

Phone: install "MetaTrader 5" from the Play Store / App Store. PC: download the MT5 installer from your Deriv dashboard (this version comes with Deriv's servers pre-listed, which saves hassle).

Step 5: Log in inside MT5

In MT5: Settings → New Account → Log in to an existing account. Search for "Deriv", pick the exact server name from Step 3, and enter your login and password. Your balance ($10,000 virtual on demo) appears at the top when it works.

Step 6: Find the synthetic indices

Open Market Watch (the symbols list), tap the search/plus icon, and type Volatility 75 Index. Add it, along with Volatility 100, Boom 500 and Crash 500. Open a chart and you're live.

Step 7, (When ready) verify your identity

Before trading real money, Deriv asks for proof of identity (national ID or passport) and sometimes proof of address. Do it early, verification takes minutes to submit and means your first withdrawal isn't delayed.

Common problems

"Invalid account" in MT5, wrong server selected. It must match Deriv's exactly.
Can't find Volatility 75, you logged into the wrong MT5 account type, or the symbol list needs the "+" search. Synthetics only exist on Deriv's MT5 servers.
No demo balance, you created the account but not the MT5 demo account (Step 3 again).

Try trading free, $10,000 virtual demo →

Frequently asked questions

Is Deriv free to use?

Yes. Opening a Deriv account is free, and the demo account comes with $10,000 of virtual money at no cost. You only pay when you deposit your own money to trade for real. MetaTrader 5, the platform Deriv uses, is also free to download.

Do I need to deposit money to open a Deriv account?

No. You can open an account and use the demo with $10,000 virtual money without depositing anything. A deposit is only required when you decide to trade with real money.

Can I use Deriv on my phone?

Yes. You create the account in a mobile browser, then install the free MetaTrader 5 app from the Play Store or App Store and log in with the server, login number and password Deriv gives you. The whole setup takes about 10 minutes on a phone.

What is the difference between a Deriv demo and real account?

A demo account uses $10,000 of virtual money so you can practise with zero risk. A real account uses your own deposited funds. Both use the same platform and charts, so what you practise on demo carries directly over to real trading.

Why can't I see Volatility 75 in MetaTrader 5?

Synthetic indices like Volatility 75 only exist on Deriv's own MT5 servers. If you can't find them, you have either logged into the wrong MT5 account type, or you need to add the symbol via the "+" search in Market Watch.

What are the Deriv account types?

Deriv has three main account types. Financial gives you standard CFDs on forex, stocks, commodities and crypto. Derived (formerly Synthetic) adds the synthetic indices: Volatility 75/100, Boom and Crash. Swap-free removes overnight swap charges. You can hold a free demo and a real version of each.

Can I trade on Deriv without downloading MetaTrader 5?

Yes. MT5 is popular for synthetic indices, but Deriv also has its own web and app platforms: Deriv Trader and Deriv GO, that run in your browser or phone with nothing to install. Beginners often start on Deriv Trader because your maximum loss on each trade is capped and shown upfront.

Written by Tony: AA Global FX
Tony runs a live trading desk on Deriv synthetic indices and index CFDs and has published 116+ free trading tutorials on YouTube since 2022. About · YouTube
Last updated: 2026-07-30

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