Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Octa vs Alpari, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Founded in 2011, Octa provides online trading services with a moderate level of trustworthiness, as indicated by its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 72 out of 99. Although Octa is neither publicly traded nor a bank, it holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, demonstrating a commitment to regulatory standards that help protect its clients. This positions Octa in the average risk category for potential investors.
Alpari, established in 1998, operates with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 68, marking it as a high-risk broker. Like Octa, Alpari is not listed on any stock exchange and does not function as a bank. However, the absence of both Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses can be concerning for potential clients, making Alpari a less trusted choice according to industry benchmarks.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2011 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When evaluating online brokers Octa and Alpari based on commissions and fees, Octa seems to be making significant strides in improving its pricing structure. Having previously struggled with pricing, Octa has now managed to tighten its game and is gaining ground among the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. One of Octa's standout features is that 97.5% of its executed orders experience no slippage, and there are no overnight carry costs. However, certain restrictions could be challenging for high-frequency traders.
Your ultimate cost with Octa will depend on your account type and which Octa entity regulates your account. European clients typically select Octa's EU entity, which offers only MT5. International clients can access accounts through Octa's South African or offshore entities in Mwali, which support MT4 and MT5, in addition to their proprietary OctaTrader platform. Octa’s pricing on spreads differs based on the regulatory entity; for instance, the spread for the EUR/USD pair is slightly more competitive at 0.5 pips under the EU entity than the 0.9 pips advertised under foreign entities. Although Octa has improved its pricing structure, the absence of date-specific data for its average spread figures makes it difficult to precisely compare.
Alpari, on the other hand, does not provide average spread data, which limits the ability to directly compare spreads and overall pricing transparency. Despite this, both brokers share a rating of 4 stars in the commissions and fees category. However, in terms of rankings out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, Octa holds a stronger position at #29, compared to Alpari which is ranked at #41.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments offered by online brokers Octa and Alpari, traders will find distinct differences in their offerings. Octa provides a broader selection of tradeable symbols with 300 options available, compared to Alpari's 105. Both brokers facilitate forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts; however, Alpari edges out with 46 tradeable forex pairs, while Octa offers 35. Neither broker supports direct purchase of U.S. exchange traded securities, such as Apple shares, although both allow access to international exchanges for trading securities like Vodafone shares. Furthermore, both platforms permit copy trading, a feature that can benefit novice traders looking to follow experienced investors' strategies.
In terms of cryptocurrency investment, neither broker offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, although both allow trading of cryptocurrency derivatives. Based on these factors, Octa is rated slightly higher with 3.5 stars out of 5 for its range of investments, compared to Alpari's 3-star rating. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Octa stands at #52, while Alpari is placed at #63 out of 63 brokers. For investors seeking a more diverse range of trading opportunities, Octa may be the more attractive choice between the two, due to its broader selection of tradeable symbols and slightly higher industry rating.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 300 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 35 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Octa and Alpari both cater to traders by offering a variety of platforms and tools that enhance the trading experience. Both brokers provide simulated trading options, allowing users to practice their strategies with free virtual demo accounts. Each offers proprietary platforms developed in-house, alongside popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Whether you prefer trading via a Windows-based desktop application or a web browser, both Octa and Alpari accommodate these needs. Moreover, they support copy trading, enabling traders to follow the strategies of experienced market participants. However, neither broker currently offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade for those specific interests.
In terms of charting capabilities, Octa and Alpari are on par, providing 15 drawing tools to help traders analyze the market effectively. Both brokers also enable trading directly from stock charts, and watch lists can be customized with up to seven fields to personalize your trading dashboard. Evaluating these offerings, both Octa and Alpari receive a 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. However, Octa holds a slight advantage in industry rankings for this category, securing the 37th position out of 63 brokers versus Alpari, which ranks 55th according to ForexBrokers.com. While both provide a comprehensive suite of tools for traders, individual needs and preferences may guide you towards one over the other.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Octa and Alpari offer mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making access to trading markets easy and convenient. They provide essential features like price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on stock or forex charts. With an offering of 30 technical studies each, they excel in providing useful charting tools. However, a slight distinction between the two is Octa's feature of auto-saving chart drawings, which Alpari lacks.
For traders who prioritize easily updated watchlists, neither Octa nor Alpari syncs watchlists between their mobile apps and online accounts. Both apps allow real-time quotes in watchlists, but it's noteworthy that Octa ranks higher in the ForexBrokers.com mobile trading apps category at #36, compared to Alpari's #56. Despite these differences, both apps receive a respectable rating of four stars, reflecting their efficacy in providing a satisfactory mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research offerings, both Octa and Alpari bring several features to the table, yet there are some distinctions worth noting. Octa provides daily market commentary, a feature not available with Alpari, which can be beneficial for traders seeking regular insights. Both brokers offer forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring that traders have access to reliable and timely information. Each platform also supports technical analysis tools from Autochartist, but neither offers tools from Trading Central. Additionally, while Octa and Alpari both provide economic calendars to track global financial events, they do not provide sentiment-based trading tools or services from TipRanks and Acuity Trading.
In terms of research quality, Octa edges out with a four-star rating compared to Alpari's three-star rating, according to ForexBrokers.com. This higher rating reflects the comprehensive nature of Octa's market commentary and news sourcing. When considering rankings among 63 brokers, Octa stands at 27th place for research amenities, showcasing its commitment to delivering valuable market insights, whereas Alpari is positioned at 57th, suggesting there may be room for improvement. These evaluations can guide traders in choosing a platform that best aligns with their needs for market analysis and financial data.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing educational resources for beginners, Octa and Alpari both offer a range of materials to help those new to forex and CFDs. Both brokers provide a minimum of 10 educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, focused primarily on forex or CFDs. While Alpari offers plenty of beginner educational videos, Octa not only matches this with its own set of beginner videos but also offers more advanced content for experienced traders. Both platforms include investor dictionaries with a wide range of investing terms, aiding overall understanding for newcomers.
However, Octa extends its offerings by hosting online educational webinars monthly, while Alpari does not. Additionally, Octa provides a searchable archive of past client webinars, a feature Alpari lacks. This difference in resources and accessibility likely contributes to Octa's higher education rating of four stars compared to Alpari's three stars. Reflecting these distinctions, Octa ranks 42nd out of 63 brokers in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari trails slightly, ranking 48th. Beginners seeking comprehensive, structured educational content may find Octa's resources more beneficial for their learning journey.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Octa is better than Alpari. Octa finished with an overall rank of #47, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
Octa offers a basic, low-cost MetaTrader platform experience alongside its social copy-trading platform.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 72 | 68 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Octa and Alpari do not offer the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Octa and Alpari lack options for ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for depositing or withdrawing funds, but they do offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires as viable methods for transactions.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 72 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 72 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2011 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 300 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 35 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 72 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill