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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both Octa and Alpari earn 4 out of 5 stars, but Octa ranks higher at #30 of 63 brokers for this category on ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari sits at #42 of 63. Octa’s pricing has improved and is edging closer to the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. It also advertises no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders and no overnight carry costs, though some rules may limit high-frequency trading. By contrast, Alpari doesn’t publish average spread data, making it harder to gauge its day‑to‑day trading costs.
At Octa, what you pay depends on your account type and the entity that regulates your account. EU clients use the EU entity, which offers a single MT5 account, while international clients can choose from MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader via its South Africa or Mwali entities. Spreads vary by region: the EU entity lists an average 0.5‑pip spread on EUR/USD, compared with 0.9 pips at its foreign entities. However, Octa doesn’t provide a date range for these averages, so direct, apples‑to‑apples comparisons are limited—even though the overall pricing trend is favorable.
Alpari’s commissions and fees picture is less defined because it does not provide average spread figures. That lack of transparency makes it tougher to estimate typical costs versus Octa. While both brokers share a 4‑star fees rating, Octa’s higher ranking (#30 vs. Alpari’s #42) and clearer pricing signals may appeal more to cost‑conscious traders—especially for pairs like EUR/USD. Always verify current pricing and account availability on each broker’s website for your region.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $20 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Octa and Alpari both support forex trading (available as CFDs or spot), copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. Octa lists about 300 tradeable symbols compared with Alpari’s 105, giving Octa the broader overall catalog. For currency traders, Alpari offers more pairs (46 vs. Octa’s 35). Neither broker provides access to U.S.-listed stocks like Apple, but both let you trade exchange-traded securities on certain international markets (for example, London-listed shares like Vodafone).
In independent reviews of range of investments, Octa earns 3.5 stars and ranks 53rd, while Alpari scores 3 stars and ranks 64th (ForexBrokers.com). Choose Octa if you want a wider selection beyond forex; pick Alpari if your priority is a larger list of currency pairs.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 300 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 35 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 stack up closely on trading platforms and tools. Both offer a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary in-house platform, and access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on a Windows desktop download or directly in your browser, and each broker supports copy trading. Trading from charts is available with both, making it easy to spot a setup and place an order without switching screens.
Each broker earns 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, but Octa ranks higher overall in the category (#38 of 63 on ForexBrokers.com) than Alpari (#56 of 63). Exact counts for built-in technical indicators and watchlist column options aren’t specified and can vary by platform version. If you want the widest feature set, try the free demo to see which platform layout, chart tools, and workflows fit you best.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both the Octa mobile app and the Alpari mobile app are available on iPhone and Android. Each offers stock or forex price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, and tools to draw trendlines. One shared drawback is that watchlists don’t sync between the mobile app and the client’s online account.
The main difference is chart workflow: Octa auto-saves your drawings, while Alpari does not. Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks Octa higher (#37 of 63) than Alpari (#57 of 63). If auto-saving chart annotations and a stronger category ranking matter to you, Octa has the edge; otherwise, the two are very similar for mobile trading features.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Octa vs Alpari for market research: Octa pulls ahead thanks to daily market commentary, which Alpari doesn’t provide. Both brokers stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and include Autochartist tools for technical analysis. Neither broker offers Trading Central or a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, and both provide an economic calendar to track upcoming events.
On third-party tools, Octa does not offer TipRanks or Acuity Trading; Alpari does not advertise either service. Overall scores reflect the gap: Octa earns 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #27 of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari receives 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #58.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing beginner education at Octa and Alpari, both brokers provide at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos that explain core forex and CFD concepts in plain language. Octa goes further with live online webinars held monthly, giving newcomers a chance to learn in real time and ask questions. Octa also supplies 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up, while Alpari does not meet that advanced video threshold and does not run monthly educational webinars.
Independent ratings reflect these differences: Octa earns 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #42 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #48. If you value a guided path with live sessions and more depth as you progress, Octa has the edge. If you only need a basic set of beginner videos, Alpari can still cover the essentials.
| Feature |
Octa
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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
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Alpari
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| Trust Score | 72 | 68 |
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Octa vs Alpari: neither online broker offers the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both provide trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
Octa vs Alpari deposit and withdrawal methods: neither online broker supports ACH or SEPA; Octa does not support PayPal but does support Skrill and bank wire transfers, while PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire availability for Alpari—and Visa/Mastercard for Octa—are not specified.
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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Octa | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 72 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Octa | Alpari | |
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| 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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 300 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 35 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 account | 0.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Octa | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Octa | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 72 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
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