Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs Octa, 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.
AvaTrade (founded 2006) and Octa (founded 2011) are online brokers; neither is publicly traded or a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, AvaTrade scores 96/99 (highly trusted), while Octa scores 73/99 (average risk).
On regulation, AvaTrade holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, compared to Octa’s 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 licenses the most trusted and Tier-2 licenses trusted, which helps explain AvaTrade’s higher trust rating.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
AvaTrade offers commissions and fees that are fairly close to the market average, with typical spreads of just under 1 pip at 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That is a little higher than some low-cost competitors such as CMC Markets and Tickmill, but AvaTrade’s pricing is still competitive for many everyday traders. For qualified professional traders, AvaTrade’s Professional account can be even better, with spreads around 0.6 pips, which puts it in the same range as FP Markets. AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Octa has improved its pricing a lot and now comes much closer to the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. Its fees depend on the account type and the entity that handles the account, with European clients using the EU entity and international clients being served through South Africa or Octa’s offshore entity in Mwali. In the EU, Octa lists average EUR/USD spreads at 0.5 pips, while the foreign entities list 0.9 pips, although the broker does not provide a date range for these spread figures. Octa also says it has no overnight carry costs and no slippage on 97.5% of orders, but some trading limits may be a drawback for high-frequency traders. Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Overall, AvaTrade edges out Octa on commissions and fees thanks to its stronger rating and higher ranking, even though Octa can be very competitive on spreads in some regions. If you want a clearer track record and slightly better overall standing in this category, AvaTrade has the advantage. If you are comparing account choices and region-specific pricing, Octa may still be worth a look.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade and Octa both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading plus cryptocurrency CFDs. However, AvaTrade offers a much wider overall selection, with 1,260 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Neither broker lets clients buy actual cryptocurrencies, and neither offers U.S.-listed exchange traded securities such as Apple shares.
The main difference is that Octa does provide access to exchange traded securities on international markets, while AvaTrade does not. That broader mix helps Octa in one area, but AvaTrade still comes out ahead for range of investments overall, with a 4-star rating versus Octa’s 3.5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, AvaTrade ranks #26 out of 36 brokers, while Octa ranks #33.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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.
AvaTrade and Octa both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including free demo accounts for practice, their own in-house platforms, Windows desktop apps, web-based trading, copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry faster and easier for active traders. In short, both brokers cover the main platform needs most traders look for.
Where they differ is in ratings and rank. AvaTrade scores higher for Trading Platforms and Tools, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #13 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa receives 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #30. Based on this category alone, AvaTrade has the edge for traders who want a slightly better overall platform experience and tool set.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade and Octa both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each includes price alerts plus the ability to draw trendlines on charts. For everyday mobile use, that means traders on either platform can track the market and review chart patterns on the go. AvaTrade stands out with watchlist syncing between its app and online account, while Octa does not offer that feature, so changes to watchlists on AvaTrade carry over more smoothly across devices.
When it comes to charting tools and overall app quality, AvaTrade has the edge. Its mobile app includes 73 technical studies compared with Octa’s 30, and it is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars versus Octa’s 4 stars. AvaTrade also ranks higher in ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps category, placing 13th out of 36 brokers, while Octa ranks 29th. One area where Octa comes out ahead is auto-saving chart drawings, which its app supports and AvaTrade does not.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, AvaTrade and Octa both give traders access to top-tier forex news and an economic calendar, so users can keep up with major events and updates. Each broker also earns a 4-star Research rating, showing solid overall support for traders who want to follow the markets closely. Octa has the edge in a few areas, offering daily market commentary and Autochartist tools, while AvaTrade stands out with Trading Central research and a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions across markets.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, Octa ranks slightly higher at #24 out of 36 brokers, compared with AvaTrade at #28. Both brokers cover the basics well, but their research offerings differ: Octa leans more toward daily insights and chart-based analysis, while AvaTrade focuses more on Trading Central and market sentiment. For traders who want more built-in research guidance, Octa may feel a bit more helpful overall, while AvaTrade offers a different mix of tools that may suit those who prefer Trading Central’s analysis.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading lessons, both AvaTrade and Octa offer a solid mix of forex and CFD education. Each broker provides at least 10 educational items focused on forex or CFDs, runs online client webinars at least once a month, and offers 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos. Both are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for education, so new traders can expect a helpful range of learning materials from either platform.
That said, AvaTrade stands out more clearly in overall education quality. ForexBrokers.com ranks AvaTrade #2 out of 36 brokers for the Education category, while Octa sits at #32. In simple terms, both brokers give beginners plenty of ways to learn, but AvaTrade appears to offer a stronger and more highly rated educational experience overall.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than Octa. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, along with strong educational resources and copy trading support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 |
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Comparing online brokers AvaTrade and Octa: neither allows buying or taking delivery of actual cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
AvaTrade vs Octa: Neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers; AvaTrade accepts PayPal while Octa does not; both offer Skrill and bank wire deposits/withdrawals; Visa and Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | AvaTrade | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | Octa | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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 | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Octa Review |
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