Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets 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.
BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, and Octa, founded in 2011, are online brokers that are not publicly traded or banks. When it comes to trust ratings from ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets garners a Trust Score of 78, placing it in the average risk category. Meanwhile, Octa scores a slightly lower Trust Score of 72, also categorizing it as an average-risk broker. This highlights that both are generally considered to pose a similar level of investment risk.
Regarding regulation, both BlackBull Markets and Octa hold one Tier-1 license each, reflecting a high level of trust in their regulatory standing. However, Octa holds one additional Tier-2 license, which denotes a trusted level of regulation, while BlackBull Markets does not possess any Tier-2 licenses. This adds another layer of regulatory oversight for Octa, potentially providing a bit more assurance to its users.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
BlackBull Markets and Octa both aim to keep trading costs competitive, but they take different paths. BlackBull Markets earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks 19th out of 63 brokers, while Octa scores 4/5 stars and ranks 30th out of 63. In short: BlackBull’s pricing depends on the account you choose, and Octa has improved its spreads and adds perks like no overnight carry costs, though some details vary by region.
At BlackBull Markets, the Standard account is commission-free with higher spreads and no minimum deposit. The Prime account is the sweet spot for many active traders: it requires a $2,000 minimum deposit and charges $3 per side ($6 round turn) with lower spreads—its EUR/USD average spread was 0.16 in March 2024, for an all-in cost around 0.76 pips. For high-volume traders, the ECN Institutional account starts at a $20,000 deposit with $2 per side ($4 round turn) commissions.
Octa’s fees depend on where your account is regulated and the platform you choose. EU clients get a single MT5 account, while international clients can use MT4, MT5, or OctaTrader. Octa lists average EUR/USD spreads of 0.5 pips in the EU and about 0.9 pips at its foreign entities, though it doesn’t provide a date range for these figures. Octa also reports no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, but it has rules that may restrict high-frequency trading. Overall, Octa is compelling for swap-free trading and simplicity, while BlackBull Markets can deliver lower all-in costs if you qualify for its Prime or Institutional tiers.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.71 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
BlackBull Markets vs Octa: For range of investments, BlackBull Markets lists 26,000 tradeable symbols and 72 forex pairs, while Octa offers 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but BlackBull Markets delivers far more choices across markets.
When it comes to exchange-traded securities, BlackBull Markets lets you buy U.S. stocks like Apple and international shares such as Vodafone. Octa does not offer U.S.-listed shares but does provide access to some international exchange-traded stocks. Both brokers support copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, though neither allows buying actual crypto. Reflecting the broader menu, ForexBrokers.com rates BlackBull Markets 5/5 for Range of Investments and ranks it 6th out of 63 brokers; Octa earns 3.5/5 and ranks 53rd.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | 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.
BlackBull Markets and Octa both make it easy to get started with a free demo account for paper trading. Each broker offers Windows desktop and web-based platforms, supports copy trading, and lets you place orders straight from charts. Both also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A key difference is platform choice: Octa adds its own proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader, while BlackBull Markets focuses on third‑party platforms rather than an in-house option.
Charting indicator counts and watchlist column details aren’t specified for either broker, but their overall toolsets earn the same 4-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 rankings, BlackBull Markets places #31 out of 63 brokers, while Octa ranks #38. If you want a broker with a homegrown platform experience, Octa may appeal; if you prefer sticking with the familiar MetaTrader suite and third‑party tools, BlackBull Markets is a strong alternative—both with demo accounts to practice before you trade live.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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) | 109 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
BlackBull Markets and Octa both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts to help you stay on top of market moves. Their charting tools are similar too: both include 30 technical studies, let you draw trendlines, and automatically save your drawings. In expert reviews, both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for overall mobile experience.
The key difference is watchlist syncing. BlackBull Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Octa does not—handy if you switch between devices often. Reflecting this edge, ForexBrokers.com ranks BlackBull Markets slightly higher at #33 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with Octa at #37. If seamless watchlists matter to you, BlackBull Markets may be the better fit; otherwise, their core mobile features are closely matched.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research offerings, both BlackBull Markets and Octa provide daily market commentary to keep traders informed. However, Octa distinguishes itself by delivering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, while BlackBull Markets does not. Both platforms offer tools from Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis, but neither features Trading Central tools. BlackBull Markets offers a unique sentiment-based trading tool that Octa lacks, helping traders understand market positioning in various currency pairs. While neither broker provides research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, they both offer comprehensive economic calendars with insights into global events.
In terms of ratings, both BlackBull Markets and Octa receive a solid 4-star rating for their research capabilities. Nonetheless, BlackBull Markets takes a lead in rankings, holding the 18th position out of 63 brokers as assessed by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Octa stands at 27th. This ranking suggests that BlackBull Markets might be a preferred choice for traders who value sentiment tools and a slightly higher overall satisfaction in research offerings.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
BlackBull Markets and Octa both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education. Each offers a sizable library that includes at least 10 videos for beginners and 10 for advanced traders, plus ongoing client webinars held monthly. This mix of structured videos and live sessions helps new traders learn core concepts step by step while also getting updates and Q&A opportunities.
Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education, but BlackBull Markets ranks higher in the category (#29 of 63) than Octa (#42 of 63). If you want a slightly stronger overall learning experience, BlackBull has the edge. If you’re simply looking for accessible videos and regular webinars to build confidence as you start trading, Octa checks those boxes too.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
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 BlackBull Markets is better than Octa. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
BlackBull Markets is a plain-vanilla MetaTrader broker with a growing range of products and support for a handful of third-party social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
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Octa
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| Trust Score | 78 | 72 |
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Comparing online brokers BlackBull Markets vs Octa: neither offers purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading for speculating on crypto prices without owning the underlying asset.
BlackBull Markets vs Octa: neither supports ACH/SEPA or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, both accept Skrill and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | 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 | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.71 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | BlackBull Markets | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | BlackBull Markets | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | Octa Review |
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