Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro 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.
When comparing eToro and Octa, it's clear that both platforms have established themselves in the online brokerage industry, but they vary significantly in terms of trustworthiness and regulatory oversight. eToro, founded in 2007 and publicly traded, holds three Tier-1 licenses, granting it a Trust Score of 96 out of 99 by ForexBrokers.com. This indicates a high level of reliability and compliance with top regulatory standards. Despite not being a bank, eToro's global presence and transparent operations are appealing features for traders seeking a trustworthy platform.
Octa, on the other hand, was established in 2011 and remains a privately held company with a differing regulatory framework. Holding only one Tier-1 license and a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 72, Octa is considered to have an average risk level. While they do maintain a Tier-2 license, their regulatory standing isn't as strong as eToro's. Both platforms offer unique features to users, but for those prioritizing regulatory assurance, eToro's higher Trust Score and listing on a stock exchange may offer additional confidence.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, eToro earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #23 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4/5 stars and ranks #30. eToro is a market-maker with a typical variable spread of 1.0 pip on EUR/USD, which is a bit higher than the industry average. Many traders choose eToro less for its spreads and more for its social copy trading tools.
Octa has improved its pricing and is catching up with lower-cost MetaTrader brokers. Spreads vary by regulator: the EU entity lists an average 0.5 pips on EUR/USD, versus 0.9 pips at its foreign entities. Octa cites no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, though certain rules can limit high-frequency strategies. Keep in mind Octa doesn’t provide a date range for its average spread data, which makes exact comparisons harder.
Extras can affect your all-in costs. eToro’s VIP Club (Silver to Diamond) is aimed at balances of $5,000–$250,000 and can include access to Trading Central, discounted withdrawal and deposit fees, and a dedicated account manager. At Octa, fees depend on your account type and which entity you use: EU clients get a single MT5 account, while international clients can choose MT4, MT5, or OctaTrader. In short, eToro offers strong social copy features with slightly higher spreads, while Octa’s entity-based pricing can be sharper on EUR/USD.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
Comparing eToro vs Octa on range of investments, both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and offer copy trading. eToro stands out with 5,461 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, while Octa lists 300 symbols and 35 pairs. eToro also allows buying exchange-traded stocks on both U.S. and international markets, whereas Octa offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges but not U.S. stocks.
For crypto, eToro lets you buy actual coins as well as crypto derivatives (availability can depend on your region), while Octa offers crypto derivatives only. Reflecting this breadth, ForexBrokers.com rates eToro 5 stars and ranks it #11 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments; Octa earns 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you want the widest variety of markets and assets, eToro is the stronger pick; if you prefer a leaner lineup centered on forex and derivatives, Octa may suffice.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5461 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 35 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Comparing eToro vs Octa for trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary web platform, and copy trading. The key differences are in platform choice. Octa offers a Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 for traders who prefer MT-based workflows. eToro does not offer a Windows desktop app and doesn’t support MT4 or MT5, centering its experience on an in-house, browser-based platform.
For charting, eToro stands out with 161 drawing tools, while Octa lists 15. Octa lets you place trades directly from a chart; eToro does not. Watchlists are comparable (eToro has 6 fields, Octa 7). Neither broker connects to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Based on ForexBrokers.com ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, eToro scores 4.5 stars and ranks #8 of 63 brokers, while Octa earns 4 stars and ranks #38 of 63—useful context if you value ease of use and strong charting on the web (eToro) versus platform variety and MetaTrader access (Octa).
| Feature |
eToro
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 104 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 161 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
eToro vs Octa: both brokers offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android with real-time quotes, price alerts, and the ability to view multiple time frames on charts. A key difference is watchlist syncing: eToro syncs your watchlists between the mobile app and web platform, while Octa does not. If you move between phone and desktop and want your symbols to match automatically, eToro makes that easier.
For charting, eToro supplies 104 technical indicators but does not let you draw trendlines and won’t auto-save drawings. Octa includes 30 indicators, yet it does support trendline drawing and auto-saves your chart notes. In independent ratings, eToro’s mobile app earns 4.5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4 stars and ranks #37. Choose eToro for deeper indicator coverage and seamless watchlist syncing, or pick Octa if drawing and saving chart annotations is a priority.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research capabilities of eToro and Octa, both platforms provide daily market commentary to keep traders informed. However, eToro stands out with a higher overall research ranking and rating, boasting 4.5 stars and a position of 13th out of 63 on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 stars and ranks 27th. A key feature of eToro is its sentiment-based trading tool that gives insights into long and short positions across various instruments, a service not available on Octa. Additionally, eToro partners with Trading Central for technical analysis offerings and provides market research from TipRanks, whereas Octa does not.
Octa has its own strengths, particularly with its provision of forex news sourced from top-tier providers like Bloomberg and Reuters, a service where eToro falls short. Moreover, Octa offers technical analysis tools from Autochartist, providing valuable insights for traders. Both brokers offer an economic calendar that presents global news events, an essential tool for staying updated on market-moving developments. While eToro and Octa both have commendable offerings, eToro seems to cater more comprehensively to research-focused traders, supported by its higher industry ranking and broader range of analytical tools.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for those just starting in forex and CFD trading, eToro and Octa both stand out as strong choices. Both platforms provide a wide array of content, including over 10 informative articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. Beginners can benefit from at least 10 educational videos on trading topics available on both platforms. They each host monthly client webinars and offer searchable archives, ensuring you have access to a wealth of knowledge whenever you need it. Furthermore, each provides a comprehensive investor dictionary with over 50 defined investment terms, making complex information more approachable for new traders.
While both eToro and Octa offer a competitive range of educational materials, eToro takes a slight lead in user ratings and rankings. With a 4.5-star rating for Education and a #5 rank out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, eToro demonstrates a higher level of satisfaction among users compared to Octa, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks #42. This difference highlights eToro's slightly better reputation in providing educational content for traders aiming to enhance their skills and understanding of the market.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 eToro is better than Octa. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
eToro is a winner for its easy-to-use copy-trading platform, where traders can copy the trades of experienced investors – or receive exclusive perks for sharing their own trading strategies.
| Feature |
eToro
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Octa
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 72 |
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eToro allows users to purchase both actual cryptocurrencies and derivatives, while Octa only offers the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
eToro stands out by offering a diverse range of payment options, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Octa provides limited options by excluding ACH, SEPA, and PayPal, though it supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | eToro | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Octa | |
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| Regulation | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Yes | 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) | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5461 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 104 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 161 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | eToro | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | eToro | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Octa Review |
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