Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM vs Octa: According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM scores 95/99, which places it in the highly trusted range (90–99). Octa scores 73/99, which falls into the average risk range (70–79). For reference, 80–89 is trusted, 60–69 is high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
On regulation and company background, FXCM (founded 1999) is a publicly traded online broker and not a bank. It holds 4 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). Octa (founded 2011) is not publicly traded and not a bank, with 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license. Overall, FXCM has more top-tier oversight and a higher Trust Score than Octa.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, FXCM comes out a bit ahead of Octa, though both brokers have improved their pricing in recent years. FXCM’s forex pricing is slightly above the industry average overall, with EUR/USD spreads averaging 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia accounts in May 2024, and 1.38 pips for its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Its commission-based accounts were lower at 0.28 pips before commissions, and active traders may qualify for rebates that can reduce costs further. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #17 out of 36 brokers.
Octa has also made progress on pricing and now competes more closely with lower-cost MetaTrader brokers. Its EUR/USD average spread is listed at 0.5 pips for EU clients and 0.9 pips for clients under its foreign entities, though Octa does not provide a date range for this spread data, which makes it harder to compare directly. Octa also highlights no overnight carry costs and no slippage on most executed orders, but some account rules may make it less appealing for high-frequency traders. Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #27 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, FXCM has the edge for traders focused on lower total trading costs, especially for active traders who can access rebate programs. Octa can still be a solid low-cost option, but FXCM’s pricing details and stronger category ranking give it the advantage in this comparison.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM offers a wider range of investments than Octa overall, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more market access. FXCM provides 440 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows clients to buy actual cryptocurrency or U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities outright.
One key difference is that Octa offers access to international exchange-traded securities, while FXCM does not. Even so, FXCM is rated higher for Range of Investments at 4.5 out of 5 stars, versus Octa’s 3.5 stars. FXCM is also ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com in this category, placing #21 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa at #34.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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.
FXCM and Octa both give traders a wide choice of platform options, including a free demo account for practice, a desktop download for Windows, a web-based platform, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Each broker also offers its own in-house platform and lets users place trades directly from charts, which is helpful for active traders who want quick order entry. For charting and watch lists, the provided data does not include specific numbers, but both brokers cover the basics well for everyday trading needs.
The biggest difference is that Octa also supports MetaTrader 5, while FXCM does not. That extra platform may matter for traders who want the newer MT5 experience. Overall, FXCM comes out ahead in this category with a 5-star Trading Platforms and Tools rating and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Octa’s 4-star rating and #31 ranking.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Octa both offer iPhone and Android apps, so either broker gives traders a way to manage accounts and place trades on the go. Both mobile apps also include stock or forex price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and automatic saving of chart drawings. Where FXCM stands out is watchlist symbol syncing, which lets changes made in the mobile app and online account stay matched, while Octa does not offer this feature.
FXCM also has a wider set of charting tools in its mobile app, with 59 technical studies compared with Octa’s 30. That extra range may matter for traders who rely on technical analysis. In ratings, FXCM scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks 16th out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4 stars and ranks 30th, giving FXCM the edge overall for mobile trading.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and Octa both give traders daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. Each broker covers the basics well, so either one can help you stay informed about major market moves and planned news releases.
Where FXCM stands out is in the extra research features. It offers Trading Central tools, sentiment data showing long and short positions, and market research from TipRanks, while Octa does not offer these. Octa does include Autochartist, which FXCM does not. Overall, FXCM has a higher research rating of 4.5 out of 5 and is ranked #11 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Octa’s 4 out of 5 rating and #24 ranking.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and Octa both give beginners a solid set of learning tools, including forex and CFD education, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find basic lessons to help them get started, while more experienced users can also dig into deeper trading topics. In this area, both brokers cover the essentials well.
That said, FXCM comes out ahead overall for education. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers for the Education category, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. For beginners who want a broker with more highly rated educational support, FXCM has the edge.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 FXCM is better than Octa. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #35.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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Octa
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 |
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FXCM vs Octa: Neither broker allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Compared to Octa, FXCM stands out by supporting ACH/SEPA and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals—options Octa lacks—while both brokers offer Skrill and bank wire transfers; Visa/Mastercard availability was 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 | FXCM | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Octa | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA 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) | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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 | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | 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 | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Octa Review |
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