Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA vs GBE brokers, 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.
OANDA, established in 1996, holds a strong position in the online brokerage world, boasting a high Trust Score of 93 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite not being publicly traded or functioning as a bank, OANDA's reliability is bolstered by its possession of 7 Tier-1 licenses, considered the gold standard in regulatory trust. This makes it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
In comparison, GBE brokers, founded in 2013, holds a Trust Score of 71, placing it in the average risk category. Like OANDA, GBE brokers is neither publicly traded nor a bank. However, it carries only one Tier-1 license, indicating a lower level of regulatory trust compared to its counterpart. Despite being relatively newer and holding fewer licenses, GBE brokers still maintains a presence in the market with its current regulatory framework.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of OANDA and GBE Brokers, both platforms receive a commendable four-star rating out of five. OANDA is ranked #34 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for this category, slightly higher than GBE Brokers, which ranks at #37. OANDA is often noted for its steep forex trading costs, with high effective spreads in both its default and core pricing structures. The minimum spread for OANDA may be marginally higher than brokers offering sub-pip spreads. For instance, the average non-core pricing spread for the EUR/USD pair was 1.61 pips in July 2024.
OANDA's core pricing offers more competitive spreads, coupled with a per-side commission of $5 per $100,000 worth of currency traded. This requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. Essentially, even when factoring in these commissions, OANDA's core pricing delivers slightly better overall costs. The smallest contract size available is unique to OANDA, allowing trades in units as small as 1 unit or 0.001 micro lot, a flexibility not typically seen with other brokers.
Additional incentives from OANDA include an Elite Trader program with rebates for active traders and various subscription reimbursements. Transparency is emphasized, though OANDA lacks the publication of average spread data over fixed periods, making precise comparisons challenging. In contrast, GBE Brokers does not make average spread data available, which may impact some traders' decisions. Both brokers offer competitive commission structures, but OANDA provides additional flexibility and incentives for high-volume traders.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.61 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.61 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments offered by OANDA and GBE brokers, both platforms provide forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. OANDA boasts a broader selection with 3,928 tradeable symbols compared to GBE brokers' 500. In terms of forex pairs, GBE brokers slightly edges out with 71 pairs, while OANDA offers 68. Neither platform provides access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, so options like buying Apple or Vodafone shares are unavailable.
Both brokers support copy trading, making it easier for users to emulate the successes of others. However, when it comes to cryptocurrencies, OANDA offers the ability to buy both actual cryptocurrencies and derivatives, whereas GBE brokers only offer the latter. In terms of ratings, OANDA secures 4 stars for its range of investments, outperforming GBE brokers, which holds 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA ranks 27th among 63 brokers for investment range, whereas GBE brokers come in at 44th.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3928 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 68 | 71 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools provided by OANDA and GBE Brokers, both offer key features for different trading needs. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice without financial risk. OANDA distinguishes itself with a proprietary trading platform, developed in-house, while GBE Brokers relies on established software. Each broker caters to desktop and web-based traders, offering Windows-compatible downloads and browser-based platforms. They both support popular tools like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and have embraced copy trading. However, neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of charting, OANDA stands out with a remarkable 431 drawing tools compared to GBE Brokers' 15. Both brokers allow traders to execute trades directly from stock charts and maintain useful watch lists, with GBE slightly edging out OANDA by offering seven columns of data against six. Rated equally at 4 stars for their trading platforms and tools, OANDA ranks significantly higher at #15 compared to GBE Brokers' #57 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. This ranking difference highlights OANDA's overall stronger offering in trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 81 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 431 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both OANDA and GBE Brokers provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, making it convenient to trade on the go. Users can receive price alerts for stock and forex markets and can draw trendlines on charts, view various time frames, and automatically save their drawings. Both platforms offer 30 technical studies for charting, ensuring traders have a comprehensive set of tools. While watchlist symbol syncing isn't available on either app, you can create a watchlist with real-time quotes, enhancing your trading experience.
In terms of ratings, OANDA shines with a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, securing the #7 position out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, GBE Brokers holds a 4-star rating, ranking #57 among the same group. This makes OANDA a more highly regarded option in the mobile trading app space, providing users with a more favored experience overall.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing OANDA and GBE brokers in terms of market research, both platforms provide daily market commentary and sentiment-based trading tools, helping traders stay informed and make thoughtful decisions. However, OANDA stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, whereas GBE brokers lack this feature. Moreover, OANDA gives traders access to technical analysis tools from Autochartist, further enhancing their research capabilities, a feature that GBE brokers do not provide. Both platforms offer economic calendars to keep track of global news events.
Based on these offerings, OANDA receives a solid research rating of 5 stars, positioning it at #5 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, GBE brokers lag significantly with a research rating of 3 stars, ranking it at #62 in the same list. The differences in research offerings may explain the distinct ratings and rankings, making OANDA a more comprehensive choice for traders who value top-tier news sources and enriched analytical tools.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | 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 beginners, OANDA stands out as a top choice compared to GBE Brokers. OANDA consistently provides a wealth of learning materials, including over ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs. Beginners can also benefit from OANDA's monthly webinars, which are readily accessible online, along with an extensive archive of recorded sessions. Additionally, OANDA offers more than ten introductory videos specifically designed for novice traders, as well as a comprehensive library of advanced educational videos for those with more experience. Their educational offerings are further supported by an investor dictionary containing definitions for at least 50 investing terms.
In contrast, GBE Brokers falls short in comparison, lacking a comparable range of educational tools. They do not meet the minimum requirement of ten educational pieces on forex or CFDs and do not offer regular webinars or a searchable archive of recorded sessions. Additionally, GBE Brokers does not provide the breadth of beginner and advanced video content that is available through OANDA. As a result, OANDA receives a perfect five-star rating for education and is ranked 22nd among 63 brokers in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, whereas GBE Brokers holds only a three-star rating and ranks last at 63rd.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that OANDA is better than GBE brokers. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #12, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #57.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
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GBE brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 71 |
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OANDA provides the capability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency derivatives, while GBE Brokers offers only the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives and does not facilitate the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
Both OANDA and GBE brokers offer multiple options for depositing and withdrawing account funds, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, making them versatile choices for online trading.
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 | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
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| Regulation | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3928 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 68 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| 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 | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.61 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.61 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 81 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 431 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | OANDA Review |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
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