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IC Markets vs Octa 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Octa, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

IC Markets
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $200
  • Trust Score: 84
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 3583
Octa
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $25
  • Trust Score: 72
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 300

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.

Regulation

Founded in 2007, IC Markets stands out as a trusted online broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84, placing it in the trusted category. The firm holds two Tier-1 licenses, which signifies a high level of confidence in its operations. Even though it is not publicly traded and doesn’t operate as a bank, IC Markets has built a reputation in the industry for reliability.

Octa, established in 2011, carries a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 72, marking it as an average risk broker. It holds one Tier-1 license and also one Tier-2 license, which collectively contribute to its standing. Similar to IC Markets, Octa is neither publicly listed nor a banking institution. While Octa lags slightly behind IC Markets in terms of licensing and trust score, it still offers regulated services in the online brokerage space.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
Octa logoOcta
Year Founded info 2007 2011
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 3 1

Fees

When comparing IC Markets and Octa for commissions and fees, IC Markets stands out as a top contender among low-cost forex brokers. With a 5-star rating in this category and a ranking of #5 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets offers competitive trading costs. Its trading platforms provide flexibility with three account types: the commission-free Standard account, and the commission-based Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts. The cTrader account offers slightly lower commissions compared to its MetaTrader counterparts. IC Markets lists an average spread of 0.02 pips on the EUR/USD pair, providing an all-in cost of 0.62 pips for cTrader accounts, making it a compelling choice for traders.

Octa, on the other hand, has shown significant improvement in its pricing strategies, earning a respectable 4-star rating and ranking #29 for commissions and fees. Unlike IC Markets, Octa focuses on nearly slippage-free execution with 97.5% of its orders, while maintaining no overnight carry costs. However, Octa's commissions and fees vary based on the account type and entity chosen. European clients are limited to an MT5 account, while international clients can choose between MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader, with spread pricing differing slightly between entities. While Octa's average spread data do not have a specific date range for added credibility, the broker has advanced to better compete with low-cost MetaTrader options.

In summary, IC Markets and Octa offer different strengths in terms of commissions and fees. IC Markets is celebrated for its low costs and flexible platform options, making it Best in Class in this category. Octa, meanwhile, excels with its improved pricing and efficient execution, although it falls slightly short without the validated spread data. Both brokers have their unique benefits, tailored to meet varied trading needs.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
Octa logoOcta
Minimum Deposit info $200 $25
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.62 info 0.9 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.62 info N/A
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
ACH or SEPA Transfers info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

IC Markets and Octa both cater to traders interested in forex trading, offering these as CFDs or spot contracts. When it comes to the diversity of tradeable symbols, IC Markets takes the lead with an impressive 3,583 options, compared to Octa's 300. Forex enthusiasts will also find IC Markets more appealing, boasting 61 tradeable forex pairs while Octa provides access to 35. Both platforms do not support buying actual exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares, but they do allow investments in international markets, including companies like Vodafone.

Neither IC Markets nor Octa offer the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, yet both allow trading of cryptocurrency derivatives. Additionally, traders interested in copy trading will find this feature available on both platforms. In terms of range of investments, IC Markets appears more favorable with a 4.5-star rating while Octa holds 3.5 stars. This is further evidenced by their respective rankings among 62 brokers, with IC Markets positioned at #25 and Octa at #52, according to ForexBrokers.com.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
Octa logoOcta
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 3583 300
Forex Pairs (Total) info 61 35
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by IC Markets and Octa, traders will find both brokers offering a variety of options that cater to different needs. Both brokers provide a free virtual demo account, making it easy for new traders to practice before diving into live markets. While Octa provides its own unique platform developed in-house, IC Markets utilizes industry-standard platforms without a proprietary version. Each broker supports a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based platform, ensuring accessibility from different devices. In terms of copy trading, both IC Markets and Octa offer this feature, although only IC Markets supports ZuluTrade, giving users an additional choice for social trading.

Both brokers are rated four stars for their trading platforms and tools, illustrating their commitment to quality. However, IC Markets holds a higher position (#16) in the ForexBrokers.com ranking for platforms and tools compared to Octa, which is positioned at #37 out of 62 brokers. Charting capabilities are closely matched, with both offering 15 drawing tools, and allowing trades to be made directly from stock charts. Watch list customization is flexible on both platforms with seven fields provided for tracking investments. For those interested in using platforms like MetaTrader, both brokers support MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, but without DupliTrade support. Ultimately, choosing between IC Markets and Octa may come down to personal preference and specific platform requirements.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
Octa logoOcta
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 15 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 7 7
View More

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Both IC Markets and Octa offer mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making them accessible for traders on the go. They both provide features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple timeframes on charts. The apps from both brokers include essential tools for traders, offering 30 technical studies for chart analysis and the ability to auto-save drawings. Users can also create watchlists with real-time quotes, although neither app synchronizes watchlist changes with the online account.

In terms of ratings, both brokers receive a commendable four-star rating for their mobile trading apps. However, IC Markets is ranked 22nd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Octa stands at the 35th position. This difference in ranking might be a factor to consider for users looking for reliability and efficiency in their mobile trading experience. Although similar in many features, this ranking suggests a slight edge for IC Markets in the realm of mobile trading app performance.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
Octa logoOcta
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info No No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

IC Markets and Octa are both competitive in providing daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Both brokers also align in offering technical analysis tools from Autochartist, catering to traders seeking in-depth market analysis. However, when it comes to tools from Trading Central, IC Markets outshines Octa by providing advanced technical analytics, while Octa does not offer such services. Additionally, IC Markets provides a sentiment-based trading tool to help traders assess market positions, a feature that Octa lacks.

Both IC Markets and Octa include an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global news events. While neither broker provides research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, their overall research offerings have earned them both a 4-star rating. Despite IC Markets being ranked slightly higher at #23 compared to Octa's #27 by ForexBrokers.com, both brokers remain solid choices for market research, each with its strengths in different areas.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
Octa logoOcta
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info Yes Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When comparing the educational resources available for beginners from IC Markets and Octa, both platforms stand out by providing an impressive array of learning materials for forex and CFDs. They each offer over ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. New traders can also benefit from monthly online educational webinars available from both brokers. Notably, users can access a searchable archive of webinars to revisit past sessions at their convenience.

Additionally, IC Markets and Octa cater to traders at different levels by offering at least ten dedicated beginner videos and another ten videos for more advanced traders. Their comprehensive investor dictionaries feature definitions of over 50 trading terms, helping novices and experts alike. When rated out of five stars, both brokers score equally with four stars for education. However, IC Markets holds a higher overall education ranking at #16 compared to Octa, which is ranked #42 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
Octa logoOcta
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than Octa. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.

IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
Octa logoOcta
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 72
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IC Markets or Octa?

Both IC Markets and Octa do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

IC Markets and Octa both offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing account funds, but only IC Markets supports PayPal, while neither provides ACH or SEPA transfers.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating IC Markets Octa
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 72
Winner check_circle
Review IC Markets Review Octa Review
Broker Screenshots IC Markets Octa
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation IC Markets Octa
Trust Score info 84 72
Year Founded info 2007 2011
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 3 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) IC Markets Octa
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info No No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) IC Markets Octa
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info No No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments IC Markets Octa
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 3583 300
Forex Pairs (Total) info 61 35
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 IC Markets Octa
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.62 info 0.9 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.62 info N/A
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
Inactivity Fee info No No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes Yes
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding IC Markets Octa
Minimum Deposit info $200 $25
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info No No
Trading Platforms IC Markets Octa
Proprietary Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info Yes No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info Yes No
Trading Tools IC Markets Octa
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 7 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 15 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading IC Markets Octa
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info No No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research IC Markets Octa
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info Yes Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education IC Markets Octa
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs IC Markets Octa
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review IC Markets Review Octa Review
Overall IC Markets Octa
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 72
Winner check_circle
Review IC Markets Review Octa Review
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