Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IFC Markets vs Octa, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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IFC Markets (founded 2006) and Octa (founded 2011) are online brokers with identical ForexBrokers.com Trust Scores of 73/99—classified as average risk (70-79). Neither broker is publicly traded or a bank.
For regulation, both hold one Tier-1 license (highly trusted). Octa also holds one Tier-2 license (trusted), while IFC Markets holds none at that level. This means their top-tier coverage is similar, but Octa adds an extra layer of regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 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 | 5 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, both IFC Markets and Octa earn 4 stars, but Octa has the edge in ranking and pricing for many traders. IFC Markets is ranked #34 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees, while Octa ranks #28 out of 36. That said, the best choice depends on how you trade and which account type you use.
IFC Markets has an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08, so its standard pricing is a bit less competitive. For active traders, IFC Markets’ new ECN account can be more appealing, with effective spreads around 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of a trade. It also stands out for not charging inactivity fees and for offering active trader discounts.
Octa has improved its pricing a lot and is now closer to the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. Its EUR/USD spread is listed at 0.5 pips for EU clients and 0.9 pips for foreign entities, though Octa does not give a date range for this spread data, which makes it harder to compare exactly. Octa also has no overnight carry costs and no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders, but some restrictions may make it less suitable for high-frequency traders.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.44 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.1 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IFC Markets and Octa on range of investments, both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, plus copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Each also lets clients trade shares listed on international exchanges, while neither provides access to U.S.-listed exchange traded securities or the option to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency. In simple terms, their product mix is similar on the main basics, but IFC Markets gives traders more to choose from overall.
That wider selection shows up in the numbers: IFC Markets lists 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for range of investments, but ForexBrokers.com places IFC Markets slightly ahead at #33 out of 36 brokers, while Octa ranks #35. If you want the broker with the larger menu of markets, IFC Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IFC Markets and Octa are closely matched when it comes to trading platforms and tools, and both brokers cover the main needs most traders look for. Each offers a free demo account for practice, its own in-house platform, desktop software for Windows, and a web-based platform for trading in a browser. Both also support copy trading, plus the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, and each lets users place trades directly from a chart.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, though IFC Markets edges ahead slightly in the overall ranking, placing #32 out of 36 brokers compared with Octa at #33. Based on the available data, neither broker shows a clear advantage in chart indicators or watch list fields, so the choice may come down to platform feel and personal preference rather than a major feature gap.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IFC Markets and Octa both give mobile traders the key tools needed to stay active on the go. Each broker offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, trendline drawing, and automatic saving for chart drawings. Both mobile platforms are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so the overall experience is similar in many important areas.
The main difference is watchlist syncing. IFC Markets lets users sync watchlists between the mobile app and online account, while Octa does not offer this feature. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps category, Octa holds the stronger ranking at #31 compared with IFC Markets at #37, giving Octa a slight edge in that area. For traders who care most about watchlist syncing, IFC Markets stands out, while Octa has the better category rank.
| Feature |
IFC 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, both IFC Markets and Octa give traders daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so each offers a basic way to follow news and upcoming events. IFC Markets also includes a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions across instruments, which can help traders gauge market mood. However, it does not provide forex news from major sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, and it does not offer tools from Autochartist or Trading Central.
Octa has a wider research setup overall. In addition to daily market commentary and an economic calendar, it offers forex news from top-tier outlets and includes Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental analysis. Octa does not offer a sentiment tool or Trading Central, but its stronger research lineup is reflected in its higher Research rating of 4 stars and a rank of #25 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars and #33 ranking.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | 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.
For beginners looking to learn forex or CFD trading, both IFC Markets and Octa offer a wide range of learning materials, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos. IFC Markets also provides enough forex or CFD education content overall, but it does not offer monthly educational webinars. Octa does offer monthly online educational webinars, which can be helpful for traders who want more live guidance and interaction.
In overall education quality, Octa is rated slightly higher than IFC Markets, with 4 out of 5 stars compared with 3.5 stars for IFC Markets. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks IFC Markets better in the Education category, placing it at #26 out of 36 brokers, while Octa is ranked #34. For new traders, both brokers can be useful, but Octa has the edge for live learning, while IFC Markets holds a stronger spot in the category ranking.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 IFC Markets is better than Octa. IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #37.
IFC Markets is a well-established broker that has been in operation for 17 years. Forex traders at IFC Markets gain access to multiple trading platforms, a growing range of tradeable markets, and a balanced offering of research and educational content. However, IFC Markets’ Trust Score suffers due to the broker’s limited range of regulatory licenses.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
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Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 73 |
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In an IFC Markets vs Octa comparison for crypto trading, neither broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In the IFC Markets vs Octa comparison, neither broker supports ACH/SEPA or PayPal, both offer bank wire transfers, only Octa supports Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability is 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 | IFC Markets | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 73 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | 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). |
| Cost | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.44 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.1 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IFC Markets | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IFC 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 | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | IFC Markets | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
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