Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Octa vs iFOREX, 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.
Octa, founded in 2011, and iFOREX, established in 1996, are prominent online brokers in the trading world, each bringing their own strengths to the table. Neither company is publicly traded or functions as a bank, but both have made strides to gain regulatory trust. Octa holds one Tier-1 license, which signals a high level of trust, and one Tier-2 license, considered trusted. In comparison, iFOREX holds just one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, focusing their efforts on a single, highly regarded regulatory approval.
In terms of trustworthiness, Octa and iFOREX have varying ratings according to ForexBrokers.com. Octa holds a Trust Score of 72, placing it in the average risk category, while iFOREX achieves a slightly higher score of 75, also categorized under average risk. Both brokers strive for transparency and reliability, yet iFOREX seems to inch forward slightly in trust rating, despite fewer licenses overall.
| Feature |
Octa
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2011 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Octa currently looks more competitive than iFOREX. Octa earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #30 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while iFOREX holds 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #62 of 63. Exact trading costs for both brokers can vary by account type and the regulatory entity where your account is opened.
Octa has improved its pricing and now keeps pace with many low-cost MetaTrader brokers. It reports no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders and no overnight carry costs, though certain rules can hinder high-frequency trading. Pricing depends on the entity: EU clients get a single MT5 account, while international clients can access MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader. Spreads also vary by entity—Octa lists an average 0.5 pips on EUR/USD in the EU versus 0.9 pips with its foreign entities. However, Octa does not provide a date range for its typical spread data, making precise comparisons less certain.
For iFOREX, average spread data is not available, which makes it harder to estimate total trading costs or compare spreads directly with peers. That limited pricing detail, reflected in its 3-star rating and #62 ranking for Commissions and Fees, means cost-conscious traders may find Octa easier to evaluate.
| Feature |
Octa
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
Octa and iFOREX both let you trade forex via CFDs or spot contracts, and each supports crypto derivatives (but not actual, delivered crypto). In terms of breadth, iFOREX lists more to trade overall, with about 750 instruments and 88 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 instruments and 35 forex pairs. Neither broker offers exchange-traded U.S. stocks.
The key differences are where Octa adds access and tools: it offers exchange-traded international shares (non-CFD) and supports copy trading, while iFOREX does not. Both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, though iFOREX ranks higher (#42 of 63) than Octa (#53 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com. In short, iFOREX suits traders who want more symbols and forex pairs, while Octa appeals if you want international exchange-traded shares and copy trading.
| Feature |
Octa
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 300 | 750 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 35 | 88 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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 trading platforms and tools, Octa stands out for offering a free demo account for practice, while iFOREX does not. Both brokers provide a proprietary web platform, but only Octa adds a Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Copy trading is available at Octa and not at iFOREX, and neither broker connects to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting, both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. The number of built-in technical indicators is not disclosed for either, but Octa lists 15 drawing tools versus 25 at iFOREX. Watchlists are customizable with 7 columns at Octa and 9 at iFOREX. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, though ForexBrokers.com ranks Octa higher at #38 of 63 brokers compared with iFOREX at #55.
| Feature |
Octa
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 57 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 25 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Octa and iFOREX offer iPhone and Android trading apps, but their feature sets differ. Octa is better equipped for chart-focused traders: it includes price alerts, 30 technical studies, drawing tools like trendlines, multiple time frames (intraday to weekly), and auto‑saved annotations. You can also build a watchlist with real‑time quotes. iFOREX, by contrast, does not provide price alerts, trendline drawing, multiple time frames, auto‑saving for drawings, or real‑time quote watchlists, and it does not list technical studies for its app. Watchlist syncing between mobile and the online account is not available on either platform.
Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, Octa ranks 37th out of 63 brokers, while iFOREX ranks 56th out of 63—an edge for Octa if you value richer charting and alert tools for trading on the go.
| Feature |
Octa
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at Octa and iFOREX, both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar to track key events. Octa stands out for streaming forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and it includes Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental insights. iFOREX, on the other hand, offers Trading Central analytics and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions—features Octa does not provide. iFOREX does not include top-tier news or Autochartist, and availability of TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools is not specified.
If you want institutional-grade news flow and Autochartist pattern scanning, Octa may be the better fit. If you prefer Trading Central signals and trader sentiment data, iFOREX could appeal. Based on ForexBrokers.com, Octa earns 4 out of 5 stars for research and ranks #27 of 63 brokers, while iFOREX earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #49.
| Feature |
Octa
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When considering the educational tools for beginners in forex and CFDs, Octa stands out by providing a variety of learning materials. It excels with a diverse collection of over ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, all focusing on forex and CFDs. Furthermore, Octa hosts monthly online educational webinars and maintains a searchable archive of past webinars. For those just starting their trading journey, Octa offers at least ten beginner-focused trading videos. Advanced traders are not left out, as Octa also supplies over ten videos aimed at more seasoned investors. To top it off, they provide a comprehensive investor dictionary featuring definitions of over 50 investment terms. With these offerings, Octa achieves a respectable four-star rating and is ranked 42nd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for education.
In contrast, iFOREX presents a more limited selection of educational resources. While they do offer at least ten beginner educational videos, their resources fall short in other areas. iFOREX does not provide a minimum of ten forex or CFD-focused educational pieces, nor do they hold monthly webinars or have a library of past webinar recordings. Additionally, there is no investor dictionary featuring more than 50 terms, making it a less comprehensive choice for traders eager to expand their financial lexicon. This more restricted approach to education results in a 3.5-star rating and a 53rd place ranking in the education category by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Octa
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Octa is better than iFOREX. Octa finished with an overall rank of #47, while iFOREX finished with an overall rank of #52.
Octa offers a basic, low-cost MetaTrader platform experience alongside its social copy-trading platform.
| Feature |
Octa
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iFOREX
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 72 | 75 |
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Both Octa and iFOREX do not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency, providing only cryptocurrency derivatives for traders instead.
While both Octa and iFOREX provide options for fund transactions via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, only iFOREX offers the added convenience of PayPal, as neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits or withdrawals.
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 | Octa | iFOREX | |
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| Trust Score | 72 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 72 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2011 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 300 | 750 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 35 | 88 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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 | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 57 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 25 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Octa | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Octa Review |
| Overall | Octa | iFOREX | |
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| Trust Score | 72 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
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