Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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.
IG and Octa are two notable names in the realm of online brokerage, but they differ significantly in terms of trust and regulatory standing. IG, established in 1974, boasts a rich history and high credibility, being publicly traded and operating as a bank. It holds an impressive eight Tier-1 licenses, signifying maximum trust, alongside two Tier-2 licenses. IG's commitment to safety and reliability earns it a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, marking it as a highly trusted choice for clients seeking security in their financial ventures.
In contrast, Octa, founded in 2011, remains a private entity and does not operate as a bank. Its regulatory portfolio includes just one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, which are modest compared to IG’s profile. This is reflected in its Trust Score of 72, suggesting an average risk level according to ForexBrokers.com standards. Overall, while Octa maintains a presence in the market, its regulatory assurances are less comprehensive compared to the well-established and highly trusted IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG earns 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #7 out of 63. It isn’t a discount broker, but pricing is sharp for active traders. On its DMA “Forex Direct” account, EUR/USD averaged 0.62 pips (July 2023), with an all-in cost around 0.82 pips once commission is included. Standard CFD accounts averaged 0.69 pips during the main trading session (slightly better than the industry average), 0.98 pips across the full day, and 1.18 pips for IG US on EUR/USD during that month. High-volume traders can qualify for tiered rebates on spread-only CFD pricing, with 10% to 20% off for monthly forex volumes above £50M to £300M+, and the DMA path offers tiered commissions tied to monthly volume.
Octa earns 4 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #26 out of 63. Pricing has improved, with average EUR/USD spreads listed at 0.5 pips for its EU entity and 0.9 pips for foreign entities; however, Octa doesn’t publish a date range for these figures. The broker highlights no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, though certain rules can limit very high‑frequency trading. Fees depend on the account type (MT5 in the EU; MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader for other entities) and the regulatory entity that serves you.
Bottom line: IG tends to be the better fit if you value transparent, volume-based pricing and access to DMA with competitive all-in costs and available rebates. Octa is appealing for simple, low-spread accounts—especially in the EU—plus the potential benefit of no overnight carry costs, but the lack of dated spread disclosures makes apples-to-apples comparisons harder.
| Feature |
IG
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG vs Octa for range of investments: IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while Octa offers 300 symbols and 35 pairs. Both provide forex trading (CFD or spot). Independent ratings echo the difference: IG earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Octa scores 3.5 stars and ranks #33.
IG also lets you buy exchange-traded securities directly on both U.S. and international exchanges—think stocks like Apple or Vodafone—plus it supports both real cryptocurrency purchases and crypto CFDs. Octa does not offer U.S.-listed shares and does not provide actual delivered crypto, but it does offer international exchange-listed securities and crypto CFDs, along with copy trading (which IG does not). Choose IG if you want the widest market selection and access to real shares and crypto; choose Octa if you prefer a simpler lineup with copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Comparing IG vs Octa for trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide a free demo account for paper trading and offer their own proprietary platforms alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on a Windows desktop download or via a web-based platform, and place orders directly from charts. Each broker includes helpful chart indicators and watch list features to keep tabs on the markets.
The key difference is copy trading: IG does not support it, while Octa does. For overall platform quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools according to ForexBrokers.com; Octa receives 4 stars and ranks #30. If copy trading is a priority, Octa is the better fit; if you want the highest-rated platform experience with in-house tools and broad platform choice, IG stands out.
| Feature |
IG
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Octa both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports stock and forex price alerts. A key difference is watchlist syncing: IG syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Octa does not. If you switch between devices often, this can be a meaningful time-saver with IG.
For charting, IG provides 33 technical studies compared with 30 at Octa. Both apps let you draw trendlines and will auto-save your chart drawings. In independent ratings for Mobile Trading Apps, IG scores 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa earns 4 stars and ranks #29. Traders who value a larger study library and synced watchlists may lean toward IG, while Octa still covers the core tools most people use.
| Feature |
IG
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In an IG vs Octa market research comparison, both brokers deliver daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Autochartist tools, and an economic calendar covering global events. Neither uses Trading Central. The key difference is depth: IG adds a sentiment trading tool that shows long/short positioning, plus third-party research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), while Octa does not include these extras.
These differences show up in independent ratings: IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa holds 4 stars and ranks #24. If you want sentiment data and added third-party insights, IG has the edge; if you only need daily commentary, credible news, Autochartist, and a calendar, Octa covers the essentials.
| Feature |
IG
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing IG vs Octa for beginner trading education, both brokers check the key boxes for getting started with forex and CFDs. Each offers a large library with well over ten pieces of learning content, including beginner-friendly videos, articles, and archived webinars. Both also host client webinars at least once a month. If you’re new to trading, you’ll find at least 10 videos aimed at beginners from both brands, plus more advanced videos once you’re ready to level up.
Where they differ is depth and polish. IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its wider course range and stronger progression from beginner to advanced topics. Octa still delivers solid value for learners with 4 stars and a #32 ranking, making it a practical pick if you want clear, frequent lessons and webinars without overcomplication. In short, both are good for first steps, while IG offers the more complete path as your skills grow.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 IG is better than Octa. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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Octa
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 |
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Compared with Octa, IG lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency in addition to trading crypto CFDs, whereas Octa supports only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not offer delivered coins.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, IG supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires (not Skrill), while Octa offers Skrill and bank wires (not ACH/SEPA or PayPal); Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | IG | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Octa | |
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| Regulation | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | 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 | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | IG | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Octa Review |
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