Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Octa vs IronFX, 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.
When comparing the online brokers Octa and IronFX, it's clear both companies hold a strong presence in the trading world. Octa, founded in 2011, is a non-bank entity that is not publicly traded. It holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, earning it a Trust Score rating of 72 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the average risk category.
IronFX, established a year earlier in 2010, shares the distinction of not being a bank or publicly listed. However, it distinguishes itself with three Tier-1 licenses, contributing to its higher Trust Score of 83 out of 99, placing it in the trusted category. This indicates a more reassuring level of trustworthiness, especially for those concerned with regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
Octa
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2011 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Octa and IronFX both earn 4 out of 5 stars, but Octa holds the edge in our rankings: Octa is #30 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while IronFX is #47 out of 63. Overall, Octa has tightened its pricing and now competes more closely with low-cost MetaTrader brokers, whereas IronFX’s typical spreads appear higher than the industry average.
Octa’s costs depend on your account type and which regulator oversees your account (EU clients use the EU entity; international clients are served from South Africa or Mwali). Octa’s listed average spread for EUR/USD is 0.5 pips in the EU and 0.9 pips with its foreign entities, though no date range is provided for these figures. Octa also advertises no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, but it has restrictions that can make it less suitable for high-frequency trading.
IronFX pricing varies by account type and generally trends higher. The Standard variable account lists a typical spread of 1.8 pips (no date range given). The zero fixed-spread account can start at 0.0 pips but charges a $18 per lot commission, and spreads widen to 3 pips overnight. As with Octa, the lack of dated spread data makes direct, apples-to-apples comparisons harder.
| Feature |
Octa
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| 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 vs IronFX: both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot and include copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives (but not actual coins). IronFX lists more to trade overall, with 340 tradeable symbols and 83 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares directly, but Octa stands out by offering access to exchange-traded international shares (not CFDs), which IronFX does not.
For ratings, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, with IronFX ranked 52nd and Octa 53rd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Choose IronFX if you want more forex pairs and total symbols; pick Octa if you want the option to buy real international shares. In both cases, you can use copy trading and trade crypto via derivatives, but you can’t buy actual cryptocurrencies or U.S. stocks.
| Feature |
Octa
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 300 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 35 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Octa vs IronFX: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4. Each provides a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform. Octa adds two extras that broaden your choices: a proprietary in-house platform and MetaTrader 5, while IronFX lacks both MT5 and a proprietary option. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting, both let you trade directly from charts, include 15 drawing tools, and offer 7 watchlist columns; the number of built-in indicators isn’t specified. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools scores, Octa earns 4 stars (ranked 38 of 63), edging IronFX’s 3.5 stars (ranked 62 of 63). If you want MT5 and an in-house platform, Octa is the more flexible pick; if you only need MT4, IronFX can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
Octa
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Octa and IronFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android with many of the same tools. Each app supports price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, 30 built-in technical studies, drawing tools like trendlines, multiple time frames, and auto-saving for chart drawings. One key limitation is the same for both: watchlists created in the app don’t sync with the client’s online account.
Where they differ is in quality scores. Octa’s mobile app is rated 4 stars, while IronFX earns 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Octa ranks #37 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, whereas IronFX ranks #63. If you’re deciding between Octa vs IronFX for mobile trading, both cover the charting essentials and alerts, but Octa has the edge in overall ratings and third-party rankings.
| Feature |
Octa
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Octa and IronFX both deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each broker also offers an economic calendar to track upcoming global events. Neither provides a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning. For Research, both earn 4 out of 5 stars; in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, Octa is #27 of 63 and IronFX is #29.
The key difference is in third-party research tools. Octa includes Autochartist for pattern ideas, while IronFX features Trading Central’s analysis tools. Octa does not include Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. The provided data does not confirm whether IronFX includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading. If you want Autochartist, Octa is the better match; if you prefer Trading Central, IronFX will suit you more.
| Feature |
Octa
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners between online brokers Octa and IronFX, both platforms provide a solid foundation. Each offers a minimum of 10 educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, a key difference is that Octa hosts monthly online educational webinars, providing an ongoing, interactive learning opportunity that IronFX does not offer. Both brokers maintain a searchable archive of recorded webinars, giving users access to past educational content.
For beginners, both Octa and IronFX supply over 10 videos specifically designed to introduce and explain trading concepts. Yet, when advancing in complexity, only Octa provides a similar number of advanced educational videos for more experienced traders. Additionally, both brokers offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms to aid in learning. Octa and IronFX each receive a 4-star rating for education, but they slightly differ in ranking, with Octa placed at #42 and IronFX at #44 among 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. Overall, Octa offers a slightly more comprehensive educational experience due to its advanced content and regular live webinars.
| Feature |
Octa
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
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 IronFX. Octa finished with an overall rank of #47, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
Octa offers a basic, low-cost MetaTrader platform experience alongside its social copy-trading platform.
| Feature |
Octa
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 72 | 83 |
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Both Octa and IronFX do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency but provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Octa and IronFX do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, but they offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for these transactions.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 72 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 72 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2011 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 300 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 35 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Octa | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 72 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
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