Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA vs Markets.com, 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.
Founded in 1996, OANDA is a well-established online broker, securing a high Trust Score of 93 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. Despite not being a publicly traded company or a bank, OANDA holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a status of high trustworthiness. This places OANDA among the most trusted brokers in the industry, offering customers confidence in its regulatory standing.
Markets.com, established in 1999, matches OANDA's high Trust Score of 93, indicating a similarly strong reputation in the forex trading community. Although it is neither publicly traded nor a bank, Markets.com holds three Tier-1 licenses, as well as one Tier-2 license, signaling a solid trust factor. These licenses underscore Markets.com's commitment to maintaining a reliable and dependable trading environment for its users.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing OANDA and Markets.com in terms of commissions and fees, OANDA has higher trading costs but provides automated execution across its offerings. OANDA's forex trading involves relatively high bid/ask spreads, similar to brokers like FOREX.com and FxPro, but still above some firms that offer sub-pip rates. Their core pricing model offers reduced spreads paired with a per-side commission of $5 per $100,000 currency traded, which slightly lowers the overall cost compared to their default model. Furthermore, OANDA allows trading with minimum trade sizes as small as one unit, making it accessible to a range of traders. Their Elite Trader program rewards high-volume traders with rebates and subscription benefits. OANDA's commission and fee transparency could be improved, as they only publish trailing averages of their spreads.
Markets.com, in contrast, doesn't provide detailed average spread data, which can make it challenging to understand their exact trading costs. This lack of detailed information can be a disadvantage for traders seeking to compare costs accurately. While OANDA ranks number 34 out of 63 for commissions and fees on ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com falls at number 50, suggesting OANDA has a slight edge in this regard.
In terms of ratings, OANDA scores 4 out of 5 stars for its commission and fee structure, whereas Markets.com rates slightly lower at 3.5 stars. These distinctions help traders evaluate which broker might better suit their financial needs based on the cost of trading. Overall, both brokers offer distinct advantages: OANDA is potentially attractive to those who value automated execution and transparency, while the exact cost structure of Markets.com may require a more in-depth individual inquiry.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.61 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.61 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
When comparing OANDA and Markets.com for their range of investments, both brokers offer similar services with some key differences. Both platforms provide trading in forex, allowing investors to engage in CFD and spot contract trading. However, OANDA provides access to a larger selection of tradeable symbols, boasting 3,928 options compared to Markets.com's 2,179. In terms of forex pairs, OANDA also leads with 68 pairs against Markets.com's 57. Neither broker provides direct purchase options for exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as shares of Apple or Vodafone.
Both OANDA and Markets.com support copy trading, but they differ in cryptocurrency offerings. OANDA provides both actual and derivative cryptocurrency trading options, allowing clients to purchase delivered digital currencies, while Markets.com only offers cryptocurrency derivatives. Despite these differences, both brokers are rated similarly, with each earning 4 stars for their range of investments. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA ranks slightly higher at #27 in the category, with Markets.com following close behind at #29. This demonstrates their competitive standing among 63 evaluated brokers.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3928 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 68 | 57 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Both OANDA and Markets.com offer traders a solid range of platforms and tools, making them both competitive options for online trading. Each broker provides a proprietary platform developed in-house, ensuring a tailored experience for their users. Both also accommodate traders who prefer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, making them versatile choices for those familiar with these popular platforms. Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based browser platforms are available from both brokers, allowing for flexible access. Additionally, each broker supports paper trading with virtual demo accounts, a crucial feature for beginners and anyone looking to test strategies without financial risk. Copy trading is also on the menu for both, although neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, focusing instead on their primary offerings.
When it comes to charting capabilities, OANDA seems to edge out Markets.com with 431 drawing tools compared to Markets.com's 4, providing more intricate chart analysis options. However, both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts, although Markets.com lacks this feature. As for personalizing watchlists, both offer six columns, maintaining parity in this area. In terms of reviews, OANDA and Markets.com each hold a four-star rating for their platforms and tools, as rated by experts. However, OANDA is ranked slightly higher at #15 compared to Markets.com's #27 among 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. This difference may reflect subtle nuances in user preference or functionality among their trading tools.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 81 | 89 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 431 | 4 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both OANDA and Markets.com provide iPhone and Android apps for users looking to trade on-the-go. If you enjoy staying informed with price alerts, both apps cater to this need by offering stock and forex alerts. When it comes to technical studies for charting, OANDA allows up to 30 technical studies, whereas Markets.com offers these by default on MT4 but not on its standalone app. While both platforms support drawing trendlines on charts, OANDA's app stands out by enabling multiple time frame analysis, unlike the Markets.com app. Furthermore, OANDA's app auto-saves chart drawings, which is a feature Markets.com lacks.
Creating watchlists with real-time quotes is possible on both trading apps. However, Markets.com's app allows syncing of watchlists across devices and accounts, making it easier for traders to keep their updates consistent wherever they log in. The overall user experience with OANDA’s mobile trading app garners a higher rating of 5 stars, compared to Markets.com’s 4 stars, and takes the 7th spot among 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's rankings, whereas Markets.com is ranked at 33rd position. These distinctions make OANDA a more favored choice for those prioritizing a seamless and comprehensive app trading experience.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing OANDA and Markets.com for market research capabilities, both brokers offer daily market commentary and provide forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. However, OANDA stands out with a rating of 5 stars for its research offerings while Markets.com is rated 4 stars. This distinction is further emphasized by OANDA’s higher ranking, coming in at #5 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Markets.com's ranking at #17.
OANDA further enhances its research suite with tools from Autochartist, which are not available at Markets.com, giving traders a more comprehensive set of technical analysis options. Both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools to help assess the market's direction, and each provides an economic calendar to track global financial events. Neither platform supplies market research from TipRanks or research tools from Acuity Trading, providing users a common ground in those aspects.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners at OANDA and Markets.com, there are several factors to consider. OANDA stands out as a great choice for new traders eager to learn about forex and CFDs. It provides over 10 educational materials, including articles and videos, focusing specifically on these trading topics. Moreover, OANDA hosts at least one educational webinar each month and maintains a searchable archive of recorded sessions, granting beginners easy access to past insights. Additionally, OANDA offers a comprehensive investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms to help new traders get familiar with market jargon.
On the other hand, Markets.com provides fewer beginner-specific educational resources compared to OANDA. While it does offer regular monthly webinars, it lacks a searchable archive for past webinars and does not provide an investor dictionary with a robust selection of investment terms. Despite having at least 10 beginner-focused trading videos, Markets.com falls short when it comes to providing a diversity of educational materials specifically dedicated to forex or CFDs. This difference in resources is reflected in their ratings for education, with OANDA receiving a higher score of 5 stars compared to Markets.com’s 4 stars, highlighting the more comprehensive educational support OANDA provides to beginners.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 OANDA is better than Markets.com. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #12, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
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Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 93 |
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When comparing online brokers OANDA and Markets.com in terms of cryptocurrency offerings, OANDA allows the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while Markets.com only offers cryptocurrency derivatives and does not provide the option to buy the actual cryptocurrency.
OANDA provides multiple fund transfer options, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while Markets.com offers Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal 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 | OANDA | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
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| Regulation | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3928 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 68 | 57 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.61 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.61 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 81 | 89 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 431 | 4 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | OANDA Review |
| Overall | OANDA | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
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