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 |
OANDA’s commissions and fees skew on the higher side, especially under its default spread-only pricing. In July 2024, the average EUR/USD spread was 1.61 pips. Its Core pricing cuts the spread but adds a commission of $5 per side per $100,000 traded (about $10 per round-turn standard lot) and requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. Using the EUR/USD example, a 0.4‑pip Core spread plus roughly 1.0 pip in commission puts the all-in cost near 1.4 pips—slightly cheaper than the default 1.6 pips. OANDA also supports tiny trade sizes down to 1 unit and offers active-trader rebates of $5–$17 per million in select regions. It publishes trailing average spreads (not fixed-period averages), which helps with visibility but limits precise comparisons. Commissions & Fees rating: 4.0/5; ForexBrokers.com ranking: 35/63.
Markets.com does not provide average spread data, making it harder to gauge typical trading costs or compare apples-to-apples with OANDA. Traders may need to rely on live quotes and any published minimums to estimate costs. Commissions & Fees rating: 3.5/5; ForexBrokers.com ranking: 51/63.
Bottom line: OANDA discloses more about its pricing structure and can be modestly cheaper under Core pricing than its own default plan, though its overall costs are still higher than many top low-cost rivals. Markets.com’s lack of average spread data creates a transparency gap for cost-focused traders. If you value clearer, example-based pricing and potential rebates, OANDA has the edge; if you’re considering Markets.com, plan to verify real-time costs before committing.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.69 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 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.
OANDA vs Markets.com for range of investments: OANDA offers 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, while Markets.com lists 2,179 symbols and 57 pairs. Both brokers support forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer copy trading.
For other assets, OANDA lets clients buy exchange-traded U.S. and international shares, whereas Markets.com does not offer direct share dealing. In crypto, OANDA supports buying actual coins as well as crypto derivatives; Markets.com offers crypto derivatives only. Both earn 4 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com, with OANDA ranked 28th out of 63 brokers and Markets.com 30th.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 57 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by OANDA and Markets.com, both platforms provide excellent options for traders. OANDA and Markets.com offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading strategies without risking real money. Each platform also comes with a proprietary, in-house developed platform and supports both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). For those preferring desktop applications, both have Windows-based desktop platforms and web-based trading systems for convenience. Additionally, OANDA and Markets.com both support copy trading features but do not offer ZuluTrade or DupliTrade integrations.
OANDA stands out with a comprehensive set of charting tools, offering 74 drawing tools compared to Markets.com's 4, and the ability to trade directly from stock charts—an advantage Markets.com doesn't provide. Both brokers equip traders with six fields for watch lists, ensuring a comprehensive view of their selected assets. OANDA is rated slightly higher for its trading platforms and tools, securing the 15th spot among 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, while Markets.com holds the 27th rank. Despite these differences, they both receive a respectable rating of 4 stars out of 5, signaling a reliable trading experience.
| 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) | 89 | 89 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 74 | 4 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
OANDA and Markets.com both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with real-time quotes, price alerts, and watchlists. Independent reviews rate OANDA higher: it earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while Markets.com holds 4 stars and ranks #34. If you want stronger on-the-go charting, OANDA is the better fit; if syncing watchlists between mobile and web matters most, Markets.com has the advantage.
For charts, OANDA delivers 30 technical indicators, multiple time frames (intraday through daily and weekly), trendline drawing, and auto-saving of your drawings. Markets.com also supports trendlines and price alerts and uniquely syncs watchlist symbols across devices, but its Markets.com app has no built-in indicators, it doesn’t offer multiple time frames, and it doesn’t auto-save drawings. If you use Markets.com through MT4, you can access MT4’s standard indicators. Note that OANDA does not sync watchlists between mobile and web.
| 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.
OANDA vs. Markets.com education for beginners: OANDA delivers a full forex and CFD learning hub with 10+ educational pieces, runs at least one client webinar each month, and offers a searchable archive of past sessions. It also provides 10+ beginner videos, 10+ advanced videos, and an investor dictionary with 50+ terms to help decode trading jargon. OANDA’s education earns 5 stars and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Markets.com hosts monthly client webinars and supplies at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos, but it does not meet the 10+ piece threshold for a broader forex/CFD education library, lacks a searchable webinar archive, and does not offer a 50+ term investor dictionary. Its education is rated 4 stars and ranks #34 out of 63. If you want a deeper on-demand library with replays and a glossary, OANDA is the stronger pick; if you mainly want live sessions and video lessons, Markets.com can still fit the bill.
| 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
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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 |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | Markets.com | |
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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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | OANDA | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 57 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | 1.69 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 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) | 89 | 89 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 74 | 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 | ||
| 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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