Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.com vs Octa, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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Markets.com, established in 1999, and Octa, founded in 2011, are both prominent players in the online brokerage world. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. However, when it comes to regulatory standing and trust, there are some distinctions. Markets.com boasts three Tier-1 licenses, ensuring a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com's classification, and holds an impressive Trust Score of 93. Additionally, Markets.com also has one Tier-2 license, considered reliable by industry standards.
In contrast, Octa has one Tier-1 license and also holds a Tier-2 license, indicating it is trusted but not as highly as Markets.com. Octa’s Trust Score is 72, placing it at an average risk level according to ForexBrokers.com. These regulatory insights are crucial for investors looking to gauge the relative safety and reliability of each broker. Both platforms bring unique strengths to the table, but in terms of trust and regulation, Markets.com holds a stronger standing.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
For commissions and fees, Octa has the edge over Markets.com. Markets.com earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks #51 out of 63 brokers for this category at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4/5 stars and ranks #30 out of 63. That gap suggests Octa is generally more competitive on pricing.
Markets.com does not publish average spread data, which makes it hard to benchmark its trading costs across currency pairs or compare them directly with rivals. If you’re weighing Markets.com against Octa, this lack of transparency limits a like-for-like assessment on spreads.
Octa, by contrast, has improved its pricing and is catching up to the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. It reports no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders and no overnight carry costs, though it has restrictions that may hinder high-frequency traders. Fees vary by account type and the Octa entity that regulates your account: EU clients use a single MT5 account, while international clients can choose MT4, MT5, or OctaTrader via entities in South Africa or Mwali. Octa lists a 0.5-pip average spread for EUR/USD under its EU entity and 0.9 pips for its foreign entities; however, because Octa does not provide a date range for these averages, the figures are less reliable and prevent an exact apples-to-apples comparison.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Markets.com delivers a much wider range of markets with 2,179 tradeable symbols, including 57 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 pairs. Both brokers support forex trading and offer cryptocurrency via CFDs (not the actual coins), and each provides copy trading.
When it comes to real shares, neither broker offers U.S.-listed stocks, but Octa does let you buy certain international exchange-traded shares (such as Vodafone in London), while Markets.com does not offer real shares at all. For overall range of investments, Markets.com is rated 4 stars and ranks #30 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Octa is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you want the widest variety of instruments, Markets.com has the edge; if you need access to some international stocks, Octa stands out.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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.
Markets.com and Octa both cover the essentials and more: free demo (paper) trading, their own in-house platforms alongside MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, plus Windows desktop and web-based platforms. Copy trading is available at both. One key difference is chart trading: Octa lets you place orders straight from charts, while Markets.com does not support trading directly from charts.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates both brokers at 4 stars. In the category ranking, Markets.com placed #27 out of 63 brokers, compared with Octa at #38. If trading from charts matters to you, Octa has the edge; if you prefer a broker with a higher category ranking, Markets.com may appeal. Either way, trying the free demo is an easy way to see which platform fits your style.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Markets.com and Octa both check the basics for mobile trading: each has iPhone and Android apps, price alerts for stocks and forex, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Both received 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps rankings out of 63 brokers, Markets.com sits at #34, while Octa is close behind at #37.
Key differences show up in charting and account syncing. Markets.com syncs watchlists between its mobile app and your online account, but Octa does not. For indicators, Octa includes 30 technical studies in its mobile app. Markets.com relies on the MT4 defaults if you use MT4; its own Markets app does not include built-in studies. Octa also auto-saves your chart drawings, while Markets.com does not. In short, Octa is better if you want more built-in indicators and saved drawings, whereas Markets.com is the pick if seamless watchlist syncing matters most.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Markets.com and Octa both provide daily market commentary and forex news sourced from prestigious platforms such as Bloomberg and Reuters, making them compelling choices for those who prioritize staying informed with reliable information. However, when it comes to technical analysis tools, there's a clear distinction. Octa supports the use of Autochartist, giving traders access to one of the most recognized analytical tools, whereas Markets.com does not have this particular feature. Additionally, neither of the platforms offers tools from Trading Central or Acuity Trading, nor do they utilize insights from TipRanks. Despite this, Markets.com incorporates a sentiment-based trading tool that helps investors understand the market mood by showing the ratio of long or short positions, a feature not present with Octa.
Both platforms include an economic calendar to track vital global news events, supporting traders in making timely decisions. In terms of overall research quality, both Markets.com and Octa receive a commendable 4-star rating. However, Markets.com has a competitive edge with a higher research rank of #17 out of 63 brokers, as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Octa's rank of #27. Thus, for traders who rely on sentiment tools and seek a slightly higher-rated research experience, Markets.com might be the preferable choice, while those looking for specific technical tools might lean towards Octa due to its partnership with Autochartist.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing Markets.com and Octa for beginner education, both brokers check the key boxes. Each offers forex and CFD education with at least ten pieces of content, runs client webinars at least once a month, and provides sizable video libraries that include ten-plus beginner videos as well as ten-plus advanced videos. Both received 4 out of 5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com, so newcomers can expect clear guidance, frequent live sessions, and plenty of video lessons to start learning and keep progressing.
When it comes to standings, Markets.com holds a higher Education rank (#34 of 63) than Octa (#42 of 63) at ForexBrokers.com. That edge may matter if you want a slightly better-rated learning experience, though both brands deliver strong coverage for beginners through their webinars and step-by-step video content.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
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 Markets.com is better than Octa. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
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Octa
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 |
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In the Markets.com vs Octa comparison for cryptocurrency trading, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) crypto, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
Markets.com vs Octa: for deposits and withdrawals, neither broker supports ACH or SEPA; Octa does not support PayPal but does support Skrill and bank wires, while Markets.com’s support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is unspecified, and Visa/Mastercard availability is also unspecified for Octa.
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 | Markets.com | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | Octa | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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 | No | |
| 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) | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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 | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.com | 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
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