Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA 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.
Founded in 1996, OANDA is a well-established online broker with a strong reputation. It is not publicly traded, nor is it a bank, but it holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses. This places OANDA in the highly trusted category, as per ForexBrokers.com's Trust Score rating, where it garners a score of 93 out of 99. This high trust score reflects OANDA's commitment to maintaining industry-leading regulatory standards, providing clients with confidence in their trading experience.
In comparison, Octa was founded in 2011 and, like OANDA, is neither publicly traded nor a bank. Octa holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, showing a more modest regulatory backing compared to OANDA. With a Trust Score rating of 72, Octa falls into the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. While Octa offers certain protections for its clients, its regulatory credentials are less extensive than those of OANDA, offering a different level of trust and assurance for traders.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, OANDA tends to be pricier overall while Octa has improved and now competes more closely with low-cost MetaTrader brokers. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees; however, Octa ranks higher at #30 of 63 brokers, while OANDA sits at #35 of 63 (ForexBrokers.com). Your actual costs will vary by platform, account type, and which regulatory entity serves you.
OANDA’s published spreads are on the higher side versus the cheapest brokers. Its average non-core spread on EUR/USD was 1.61 pips in July 2024. Traders can opt for “core pricing,” which lowers the spread but adds a commission of $5 per side per $100,000 traded (about $10 round turn per standard lot) and requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. In a common scenario, default pricing at 1.6 pips compares to core pricing at 0.4 pips plus a commission equivalent of 1.0 pip for a 1.4-pip all-in cost. Notable perks include extremely small trade sizes (down to 1 unit), an Elite Trader rebate program ($5–$17 per million, in select regions), and extensive – though not period-fixed – spread transparency.
Octa’s pricing varies by entity and account type. As listed, the EU entity shows a 0.5-pip average spread on EUR/USD versus about 0.9 pips for its foreign entities; Octa does not publish date ranges for these typical spreads, which limits apples-to-apples comparisons. Octa also advertises no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, though certain rules can limit high-frequency strategies. Choice of platform and account differs by region (EU: MT5; international: MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader). Overall, Octa’s recent pricing gains help it edge OANDA in this category, while both maintain a 4-star rating.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.69 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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.
Comparing the range of investments at OANDA and Octa, both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. OANDA offers a far wider selection, with 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, versus Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 pairs. If you want to buy actual exchange-traded shares, OANDA supports both U.S. stocks (like Apple on NASDAQ) and international markets, while Octa offers international shares but not U.S.-listed stocks.
Both brokers support copy trading. For crypto, OANDA lets you buy actual coins as well as crypto derivatives, whereas Octa limits you to crypto derivatives. Based on these menus, ForexBrokers.com rates OANDA 4 stars for Range of Investments (ranked 28th of 63) and Octa 3.5 stars (ranked 53rd of 63). Traders who want the biggest selection—especially U.S. shares and real crypto—may prefer OANDA, while Octa suits those seeking a simpler lineup.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 35 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
OANDA and Octa both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each one offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus both a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform. Copy trading is available at both brokers, while DupliTrade and ZuluTrade are not supported. You can place trades straight from charts with either. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for platforms and tools, though ForexBrokers.com ranks OANDA higher (#15 of 63) than Octa (#38 of 63).
For charting extras, OANDA provides 74 drawing tools compared with 15 at Octa. Watchlists are slightly different too: OANDA offers 6 columns, while Octa offers 7. If you want more drawing features for technical work, OANDA is the better fit; if a slightly more detailed watchlist matters, Octa has an edge. Either way, you’ll get a modern web and Windows experience, the choice of MT4/MT5 or each broker’s own platform, plus the ability to practice risk-free with a demo and tap into copy trading.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 74 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
OANDA and Octa both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts and watchlists that show real-time quotes. Their charting tools are closely matched: each app includes 30 technical studies, the ability to draw trendlines, multiple time frames (intraday to weekly), and auto-saving for chart drawings. In short, whether you track forex or stocks on the go, both apps cover the essentials for analysis and trade monitoring.
There is one shared drawback: neither OANDA nor Octa syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and the web platform. Where they differ is quality recognition. OANDA earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa holds 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want a higher-rated mobile experience, OANDA stands out; if you already trade with Octa, you’ll still get the core tools but without cross-platform watchlist syncing.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When comparing the market research offerings of OANDA and Octa, both brokers provide a solid foundation with their daily market commentary and access to forex news from esteemed outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters. Traders looking for advanced technical analysis tools will find solutions from Autochartist available at both platforms. However, those seeking sentiment-based trading tools will notice a difference: OANDA offers a tool that displays the ratio of long to short positions across various currency pairs, whereas Octa does not.
OANDA and Octa both present an economic calendar to track global news events, but they lack research tools from firms like Trading Central or Acuity Trading. Despite these similarities, OANDA edges ahead in terms of research quality, earning a 5-star rating and a top-five ranking from ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Octa receives a 4-star rating and ranks 27th among 63 brokers. This highlights OANDA's stronger position in providing comprehensive market insights to its users.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
OANDA and Octa both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education. Each broker offers at least 10 learning pieces, runs monthly client webinars, and maintains a searchable archive of past sessions. Both also feature large video libraries with 10+ beginner tutorials and 10+ advanced lessons, plus an investor dictionary covering 50 or more trading terms.
For education quality, OANDA is rated 5 stars and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa holds 4 stars and ranks #42. If you want higher-rated education and a well-structured learning path, OANDA is the stronger choice. If you prefer similar content formats—videos, webinars, and a glossary—Octa remains a solid option for getting started.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 OANDA is better than Octa. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #12, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
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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Octa
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 |
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OANDA provides the capability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Octa only offers the option to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers OANDA and Octa, OANDA offers a broader range of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and Skrill, while Octa provides only Skrill as an additional option, with both platforms supporting Visa/Mastercard and bank wires.
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 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | Octa Review |
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| Regulation | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.69 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| 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 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 74 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | OANDA Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | OANDA | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | Octa Review |
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