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 |
OANDA and Octa both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2024 rankings of 63 brokers, Octa places #26 while OANDA is #30. In simple terms, OANDA tends to be pricier on spreads but offers flexible trade sizes and some rebates for high-volume traders. Octa has sharpened its pricing, advertises no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, though its rules can limit high‑frequency strategies.
OANDA’s default spreads are on the high side; for example, the average EUR/USD spread was 1.61 pips in July 2024. Its “core pricing” cuts 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. Using EUR/USD as an example: a 1.6‑pip default spread versus a 0.4‑pip core spread plus the 1‑pip commission equivalent results in a 1.4‑pip all‑in cost—slightly better than default. OANDA also lets you trade as little as 1 unit of currency, offers tiered rebates of $5–$17 per million for active traders, and publishes trailing average spreads (though not fixed‑period averages, which makes direct comparisons harder). Star rating: 4/5; category rank: #30 of 63.
Octa’s fees vary by account type and which entity you use. In the EU, it promotes a single MT5 account; outside the EU, you’ll find MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader options. Octa lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.5 pips for its EU entity and 0.9 pips for its foreign entities, but it doesn’t provide a date range for those figures, so they’re harder to benchmark. Still, pricing has improved and competes with low‑cost MetaTrader brokers. Added perks include no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, offset by restrictions that can affect very frequent traders. Star rating: 4/5; category rank: #26 of 63.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
OANDA vs Octa: when it comes to range of investments, OANDA offers far more markets to explore. OANDA lists 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 pairs. Independent ratings reflect this gap: OANDA earns 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #20 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa receives 3.5 stars and ranks #33.
Asset availability also differs. Both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs or spot, and both support copy trading. OANDA lets clients buy exchange-traded stocks in the U.S. as well as international shares, while Octa supports international shares but not U.S.-listed stocks. For crypto, OANDA offers both actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs, whereas Octa provides crypto CFDs only. If you want more symbols, U.S. stock access, and the option to buy real crypto, OANDA has the edge; if you mainly trade core CFDs and forex with copy trading, Octa could fit the bill.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Comparing OANDA vs Octa for trading platforms and tools, both brokers cover the essentials: free demo (paper) trading, proprietary platforms alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Windows desktop downloads, web-based platforms, and copy trading. Each also lets you place trades directly from charts. While exact counts aren’t provided, both offer a variety of technical indicators and support customizable watchlists, making it easy to track markets and act quickly.
In independent reviews, both brokers earn 4 stars for Platforms and Tools. However, OANDA ranks higher overall in this category, coming in at #16 out of 63 brokers, while Octa is #30. If you want wide platform choice and strong third‑party integrations like MT4 and MT5, either broker works; OANDA’s higher ranking may appeal if platform quality and tool depth are a top priority.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing OANDA and Octa for mobile trading, both brokers deliver iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, and tools to draw trendlines. Each app also auto-saves your chart drawings. One key limitation is the same for both: watchlists in the mobile app don’t sync with the web account, so changes made in one place won’t appear in the other.
In independent ratings, OANDA’s mobile app earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category. Octa’s app earns 4 stars and ranks #29 out of 63. If you want top-tier scores and fuller charting features at your fingertips, OANDA has the edge; if you’re already trading with Octa, its app still covers the essentials with alerts, studies, and drawing tools.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In an OANDA vs Octa market research comparison, both brokers deliver daily market commentary, real-time forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and chart pattern tools from Autochartist. Each also provides an economic calendar to track upcoming events. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
The main difference is sentiment data: OANDA offers a positioning tool that shows the ratio of long and short trades, while Octa does not. This helps traders gauge crowd behavior alongside technical setups. Reflecting the overall research experience, OANDA earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa earns 4 stars and ranks #24. If you want sentiment insight with strong news and analysis, OANDA stands out; if you only need core news, commentary, and Autochartist, Octa covers the essentials.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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.
OANDA and Octa both invest in forex and CFD education for beginners. Each offers a library of 10+ learning materials—articles, videos, and webinars—focused on trading basics. You can join live client webinars at least once a month with either broker. Both also provide at least 10 beginner-friendly videos that explain core topics step by step, and each has 10+ advanced videos you can use as your skills grow.
If you’re choosing based on education quality, OANDA comes out ahead: it holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #18 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Octa also supports learners but trails with a 4-star rating and a #32 ranking. For newcomers who want a deeper, more organized path from basics to advanced material, OANDA is the stronger pick, while Octa remains a capable option if you want frequent webinars and plenty of videos to get started.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 OANDA is better than Octa. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #13, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.
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 |
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Octa
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 |
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In the OANDA vs Octa online broker comparison, OANDA lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and also trade crypto CFDs, whereas Octa offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support purchasing real, delivered crypto.
Comparing OANDA vs Octa for deposits and withdrawals: OANDA supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while Octa offers Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | Octa | |
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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 (FSA 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, FSRA, or SCA 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. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | 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 | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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