Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone 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.
Pepperstone (founded 2010) and Octa (founded 2011) are online forex brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, Pepperstone scores 94/99—classified as highly trusted (90–99)—while Octa scores 73/99, which falls into the average-risk range (70–79).
On regulation, Pepperstone holds 3 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). Octa holds 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license. This gives Pepperstone a stronger regulatory profile than Octa, a point to consider if you value stricter oversight and clearer safety benchmarks.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Pepperstone comes out ahead of Octa on commissions and fees, especially for active traders. Pepperstone earns a 5-star rating and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees, while Octa holds a 4-star rating and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers. Pepperstone’s Razor account is the lower-cost choice for many traders, with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips as of July 2024, plus a commission that brings the all-in cost to about 0.80 pips. Its Standard account is commission-free, but the average EUR/USD spread of 1.1 pips makes it the pricier option overall.
Octa has improved its pricing in recent years and is now closer to some of the cheapest MetaTrader brokers, but its costs still vary by region and account type. In the EU, Octa lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.5 pips, while its international entities list about 0.9 pips. Octa also highlights no overnight carry costs and no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders, though its rules can be less friendly for high-frequency traders. Because Octa does not provide a clear date range for its spread figures, its pricing claims are harder to compare directly with brokers that do.
In short, Pepperstone is generally the better pick for traders focused on low costs, especially through its Razor account and Active Trader rebates. Octa can still be competitive, but its pricing is less consistent by entity and its overall fees picture is not as strong as Pepperstone’s. For most cost-conscious traders, Pepperstone offers the clearer edge on commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.1 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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.
Pepperstone offers a wider range of investments than Octa overall, which may appeal to traders looking for more choice. Pepperstone lists 2,631 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both support copy trading. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed exchange traded securities directly, but Octa does offer access to some international exchange traded securities while Pepperstone does not.
When it comes to cryptocurrency, Pepperstone gives you more options, with both actual crypto purchases and crypto CFDs available, while Octa only offers crypto CFDs. These differences are reflected in their Range of Investments scores, with Pepperstone rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #23 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #35. In simple terms, Pepperstone provides the broader selection, while Octa has a more limited lineup with a few international share options.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2631 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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.
Pepperstone and Octa both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, web trading, copy trading, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both brokers also let you trade directly from a chart, making it easier to act on price changes without switching screens. In other words, either broker should feel familiar and flexible for traders who want to test strategies, use popular third-party tools, or trade from a browser or desktop app.
When it comes to Trading Platforms and Tools, both Pepperstone and Octa are rated 4 out of 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com. The key difference is in the ranking: Pepperstone places #21 out of 36 brokers, while Octa ranks #33 out of 36. That suggests Pepperstone has a slight edge overall in this category, even though both brokers offer many of the same platform features.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
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) | 90 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Pepperstone and Octa both give traders strong mobile trading options, with iPhone and Android apps available on each platform. Each app also supports stock or forex price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. Both brokers earn the same 4-star rating for mobile trading apps, so on the basics they are closely matched for users who want to trade on the go.
The main difference is watchlist syncing. Pepperstone lets watchlists in its mobile app sync with the client’s online account, so changes update across devices, while Octa does not offer this feature. That added convenience helps Pepperstone stand out, and it may explain why ForexBrokers.com ranks Pepperstone higher for mobile trading apps at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa at #31.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | 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.
Pepperstone and Octa both give traders useful market research, including daily market commentary, news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. That said, Pepperstone has a slight edge for research depth thanks to its sentiment tool, which shows the share of long and short positions across markets. It also earns a higher Research rating of 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers for this category.
Octa also covers the basics well and stands out for offering Autochartist, a research and chart-analysis tool that Pepperstone does not provide. However, it lacks Pepperstone’s sentiment feature and scores a little lower overall, with a 4-star Research rating and a #25 ranking out of 36. For traders who want more built-in market signals and a stronger research score, Pepperstone has the advantage, while Octa still offers a solid set of market research tools.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
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.
Pepperstone and Octa both give beginners a wide range of learning tools, including more than 10 forex or CFD education pieces, monthly live webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means each broker offers plenty of content for traders who want to learn the basics and keep building their skills over time.
Where Pepperstone stands out is in its overall education score and ranking. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and placed #15 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #34. For beginners comparing online brokers, Pepperstone appears to have the stronger educational offering overall, even though Octa still provides a solid range of learning material.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
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 Pepperstone is better than Octa. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #17, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #37.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 |
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Pepperstone stands out versus Octa for cryptocurrency trading because Pepperstone offers both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency CFDs, while Octa only provides cryptocurrency CFDs and does not offer the ability to buy the actual cryptocurrency.
Compared to Octa, Pepperstone supports ACH/SEPA transfers and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals (both absent at Octa), while both brokers offer Skrill and bank wire options; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | Pepperstone | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 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 | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2631 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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 | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.1 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | 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 | Pepperstone | 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 | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Octa Review |
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