Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Plus500 and Octa are prominent online brokers, each with unique offerings and backgrounds. Founded in 2008, Plus500 is publicly traded and considered highly trusted, boasting a perfect Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. It is backed by 6 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, which align with industry standards for high levels of trust and security. Despite not being a bank, Plus500 provides a reputable platform for traders seeking peace of mind concerning regulation.
On the other hand, Octa, established in 2011, is a private company with a Trust Score of 72, indicating an average risk level as per ForexBrokers.com ratings. Octa holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, reflecting its commitment to maintaining credibility in the trading market. Like Plus500, Octa is not a bank, but its lower number of licenses suggests a more moderate trust level compared to its counterpart. Users can weigh these regulatory factors to make informed decisions when selecting a broker.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
If you’re weighing commissions and fees, Plus500 and Octa take different paths. Plus500 earns 4.0/5 stars and ranks 24th out of 63 brokers for Commissions & Fees, while Octa scores 4/5 stars and ranks 30th. Octa’s headline spreads can look sharper, but the details of your account and where it’s regulated play a big role.
Plus500’s pricing sits slightly above the industry average. For example, its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. The broker doesn’t offer retail discounts; however, Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. Budget-focused active traders may find lower costs at some rivals, but casual traders may be comfortable with Plus500’s straightforward setup.
Octa has improved its pricing and is competitive among MetaTrader brokers. Its EU entity lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.5 pips (versus 0.9 pips at its foreign entities), though Octa does not provide a date range for these figures, making exact comparisons harder. Octa also reports no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs (swap fees), but some rules can limit high-frequency strategies. Costs vary by account and regulator: the EU entity offers a single MT5 account, while non‑EU entities support MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | 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 Plus500 vs Octa on investment range, Plus500 offers a broader lineup. It lists about 5,500 tradeable instruments versus Octa’s roughly 300, and 65 forex pairs compared with 35 at Octa. Both support forex trading and allow trading crypto via derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual coins. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earns 4.5/5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 22nd out of 63 brokers, while Octa scores 3.5/5 and ranks 53rd.
Access to stocks is another key difference: Plus500 lets clients buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. markets (such as Apple) as well as on international exchanges (such as Vodafone). Octa does not offer U.S.-listed shares, though it does provide some international exchange-traded securities. For social features, Plus500 does not offer copy trading, whereas Octa includes it.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and Octa both provide free demo accounts for paper trading and offer their own in-house platforms. For access, Plus500 focuses on its web-based platform and does not have a Windows desktop download, while Octa supports both a web platform and a Windows desktop app. Platform choice differs too: Plus500 does not support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5), whereas Octa supports both MT4 and MT5. Copy trading is available at Octa but not at Plus500. Neither broker integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
When it comes to trading tools, Plus500 lists 36 drawing tools compared with 15 at Octa; indicator counts are not specified. Octa lets you trade directly from charts, while Plus500 does not. For watchlists, Plus500 offers 10 fields versus 7 at Octa. In independent evaluations of trading platforms and tools, Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers, while Octa earns 4 stars and ranks #38 out of 63—useful context if platform features are a key part of your choice.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and Octa both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, trendline drawing, and the ability to switch between intraday, daily, and weekly time frames. Key differences: Plus500 syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Octa does not. On the flip side, Octa auto-saves chart drawings, whereas Plus500 does not.
For charting depth, Plus500 offers 115 technical indicators compared with Octa’s 30, which can matter if you rely on detailed analysis. Independent ratings back this up: Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and is ranked #14 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want stronger watchlist syncing and more indicators, Plus500 stands out; if auto-saving chart annotations is a priority, Octa has the edge.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When considering Plus500 and Octa for market research resources, both platforms offer daily market commentary and access to a comprehensive economic calendar, providing essential updates on global events. However, there are distinct differences worth noting. Plus500 excels in providing sentiment-based trading tools that depict the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments, as well as research tools from Trading Central. On the other hand, Octa stands out with its offering of forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and includes advanced technical and fundamental research tools from Autochartist. These distinct features could influence a trader's decision depending on their specific research priorities.
In terms of research ratings, Plus500 and Octa share the same score of 4.0 out of 5 stars according to ForexBrokers.com. However, Plus500 holds a slightly better position, ranked 19th among 63 brokers in the research category, while Octa is positioned at 27th. This information suggests that while both brokers have valuable offerings, Plus500 might have a slight edge for those prioritizing sentiment analysis and Trading Central resources, whereas Octa might appeal to traders looking for high-quality news sources and Autochartist tools.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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.
Plus500 and Octa both offer strong educational resources for those new to forex and CFD trading. Both platforms provide a variety of learning materials that include at least ten articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs, helping beginners grasp essential trading concepts. They each host monthly online webinars and maintain searchable archives for client convenience. Novices can also benefit from over ten beginner-focused videos on trading topics that both Plus500 and Octa offer. For traders ready for more advanced topics, each broker provides a collection of educational videos suited for experienced traders.
Where these two platforms differ is in their investor dictionaries. Octa offers a comprehensive dictionary with definitions for more than 50 investing terms, aiding those who might be confused by technical jargon. Plus500, in contrast, does not feature such a resource. Despite these differences, both brokers succeed in providing quality educational content, each receiving a 4-star rating for education. However, when ranked within the industry by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is placed higher at 31st out of 63, compared to Octa's position at 42nd. This suggests that while both are valuable resources for beginner traders, Plus500's educational offerings might have a slight edge.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than Octa. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 |
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Both Plus500 and Octa provide the option to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offer the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
While both Plus500 and Octa provide options for funding accounts through Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, Plus500 additionally supports PayPal transactions, but neither broker facilitates ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | Plus500 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Octa Review |
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