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 account | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing Plus500 vs Octa for range of investments: Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradeable symbols, far more than Octa’s 300. Plus500 also lets clients buy exchange‑traded shares directly on both U.S. and international exchanges, while Octa does not offer U.S. shares but does provide access to international exchange‑traded stocks. Both brokers support forex trading and offer cryptocurrency via CFDs (neither offers actual, delivered crypto).
For currency traders, Plus500 provides 65 forex pairs versus Octa’s 35. Octa adds copy trading, which Plus500 does not. Based on overall breadth, Plus500 earns 4.5/5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 22nd out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks 53rd.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). 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 (paper) accounts and offer proprietary, in-house trading platforms you can access in your web browser. Where they differ is in platform depth and extras: Octa adds a Windows desktop platform, supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, includes copy trading, and lets you place orders directly from charts. Plus500 does not offer a Windows download, MT4/MT5, copy trading, or chart trading, focusing instead on a streamlined web experience.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earns 4.5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers, while Octa scores 4 stars and ranks #38. Traders who want MetaTrader, copy trading, and desktop software may lean toward Octa. If you prefer a simple, browser-based proprietary platform with strong third-party ratings, Plus500 is the clearer fit.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and Octa both offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. The key differences show up in daily use: Plus500 syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Octa does not. For charting, Plus500 includes 115 technical studies versus 30 with Octa. On the flip side, Octa auto-saves your chart drawings, whereas Plus500 does not.
In independent reviews, Plus500 earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 14th out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com. Octa scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 37th. If you want deeper chart tools and synced watchlists, Plus500 is the stronger fit. If automatic saving of chart annotations matters more, Octa may be appealing.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | 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 (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners, both Plus500 and Octa make learning forex and CFDs straightforward. Each broker runs client webinars at least once a month and offers 10+ beginner videos to explain trading basics. As you progress, both also provide 10+ advanced videos, giving you plenty of material to keep building skills without switching platforms.
Education is rated 4.0 stars for both brokers, but Plus500 holds a higher position in ForexBrokers.com’s Education rankings (#31 of 63) compared with Octa (#42 of 63). While this summary confirms frequent webinars and large video libraries, it does not specify whether either broker meets a separate threshold of 10+ total forex/CFD educational pieces across all formats. Still, beginners will find accessible learning paths with both; choose Plus500 if ranking matters a bit more, or pick either based on your other preferences.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 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
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 |
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Online brokers Plus500 and Octa do not allow purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Plus500 vs Octa: for deposits and withdrawals, neither supports ACH or SEPA, both offer Skrill and bank wire transfers, but only Plus500 supports PayPal.
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, FSRA, or SCA 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. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). 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 account | 1.3 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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