Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Questrade 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.
Questrade, founded in 2000, and Octa, established in 2011, are both online brokers that are not publicly traded or classified as banks. In terms of regulatory credentials, Questrade holds two Tier-1 licenses which are highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com standards. On the other hand, Octa has one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, indicating a mix of high and moderate trust levels.
When considering trust scores provided by ForexBrokers.com, Questrade boasts a solid rating of 86 out of 99, placing it in the trusted category. Octa, however, receives a lower trust score of 72, which classifies it as an average risk broker. These ratings can help potential users evaluate the regulatory safety of these platforms while deciding which broker suits their investment needs best.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Questrade tends to be pricier on forex, while Octa is positioned as a lower-cost choice for most traders. Questrade’s target spread of 1.9 pips on EUR/USD is steep versus the industry average. Octa, by contrast, lists tighter average spreads (as low as 0.5 pips in the EU and about 0.9 pips under its foreign entities), though it does not publish a date range for these figures, which makes direct benchmarking harder.
Questrade: 3 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, ranked #33 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com. Its higher EUR/USD target spread can add up for active forex traders.
Octa: 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, ranked #26 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com. Pricing has improved, with no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs. Fees depend on your account type and which Octa entity regulates your account: EU clients get a single MT5 account, while international clients can choose MT4, MT5, or OctaTrader under the broker’s South Africa or Mwali entities. Note that Octa’s spread data lacks a stated date range, and some trading restrictions may limit high‑frequency strategies.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Questrade offers a wider range of investments than Octa. Questrade lists 641 tradeable symbols and 110 forex pairs, while Octa has 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, and both provide crypto CFDs (but not actual, delivered crypto). Questrade also lets you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) as well as on international markets, whereas Octa does not support U.S.-listed shares but does offer access to exchange-traded securities on international exchanges.
For extras, Octa includes copy trading, which Questrade lacks. Overall, Questrade earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 3.5 stars and ranks #33. If you want a wider selection and the ability to buy stocks on U.S. and international exchanges, Questrade is the better fit; if copy trading matters most, Octa may be appealing.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Questrade and Octa both check key boxes for traders who want flexible, modern platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free paper trading demo, an in-house proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Both also let you place trades directly from charts, which makes it easier to act on technical analysis without switching screens.
The biggest differences are in third-party platforms and social features. Octa supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Questrade does not. Both brokers earned 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools from ForexBrokers.com. In that same category, Questrade ranked #28 out of 63 brokers, and Octa ranked #30 out of 63.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Questrade and Octa both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts for stocks and forex, plus handy charting tools like drawing trendlines; your drawings auto-save so you don’t lose your work.
The key differences show up in syncing and chart depth. Questrade syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Octa does not. Questrade also offers 64 technical studies in its mobile charting versus Octa’s 30, which may appeal to traders who rely on more indicators. Both apps earn 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, and ForexBrokers.com ranks Questrade #28 and Octa #29 out of 63 brokers—a near tie. Choose Questrade if synced watchlists and more studies matter; Octa suits traders who want the essentials on the go.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Questrade vs Octa for market research: Octa comes out ahead on ratings, earning 4 stars and a #24 ranking from ForexBrokers.com, versus Questrade’s 3.5 stars and #34 ranking. Octa delivers daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones or similar), Autochartist tools, and an economic calendar. It does not include Trading Central, TipRanks, sentiment tools, or Acuity Trading.
Questrade does not provide daily market commentary, and access to top-tier forex news is not specified. However, it offers Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, and an economic calendar; sentiment tools and Acuity Trading are not available. In short, choose Octa if you want steady commentary and premium news flow, or pick Questrade if you value third-party analyst research from Trading Central and TipRanks.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners, both Questrade and Octa offer at least 10 starter videos that cover trading basics. Octa also runs educational client webinars at least once a month, while Questrade does not. The provided data does not confirm whether either broker meets the benchmark of 10 or more forex- or CFD-specific education pieces.
As you advance, Octa supplies at least 10 videos aimed at experienced traders, whereas Questrade does not hit that mark. Education ratings are 3.5/5 for Questrade and 4/5 for Octa. In ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, Questrade ranks #28 out of 63 brokers and Octa ranks #32. Choose Octa if you want live webinars and a deeper video path; pick Questrade if you’re fine with on-demand beginner content and prefer a slightly higher category rank.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Questrade is better than Octa. Questrade finished with an overall rank of #29, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.
Regulated in both the U.S. and Canada, Questrade is a trusted full-service multi-asset broker now offering forex and CFDs alongside its stock trading services for active and passive investors. While its scope of educational resources and in-house research is limited, Questrade has an impressive platform lineup.
| Feature |
Questrade
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Octa
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 |
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Questrade vs Octa: Neither online broker allows you to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In the Questrade vs Octa comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, both lack ACH/SEPA and PayPal but support bank wires, only Octa supports Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability isn’t 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 | Questrade | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Questrade | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| 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) | No |
| Investments | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 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). |
| Cost | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Questrade | 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 | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Questrade Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Questrade | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review | Octa Review |
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