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 and Octa are online brokers with different backgrounds: Questrade was founded in 2000, while Octa began in 2011. Neither firm is publicly traded and neither operates as a bank, factors that can matter to investors evaluating corporate transparency and protections.
On regulation and safety, both brokers hold one Tier-1 license (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com). Octa also holds one Tier-2 license, while Questrade has none. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score (out of 99), Questrade scores 85, which falls into the “trusted” range (80–89). Octa scores 73, placing it in the “average risk” range (70–79). These scores can help you weigh each broker’s regulatory standing and overall trust profile.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Questrade and Octa take very different approaches to pricing, and that makes a big difference in trading costs. Questrade is a spread-based broker, so there is no separate commission on forex trades, but the cost is built into the bid-ask spread. In practice, that can mean wider pricing: Questrade says spreads can start at 0.8 pips, but typical major-pair spreads were closer to 2.1 to 2.5 pips at the time of review. For CFDs, costs can rise quickly because Questrade adds a $9.95 USD trading fee per unit on top of the spread, and overnight financing costs may also apply. Questrade is rated 3.5/5 stars and ranked #35 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees.
Octa has improved its fee structure and now compares more favorably on trading costs. Depending on the account type and entity, Octa lists average EUR/USD spreads of 0.5 pips for EU clients and 0.9 pips for international clients. Octa also highlights no overnight carry costs and says most executed orders avoid slippage, although its website does not provide a date range for the spread data, which makes direct comparison less precise. Octa is rated 4/5 stars and ranked #28 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees.
Overall, Octa comes out ahead of Questrade for commissions and fees, mainly because its spreads are generally lower and it does not add the same kind of extra per-trade CFD charge. Questrade may still suit some traders, but its pricing is usually more expensive, especially for CFDs. For cost-conscious traders looking for lower fees, Octa is the better pick in this category.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.8 or higher | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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.
When it comes to range of investments, Questrade offers more choice than Octa overall. Questrade lists 675 tradeable symbols and 110 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading, but neither lets you buy U.S.-listed shares as exchange-traded securities. Questrade also does not offer international exchange-traded stocks, copy trading, or crypto purchases and crypto CFDs. Octa, by contrast, does offer international exchange-traded securities, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, though it does not let clients buy actual cryptocurrency.
These differences are reflected in third-party ratings too. Questrade earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #35 out of 36. If you want a wider selection of forex pairs and tradeable markets, Questrade has the edge; if you want access to international shares, copy trading, and crypto CFDs, Octa offers those options.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 675 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | No | 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 give traders a choice of simulated paper trading, their own in-house platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform, so either one can work well if you want access across devices. Both also let you trade directly from a chart, which can make it easier to place orders while reviewing price movement. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, though Questrade is ranked a bit higher overall at #30 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa at #33.
The biggest difference is in trading extras. Octa supports copy trading and includes both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Questrade does not offer those tools. That means Octa may appeal more to traders who want to follow other traders or use the popular MetaTrader platforms. Questrade, on the other hand, keeps the focus on its own platform set, which may suit traders who prefer a simpler setup built around the broker’s own tools.
| 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 make mobile trading easy with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts for stocks or forex. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts, and both save those drawings automatically. The main difference is that Questrade syncs watchlists between its mobile app and online account, while Octa does not, which may matter if you want a smooth handoff between devices.
For charting tools, Questrade has the edge with 64 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at Octa. Questrade is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #30 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa earns 4 stars but ranks #31. In short, Questrade offers more chart tools and better watchlist syncing, while Octa still delivers a solid mobile trading experience.
| 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.
When comparing Questrade vs Octa for market research, Octa has the edge overall. Octa offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #25 out of 36 brokers in this category. Questrade, on the other hand, does not offer daily market commentary, top-tier forex news, or an economic calendar, but it does include research from Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks. Questrade is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #36 out of 36.
Both brokers provide Autochartist tools, so traders can access some technical and fundamental analysis support with either platform. However, Questrade has an advantage with Trading Central and TipRanks, while Octa stands out for its news flow and broader market updates. Neither broker offers a sentiment tool showing long-versus-short positioning, and neither uses Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, Questrade and Octa take different approaches. Questrade does not appear to offer forex or CFD-focused education at the level of 10 or more dedicated pieces, and it also does not provide monthly educational client webinars or at least 10 beginner or advanced trading videos. Even so, it still earns a 3.5-star Education rating and ranks #30 out of 36 brokers in this category, which suggests it offers some learning support, just not as much as some rivals.
Octa gives new traders more to explore. It offers forex and CFD education, hosts online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides at least 10 beginner videos plus at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced users. That extra content helps explain its stronger 4-star Education rating, although its ForexBrokers.com ranking is #34 out of 36. In simple terms, Octa has more educational material for beginners, while Questrade offers less by comparison.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | 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 #37.
Earning an 85 Trust Score, Questrade Global is a secure, CIRO-regulated platform ideal for Canadians wanting forex and stocks in one place. However, with live EUR/USD spreads going as high as 2.1 to 2.5 pips, cost-conscious day traders might find better value with cheaper alternatives.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 |
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In the Questrade vs Octa comparison for cryptocurrency trading, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) crypto, but only Octa offers cryptocurrency CFD trading while Questrade does not.
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 | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Regulation | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| 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 | 1 | 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 CMA 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) | 675 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | No | 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) - Spread-only account | 0.8 or higher | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 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) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Questrade | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Questrade Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Questrade | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review | Octa Review |
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