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 both build most trading costs into the spread, but their pricing profiles differ. Questrade Global is a spread-only broker, while Octa’s fees depend on the account and the entity that regulates it. Octa reports no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, though it places limits that can affect high‑frequency traders. For Commissions and Fees, Questrade is rated 3.5/5 stars and ranks #33 of 63 brokers (ForexBrokers.com), whereas Octa is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #26 of 63.
With Questrade, forex spreads are advertised as low as 0.8 pips, but typical majors were closer to about 2.1–2.5 pips at the time of review—roughly a $20 all‑in cost per trade for a standard lot at around 2 pips. For CFDs, Questrade adds a small spread plus a $9.95 USD fee per unit when you open and again when you close. In a simple example buying one Tesla CFD, you’d pay about $0.05 in spread plus $19.95 in trading fees round‑trip, and roughly $2.23 in one‑month financing—meaning you’d need a gain of over 6% just to break even.
Octa’s spreads vary by region and platform: its EU entity lists an average 0.5‑pip spread for EUR/USD, versus about 0.9 pips at its foreign entities (MT4/MT5/OctaTrader are available outside the EU). Octa also advertises no overnight carry costs, which can meaningfully lower holding expenses compared with brokers that charge swaps. That said, Octa doesn’t publish a date range for its typical spread data, so exact, time‑stamped comparisons are limited; actual pricing will still depend on your account, regulator, and market conditions.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 or higher | 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.
Comparing Questrade vs Octa for range of investments: Questrade offers a wider selection with 675 tradeable symbols and 110 forex pairs, while Octa lists 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both support forex trading (CFD or spot). For stocks, neither broker offers U.S.-listed shares as real, exchange-traded assets; only Octa provides access to some international exchange-traded securities. For social features, Questrade does not support copy trading, while Octa does. In crypto, neither sells actual coins; Octa offers cryptocurrency CFDs, and Questrade does not.
On ratings, Questrade earns 5 stars and ranks #12 of 63 for Range of Investments at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 3.5 stars and ranks #33. Choose Questrade if you want more symbols and forex pairs; pick Octa if you value copy trading, international share dealing (not CFDs), and crypto CFD exposure.
| 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 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts for stocks and forex. A key difference is watchlist syncing: Questrade syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account so changes carry over, while Octa does not. For charting, Questrade offers 64 technical studies compared with Octa’s 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines and they auto-save your drawings.
Ratings and rankings tell a mixed story. Questrade earns 3.5 out of 5 stars but ranks #28 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com. Octa scores a higher 4 out of 5 stars yet ranks slightly lower at #29 out of 63. If synced watchlists and a wider set of technical studies matter most, Questrade stands out. If star rating is your top signal, Octa has the edge.
| 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 stands out for day-to-day insights, offering daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters, Dow Jones), and an economic calendar—resources Questrade does not provide. Both brokers lack a sentiment tool and do not integrate Acuity Trading, but each includes Autochartist for pattern and signal ideas.
Questrade counters with added research from Trading Central and TipRanks, which can help with technical and stock-focused analysis—features Octa does not offer. According to ForexBrokers.com, Octa scores higher for research (4 stars, ranked #24 of 63), while Questrade earns 3.5 stars (ranked #34). In short, Octa suits traders who want steady news and daily commentary, whereas Questrade fits investors who value Trading Central and TipRanks within their research toolkit.
| 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.
Questrade vs Octa for beginner education: Octa clearly offers more hands-on learning for new forex and CFD traders. Octa runs ongoing client webinars (at least one per month) and provides at least 10 beginner video lessons, plus 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. Questrade, by comparison, does not host monthly educational webinars and does not meet the 10-video threshold for either beginner or advanced trading topics, which may leave true beginners wanting more guided content.
On ratings, Octa earns 4 out of 5 stars for Education, while Questrade is at 3.5 out of 5. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category ranking out of 63 brokers, Questrade is placed higher at #28 versus Octa at #32. If you value frequent webinars and a larger video library tailored to newcomers, Octa is the stronger pick; if overall category placement matters more, Questrade edges ahead in the rankings.
| 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 #34.
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
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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) - Standard account | 0.8 or higher | 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 | $0 | $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) | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review | Octa Review |
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