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.
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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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Octa comes out ahead of Questrade. Questrade uses spread-based pricing, so trading costs are built into the buy-sell spread rather than a separate commission. While Questrade says spreads can start as low as 0.8 pips, typical forex spreads were found closer to 2.1 to 2.5 pips, which can make trades more expensive. For CFDs, Questrade also charges a $9.95 USD fee per unit, and overnight financing can add even more to the total cost.
Octa has improved its pricing and now competes more closely with low-cost MetaTrader brokers. Its average EUR/USD spread is listed at 0.5 pips for EU clients and 0.9 pips for international clients, with no overnight carry costs. That said, pricing depends on the account type and which Octa entity you use, and the broker does not provide a clear date range for its average spread data, which makes direct comparison a little less precise.
Overall, Octa is the cheaper pick on fees and pricing. Questrade is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #33 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #26 out of 36.
| 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.
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 clients buy U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities directly, such as Apple shares. Questrade also does not offer international exchange-traded securities, copy trading, or cryptocurrency products.
Octa, on the other hand, gives traders access to international exchange-traded securities, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, which Questrade does not provide. Even so, Questrade earns a higher Range of Investments score, with 5 out of 5 stars and a #12 ranking out of 36 brokers, while Octa is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #33. For investors who want a wider forex selection and more listed markets, Questrade comes out ahead; for those interested in copy trading and international shares, Octa has some added 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 flexible set of platform choices, including a free simulated trading account, their own in-house platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform you can use in your browser. Both also let you place trades directly from a stock chart, which can make it easier to react quickly while reviewing price moves. On trading platforms and tools, each broker is rated 4 out of 5 stars, though Questrade is ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com at #28 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa at #30.
The biggest difference is that Octa adds more trader-focused features, including copy trading plus support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which may appeal to users who want popular third-party platforms and the option to follow other traders. Questrade does not offer copy trading, MT4, or MT5, so its platform lineup is more centered on its own tools. For traders who want a simple comparison, Questrade and Octa both cover the basics well, but Octa offers more choices for those looking for extra platform options.
| 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 saves those drawings automatically, which is helpful if you like to keep track of trade ideas on the go. In terms of charting tools, Questrade has the edge with 64 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at Octa.
The main difference is watchlist syncing: Questrade keeps watchlists synced between the mobile app and your online account, while Octa does not. That makes Questrade a better fit for traders who want their lists updated everywhere they log in. Octa, however, gets a slightly higher mobile app rating at 4 stars versus Questrade’s 3.5 stars, even though Questrade is ranked a bit better overall in this category, placing 28th out of 36 brokers compared with Octa at 29th.
| 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 it comes to market research, Octa offers more built-in tools and news for everyday traders than Questrade. Octa provides daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar for tracking upcoming events. Questrade does not offer daily commentary, top-tier forex news, or an economic calendar, although both brokers include Autochartist. Questrade also adds Trading Central and TipRanks, which Octa does not.
Overall, Octa scores higher for research, with a 4-star rating and a ForexBrokers.com research rank of #24 out of 36 brokers. Questrade holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #34 out of 36. In plain terms, Octa is the stronger choice if you want more current market updates and event tracking, while Questrade may appeal more if you value Trading Central and TipRanks research tools.
| 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, Octa offers more learning content than Questrade in several key areas. Octa provides forex and CFD education with at least 10 dedicated pieces, plus monthly educational webinars and 10 or more beginner and advanced trading videos. Questrade, by contrast, does not meet those marks for forex or CFD education, does not offer monthly educational webinars, and does not have 10 beginner or 10 advanced trading videos focused on trading topics.
That said, Questrade still earns a 3.5-star Education rating and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, while Octa scores 4 stars but ranks #32 out of 36. In simple terms, Octa is the better choice for hands-on learning resources aimed at new traders, while Questrade offers less beginner-focused education despite its slightly stronger category ranking.
| 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
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| 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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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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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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