Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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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Saxo vs Octa: For regulation and safety, Saxo (founded 1992) carries a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted 90–99 range. Octa (founded 2011) holds a 73/99 Trust Score, which falls into the 70–79 average risk band. For reference, ForexBrokers.com rates 90–99 as highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted.
Regulatory makeup: Saxo is a bank and not publicly traded, with 7 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted). Octa is not a bank and not publicly traded, with 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license. This deeper licensing footprint helps explain Saxo’s higher Trust Score compared with Octa.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Saxo earns 5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #8 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com. Overall, Saxo offers low pricing for active, high-volume, and larger-balance traders, especially on its Platinum and VIP accounts. In November 2023, average EUR/USD spreads were 1.1 pips for Classic, 1.0 for Platinum, and 0.9 for VIP. Saxo is generally commission-free for forex trading, though accounts trading less than 50,000 units per month pay a $3 per-side ticket fee.
Octa earns 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #28 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. 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 the EU entity and 0.9 pips for its non-EU entities, but Octa does not provide a date range for this spread data, which makes direct comparison harder. Octa also advertises no overnight carry costs and no slippage on most executed orders, but some account and platform restrictions may matter to active traders.
In a side-by-side comparison, Saxo stands out more for consistent pricing clarity and strong value for larger traders, while Octa may appeal to cost-conscious traders looking for low spreads and no swap charges. If you want the broker with the better overall commissions and fees rating, Saxo comes out ahead. If you want a broker that has made clear pricing progress and offers low advertised spreads, Octa is still worth a look.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | 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.
Saxo offers a much wider range of investments than Octa, making it a stronger choice for traders who want access to more markets and products. Saxo lists about 71,000 tradable symbols and 192 forex pairs, while Octa offers around 300 tradable symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, and both also let clients trade shares on international exchanges. However, only Saxo gives access to exchange traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares.
For extra features, Octa stands out with copy trading, which Saxo does not provide. Even so, Saxo is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and is ranked #3 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Octa’s 3.5 stars and #35 ranking. Overall, Saxo is the better pick for investors who want a wider selection, while Octa may suit traders looking for copy trading and a simpler offering.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 192 | 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). | 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.
Saxo and Octa both give traders a solid set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, web-based trading, and Windows desktop downloads. Each also lets users trade directly from a stock chart, which makes it easier to act on market moves without switching screens. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools review, Saxo stands out with a 5-star rating and a #3 ranking out of 36 brokers, while Octa is rated 4 stars and ranked #33.
The biggest difference is in platform extras. Octa supports copy trading and offers both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, making it a stronger pick for traders who want popular third-party tools and the option to follow other traders. Saxo does not support copy trading, MT4, or MT5, so it may appeal more to traders who prefer a cleaner, broker-built experience instead of add-on platforms.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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.
Saxo and Octa both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Both platforms cover the basics well for mobile trading, but Saxo stands out for one key reason: its watchlists sync between the app and online account, so updates carry over wherever you log in. Octa does not offer this syncing feature, which may matter if you switch often between mobile and web.
When it comes to charting and overall mobile experience, Saxo also has the edge. Its app includes 64 technical studies compared with Octa’s 30, giving traders more tools for analysis. That wider feature set helps explain Saxo’s 5-star mobile trading app rating and #3 ranking out of 36 brokers, while Octa holds a 4-star rating and ranks #31. For traders who want a more polished mobile app with better charting depth, Saxo is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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.
Saxo and Octa both give traders a good set of market research tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, an economic calendar, and Autochartist tools for chart and pattern analysis. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, Acuity Trading, or a sentiment tool that shows long-versus-short positioning across markets.
Where they differ is in overall research quality and standing. Saxo is rated 5 out of 5 stars for research and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #25. For traders who want the stronger research experience, Saxo has the edge, though Octa still covers the main research basics well.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Saxo and Octa both give beginners plenty of learning support, with each broker offering forex and CFD education, monthly client webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find basic lessons as well as more detailed material as they build their skills. In simple terms, both platforms make it easy to start learning, but Saxo stands out a bit more for overall education quality.
Where Saxo pulls ahead is in ratings and rankings: it earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4 stars and ranks #34. If you are comparing the two mainly for beginner-friendly educational resources, both are strong choices, but Saxo has the edge for depth and overall educational value.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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 Saxo is better than Octa. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #37.
Saxo is a multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Octa
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Saxo vs Octa: neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading instead.
Comparing online brokers Saxo and Octa: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits/withdrawals, both support bank wire transfers, Octa supports Skrill while Saxo does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not 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 | Saxo | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 192 | 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). | 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 | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Saxo Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Saxo | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Octa Review |
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