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 is the stronger choice for commissions and fees overall, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #8 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Its pricing is especially attractive for active, high-volume traders and clients with larger balances. Saxo’s forex trading is mostly commission-free, with costs built into the spread, though traders who trade less than 50,000 units per month pay a $3 ticket fee per side. As of November 2023, average EUR/USD spreads were 1.1 pips for Classic, 1.0 pips for Platinum, and 0.9 pips for VIP, with the VIP tier offering the best overall savings.
Octa has improved a lot on price and now scores 4 out of 5 stars, ranking #26 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its costs depend on the account type and which Octa entity holds the account, with EU clients generally seeing tighter pricing than international clients. For example, Octa’s listed average EUR/USD spread is 0.5 pips for the EU entity and 0.9 pips for the offshore or South Africa entities. Octa also advertises no overnight carry costs and no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders, which may appeal to some traders, although restrictions can make it less suitable for high-frequency trading.
In a direct comparison, Saxo offers better overall pricing and a higher rating, while Octa remains competitive for lower-cost MetaTrader trading. Saxo stands out for transparency and tiered pricing that rewards larger clients, while Octa may suit traders who want simple spread-based pricing and no overnight carry fees. If fees are your main concern, Saxo has the edge.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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.
Saxo offers a much wider range of investments than Octa, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety. Saxo lists about 71,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading and let clients trade international exchange-listed shares, but only Saxo also offers access to U.S.-listed stocks such as Apple. In addition, both brokers provide cryptocurrency CFDs, though neither allows clients to buy actual crypto.
For extra features, Octa includes copy trading while Saxo does not. Even so, Saxo’s overall investment selection is rated higher, with a 5-star Range of Investments score and a #3 ranking out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Octa is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #33, reflecting its more limited product range despite offering a few useful features.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 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 range of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform you can use in your browser. Each also lets you trade directly from a chart, which is helpful if you like making quick moves while watching price action. 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 holds a 4-star rating and ranks #30.
Where the two differ most is in extra trading features. Octa supports copy trading and offers both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, giving traders more platform options if they prefer the MetaTrader setup. Saxo does not offer copy trading, MT4, or MT5, so its focus is more on its own platform ecosystem. For traders who want a simple, flexible platform lineup, both brokers work well; for those who want MetaTrader or copy trading, Octa has the edge.
| 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) | 61 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and Octa both give traders mobile access on iPhone and Android, plus price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. That means either app can cover the basics well for trading on the go. The main difference is that Saxo also syncs watchlists between its mobile app and online account, so any changes carry over more smoothly across devices, while Octa does not offer this feature.
When it comes to charting depth and overall mobile experience, Saxo has the edge. Its app includes 64 technical studies compared with 30 for Octa, and Saxo is rated 5 stars for mobile trading apps versus Octa’s 4 stars. This stronger feature set is reflected in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings too, where Saxo places #3 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while Octa ranks #29.
| 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 strong range of market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from top names like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist support, and an economic calendar for tracking major events. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so the research lineup is similar in several key areas.
The main difference is that Saxo goes a step further with a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning across markets, while Octa does not. That extra feature helps explain why Saxo earns a higher research rating, with 5 stars and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa’s 4 stars and #24 rank.
| 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 | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading help, both Saxo and Octa offer a solid range of educational content, including forex and CFDs learning materials, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner-focused videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means each broker gives new traders access to lessons on the basics, while also offering content for those who want to move beyond the first steps. Saxo and Octa both make it easier for users to learn at their own pace, with a mix of articles, videos, and live sessions.
That said, Saxo comes out ahead in overall education quality. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. In simple terms, both brokers are useful for learning, but Saxo appears to offer the stronger educational experience for beginners who want more guidance and a higher-rated set of learning tools.
| 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 #34.
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) | Yes | 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) | 190 | 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) - Standard account | 1.0 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | 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 | 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) | 61 | 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 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 | 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 | Yes | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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