Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote vs Octa: Swissquote, founded in 1996, is an online broker that is publicly traded and operates as a bank. Octa, founded in 2011, is not publicly traded and is not a bank. These differences can influence transparency and how client money is handled.
Regulatory profile and trust: ForexBrokers.com gives Swissquote a Trust Score of 99 (90–99 = highly trusted) and Octa a 73 (70–79 = average risk). Swissquote holds five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, while Octa holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2. Tier-1 regulators are considered highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted; 80–89 is trusted, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing Swissquote vs Octa for commissions and fees, Octa comes out ahead on price. Swissquote offers the appeal of banking with a Swiss firm, but that convenience usually comes with higher trading costs than many low-cost forex brokers. Its fees vary by entity: the U.K. accounts tend to be cheaper than the Switzerland and Luxembourg options, but even then, spreads and commissions are not among the best in the market. Swissquote is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #35 out of 36 brokers.
Swissquote’s pricing depends on the account type and location. In the U.K., the Elite account is best for active traders, with a $5 round-turn commission and lower spreads for deposits of at least $10,000. Other Swissquote accounts can be pricier, with EUR/USD spreads starting at 1.3 pips on the Standard account in the U.K., 0.8 pips in Luxembourg for Prime, and as high as 1.7 pips on the Swiss Standard account. The Prime and Premium tiers lower spreads, but they require much larger deposits.
Octa is generally the cheaper choice overall. It has improved its pricing and now sits closer to the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers, with average EUR/USD spreads listed at 0.5 pips for its EU entity and 0.9 pips for its international entities. Octa also advertises no overnight carry costs and no slippage on most orders, though its pricing details are less transparent than some rivals because it does not provide a date range for its spread data. Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #26 out of 36 brokers.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Swissquote offers a wider choice than Octa. Swissquote lists 472 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs, while Octa offers 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but Swissquote goes further by also letting clients buy actual cryptocurrency and trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets, such as Apple shares. It also supports international exchange-traded securities, giving investors more ways to build a diversified portfolio.
Octa does allow trading of international exchange-traded securities and offers some of the same core features, but its overall product range is smaller. It does not offer U.S.-listed shares or actual cryptocurrency, which may matter to investors looking for more direct market access. Based on ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers, while Octa scores 3.5 stars and ranks #33, reflecting Swissquote’s broader selection for everyday investors.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and Octa both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, their own in-house platform, Windows desktop software, browser-based trading, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users place trades straight from a chart, which makes it easier to act quickly while watching price moves. For traders who want flexibility, both brokers cover the main platform types most people look for.
Where Swissquote stands out is in its higher rating and stronger industry ranking for trading platforms and tools. Swissquote earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #30. In simple terms, both brokers offer a similar set of tools, but Swissquote is viewed more favorably overall for platform quality and user experience.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and Octa both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage accounts and trade on the go with either broker. Each app includes stock or forex price alerts, 30 technical studies for chart analysis, the ability to draw trendlines, and automatic saving of chart drawings. One limit they share is that watchlists do not sync between the mobile app and the online account, so changes made in one place will not carry over to the other.
Where Swissquote stands out is in its overall mobile app score and ranking. Swissquote is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 stars and ranks #29. For mobile traders who want a slightly better-rated app experience, Swissquote has the edge, even though both brokers cover the core features most users look for.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Swissquote and Octa both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, and an economic calendar for tracking global events. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, Acuity Trading, or a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions, so their research offers are fairly similar in the basics.
That said, Swissquote has the edge overall for research. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers for the Research category on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #24. For traders who want a slightly better mix of market insight and research support, Swissquote comes out ahead.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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.
When it comes to learning tools for beginners, Swissquote and Octa both give traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 pieces of content focused on those markets, plus online client webinars held at least once a month. Both also provide at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so new traders and more experienced users can find material that fits their level.
Even so, Swissquote has the edge overall in education. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #19 out of 36 brokers for Education, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. For beginners comparing the two, both brokers cover the basics well, but Swissquote appears to offer a slightly stronger learning experience overall.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than Octa. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
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Octa
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Swissquote vs Octa: the online broker Swissquote lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while Octa does not offer delivered crypto but does provide crypto CFDs.
Swissquote vs Octa: for deposits and withdrawals, Swissquote offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while Octa lacks ACH/SEPA and PayPal but supports Skrill and bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Swissquote | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | 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) | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Octa Review |
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