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 and Octa are two established names in the online brokerage world, yet they differ significantly in their regulatory and trust credentials. Founded in 1996, Swissquote is not just a brokerage but also operates as a bank and is publicly traded, lending it an added layer of transparency. With five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, Swissquote holds a rare ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, marking it as highly trusted. This positions Swissquote favorably for those valuing regulatory confidence and institutional reliability in their trading partner.
Founded in 2011, Octa operates without the backing of a banking institution and is not listed on a stock exchange, providing a more entrepreneurial atmosphere. Despite holding one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, Octa has a Trust Score of 72 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating an average risk level. While it might attract traders looking for a different experience from a traditional banking setup, its regulatory standing makes it less preferable for those prioritizing high trust scores.
| 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 |
On commissions and fees, Octa is generally cheaper than Swissquote for everyday forex trading. Octa lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.5 pips in the EU (0.9 pips at its non‑EU entities), advertises no overnight carry (swap) fees, and reports 97.5% of orders with no slippage, though there are rules that can limit high‑frequency strategies. Swissquote’s pricing varies by region and tends to run higher unless you qualify for its commission-based tier. Ratings: Octa is 4/5 stars and ranked #30 of 63 for Commissions and Fees; Swissquote is 3.5/5 stars and ranked #54 of 63 (ForexBrokers.com).
Swissquote U.K. offers the lowest costs among its entities. The Elite account suits active traders who can deposit at least $10,000, pairing lower spreads with a $5 round‑turn commission; the Professional account is similar but with a different stop‑out level. The Standard account starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, while the Prime account advertises minimum spreads from 0.6 pips (not an average). U.K. accounts also have lighter deposit requirements but a narrower product list.
Beyond the U.K., Swissquote Luxembourg has three tiers—Standard ($1,000 min, from 1.5 pips), Premium ($5,000), and Prime ($50,000, from 0.8 pips)—and Switzerland lists 1.7 pips (Standard, $1,000 min), 1.4 pips (Premium, $10,000), and 1.1 pips (Prime, $50,000), with custom pricing negotiable for very active traders. Octa’s pricing depends on where your account is regulated: in the EU there’s a single MT5 account with the 0.5‑pip EUR/USD average, while its non‑EU entities offer MT4/MT5 and OctaTrader with roughly 0.9‑pip averages. Note: Octa doesn’t provide a date range for its average spread data, so exact comparisons can be tricky.
| 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.
Swissquote offers a wider range of investments than Octa. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both support copy trading and crypto CFDs. That said, Swissquote lists more total markets (472 vs. 300) and more forex pairs (80 vs. 35). Swissquote also lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies, while Octa does not. For stocks, Swissquote provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas Octa offers international stocks only and no access to U.S.-listed shares.
These differences show up in industry ratings: Swissquote earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you want the broadest mix of markets—including U.S. stocks and real crypto—Swissquote is the stronger pick, while Octa suits traders focused on a smaller lineup with international shares and CFDs.
| 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.
Comparing Swissquote vs Octa for trading platforms and tools, both brokers check the key boxes. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, web-based trading, and a Windows desktop app. MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are available at both, along with copy trading. You can also place trades directly from charts with either broker.
Where they differ is in independent ratings. For trading platforms and tools, Swissquote earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #38. If you want a higher-rated platform suite, Swissquote has the edge; if you simply need core features like MT4/MT5, web and desktop access, copy trading, and a demo account, Octa also fits the bill.
| 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 vs Octa for mobile trading: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, and the ability to draw trendlines that auto-save. One notable limitation for both is watchlist syncing—watchlists you create or edit on mobile do not sync with your online account, so changes won’t carry over between devices.
Where they differ is in ratings and rankings. Swissquote’s mobile app is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa’s app holds 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want a higher-rated experience with similar core tools on iOS and Android, Swissquote has the edge. If you just need essential features like alerts and charting on the go, Octa also fits the bill.
| 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.
When it comes to online brokers, both Swissquote and Octa provide comprehensive research tools to assist traders in making informed decisions. Both brokers offer daily market commentary and deliver forex news from high-profile sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They also provide access to technical and fundamental research tools from Autochartist. However, neither offers tools from Trading Central, nor do they provide sentiment-based trading tools or resources from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. Additionally, both brokers feature economic calendars to keep traders up to date with global events, helping them stay informed about market trends.
Swissquote and Octa both receive solid research ratings of four out of five stars. However, according to ForexBrokers.com's rankings, Swissquote holds a higher position at 16th out of 63 brokers, while Octa comes in at 27th in the research category. This difference in rankings may indicate a variance in customer satisfaction or slight distinctions in offering presentation, but both platforms remain reputable choices for traders seeking reliable market research tools.
| 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.
Comparing Swissquote vs Octa for beginner education, both brokers deliver full forex and CFD learning paths. Each offers well over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, plus live client webinars at least once a month. New traders will find 10+ beginner-focused videos at both brokers, making it easy to learn core concepts step by step.
As you advance, both also provide 10+ videos for experienced traders. In independent ratings, Swissquote and Octa each earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education, though Swissquote ranks higher overall (#20 of 63) than Octa (#42 of 63) at ForexBrokers.com. For beginners, either broker works well; if rankings matter to you, Swissquote has the edge, while Octa still offers plenty of accessible learning with frequent webinars and a sizeable video library.
| 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 #47.
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 | 72 |
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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 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| 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 (SFC 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 SCA 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 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Octa Review |
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