Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill 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.
Comparing online brokers Tickmill and Octa: Tickmill was founded in 2014, while Octa launched in 2011. Neither is publicly traded or a bank. According to the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, below 59 not trusted), Tickmill scores 85/99 (trusted) and Octa scores 73/99 (average risk).
In terms of regulation, Tickmill holds 2 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, whereas Octa holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license. Because Tier-1 regulators are considered highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill offers wider high-grade oversight and a higher trust rating. Octa still maintains recognized licensing, but with fewer top-tier approvals and a lower trust category.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Tickmill has the edge over Octa for cost-conscious traders. Tickmill scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees, thanks to its low-cost Raw account and competitive spreads. Its Classic account has no commission, but spreads are wider, while the Raw account charges $3 per side per standard lot and still keeps the all-in trading cost relatively low. Tickmill’s EUR/USD spread on the Raw account has been listed at 0.11 pips, with an all-in cost that rises once commission is included.
Octa has improved its pricing in recent years and now offers a more competitive fee setup than before, earning 4 out of 5 stars and a #28 ranking out of 36 for Commissions and Fees. Depending on the account and entity, Octa’s EUR/USD average spread is listed at 0.5 pips for EU clients and 0.9 pips for international clients. It also advertises no overnight carry costs and very low slippage on most orders, but its pricing can be less clear because it does not provide a date range for its average spread data.
Overall, Tickmill is the stronger choice for traders focused on commissions and fees, especially if you want tighter pricing and a lower total trading cost. Octa is still a decent low-cost option, but its fee structure is less transparent and its overall ranking trails Tickmill. In short: Tickmill is better for lower trading costs, while Octa is improved but not quite as competitive.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.70 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.70 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 the range of investments, Tickmill offers a wider selection than Octa, with 637 tradeable symbols compared with Octa’s 300. Tickmill also provides 62 forex pairs, while Octa lists 35, and both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Each platform offers copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency or exchange-traded U.S. shares as real assets.
There is one key difference in share access: Octa offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as foreign-listed stocks, while Tickmill does not. Even with Tickmill’s larger product list, both brokers receive the same 3.5-star rating for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com, though Tickmill ranks slightly higher overall in this category at #32 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa at #35.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 62 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
Tickmill and Octa both give traders a solid mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from a chart, which can make placing and managing trades easier. In this category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, so they are fairly evenly matched on the basics that most traders look for.
The main difference is that Octa offers its own in-house trading platform, while Tickmill does not. That may appeal to traders who want a broker-built experience instead of relying only on third-party software. Still, Tickmill places higher in ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools ranking, coming in at #24 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa at #33, which suggests Tickmill has a slight edge overall in this area.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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) | 97 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill and Octa both give traders iPhone and Android apps, so either broker lets you manage trades on the go. Both mobile apps also support trendline drawing on charts and hold the same 4-star rating for mobile trading apps. Where Tickmill stands out is chart depth and account syncing: its app offers 97 technical studies, compared with Octa’s 30, and watchlist symbols sync between the mobile app and online account, which makes it easier to keep track of favorite markets across devices.
Octa has a couple of useful mobile features that Tickmill does not. It offers stock and forex price alerts, and its app automatically saves chart drawings, which can be handy if you mark up charts often. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps ranking, Tickmill places higher at #25 out of 36 brokers, while Octa ranks #31, suggesting Tickmill has the edge overall for mobile trading app features.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Tickmill and Octa both provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar, giving traders a basic view of what may move the markets next. Each broker also earns a 4-star rating for research, but Tickmill is ranked higher overall by ForexBrokers.com at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa at #25.
Where Octa stands out is in market news and built-in analysis tools: it offers forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Autochartist research tools. Tickmill does not offer those features, but it does include Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, which Octa does not. Neither broker offers Trading Central, sentiment tools, or TipRanks research.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Tickmill and Octa both give beginners a solid starting point for learning about forex and CFDs. Each broker offers at least 10 education pieces on these topics, monthly live webinars, and a good mix of beginner and advanced videos, so new traders can find material that matches their level. Both are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education, which shows that each one provides a fairly useful learning experience overall.
The main difference is in how they are ranked. Tickmill places #14 out of 36 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa sits lower at #34. In simple terms, that means both brokers offer similar learning tools on paper, but Tickmill is viewed more favorably for educational support, making it the stronger choice for beginners who want more confidence while getting started.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
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 Tickmill is better than Octa. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #37.
Tickmill is a run-of-the-mill MetaTrader broker that offers a limited selection of tradeable securities. The broker does offer very competitive commission-based pricing for professionals through its VIP and Pro accounts.
| Feature |
Tickmill
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Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 |
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Online brokers Tickmill and Octa do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both allow traders to trade cryptocurrency via CFDs.
Tickmill vs Octa payment options for deposits and withdrawals: both lack ACH/SEPA but support bank wire transfers; Tickmill also offers PayPal and Skrill, while Octa offers Skrill only, 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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | Tickmill | 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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 62 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.70 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
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