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.
Tickmill and Octa are both private online brokers that were established in 2014 and 2011, respectively. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory credentials, Tickmill stands out with 2 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting its status as a trusted broker. Octa, on the other hand, holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license. These figures indicate that both brokers are regulated, but Tickmill offers more widespread coverage in terms of regulatory oversight.
Evaluating their trustworthiness, ForexBrokers.com gives Tickmill a Trust Score of 86 out of 99, placing it in the 'trusted' category. Conversely, Octa receives a Trust Score of 72, categorizing it as an 'average risk' broker. These scores help potential investors assess the reliability of these platforms before deciding which might better suit their trading needs.
| 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 comparing the commissions and fees of Tickmill and Octa, Tickmill stands out with its competitive pricing structure. Tickmill offers two primary account options: the Classic account, which has no commission but offers higher average spreads of 1.76 pips, and the newly introduced Raw account. While the Raw account recently increased its per-side commission to $3—the equivalent of $6 per standard lot—it continues to attract active traders due to its appealing all-in cost and typical spreads. The Raw account's total cost, after considering the commission, averages around 0.71 pips, and maintains a low entry barrier with a minimum deposit requirement of $100. Tickmill proudly holds a 5-star rating and is ranked 4th among 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
Octa has made significant strides in improving its pricing and now positions itself competitively against other MetaTrader brokers. While Octa offers varied account types depending on regulatory jurisdiction, it generally provides favorable spread pricing, particularly within its EU entity, where the EUR/USD pair averages a spread of 0.5 pips compared to 0.9 pips for its other divisions. Despite this improvement, Octa lacks a defined date range for its spread data, potentially affecting its perceived reliability in comparison to others. Additionally, Octa's policies, such as no slippage on 97.5% of trades and no overnight carry costs, add value but come with certain limitations for high-frequency traders. Octa has earned a 4-star rating for its efforts and sits 29th out of 63 brokers in the same category as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, while Tickmill excels with a 5-star rating and top-tier ranking thanks to its low-cost, trader-friendly Raw account, Octa is closing in as a low-cost MetaTrader option. Both brokers offer unique advantages tailored to different trading styles and preferences, making them worthwhile considerations for traders evaluating commission and fee structures. However, Tickmill's consistent transparency and lower fees give it the edge for cost-conscious traders.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Tickmill and Octa for their range of investments, both platforms offer a comprehensive forex trading experience via CFD or spot contracts. Tickmill provides access to a broader spectrum of tradeable symbols, boasting 637 options compared to Octa's 300. For those interested in forex pairs specifically, Tickmill again leads the way with 63 pairs, whereas Octa offers 35. Neither broker allows clients to buy U.S. exchange-traded securities like Apple shares or actual cryptocurrencies. However, both do offer cryptocurrency derivatives and support copy trading to refine investment strategies.
Despite these offerings, neither Tickmill nor Octa allows the purchase of intexchange-traded securities within the U.S., but Octa stands out by enabling investments in international exchange-traded shares such as Vodafone. Given these factors, both brokers received a 3.5-star rating out of five for their range of investments. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill higher at #42, while Octa sits at #52, reflecting Tickmill's slightly broader reach in tradeable options and forex pairs.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 35 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing the online trading platforms and tools offered by Tickmill and Octa, both brokers provide a user-friendly experience with a variety of features. Both Tickmill and Octa offer a free virtual demo account, which allows traders to simulate trades without financial risk. They also support popular trading platforms such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), available across Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms. Octa stands out by offering a proprietary platform that it developed in-house, which is an option not available at Tickmill. When it comes to copy trading, both brokers have options in place, though neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
Tickmill and Octa enable traders to buy and sell directly from stock charts, adding convenience to the trading process. For those who rely on technical analysis, Octa features a greater array of drawing tools with 15 available options compared to Tickmill’s 9. However, both brokers provide the same number of fields for managing watchlists, offering 7 columns each. In terms of overall ratings, Tickmill scores 4 stars for its trading platforms and tools and ranks 29th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa also earns a 4-star rating but comes in at 37th place according to the same source. These factors present Tickmill as a slightly higher-ranked choice in this category, despite both brokers offering competitive services.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 9 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Tickmill and Octa, both platforms offer comprehensive features for traders using iPhone and Android devices. Traders can receive stock or forex price alerts through both apps and have access to 30 technical studies for in-depth chart analysis. Both apps also enable users to draw trendlines and view various time frames on charts, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, allowing for flexible trading strategies. The convenience of real-time quotes in user-created watchlists is available on both Tickmill and Octa's apps, ensuring traders stay updated with live market data.
However, neither Tickmill nor Octa supports syncing watchlist symbols between the mobile app and the online account, which could limit seamless multi-device trading experiences. On the bright side, both apps do auto-save chart drawings, ensuring your annotations are retained. While both apps are rated four stars for mobile trading, Tickmill has a slight edge being ranked 29th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Octa's 36th position. This ranking reflects a slightly higher overall satisfaction in the mobile trading experience offered by Tickmill's app.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Tickmill and Octa offer valuable resources for traders seeking market insights, including daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. While both brokers provide economic calendars to keep traders informed of global events, they differ in their research tool offerings. Tickmill stands out with a sentiment-based trading tool that displays the ratio of long or short positions in currency pairs, a feature not present in Octa's toolkit. Additionally, Tickmill enhances its research capabilities with tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, unlike Octa, which does not provide tools from this company.
On the other hand, Octa provides technical analysis tools through Autochartist, a service Tickmill does not offer. Despite these differences, both brokers have achieved a commendable 4-star rating for their research services. However, when considering their standings among 63 brokers listed by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill ranks slightly higher, coming in at 21st place, while Octa is ranked 27th. This small difference may influence traders who place a premium on research quality and tool variety.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Tickmill and Octa provide a comprehensive array of options to get you started in the world of trading forex and CFDs. Both platforms offer more than ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, all centered around forex and CFDs. Not only are these various resources available, but beginners can also attend monthly online webinars to boost their understanding, and explore previously recorded sessions through accessible archives. Each broker also delivers a set of at least ten videos dedicated to beginner topics, ensuring that new traders are well-supported as they dive into trading.
Diving deeper, both Tickmill and Octa don't leave experienced traders behind, offering over ten advanced videos to help seasoned investors refine their strategies. They also provide an investor dictionary featuring definitions for more than fifty investing terms, enhancing the learning experience. Despite both brokers earning a 4-star rating for their educational content, there's a notable difference in their rankings on ForexBrokers.com: Tickmill is impressively placed at #15 out of 63 brokers, while Octa holds the #42 spot. This suggests that, while both brokers offer a wealth of resources, Tickmill might resonate more with those seeking a highly ranked educational experience.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 #22, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
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 | 86 | 72 |
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Both Tickmill and Octa lack the capability to facilitate the buying of actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Tickmill provides more versatile funding options by supporting PayPal and Skrill for transactions, alongside conventional methods like Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas OctaTrader permits Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks the PayPal option, and neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | 86 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| 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 (SFC 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/Central Bank 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) | 63 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 - Standard | 1.70 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 9 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
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