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 |
Tickmill and Octa both offer competitive pricing, but Tickmill comes out ahead for commissions and fees. Tickmill is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. It offers a commission-free Classic account, but the spreads are wider, while its Raw account is designed for lower trading costs with spreads from 0.11 pips on EUR/USD and a $3 per side commission, or $6 per standard lot. Even with the recent commission increase, Tickmill still stands out for active traders because its total trading costs can remain low.
Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. It has improved its pricing in recent years and now competes with some of the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers, especially since it does not charge overnight carry costs and reports no slippage on most of its executed orders. That said, pricing depends on the account type and the broker entity, with average EUR/USD spreads listed at 0.5 pips for EU clients and 0.9 pips for international clients.
In simple terms, Tickmill is the better choice if your main goal is lower overall commissions and fees, especially on its Raw account. Octa can also be a good low-cost option, but its pricing is less clear because its typical spread data does not include a date range, and some account restrictions may make it less friendly for high-frequency traders.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
Tickmill and Octa both let you trade forex as CFDs, and both also support copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker offers access to real, delivered crypto, and neither provides exchange-traded U.S. shares. In other words, if you want to trade popular markets like forex or crypto through derivatives, both platforms cover the basics.
Where Tickmill pulls ahead is in overall market choice. It offers 637 tradeable symbols and 62 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Octa does have one edge: it offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, while Tickmill does not. Even so, both brokers are rated 3.5 out of 5 for range of investments, with Tickmill ranked #30 and Octa ranked #33 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| 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 and trading tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for practice, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the option to place trades straight from a chart. The main difference is that Octa also offers its own in-house platform, while Tickmill does not, which may matter to traders who want a broker-built experience.
In terms of overall ratings, both brokers score 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill higher in this category at #24 out of 36 brokers, while Octa sits at #30. For traders comparing platform access and everyday tools, both are closely matched, but Tickmill has the edge in the ranking.
| 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage accounts and place trades on the go with either broker. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts and each is rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps. Where Tickmill stands out is in chart tools and watchlist syncing: its mobile app includes 97 technical studies, and watchlists sync with the online account so updates carry across devices. Tickmill is also ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com in the mobile apps category, coming in at #25 out of 36 brokers compared with Octa’s #29.
Octa has its own strengths as well. Its mobile app offers price alerts for stock or forex markets, which Tickmill does not, and it can auto-save chart drawings, making it easier to return to your work later. However, Octa provides fewer technical studies in its charting tools, with 30 compared with Tickmill’s 97, and it does not support watchlist symbol syncing between the app and online account. For traders who want more chart features and synced watchlists, Tickmill has the edge, while Octa may appeal to those who value alerts and saved chart markings.
| 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 give traders daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so each offers useful basics for following news and scheduled events. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for research, but Tickmill is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa at #24.
Where Octa stands out is market news and analysis from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus access to Autochartist for technical and fundamental signals. Tickmill does not offer those two features, but it does provide research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, which Octa does not. Neither broker offers Trading Central, a sentiment tool, or TipRanks for market 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.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning, both Tickmill and Octa give new traders plenty of material to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFD education, regular online client webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos, so traders at different skill levels can find useful lessons. Both are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education, which suggests a solid range of learning tools for people just starting out or looking to build on the basics.
The main difference shows up in how their education is ranked overall. Tickmill places #14 out of 36 brokers for the Education category on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa ranks #32 out of 36. That means both brokers cover the essentials, but Tickmill appears to offer a stronger educational experience overall for beginners who want more structured help and a wider learning path.
| 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 #34.
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) - Standard account | 1.70 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 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 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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