Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212, founded in 2004, and Octa, founded in 2011, both serve as online brokerage platforms; however, they hold different levels of trust and regulation. Trading 212 boasts three Tier-1 licenses, signifying a high level of trust, and secures a Trust Score of 80 out of 99, placing it in the 'trusted' category according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Octa holds one Tier-1 license and an additional Tier-2 license, which indicates a slightly lesser degree of trust. Its Trust Score is 72, rating as 'average risk'. Neither broker is publicly traded nor operates as a bank.
When evaluating these brokers, it's essential to consider the impact of their regulatory standings on your investment decisions. Trading 212's higher number of top-tier licenses and trust rating may provide more assurance to users concerned about risk and financial security. Meanwhile, Octa may appeal to those who are comfortable with a relatively moderate trust profile and value its additional Tier-2 licensing. Understanding such details helps in making informed choices suited to your trading needs and risk comfort level.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Trading 212 and Octa both earn 4 stars for commissions and fees, but Octa edges ahead in the rankings: Octa is #26 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 is #27 (ForexBrokers.com). In short, Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading on CFDs yet relies on spreads that can be higher than peers, whereas Octa’s typical spreads are sharper in many cases, though some disclosures lack date references.
Trading 212 offers two accounts: Invest (shares) and CFD (CFDs), with this comparison focused on the CFD account. The CFD account requires just a €10 minimum deposit. While commission-free, you pay the spread; Trading 212 now publishes average spread data, and in April 2025 its EUR/USD average was 2.7 pips—well above the industry average, which makes it less competitive for frequent forex traders. Rating: 4 stars; Ranking: #27/63 for Commissions and Fees.
Octa’s pricing has improved and can be very competitive, especially in the EU entity where the listed average EUR/USD spread is 0.5 pips (versus 0.9 pips at its foreign entities). Note: Octa does not provide a date range for its typical spread figures. Fees vary by account type and the entity regulating your account; EU clients get a single MT5 account, while international clients can access MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader. Octa also highlights no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, though certain rules may limit high-frequency strategies. Rating: 4 stars; Ranking: #26/63 for Commissions and Fees.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trading 212 vs Octa: For sheer range of investments, Trading 212 is far broader. It offers 7,868 tradeable instruments and 146 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 instruments and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both let you trade cryptocurrencies via CFDs (not actual coins).
Trading 212 also lets you buy real, exchange‑traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London). Octa does not offer U.S.-listed real shares, but it does provide some international shares. Octa includes copy trading, while Trading 212 does not. Reflecting the wider selection, ForexBrokers.com rates Trading 212 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks it 15th out of 63 brokers; Octa earns 3.5 stars and ranks 33rd.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
Trading 212 and Octa both deliver beginner-friendly ways to try trading with free demo accounts and in-house platforms you can use in your browser. Each lets you place orders directly from charts. Key differences: Octa also provides a Windows desktop platform, supports copy trading, and offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Trading 212 does not offer a Windows download, copy trading, or MT4/MT5.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, both earn 4 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, Trading 212 is #19 while Octa is #30. Choose Octa if you want MT4/MT5, copy trading, or a Windows desktop app. Pick Trading 212 if you prefer a straightforward web experience without MetaTrader and don’t need copy trading.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trading 212 and Octa both deliver fully featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, drawing tools like trendlines, and auto‑saving your chart drawings. Both earned a 4 out of 5 star score for Mobile Trading Apps, so either platform can handle everyday trading tasks on the go.
The key differences are in charting depth and account syncing. Trading 212 packs 104 technical studies compared with Octa’s 30, giving you far more ways to analyze price action. Trading 212 also syncs your watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Octa does not. Reflecting these gaps, ForexBrokers.com ranks Trading 212 17th out of 63 brokers for mobile apps, versus 29th for Octa. If you value more indicators and seamless watchlist syncing, Trading 212 stands out; if you just need core tools and alerts, both apps will get the job done.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at Trading 212 and Octa: both provide forex news from top-tier sources (such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones) and include a global economic calendar. Octa stands out with daily market commentary and Autochartist-powered technical ideas. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. Trading 212, however, includes a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions across instruments, which Octa does not provide.
If you want daily insights and automated chart setups, Octa is the stronger pick. If you prefer tracking crowd positioning to guide entries and exits, Trading 212’s sentiment view can help. According to ForexBrokers.com, Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #24 of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 holds 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 of 63.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Trading 212 vs Octa for beginner education: both brokers deliver plenty of starter material, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so you can learn the basics and grow into more complex topics. A key difference is live learning: Octa hosts online educational webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not. If you prefer real-time sessions with Q&A, Octa has the edge; if you mainly watch on-demand videos, both are well covered.
Ratings and rankings tell a mixed story. Octa earns a higher Education rating (4/5) than Trading 212 (3.5/5), yet Trading 212 is ranked higher overall for Education by ForexBrokers.com (#20 out of 63 vs Octa’s #32). In short, choose Octa if monthly webinars are important to you; choose Trading 212 if you value a stronger position in the Education rankings alongside a solid video library.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 Trading 212 is better than Octa. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 72 |
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Trading 212 vs Octa: both online brokers do not allow buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing Trading 212 vs Octa: Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers but not Skrill, while Octa offers Skrill and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; 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 | Trading 212 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | 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) | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
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