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 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Trading 212 and Octa, it's clear that both offer a range of features appealing to different types of traders. Trading 212 distinguishes itself with its two account types: the Invest account for trading shares and the CFD account for trading CFDs. This analysis focuses on the CFD account, which requires a minimum deposit of 10 euros. Trading 212 markets a zero-commission trading model; however, traders must consider the spread costs, especially for forex pairs such as EUR/USD, where the average spread was reported at 2.7 pips for April 2025. This spread puts Trading 212 at a significant disadvantage in comparison to leading CFD and forex brokers. Despite this drawback, Trading 212 holds a respectable 4-star rating for commissions and fees but is ranked #49 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Octa has made strides in improving its pricing model and is now competitive with low-cost MetaTrader brokers. A notable advantage is Octa's no slippage on 97.5% of orders and the absence of overnight carry costs, though high-frequency traders might face some restrictions. Octa's fees and spreads greatly depend on the regulatory entity and account type. European clients using the EU entity enjoy a competitive average spread of 0.5 pips for the EUR/USD pair, though the foreign entities offer slightly higher spreads at 0.9 pips. However, the lack of a specific date range for Octa's typical spread data raises questions about its accuracy. Octa also boasts a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, but fares better in rankings at #29 out of 63 brokers.
Overall, while both Trading 212 and Octa have their merits, Octa appears to offer more consistent competitive pricing across its regulatory entities. However, potential clients should carefully consider their trading needs and regulatory preferences before making a choice. Depending on individual criteria and trading preferences, either platform could serve as a suitable option, with some trade-offs in terms of spread transparency and associated trading costs.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trading 212 stands out as a versatile platform, offering an extensive array of investment options with a total of 7,868 tradeable symbols, including 146 forex pairs as CFDs and spot contracts. This platform not only allows traders access to an extensive variety of forex pairs but also grants the ability to trade exchange-traded securities from both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares. However, it does not support copy trading or the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, offering instead cryptocurrency derivatives. Rated 5 stars for its range of investments and ranked 15th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 provides a comprehensive trading environment for both novice and experienced investors.
On the other hand, Octa presents a more limited selection with 300 tradeable symbols and 35 forex pairs available as CFDs and spot contracts. This broker focuses mainly on offering international exchange-traded securities, without access to U.S. market stocks. It does offer the feature of copy trading, which might appeal to those looking to replicate successful trading strategies. Like Trading 212, Octa does not support the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies but does offer cryptocurrency derivatives. With a 3.5-star rating for its range of investments and ranked 52nd by ForexBrokers.com, Octa caters to investors seeking fewer options but with an emphasis on strategy sharing through copy trading.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 35 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
Both Trading 212 and Octa offer user-friendly trading platforms, suitable for beginners and experienced traders alike. Trading 212 provides a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice trading strategies in a risk-free environment. Similarly, Octa also allows simulated trading. Each broker has developed its own in-house platform. However, while Trading 212 lacks a Windows-based desktop platform, Octa supports it, alongside web-based access just like its competitor. When it comes to charting, Trading 212 edges slightly ahead with more drawing tools, offering 20 compared to Octa's 15.
Octa stands out by supporting the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms and offers copy trading, giving users the ability to follow and imitate seasoned traders. Trading 212, on the other hand, doesn’t provide these MetaTrader options, nor does it offer copy trading. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts and provide watch lists functionality, with Trading 212 offering five columns and Octa offering seven. Although both platforms are rated 4 out of 5 stars for trading tools, Trading 212 ranks higher at #20 compared to Octa's #37 on ForexBrokers.com, reflecting a stronger endorsement for Trading 212 in this category.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Trading 212 and Octa offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, providing essential features for stock and forex traders. Users can create watchlists with real-time quotes and receive price alerts on their selected instruments through both platforms. Moreover, drawing trendlines and switching between various time frames like daily, weekly, or intraday is straightforward and intuitive in each app. However, while Trading 212 ensures seamless watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account, Octa lacks this functionality.
When it comes to enhancing trading insights, Trading 212 excels by offering 104 technical studies compared to Octa's 30. Both apps enable users to draw on charts, with autosave functions ensuring that these annotations remain intact. Ratings reflect strong performances, with both apps receiving 4 out of 5 stars. However, rankings differ with Trading 212 positioned at #17 and Octa at #36 in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, highlighting Trading 212's edge in certain areas of mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 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.
When comparing Trading 212 and Octa in terms of market research features, several key differences emerge that could influence a user's choice. Octa stands out with its daily market commentary, providing timely insights for traders, a service not currently available with Trading 212. Both platforms, however, offer forex news from top-tier sources, ensuring users stay informed with the latest information from Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. For traders interested in technical analysis tools, Octa offers resources from Autochartist, whereas Trading 212 does not provide similar tools from either Autochartist or Trading Central.
Further distinctions include Trading 212's sentiment-based trading tool, which offers insights into trading sentiments, a feature not available with Octa. Both platforms provide access to an economic calendar that highlights global news events, helping traders monitor market-moving events. Despite these offerings, Octa maintains a slight edge in overall research rating, achieving 4 stars compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. In the industry ranking by ForexBrokers.com, Octa is positioned higher at 27th out of 63 brokers, reflecting a broader scope of research tools compared to Trading 212's 44th place ranking.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational offerings for beginners between Trading 212 and Octa, both platforms provide a solid foundation with a range of materials aimed at helping new traders. Trading 212 delivers on essential resources such as educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, along with a collection of beginner-friendly and advanced videos to cater to traders at different levels. Users can benefit from a searchable archive of past webinars and an extensive investor dictionary that explains over 50 investing terms. However, Trading 212 falls short in providing monthly live webinars, which might limit the opportunity for real-time learning and interaction. Despite these comprehensive resources, Trading 212 holds a moderate 3.5-star rating for education and ranks #20 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Octa matches Trading 212 in core resource offerings like educational pieces on forex and CFDs, as well as catered video content for beginners and advanced traders. They also offer a searchable archive of recorded webinars and a robust investor dictionary. A key advantage of Octa is its commitment to conducting monthly live educational webinars, enhancing the interaction and learning experience for clients. Octa scores slightly better with a 4-star education rating, yet it is ranked #42 out of 63 brokers, suggesting there's room for improvement despite their comprehensive offerings. Overall, both Trading 212 and Octa supply a wealth of educational materials, but each comes with distinctive strengths that could appeal to different learning preferences.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 Trading 212 is better than Octa. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
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 |
|
|
| Trust Score | 80 | 72 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Trading 212 and Octa do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrency, but they do allow users to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, making them similar platforms for trading crypto-related products without acquiring the physical asset.
Trading 212 and Octa offer a variety of methods for depositing or withdrawing account funds, with Trading 212 supporting ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires, while Octa provides options for Skrill and bank wires, both allowing Visa or Mastercard transactions, but only Trading 212 includes PayPal and ACH or SEPA transfers in its offerings.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 80 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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 (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 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 | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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 | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 80 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill