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 vs Octa: both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but Octa ranks higher (#30 of 63) than Trading 212 (#50 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings. If you care most about everyday trading costs, Octa generally looks sharper, while Trading 212’s pricing is simpler but not as competitive on key forex pairs.
Trading 212 advertises zero-commission CFD trading, yet you still pay the spread. The broker now publishes average spread data; in April 2025 its EUR/USD average spread was 2.7 pips—well above the industry average and costlier than many leading CFD and forex brokers. Trading 212 offers two accounts (Invest and CFD). The Invest account has a 1 euro minimum deposit, and the CFD account requires 10 euros, but the main cost driver for active traders on the CFD side is the spread.
Octa has tightened its pricing and increasingly competes with low-cost MetaTrader brokers. Spreads vary by entity: the EU arm lists a 0.5-pip average on EUR/USD, while foreign entities list about 0.9 pips. Octa doesn’t provide a date range for these typical spreads, so direct apples-to-apples comparisons are limited. Even so, its claimed pricing looks lean, plus Octa reports no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs—though certain rules can restrict high-frequency strategies. Overall, Octa edges Trading 212 on spreads, while both share the same 4-star fee rating.
| 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: range of investments. Both support forex trading (CFDs/spot), but Trading 212 offers far more choice with 7,868 tradeable symbols and 146 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 pairs. If you want real, exchange-traded shares (not CFDs), Trading 212 lets you buy U.S. stocks as well as international shares, while Octa does not offer U.S. stocks but does provide access to certain international exchanges.
For crypto, both brokers offer cryptocurrency via CFDs only (no delivered coins). Octa includes copy trading, which Trading 212 lacks. On overall market variety, Trading 212 earns 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 for Range of Investments at ForexBrokers.com; Octa scores 3.5 stars and ranks #53. Choose Trading 212 if you want a larger selection and access to U.S. stocks; pick Octa if copy trading matters more and a smaller list of markets works for you.
| 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 offer a free demo account and run their own in‑house trading platforms. Trading 212 is web-based and does not provide a Windows desktop app, while Octa offers both a browser platform and a downloadable Windows platform. Octa also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and includes copy trading; Trading 212 does not support MT4/MT5 and does not offer copy trading. Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. The exact counts of built-in technical indicators and watchlist columns were not specified.
For trading platforms and tools, both brokers earned 4 out of 5 stars, though Trading 212 ranks higher in the category (#20 of 63) than Octa (#38 of 63) at ForexBrokers.com. If you want MT4/MT5, copy trading, or a Windows desktop app, Octa fits better; if you prefer a simple, web-first experience with native chart trading, Trading 212 is a strong pick.
| 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts, drawing trendlines on charts, and auto‑saving your drawings. The biggest day‑to‑day difference is watchlists: Trading 212 syncs your watchlist between the app and your online account, while Octa does not. Charting depth also varies—Trading 212 includes 104 built‑in indicators (technical studies) compared with Octa’s 30—useful if you rely on more than the basics when analyzing markets.
Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. However, their category ranks differ: out of 63 brokers, Trading 212 places #17, while Octa ranks #37, according to ForexBrokers.com. If you want richer chart tools and synced watchlists, Trading 212 is the stronger pick. If you mainly need core features like alerts, drawing tools, and standard indicators, Octa will cover the essentials.
| 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.
In the Trading 212 vs Octa market research comparison, both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and include an economic calendar. The key differences: Octa publishes daily market commentary and adds Autochartist for trading ideas, while Trading 212 does not offer daily commentary and lacks Autochartist. Neither broker provides Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. Trading 212 counters with a sentiment-based trading tool that shows the long/short ratio across instruments; Octa does not include a sentiment tool.
Scores and rankings reflect these line-ups: Trading 212 earns 3.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #45 of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Octa scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #27. If you want daily insights and Autochartist-powered ideas, Octa stands out. If a built-in sentiment gauge alongside premium news flow matters more, Trading 212 could fit better.
| 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.
For beginner traders comparing education at online brokers, both Trading 212 and Octa offer a solid library of learning materials. Each provides at least 10 beginner-friendly videos and also 10+ advanced videos to help you grow beyond the basics. The key difference is live teaching: Octa runs ongoing client webinars (at least one per month), while Trading 212 does not. If you value interactive sessions where you can learn in real time, Octa has the edge. If you prefer self-paced videos, both brokers check that box.
Independent ratings paint a mixed picture. Trading 212 earns 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education and is ranked #21 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 4 out of 5 stars but is ranked #42. In short: choose Octa for frequent webinars and higher star score, or Trading 212 for a higher category ranking and a strong set of videos for beginners in trading, including forex and CFDs.
| 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 #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 |
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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 (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) | 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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