Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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.
When comparing online brokers XM Group and Octa, both established in the 21st century, there are clear distinctions in terms of regulatory trust. Founded in 2009, XM Group holds a notable position with four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, earning a Trust Score of 93 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com. This places XM Group in the highly trusted category, even though it is not publicly traded or a bank.
On the other hand, Octa, which began operating in 2011, has secured one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license. With a Trust Score of 72 out of 99, Octa falls into the average risk bracket. Like XM Group, Octa is also not publicly traded and isn't classified as a bank. These distinctions provide potential traders with valuable insights into each broker’s standing in the industry.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both XM Group and Octa earn 4 out of 5 stars. Octa ranks #30 out of 63 brokers for this category at ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group ranks #34 out of 63. In day-to-day costs, Octa has recently narrowed the gap with the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers and appears to edge XM for advertised pricing, though details and availability can vary by account and regulatory entity.
XM Group’s Standard account spreads are on the expensive side. The commission-based XM Zero account aims to lower spreads, but XM does not publish average spread data for that account, making it hard to estimate your all-in trading costs from public information.
At Octa, the fees you pay depend on your account type and the entity that regulates your account (EU clients use the EU entity; international clients are served from South Africa or the offshore entity in Mwali). The EU entity lists an average spread of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD, compared with about 0.9 pips for its foreign entities, and the EU offers a single MT5 account while other entities also support MT4 and OctaTrader. Octa reports no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, but it does impose certain restrictions that can get in the way of high-frequency strategies. Note that Octa’s typical spread figures are not tied to a stated date range, limiting how precisely you can compare them.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
XM Group offers a wider range of investments than Octa. XM lists 1,394 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, while Octa provides 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading delivered via CFDs or spot contracts (depending on the product and entity).
For shares, XM lets clients buy exchange-traded stocks on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas Octa offers exchange-traded stocks on international markets but not U.S. exchanges. Both brokers support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency exposure through derivatives (not actual coins). For Range of Investments, XM Group is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks #25 out of 63 brokers, compared with Octa’s 3.5/5 stars and a #53 ranking.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 35 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
Comparing XM Group and Octa for trading platforms and tools, both brokers check key boxes: free demo accounts for paper trading, web-based and Windows desktop platforms, and full support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both also enable copy trading and let you place trades directly from charts. For charting, each includes 15 drawing tools and watchlists with 7 columns. One key difference: Octa also offers its own proprietary platform, while XM Group sticks to MetaTrader.
In third-party reviews, both score 4 out of 5 stars for platforms and tools. XM Group ranks #33 of 63 brokers in this category at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa ranks #38. If you want a broker-built platform, Octa adds that option; if you prefer a familiar MetaTrader setup, both are solid picks. Either way, you can try features risk-free with a demo account.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing XM Group vs Octa for mobile trading, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with stock and forex price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, and strong charting. Each app includes 30 technical indicators, trendline drawing, and multiple time frames (intraday to weekly and beyond), making it easy to analyze markets on the go.
Key differences: XM Group syncs your watchlists with your online account, so changes carry across devices, while Octa does not. On the flip side, Octa auto-saves your chart drawings; XM Group does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but XM Group ranks higher on ForexBrokers.com (#31 vs Octa’s #37 out of 63). Choose XM Group if cross-device watchlist syncing matters most; pick Octa if preserving chart annotations is your priority.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both XM Group and Octa provide valuable daily market commentary and offer forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, when it comes to research tools, XM Group and Octa differ significantly. XM Group does not feature Autochartist tools, but it shines with offerings from Trading Central, including Technical Analytics. In contrast, Octa includes Autochartist in its suite but lacks support from Trading Central. Furthermore, XM Group provides a sentiment-based trading tool that gives insights into the market's bullish or bearish tendencies, a feature Octa does not currently offer.
Economic calendars are available through both brokers, helping traders keep track of global events that could impact the markets. Despite these similarities, XM Group stands out with a stronger research rating of 5 stars, compared to Octa's 4 stars. Additionally, XM Group ranks notably higher for research among 63 brokers, securing the 8th spot as per ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Octa trails at 27th, reflecting XM Group's broader and more integrated research offerings.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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.
For those just starting out in forex and CFD trading, both XM Group and Octa offer a substantial array of educational resources aimed at beginners. Each broker provides at least 10 educational pieces covering essential trading topics, ranging from articles and videos to archived webinars. Additionally, they both host regular online webinars—at least once a month—which are perfect for newcomers eager to deepen their understanding. Importantly, both XM Group and Octa make these webinars accessible through searchable archives, so users can easily revisit the material as needed.
When diving into more specific educational offerings, both brokers excel in delivering targeted content. They each feature a minimum of 10 beginner-focused videos to help newcomers gain a foothold in trading. For those looking to advance their skills, they also offer at least 10 videos that tackle more complex topics. However, an edge goes to Octa for including an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, a resource not offered by XM Group. Despite this, XM Group scores higher overall, earning a 5-star education rating and ranking 7th among 63 brokers, while Octa garners 4 stars and ranks 42nd.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than Octa. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 |
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Neither XM Group nor Octa provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrency, but both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both XM Group and Octa offer Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, while none support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transactions.
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 | XM Group | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Octa Review |
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| Regulation | XM Group | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | 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 | XM Group | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | XM Group | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 | XM Group | 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 | XM Group | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | 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 | XM Group Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | XM Group | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Octa Review |
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