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City Index vs Octa 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025
  Fact Checked

In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Octa, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

City Index
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £100.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 13500
Octa
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $25
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 300

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.

Regulation

City Index vs Octa: For regulatory strength, City Index stands out. It holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license and earns a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com—placing it in the highly trusted range (90–99). Octa holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license and scores 73/99, which ForexBrokers.com classifies as average risk (70–79). These ratings show how each broker is supervised by financial authorities and the level of oversight clients can expect.

Background details also differ. City Index, founded in 1983, is publicly traded (listed on a stock exchange) and is not a bank. Octa, founded in 2011, is not publicly traded and is not a bank. If regulatory credentials and third-party trust ratings are priorities, these points can help you compare City Index and Octa.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Octa logoOcta
Year Founded info 1983 2011
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

City Index and Octa both offer competitive pricing, but City Index comes out ahead for commissions and fees. City Index’s trading costs for CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products are generally in line with the industry average, and its best pricing is available on its own platforms or MetaTrader. It also offers active trader rebates, including lower per-million rates for high-volume U.K. professionals and Australia-based traders. City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #16 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.

Octa has improved its pricing a lot and now competes with some of the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. It advertises no overnight carry costs and no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders, but some account rules and platform limits may be less appealing for high-frequency traders. Pricing depends on the Octa entity and account type, with average EUR/USD spreads listed at 0.5 pips for the EU entity and 0.9 pips for international entities. Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #26 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.

In short, both brokers offer fairly low trading costs, but City Index has the edge overall for pricing quality, account perks for active traders, and its stronger commissions-and-fees ranking. Octa is still a good low-cost choice, especially for traders focused on MetaTrader, but its pricing details are less clear and its overall category ranking is lower.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Octa logoOcta
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $25
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 0.9 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 info N/A
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When it comes to range of investments, City Index offers a much wider selection than Octa. City Index gives traders access to 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, while Octa offers 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency or U.S.-listed shares directly.

There is one key difference in share access: Octa offers exchange traded securities on international exchanges, while City Index does not offer listed shares on either U.S. or international exchanges. Overall, City Index is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Octa’s 3.5-star rating and #33 ranking, making City Index the stronger choice for investors looking for more market variety.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Octa logoOcta
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 300
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 35
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 platforms and tools

City Index and Octa both give traders a good mix of platform choices, including a free demo account for practice, a web-based platform, a Windows desktop download, a proprietary platform, MT4, and copy trading. Both also let users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry faster and more convenient. For everyday use, this means either broker covers the main tools most beginners and active traders look for.

The biggest difference is that Octa also offers MT5, while City Index does not. In independent ratings, City Index comes out ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and a #11 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa’s 4 out of 5 stars and #30 ranking. For traders who want the wider platform range and a stronger overall score, City Index has the edge, while Octa still offers a solid set of trading tools.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Octa logoOcta
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

City Index and Octa both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, plus stock and forex price alerts. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings. Where City Index stands out is in watchlist syncing: changes made in the mobile app and online account stay linked, while Octa does not offer this feature.

For charting, City Index gives mobile traders access to 88 technical studies, compared with 30 at Octa, which may matter to users who want more tools for analysis. City Index also earns a higher mobile trading apps rating at 4.5 out of 5 stars, versus 4 stars for Octa, and ranks better overall in this category by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #9 out of 36 brokers compared with Octa’s #29 ranking.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Octa logoOcta
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

City Index and Octa both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar that tracks key global events. Both brokers also help users stay on top of market moves with timely updates and headline coverage, making either one a solid choice for traders who want regular market information.

Where City Index stands out is in its extra research features. It offers Trading Central tools and a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions, while Octa includes Autochartist instead. Based on ForexBrokers.com, City Index scores higher for research at 4.5 stars and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa’s 4 stars and #24 ranking.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Octa logoOcta
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

City Index and Octa both give beginners a wide range of learning materials, including forex and CFD education with at least 10 relevant resources, regular educational webinars, and plenty of videos for both new and more experienced traders. This means each broker offers useful support for people who want to learn the basics and keep building their skills over time.

That said, City Index comes out ahead for education. It has a 4.5-star education rating and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers for this category, while Octa holds a 4-star rating and ranks #32. For beginners looking for stronger educational support, City Index appears to offer the better overall learning experience.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Octa logoOcta
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that City Index is better than Octa. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.

Backed by StoneX Group, City Index is a trusted brand known for its versatile trading platforms, excellent mobile app, diverse market research, and extensive range of tradeable markets.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Octa logoOcta
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with City Index or Octa?

In a head-to-head comparison, City Index and Octa do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.

What funding options does each broker offer?

City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals but not Skrill, while Octa supports Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is unspecified for both brokers.

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Overall Rating City Index Octa
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review Octa Review
Broker Screenshots City Index Octa
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
City Index MetaTrader 4 mobile trading app City Index web platform trading. City Index web platform research Trading Central City Index educational course advanced.
Octa web platform trade ticket. Octa OctaTrader Space research analysis. OctaFX educational articles
Regulation City Index Octa
Trust Score info 99 73
Year Founded info 1983 2011
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) City Index Octa
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) City Index Octa
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments City Index Octa
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 300
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 35
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 City Index Octa
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 0.9 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 info N/A
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding City Index Octa
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $25
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms City Index Octa
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools City Index Octa
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading City Index Octa
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research City Index Octa
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education City Index Octa
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs City Index Octa
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review City Index Review Octa Review
Overall City Index Octa
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review Octa Review
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