Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets 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.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is an established online broker that is publicly traded on a stock exchange. With an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, CMC Markets holds five Tier-1 licenses, making it highly trusted according to industry standards. Additionally, the broker has one Tier-2 license, further enhancing its trustworthiness. Despite not being a bank, CMC Markets is considered a strong choice for traders looking for a reliable platform.
On the other hand, Octa, which launched in 2011, isn't publicly traded. It holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 72, placing it in the average risk category. Octa has one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, reflecting a more moderate level of regulatory oversight compared to CMC Markets. While Octa doesn't operate as a bank, it presents a reasonable option for those considering alternatives in the trading arena.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets stands out for its attractive commissions and fees, securing the top spot in the 2025 Annual Awards for this category. Offering a low spread of 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD as of August 2023, CMC Markets surpasses the industry average in pricing. The broker's Price Plus Scheme rewards active traders with significant discounts, and its FX Active pricing structure offers a highly competitive, commission-based model. With a commission of $2.50 per side and spreads starting at zero pips, the all-in cost for pairs like the EUR/USD can be as low as 0.5 pips. CMC Markets consistently maintains minimal deviation between average and advertised minimum spreads, earning a perfect 5-star rating and making it the #1 ranked broker for commissions and fees out of 62 evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
Octa has improved significantly in terms of pricing and is steadily catching up with low-cost MetaTrader brokers. The broker boasts 97.5% order execution without slippage and incurs no overnight carry costs. However, high-frequency traders might face some limitations due to existing operational restrictions. The commissions and fees at Octa depend on the account type and the regulatory entity, with spreads varying based on these factors. While the EU-regulated account offers a decent average spread of 0.5 pips for the EUR/USD, non-EU accounts list a slightly higher spread of 0.9 pips. Despite these advancements, Octa does not specify the date range for its spread data, impacting the reliability of their claims. With a 4-star rating in commissions and fees, Octa ranks at #28 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
When considering online brokers, CMC Markets and Octa both have strong offerings. CMC Markets holds a clear edge with its extensive focus on competitive pricing and transparency, particularly appealing to traders seeking low costs without compromising on service quality. Octa is improving but currently trails behind in the rankings, offering competitive pricing primarily for EU accounts. For those making a brokerage decision, understanding these nuances is crucial, especially when prioritizing costs and execution reliability.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | 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.
When comparing CMC Markets and Octa, the range of investment options becomes a key factor for potential traders. CMC Markets provides a vast array of tradeable symbols, boasting an impressive 11,925 compared to Octa's 257. For forex enthusiasts, CMC Markets also stands out by offering access to 156 forex pairs, far surpassing Octa's 35 pairs. Additionally, CMC Markets offers the ability to invest directly in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to directly purchase popular shares like Apple and Vodafone. Octa, while supportive of international securities, does not provide access to U.S. exchanges for direct share buying, which could limit the choices for investors seeking global diversification.
In terms of advanced trading features, both CMC Markets and Octa offer forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts and the opportunity to leverage copy trading. Cryptocurrency derivatives are available on both platforms, although neither allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Based on these offerings, CMC Markets has been awarded a 5-star rating for its range of investments, ranking 9th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Octa is rated 3.5 stars and ranks 52nd, reflecting a narrower scope of investment opportunities compared to its competitor. This makes CMC Markets a more comprehensive choice for traders looking for diverse investment options.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 257 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of CMC Markets and Octa, both brokers provide robust options for traders, but there are a few distinctions that set them apart. Both offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, proprietary platforms, and Windows-based desktop download platforms, ensuring users can practice and trade in a familiar environment. Additionally, they both support web-based trading and copy trading, along with popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. However, neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade options, which may be something to consider based on your trading strategy.
When it comes to available tools, CMC Markets offers a larger selection with 40 drawing tools compared to Octa's 15, allowing for more comprehensive charting. CMC Markets also offers 11 fields for watch lists versus Octa's 7, giving traders more customization options to track and analyze the market. These differences reflect in their ratings, with CMC Markets receiving a 5-star rating for its platforms and tools, and ranked 4th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Octa, on the other hand, has a respectable 4-star rating but ranks 37th, indicating a solid yet less exceptional offering.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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) | 79 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of CMC Markets and Octa, both platforms offer seamless trading experiences on iPhone and Android devices. Users of both apps can receive stock or forex price alerts and have access to chart drawing tools like trendlines. While both platforms allow traders to view charts across various time frames, CMC Markets has a slight edge with its watchlist symbol syncing capability, ensuring any changes made on the app reflect on the user’s online account. In contrast, Octa does not currently offer this feature, which might be a consideration for users who frequently switch between mobile and desktop trading.
In terms of functionality, both apps let users create watchlists with real-time quotes, but when it comes to charting features, Octa offers 30 technical studies compared to CMC Markets' 29. Despite this, CMC Markets excels in overall user satisfaction, earning a five-star rating compared to Octa's four stars. Additionally, CMC Markets ranks higher among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, securing the 5th position, while Octa is positioned at 36th. These factors may influence traders seeking a more integrated and highly-rated mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 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.
CMC Markets and Octa both offer a comprehensive suite of market research tools, which include daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, both brokers provide traders access to technical analysis tools from Autochartist. However, neither CMC Markets nor Octa currently offer research tools from Trading Central or Acuity Trading, nor do they provide market research from TipRanks. While both platforms deliver an economic calendar to track global news events, a significant difference lies in sentiment analysis tools; CMC Markets provides tools that showcase long and short trading positions across currency pairs, a feature not offered by Octa.
In terms of research ratings, CMC Markets outshines Octa with a 5-star rating, compared to Octa's 4-star assessment. Reflecting these ratings, CMC Markets holds a higher rank, securing the 6th position out of 62 brokers for research, whereas Octa is positioned at 26th. This distinction indicates CMC Markets' slight edge in research offerings, which may appeal to traders looking for a deeper insight into market trends and a broader range of trading analysis tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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 resources available for beginners at CMC Markets and Octa, both brokers provide a solid foundation with a variety of learning materials. Each offers over 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, catering specifically to novice traders. They both provide a substantial collection of beginner and advanced trading videos to guide users through the complexities of the market. While both brokers feature searchable archives of past webinars, only Octa hosts regular monthly webinars, which can be particularly beneficial for those seeking interactive learning experiences.
Furthermore, CMC Markets and Octa each include a comprehensive investor dictionary, with definitions for more than 50 investing terms, further supporting their educational offerings. However, when evaluated for their educational resources, CMC Markets receives a top rating of five stars and ranks tenth among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Octa is rated four stars and holds the 41st position. This higher ranking for CMC Markets reflects a stronger emphasis on the quality and breadth of their educational content, making them a standout choice for beginners eager to learn about trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
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 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that CMC Markets is better than Octa. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 |
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Both CMC Markets and Octa do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets outshines Octa by offering more flexible funding options, including ACH/SEPA transfers and PayPal, which Octa lacks, while both brokers support Visa/Mastercard and bank wires, with Octa standing out by accepting Skrill, which CMC Markets does not.
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 | CMC Markets | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
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| Review | CMC Markets Review | Octa Review |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 257 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 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 | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | 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 | 29 | 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 | CMC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | 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 | CMC Markets | 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 | CMC Markets Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Octa Review |
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