Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IFC 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.
IFC Markets (founded 2006) and Octa (founded 2011) are online brokers with identical ForexBrokers.com Trust Scores of 73/99—classified as average risk (70-79). Neither broker is publicly traded or a bank.
For regulation, both hold one Tier-1 license (highly trusted). Octa also holds one Tier-2 license (trusted), while IFC Markets holds none at that level. This means their top-tier coverage is similar, but Octa adds an extra layer of regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IFC Markets and Octa both earn 4 out of 5 stars, but Octa ranks higher overall in this category. IFC Markets is ranked #32 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Octa sits at #26 out of 36. For cost-conscious traders, that ranking gap may matter, especially if keeping trading costs low is a top priority.
IFC Markets’ pricing is a little less competitive on standard trades, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips versus the industry average of 1.08. Its newer ECN account can be more attractive for active traders, with effective spreads around 1.1 pips after commission. On the plus side, IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and also offers active trader discounts, which can help reduce overall costs.
Octa has improved its pricing and now competes more closely with some of the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. Its EUR/USD spread is listed at 0.5 pips for EU clients and 0.9 pips for international clients, though Octa does not provide a date range for these figures. Octa also advertises no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders and no overnight carry costs, but some account and trading restrictions may be a drawback for high-frequency traders.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.44 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, IFC Markets offers a slightly wider selection than Octa. Both brokers provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, support copy trading, and let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs rather than buying actual crypto. They also both offer exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, but neither broker gives access to U.S.-listed stocks like Apple as exchange-traded shares.
In terms of choice, IFC Markets lists 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. That gives IFC Markets the edge for traders who want more market variety. Still, both brokers earn the same 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, with IFC Markets ranked #31 out of 36 brokers and Octa ranked #33.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IFC Markets and Octa are closely matched when it comes to trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer free demo accounts for simulated trading, their own in-house platforms, desktop downloads for Windows, browser-based trading, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each also lets traders place orders directly from a chart, giving users a convenient way to act on market moves without switching screens.
For overall platform quality, both IFC Markets and Octa earn 4 out of 5 stars, though IFC Markets holds a slight edge in the ForexBrokers.com ranking for Trading Platforms and Tools, placing #29 out of 36 brokers compared with Octa at #30. Since both brokers offer the same core platform features, the better choice may come down to small differences in the trading experience and which platform layout feels easier to use.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IFC Markets and Octa both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Each broker also earns 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so in terms of core app features, they are closely matched. For everyday mobile trading needs, either platform gives users the basics they are likely to expect.
The main difference is watchlist syncing. IFC Markets lets watchlists in the mobile app stay in sync with the client’s online account, while Octa does not offer this feature. Even so, Octa holds a slightly better mobile app ranking from ForexBrokers.com, placing #29 out of 36 brokers compared with IFC Markets at #34. That gives Octa a small edge in the category, but IFC Markets stands out for better watchlist convenience.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both IFC Markets and Octa give traders daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so each broker covers the basics for tracking news and scheduled events. The main difference is in the extra tools and news flow. Octa goes further by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist for technical and fundamental ideas. IFC Markets does not offer those third-party news and research tools, but it does include a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions across instruments, which Octa does not provide.
Overall, Octa has the edge for research quality, with a 4-star rating and a #24 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5-star rating and #30 ranking. For traders who want more outside news coverage and idea-generation tools, Octa is the stronger choice. IFC Markets may still appeal to those who value sentiment data as part of their research process.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | 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.
When comparing educational resources for beginners, both IFC Markets and Octa provide a solid selection of learning material, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos on trading topics. Both also offer forex or CFD education in the form of articles, videos, or similar content, so new traders can find basic market explanations and trading guidance on either platform. IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars for Education and ranks #25 out of 36 brokers, while Octa earns 4 stars but places #32, which suggests its overall educational offering is viewed a bit more favorably even though its rank is lower.
The main difference is that Octa also offers online educational webinars at least once a month, which can be especially helpful for beginners who want live learning and the chance to ask questions. IFC Markets does not provide monthly webinars. So, if you want more interactive learning, Octa has the edge, but if you are mainly looking for videos and general forex or CFD education, both brokers give beginners a useful starting point.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
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 IFC Markets is better than Octa. IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.
IFC Markets is a well-established broker that has been in operation for 17 years. Forex traders at IFC Markets gain access to multiple trading platforms, a growing range of tradeable markets, and a balanced offering of research and educational content. However, IFC Markets’ Trust Score suffers due to the broker’s limited range of regulatory licenses.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 73 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
In an IFC Markets vs Octa comparison for crypto trading, neither broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In the IFC Markets vs Octa comparison, neither broker supports ACH/SEPA or PayPal, both offer bank wire transfers, only Octa supports Skrill, and 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 73 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 73 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). |
| Cost | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.44 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IFC Markets | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | IFC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 73 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Octa Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill