Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone 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.
Pepperstone and Octa are both well-known players in the online trading industry, having been established in 2010 and 2011, respectively. While neither is publicly traded or operates as a bank, there are significant differences in their regulatory standings. Pepperstone holds three Tier-1 licenses, which is a sign of high trust according to ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Octa has just one Tier-1 license. Additionally, Pepperstone possesses two Tier-2 licenses, reflecting its trustworthy status further, whereas Octa maintains only one Tier-2 license.
The ForexBrokers.com Trust Score highlights these differences clearly. Pepperstone scores an impressive 95 out of 99, categorizing it as highly trusted. On the other hand, Octa has a Trust Score of 72, placing it in the average risk category. This information reflects the strong regulatory framework supporting Pepperstone, making it a more trusted choice among online brokers when compared to Octa.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Pepperstone and Octa are both online brokers offering varied structures for commissions and fees. Pepperstone, ranked #10 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com, earns a commendable 4.5-star rating. This agency-execution broker provides competitive pricing for its Razor account, particularly appealing to high-volume traders who join its Active Trader program. The Razor account operates on a commission-based framework, listing an average spread of 0.10 pips for the EUR/USD. When factoring in the equivalent commission of 0.70 pips, the overall cost reaches 0.80 pips, aligning closely with industry standards. Conversely, Pepperstone's Standard account, which is commission-free, shows a higher average spread of 1.1 pips, making it a pricier option compared to the Razor account’s all-in cost.
Octa, with a 4-star rating and a #29 ranking in the same category, has shown significant improvement in pricing, potentially competing with the most affordable MetaTrader brokers. Octa claims no slippage on 97.5% of orders and avoids overnight carry costs, but has certain limitations that can affect high-frequency trading. The commissions and fees at Octa are primarily influenced by the account type and the entity under which it's regulated, including its EU entity and offshore locations in South Africa and Mwali. The EU entity offers a slightly better spread for EUR/USD at 0.5 pips on average, compared to 0.9 pips for international accounts. However, Octa does not specify a timeframe for these typical spreads, which may affect their comparability with competitors that provide dated data.
Both brokers cater to different needs; Pepperstone's strength lies in its competitive pricing for high-volume trades through its Razor account and Active Trader program. In contrast, Octa offers lower initial costs in some regions, albeit with less transparency regarding the date range of its spread data. While Pepperstone’s structured commission model may better suit high-frequency traders, Octa’s absence of slippage and different oversight entities provide a varied choice for international clients.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
Pepperstone and Octa both allow traders to delve into the world of forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. With Pepperstone offering an expansive selection of 1,726 tradeable symbols including 65 forex pairs, it emerges as a platform with significant offerings. In comparison, Octa provides 300 tradeable symbols, covering 35 forex pairs, offering a more focused range of options. Both brokers support cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither offers the ability to purchase the actual cryptocurrency directly. Furthermore, neither service allows for trading exchange-traded securities directly on U.S. exchanges, but Octa does provide access to international securities.
Both platforms offer copy trading features, broadening their appeal to traders interested in mirroring other investors. Despite certain similarities, Pepperstone gains an edge with a higher rating of four out of five stars for its range of investments, compared to Octa's 3.5 stars. Furthermore, Pepperstone holds a notable position at #26 in the range of investments category according to ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is ranked at #52, highlighting a discernible difference in offerings between the two online brokers.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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.
Pepperstone and Octa are both leading names in the online brokerage world, offering a comprehensive suite of trading platforms and tools tailored to traders of all levels. Both brokers provide the opportunity for simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, which is a great way for beginners to gain confidence and for seasoned traders to test strategies without risk. Each broker has developed its proprietary platform and provides accessibility through Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms. When it comes to copy trading, both brokers offer this feature, allowing users to follow and mimic the trades of experienced investors. Additionally, they both support the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, but only Pepperstone includes DupliTrade as an option.
In terms of charting tools, Pepperstone has the edge with 30 drawing tools available, outshining Octa's 15, yet both provide a similar experience regarding technical indicators. Trading directly from a stock chart is possible with both brokers, enhancing user convenience. Additionally, their watch lists are comparable, offering seven customizable columns. Though both are rated four stars for their trading platforms and tools, Pepperstone holds a higher position in the ForexBrokers.com rankings, coming in at #22 compared to Octa's #37 out of 62 brokers. This ranking reflects Pepperstone's slightly superior offerings in platform diversity and additional features like DupliTrade. Overall, both brokers deliver solid trading experiences, and the choice between them may come down to individual preferences in platform specifics and additional functionalities.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
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 | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
For traders seeking versatile mobile trading platforms, both Pepperstone and Octa offer competitive offerings compatible with iPhone and Android devices. These mobile apps provide the essentials—such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines, ensuring that users can stay informed and visually analyze market trends on the go. Each app also allows viewing multiple time frames on charts, a feature that appeals to traders who rely on both short-term and long-term analyses. However, a significant distinction emerges with the watchlist syncing capability. Pepperstone excels here by allowing users to sync their watchlists between the mobile app and their online account, while Octa does not offer this convenience. Both brokers, however, support creating watchlists with real-time quotes.
In terms of charting tools, both apps offer an array of 30 technical studies, empowering users to perform detailed technical analysis. Pepperstone and Octa ensure users' drawings are auto-saved, allowing traders to maintain continuity across sessions. Despite these similarities in features, when ranked by ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone holds a higher position at #21 in the Mobile Trading Apps category out of 62 brokers, while Octa stands at #35. Both have a commendable rating of four stars, yet the syncing convenience and slightly higher ranking might just tip the scales in favor of Pepperstone for those who prioritize app integration into their broader trading strategy.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
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 | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Pepperstone and Octa both provide essential features for traders interested in staying up-to-date with the markets. Both platforms offer daily market commentary and access to forex news from respected sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. They also support useful research tools from Autochartist, which help traders enhance their technical and fundamental analysis capabilities. However, neither platform currently offers tools from Trading Central or Acuity Trading, nor do they feature market research from TipRanks. Despite these similarities, Pepperstone distinguishes itself by providing a sentiment-based trading tool, offering traders insight into the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments—a feature Octa lacks. Both brokers do, however, supply a comprehensive economic calendar to track global news events.
When comparing their research offerings, Pepperstone has a slight edge over Octa. It receives a research rating of 4.5 stars compared to Octa's 4 stars, as reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. This higher rating is reflected in their rankings out of 62 brokers; Pepperstone holds the 12th spot while Octa ranks at 26th in the Research category. This distinction highlights Pepperstone's broader toolset and higher user satisfaction, making it a preferable choice for traders who prioritize research resources. However, both platforms offer valuable tools and insights, appealing to traders with various needs and strategies.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
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.
If you're just starting out in trading and looking to compare educational resources between Pepperstone and Octa, both brokers offer comprehensive materials suited to beginners. They provide over ten pieces of educational content, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. To help you stay up-to-date and engaged, each broker hosts live educational webinars every month and maintains a searchable archive of their past sessions. This ensures that you have endless opportunities to learn at your own pace and revisit topics as needed.
In terms of video content, both Pepperstone and Octa offer more than ten beginner-specific videos covering trading concepts, as well as a similar number of advanced videos for more experienced traders. Besides videos, investors can access a dictionary featuring definitions for over 50 trading terms, helping you understand the jargon. While both brokers stand out in providing quality educational material, Pepperstone ranks slightly higher with a 4.5-star education rating and holds the 18th spot according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Octa's 4-star rating and 41st position. Whatever your preference, both platforms offer a wealth of resources for those eager to learn the ropes of trading.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Pepperstone is better than Octa. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
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Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 72 |
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Both Pepperstone and Octa do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Pepperstone stands out in terms of fund transfer options, offering a wider range than Octa, with support for ACH, SEPA, and PayPal on top of the Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire services that both brokers provide.
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 | Pepperstone | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 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 | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | 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 | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | 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 | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Pepperstone | 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 | Pepperstone | 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) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | 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 | Pepperstone Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Octa Review |
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