Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Plus500 and Octa are online brokers with different trust profiles. Plus500, founded in 2008, is publicly traded on a stock exchange; Octa, founded in 2011, is not. Neither company is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 holds a Trust Score of 99/99, which is considered highly trusted (90–99), while Octa scores 73/99, placing it in the average risk range (70–79).
Regulatory coverage also varies. Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting wide oversight by top-tier regulators. Octa holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license, indicating a more limited regulatory footprint. For traders comparing safety and oversight, Plus500’s higher-grade licensing and top Trust Score stand out versus Octa.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Plus500 and Octa both offer pricing that can work for many traders, but they take different approaches to commissions and fees. Plus500’s pricing is a bit above the industry average, and it trails the best low-cost forex brokers for active traders. For EUR/USD, Plus500 reported average spreads of 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the market norm. It does not offer retail discounts, though eligible Professional clients may receive cash rebates. Plus500 is rated 4.0/5 stars and ranked #24 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Octa has improved a lot on pricing and now competes with some of the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. Its spread costs depend on the account type and which Octa entity regulates the account. In the EU, Octa lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.5 pips, while its non-EU entities list 0.9 pips. Octa also says it has no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders and no overnight carry costs, although some rules may limit high-frequency trading. Octa is rated 4.0/5 stars and ranked #26 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, Octa appears cheaper on spreads, while Plus500 is still competitive but usually costs a bit more. If keeping trading costs low is your main goal, Octa may have the edge on paper, especially for EUR/USD. That said, account type, trading style, and the entity you trade under can affect the final cost at Octa, so the best choice depends on how and where you trade.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Plus500 offers a much wider selection than Octa. Plus500 provides access to 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while Octa lists 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows clients to buy actual cryptocurrency. Plus500 also lets traders buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas Octa only offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges.
Octa does have one feature Plus500 does not: copy trading. Even so, Plus500 comes out ahead overall in the range of investments category, with a 4.5-star rating and a #16 ranking out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Octa’s 3.5 stars and #33 ranking. For traders who want a larger list of markets and more stock access, Plus500 is the stronger choice, while Octa may appeal to those interested in copy trading.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and Octa both give traders a free demo account and a browser-based platform, and each broker also offers its own in-house platform. Where they differ is in platform choice and trading extras. Octa has a Windows desktop app, supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and includes copy trading, while Plus500 does not offer these options. Octa also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker for active traders.
For trading platforms and tools, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #30. In simple terms, Plus500 may suit traders who want a clean web-based experience, while Octa is a better fit for those who want more platform choices and social trading features.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and Octa both make mobile trading easy with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. That said, Plus500 has the edge for chart tools, offering 115 technical studies in its mobile app compared with Octa’s 30, and it also supports watchlist syncing so changes carry over between the app and your online account. Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s mobile category, while Octa is rated 4 stars and ranks #29.
Octa does have one helpful feature that Plus500 lacks: its mobile app automatically saves chart drawings, which can be convenient if you often mark up charts on the go. So, if you want more charting tools, better watchlist syncing, and a higher overall mobile app rating, Plus500 looks stronger. If auto-saving drawings matters more to you, Octa may be the better fit.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both Plus500 and Octa give traders useful basics like daily market commentary and an economic calendar that tracks key global events. Each platform helps users stay informed about what may move the markets, making either one a solid fit for traders who want regular updates without too much complexity.
Where they differ is in the extra research tools they provide. Octa stands out for offering forex news from major sources like Reuters and Bloomberg, plus Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis. Plus500, on the other hand, offers Trading Central tools and a sentiment feature that shows the split between long and short positions. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, Plus500 scores higher at 4.5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers, while Octa earns 4 stars and ranks #24 out of 36.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | 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 it comes to education for beginners, both Plus500 and Octa give new traders a solid starting point. Each broker offers forex or CFD learning content with at least 10 pieces focused on those markets, plus monthly online webinars and a good mix of beginner and advanced video lessons. That means either platform can help new users learn the basics of trading, build confidence, and move on to more advanced topics over time.
That said, Plus500 has the edge in overall education quality. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #26 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. For beginners comparing the two, both offer useful learning materials, but Plus500 appears to provide a slightly stronger educational experience overall.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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 Plus500 is better than Octa. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #34.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Online brokers Plus500 and Octa do not allow purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Plus500 vs Octa: for deposits and withdrawals, neither supports ACH or SEPA, both offer Skrill and bank wire transfers, but only Plus500 supports PayPal.
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 | Plus500 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | 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 | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Octa Review |
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