Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote and Octa are two established names in the online brokerage world, yet they differ significantly in their regulatory and trust credentials. Founded in 1996, Swissquote is not just a brokerage but also operates as a bank and is publicly traded, lending it an added layer of transparency. With five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, Swissquote holds a rare ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, marking it as highly trusted. This positions Swissquote favorably for those valuing regulatory confidence and institutional reliability in their trading partner.
Founded in 2011, Octa operates without the backing of a banking institution and is not listed on a stock exchange, providing a more entrepreneurial atmosphere. Despite holding one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, Octa has a Trust Score of 72 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating an average risk level. While it might attract traders looking for a different experience from a traditional banking setup, its regulatory standing makes it less preferable for those prioritizing high trust scores.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Swissquote and Octa provide traders with distinct approaches to commissions and fees. Swissquote, while buoyed by its Swiss banking reputation, typically charges higher trading costs compared to budget-friendly forex brokers. The U.K. branch of Swissquote offers lower costs, with the Elite account being the optimal choice for active traders willing to deposit at least $10,000, earning 3.5 stars for its fees. Meanwhile, Octa has made significant strides in competitive pricing, boasting no slippage on most orders and no overnight carry costs. Consequently, Octa is rated with 4 stars for its improved cost structure.
Swissquote's various branches provide diverse account options. Their U.K. entity offers four accounts, with the Elite account offering lower spreads and a $5 charge per round-trip trade. In contrast, the Luxembourg branch has three account types, with minimum deposits of up to $50,000 for the Prime account, and spreads ranging from 0.8 pips to 1.5 pips. In Switzerland, spreads start at 1.1 pips for its Prime account. On the other hand, Octa's fees depend on the account type and regulatory entity—European clients using MT5 enjoy EUR/USD spreads as low as 0.5 pips, slightly more favorable than the 0.9 pips common with overseas accounts. This strategic pricing helps Octa stay competitive with other low-cost MetaTrader brokers.
Ultimately, when considering commissions and fees, Octa ranks higher than Swissquote, positioned at #29 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Swissquote sits at #52. While Swissquote's Swiss prestige demands a premium, Octa's recent improvements make it an appealing choice for cost-conscious traders.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 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.
Swissquote and Octa are both reputable online brokers offering a variety of investment options, but their available range of investments differs significantly. Swissquote stands out with an impressive 472 tradeable symbols, while Octa offers 300. For those interested in forex trading, Swissquote provides access to 80 forex pairs, more than doubling the 35 pairs available through Octa. Both brokers offer forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, and they also support copy trading. However, Swissquote gives users the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, a feature not available at Octa, which only offers cryptocurrency derivatives.
Diving deeper into stock trading options, Swissquote allows clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, making it possible to buy shares like Apple on Nasdaq or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange. In contrast, Octa limits users to international exchanges only, excluding U.S.-based options. These differences in offerings contribute to Swissquote's higher rating of 5 stars for the range of investments, securing the #2 spot on ForexBrokers.com's ranking out of 62 brokers. Meanwhile, Octa, with 3.5 stars, is ranked #52, reflecting a narrower scope of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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) | Yes | 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.
Both Swissquote and Octa offer similar features when it comes to trading platforms and tools, making them suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. They each provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, which is a great way for new users to practice without financial risk. Both brokers have developed their proprietary platforms while also supporting the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, ensuring a comprehensive trading experience. Compatibility is key, and both Swissquote and Octa cater to this by offering platforms accessible via Windows-based desktop downloads and web browsers. Furthermore, users can benefit from social trading options through copy trading on both platforms, enhancing trading strategies by learning from successful traders.
While both brokers offer similar trading platforms, differences arise when it comes to specific tools. For instance, Swissquote stands out with 75 drawing tools for charting compared to Octa's 15, providing greater versatility for technical analysis. Additionally, Swissquote offers more watch list customization with 11 fields compared to Octa's 7, which can help traders track their assets more effectively. When it comes to ratings, Swissquote takes a slight edge with 4.5 out of 5 stars, ranked at #12 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Octa, rated 4 stars, ranks #37. Such rankings reflect Swissquote's slightly higher satisfaction among users, especially in the Trading Platforms and Tools category.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Swissquote and Octa provide comprehensive trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, catering to traders who need flexibility in managing their portfolios on the go. Both apps allow users to set stock and forex price alerts, draw trendlines on charts, and explore different time frames. Furthermore, they offer an impressive selection of 30 technical studies for in-depth analysis, and users can create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, these watchlists do not sync with online accounts, so changes must be manually adjusted if accessed on different platforms.
In terms of user ratings and industry ranking, Swissquote slightly edges out Octa. Swissquote boasts a higher mobile app rating of 4.5 stars, with ForexBrokers.com ranking it at 11th out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps. On the other hand, Octa holds a solid 4-star rating and ranks 35th in the same category. Both apps provide a reliable experience, but Swissquote’s higher ratings and industry standing might be more appealing for those looking for top-tier mobile trading functionality.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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.
When it comes to market research services, both Swissquote and Octa provide traders with daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. They also include technical analysis and fundamental research tools from Autochartist, offering valuable insights for making informed trading decisions. However, neither broker offers tools from Trading Central or Acuity Trading, nor do they have sentiment-based trading tools or TipRanks research resources. Both platforms feature an economic calendar to help traders stay up-to-date with current and upcoming global news events affecting various economies.
In terms of research ratings, Swissquote and Octa are both given 4 out of 5 stars. However, they differ in rankings from ForexBrokers.com where Swissquote is positioned slightly higher at #16 out of 62 brokers, while Octa is ranked at #26. This demonstrates a subtle edge for Swissquote in the research category, though both brokers offer comprehensive resources to assist traders in navigating the financial markets efficiently.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFDs, both Swissquote and Octa excel, offering more than ten educational pieces each. These range from articles and videos to archived webinars. Both brokers also provide the convenience of online client webinars on a monthly basis, ensuring consistent new learning opportunities. If you miss any live sessions, you can easily catch up using their searchable archives of previously recorded webinars.
For those just starting, Swissquote and Octa both offer over ten beginner-focused educational videos, covering basic trading topics to get novices up to speed. Additionally, they cater to more experienced traders with a similar number of advanced videos. To assist with terminology, both platforms include an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms. Earning a 4-star rating for their educational offerings, Swissquote and Octa both deliver strong educational support. However, Swissquote edges ahead slightly in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #21 out of 62 brokers, while Octa sits at #41.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than Octa. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 |
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Swissquote provides investors with the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Octa only offers the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers Swissquote and Octa, Swissquote stands out by offering a broader range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, alongside mutual support with Octa for Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while Octa lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options.
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 | Swissquote | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Octa Review |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Octa Review |
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