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 online brokers with notable differences in their regulatory standings. Swissquote, founded in 1996, is a Swiss bank and a publicly traded entity. It boasts a remarkable Trust Score of 99 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, indicating a high level of trust. This score is supported by its five Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted, and an additional Tier-2 license. In contrast, Octa was established in 2011 and is not a publicly traded company nor a bank. It holds a Trust Score of 72, categorizing it as average risk under ForexBrokers.com's ratings. Octa possesses one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, reflecting its regulatory reliability.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing Swissquote and Octa in terms of commissions and fees, both brokers offer distinct pricing structures. Swissquote represents a Swiss banking conglomerate, which justifies its slightly higher costs. Its U.K. entity, Swissquote Ltd, offers four account types, with the commission-based Elite account standing out with its lower spreads and a $5 charge per round-turn trade for deposits of at least $10,000. Swissquote's Standard account has spreads starting at 1.3 pips on the EUR/USD, while the Prime account begins at 0.6 pips. In Luxembourg, accounts start with spreads from 0.8 pips for Prime accounts with deposits of $50,000 and up. Despite these varied options, Swissquote's pricing may not compete closely with the lowest-cost brokers. With a 3.5-star rating, Swissquote ranks #52 out of 62 brokers for its commissions and fees.
Octa, on the other hand, shows stronger pricing improvements and is catching up with the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. Spreads vary depending on the account's regulatory body, with the EUR/USD pair spread averaging 0.5 pips in its EU entity, compared to 0.9 pips in its international counterparts. Although Octa does not specify a date range for typical spreads listed on its website, it's known for having no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders and no overnight carry costs, making it attractive while imposing some restrictions on high-frequency trading. Octa enjoys a favorable 4-star rating and is ranked #28 among 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category.
Overall, while Swissquote offers the reliability of a Swiss banking institution and diverse account options across its entities, its cost structure might be higher than Octa's, which provides improved pricing and competitive spreads, particularly in the MetaTrader domain. Potential clients might lean towards Octa for cost efficiency, especially those prioritizing minimized trading expenses.
| 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.
When looking at the variety of investment options, Swissquote stands out with an impressive 472 tradeable symbols, including 80 forex pairs. In contrast, Octa offers 257 symbols with 35 forex pairs. Both platforms provide forex trading through CFDS or spot contracts, allowing investors to dive into the forex market with ease. However, Swissquote takes the lead in offering exchange-traded securities from U.S. markets, where clients can buy shares like Apple, a feature Octa lacks. Additionally, both brokers allow trading of international exchange-listed securities, giving investors access to companies like Vodafone, though Swissquote again outshines Octa by enabling the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies along with derivatives.
Copy trading is available on both Swissquote and Octa, allowing users to follow and mimic successful traders. However, the breadth of investment choices sees Swissquote earning a higher reputation with a 5-star rating for its range of investments, as opposed to Octa's 3.5-star rating. This difference is further reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote holds the number 2 spot out of 62 brokers for investment variety, while Octa trails behind at rank 52. Whether interested in diversifying into a wide array of instruments or focusing on cryptocurrencies, Swissquote clearly presents a broader spectrum of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 257 |
| 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.
When comparing Swissquote and Octa, both online brokers impress with comprehensive trading platforms and tools, catering to a broad spectrum of traders from beginners to seasoned investors. Swissquote and Octa both offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, enabling users to practice without financial risk. Additionally, each broker provides proprietary platforms, Windows desktop platforms, browser-based options, and access to popular third-party platforms MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both brokers support copy trading for clients seeking to mimic the strategies of successful traders, though neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade integrations.
For traders interested in detailed charting capabilities, Swissquote takes the edge by providing 75 drawing tools, compared to Octa's 15. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, a feature that enhances trading efficiency. In terms of watch list customization, Swissquote offers 11 fields, surpassing Octa's seven. This attention to detail is reflected in Swissquote's higher rating of 4.5 stars out of five for trading platforms and tools, while Octa holds a solid rating of 4 stars. Additionally, ForexBrokers.com ranks Swissquote at an impressive #11 out of 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, whereas Octa is ranked #37, highlighting Swissquote's slightly stronger offering in this 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.
When comparing the mobile trading apps offered by Swissquote and Octa, both brokers cater to iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of traders. They offer features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and viewing multiple time frames on charts. Both apps also support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. However, neither app allows watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile application and the online account, an area where users might see room for improvement.
Despite similarities in charting capabilities, including offering 30 technical studies and auto-saving drawings, Swissquote edges out Octa with a higher user rating of 4.5 stars compared to Octa's 4 stars. This difference in user satisfaction is echoed in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote holds the 10th spot out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while Octa ranks at 36. These rankings suggest that Swissquote’s mobile app provides a slightly more refined and user-friendly experience than Octa's offering.
| 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 | 1 | 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) | No | 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 | 257 | |
| 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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