Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill 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.
Tickmill and Octa are both private online brokers that were established in 2014 and 2011, respectively. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory credentials, Tickmill stands out with 2 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting its status as a trusted broker. Octa, on the other hand, holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license. These figures indicate that both brokers are regulated, but Tickmill offers more widespread coverage in terms of regulatory oversight.
Evaluating their trustworthiness, ForexBrokers.com gives Tickmill a Trust Score of 86 out of 99, placing it in the 'trusted' category. Conversely, Octa receives a Trust Score of 72, categorizing it as an 'average risk' broker. These scores help potential investors assess the reliability of these platforms before deciding which might better suit their trading needs.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Tickmill and Octa offer different structures when it comes to commissions and fees, catering to various trading needs. Tickmill, rated 5 stars for its commissions and fees, provides two account types: Classic and Raw. The Classic account is commission-free, but average spreads are higher, around 1.76 pips. On the other hand, the Raw account, which replaced the Pro account, charges a commission of $3 per side, equating to $6 per standard lot. Despite this increase, Tickmill remains a top choice for active traders by combining low average spreads and an all-in cost of 0.71 pips for the EUR/USD pair, accounting for the spread and commission. Tickmill is ranked #4 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category.
Octa has enhanced its pricing significantly, achieving a 4-star rating for its commissions and fees. The broker has taken strides to keep pace with low-cost MetaTrader brokers, boasting no slippage on 97.5% of orders and exempting overnight carry costs. However, the fees vary based on the account type and the regulating entity, with European clients using the EU entity and international clients having options in South Africa or Mwali. The EUR/USD pair sees an average spread of 0.5 pips in the EU entity and 0.9 pips for other regions, although Octa does not provide date ranges for their typical spread data. Octa is ranked #28 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its commission and fee offerings.
Both brokers have distinct advantages; Tickmill excels with competitive spreads and a straightforward commission structure on its Raw account, making it ideal for active traders. Meanwhile, Octa offers improved conditions, without slippage and overnight fees, although its pricing structure lacks some transparency due to missing date ranges for average spread data. This allows Tickmill to maintain a slight edge over Octa in terms of cost-effectiveness and trader favorability.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | 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 comparing the range of investments between Tickmill and Octa, both platforms offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. However, Tickmill stands out by offering a larger selection with 725 tradeable symbols and 63 forex pairs, compared to Octa's offerings of 257 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Neither brokerage provides direct access to U.S. exchange-traded securities such as Apple, but Octa does allow investment in international exchange-traded securities, such as Vodafone, which Tickmill does not.
Both Tickmill and Octa offer copy trading and the chance to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither provides the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies. Despite these similarities and differences, both platforms receive equal ratings for their range of investment options, with 3.5 out of 5 stars. However, in terms of rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill places at #42, slightly ahead of Octa, which is ranked #52 among 62 brokers in this category.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 257 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 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.
Tickmill and Octa both offer a range of trading platforms and tools that cater to various trading needs. Both brokers provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, making it easy for beginners to learn and experiment without financial risk. While Tickmill refrains from developing its own proprietary platform, Octa boasts a custom-built platform. Nonetheless, both brokers support popular platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and they offer Windows-based desktop download options and web-based trading solutions. Copy trading capabilities are also available with each broker, providing users with the opportunity to mirror experienced traders' strategies.
When it comes to charting tools, Tickmill and Octa each provide 15 drawing tools, allowing traders to perform detailed technical analyses. Both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts, which can streamline the trading process. For watch lists, they offer seven columns for fields, helping traders organize and prioritize their market data efficiently. Despite receiving the same four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, Tickmill ranks slightly higher at #32 compared to Octa's #37 according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating minor differences in user experience and feature offerings.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Tickmill and Octa, both offer iPhone and Android versions, making it convenient for traders using different devices. Both brokers also provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, view multiple time frames, and create watchlists with real-time quotes. Additionally, their mobile apps can automatically save chart drawings, which is a bonus for those who frequently analyze market trends. However, neither platform currently supports syncing watchlists across devices, so you may need to manually manage these in both your app and online account.
In terms of technical capabilities, both Tickmill and Octa offer 30 technical studies for chart analysis, providing ample tools for traders to dissect market movements. Their mobile apps have earned them a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars. When ranked among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill stands at position 31, while Octa is slightly lower at position 36. This ranking suggests a close competition in terms of performance, though Tickmill edges slightly ahead in user opinions.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
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.
Tickmill and Octa are both strong contenders in the world of online trading, offering a comprehensive suite of market research tools designed to support informed trading decisions. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay updated on market developments. While Octa stands out with its technical analysis tools from Autochartist, Tickmill takes the lead by offering a sentiment-based trading tool, giving insight into market positions across various instruments. Additionally, Tickmill provides traders with research tools from Acuity Trading, further enhancing their market analysis capabilities.
Both Tickmill and Octa offer an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global economic events. In terms of research ratings, both brokers score four out of five stars, highlighting their commitment to providing valuable research resources. When ranked by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill holds the #21 position, slightly ahead of Octa at #26 out of 62 brokers surveyed. Both platforms deliver solid research options, each with distinct advantages that cater to different trading needs.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Tickmill and Octa stand out as excellent choices for aspiring traders. Each offers access to more than ten educational pieces, covering essential forex and CFD topics through engaging articles, informative videos, and archived webinars. Regular online client webinars are available from both brokers, ensuring continuous learning opportunities every month. Users can also tap into their vast archives of recorded webinars for additional insights.
For those just embarking on their trading journey, Tickmill and Octa provide over ten videos geared specifically toward beginners, alongside advanced content for more experienced traders. Both brokers also include an investor dictionary that defines over 50 common investing terms, making complex concepts more digestible. While each broker scores four out of five stars for education, Tickmill is recognized more favorably, ranked 15th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, in comparison to Octa's 41st position.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
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 Tickmill is better than Octa. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
Tickmill is a run-of-the-mill MetaTrader broker that offers a limited selection of tradeable securities. The broker does offer very competitive commission-based pricing for professionals through its VIP and Pro accounts.
| Feature |
Tickmill
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Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 |
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Both Tickmill and Octa lack the capability to facilitate the buying of actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Tickmill provides more versatile funding options by supporting PayPal and Skrill for transactions, alongside conventional methods like Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas OctaTrader permits Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks the PayPal option, and neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | Tickmill | 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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 257 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | 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 | Tickmill | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | 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 | Tickmill | 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 | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Octa Review |
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