Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trade Nation 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.
Founded in 2014, Trade Nation offers investors a sense of security, holding two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. Although not publicly traded or a bank, Trade Nation's regulatory prowess contributes to its respectable Trust Score of 85 out of 99, as assessed by ForexBrokers.com. This score places them comfortably in the "trusted" category, reflecting their reliable standing among online brokers.
In comparison, Octa, established in 2011, has a slightly different regulatory landscape. It holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, supporting a Trust Score of 72. While also not publicly listed or a bank, Octa's score aligns it with the "average risk" category, suggesting a cautious approach for prospective investors. Both brokers offer secure environments, but Trade Nation edges out when considering regulatory trustworthiness and scores.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Trade Nation presents a compelling offer for traders by providing competitive fixed-spread pricing across its proprietary platform and variable-spread pricing through its MetaTrader platform. Notably, Trade Nation maintains consistent fixed spreads, such as 0.6 pips for the EUR/USD pair, except for a brief rollover period daily when spreads can widen up to 1.4 pips. This translates to an average spread around 1 pip. The broker offers varied account types, including a commission-based Raw Spread account with a $7 round-trip commission per standard lot and a commission-free option. Its TN Trader platform demonstrates the lowest all-in costs among the available accounts. For commissions and fees, Trade Nation earns a top rating of 5 stars and ranks 7 out of 62 brokers.
Octa has made significant strides in reducing its costs, becoming increasingly competitive with the most affordable MetaTrader brokers. It boasts no slippage for 97.5% of executed orders and does not charge overnight carry costs. However, high-frequency traders may face some limitations. Octa's pricing structure is determined by the client's chosen account type and regulatory entity. In Europe, MT5 is the primary platform, while international clients can access both MT4 and MT5, as well as OctaTrader. Average spreads differ by entity, with the EU offering a lower spread of 0.5 pips for the EUR/USD pair compared to 0.9 pips from its foreign entities. Despite these improvements, the absence of a date range for its spread data on the website leaves room for uncertainty. Octa garners a ratings score of 4 stars and ranks 28 out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
Trade Nation and Octa are two prominent online brokers offering a wide array of investment options, each catering to different trading needs. Both platforms provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Trade Nation stands out with a larger selection of 1,000 tradeable symbols compared to Octa's 257, including a greater number of forex pairs at 46 versus Octa’s 35. While neither broker allows trading of exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets such as Apple shares, Octa distinguishes itself by offering international exchange-traded securities, a feature absent in Trade Nation's offering. Both brokers support copy trading and offer derivatives for cryptocurrencies, but do not facilitate the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
While both Trade Nation and Octa share a 3.5-star rating for their range of investment options, they differ in industry rankings. Trade Nation is positioned at 38 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, surpassing Octa, which ranks 52nd in the same category. This comparison highlights Trade Nation’s broader investment offerings and slightly superior market perception, whereas Octa’s advantage lies in providing access to international securities. Both platforms present solid options, each with unique strengths tailored to various trading preferences.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 257 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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.
When comparing online brokers for their trading platforms and tools, Trade Nation and Octa stand out in several aspects. Both brokers provide simulated trading with free demo accounts, which is great for beginners to practice without risk. Each also offers proprietary platforms, desktop downloads for Windows, and convenient web-based trading options, ensuring users have multiple ways to trade. Copy trading, a feature that lets traders mirror the trades of others, is available on both platforms, and they each support MetaTrader 4, a popular choice among Forex traders. However, only Octa offers MetaTrader 5, an advanced version preferred by some for its additional features.
In terms of charting tools, Trade Nation offers a more extensive selection with 39 drawing tools compared to Octa's 15. Octa, on the other hand, allows traders the functionality of trading directly from stock charts, a feature not available with Trade Nation. When it comes to customizing watch lists, Trade Nation provides 14 columns, offering more flexibility than Octa's 7 columns. Both brokers receive a solid rating of 4 stars for their trading platforms and tools, with Octa slightly ahead in rankings at #37 compared to Trade Nation's #45 according to ForexBrokers.com. These ratings reflect their comprehensive offerings, highlighting some differences that may influence trader preferences.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
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) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 99 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trade Nation and Octa both offer intuitive mobile trading experiences available on both iPhone and Android platforms. Each app allows traders to receive important price alerts, view real-time quotes on watchlists, and draw trendlines on charts with autosaving features. However, when it comes to syncing watchlists with an online account, Trade Nation takes the lead by offering this feature, while Octa lacks this syncing capability.
On the technical front, Trade Nation offers a more extensive selection of 99 technical studies for chart analysis, while Octa provides 30. Both apps support viewing charts in multiple time frames, but Trade Nation seemingly provides a richer toolset for detailed analysis. Despite these differences, both apps receive a respectful rating of four stars from users. According to ForexBrokers.com rankings among 62 brokers, Octa holds a slight edge in overall ranking for mobile trading apps, coming in at #36, compared to Trade Nation's #45.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 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 comparing Trade Nation and Octa for their market research offerings, several distinctions stand out. Octa provides daily market commentary, while Trade Nation does not. Both brokers offer forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. However, Octa has the additional advantage of offering technical analysis and fundamental research tools from Autochartist, a feature that Trade Nation lacks. Neither broker offers tools from Trading Central or market research from TipRanks, but Trade Nation compensates by providing a sentiment-based trading tool, something Octa does not offer.
While Trade Nation features research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, Octa includes an economic calendar that highlights current and upcoming global news events. Ranking higher in the research category, Octa holds a 4-star rating compared to Trade Nation's 3.5 stars. On ForexBrokers.com, Octa is ranked #26 out of 62 brokers for research, while Trade Nation is positioned at #42. With these insights, traders can better assess which broker aligns with their research needs and trading strategies.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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 | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner traders, both Trade Nation and Octa offer a solid foundation, providing over ten educational pieces, including articles and videos focused on forex and CFDs. While both brokers ensure a breadth of beginner content, Octa distinguishes itself with additional offerings. Unlike Trade Nation, Octa provides clients with at least one educational webinar per month and maintains a searchable archive of recorded sessions. These features allow beginners to deepen their knowledge through interactive learning and revisiting past webinars at their convenience.
Trade Nation delivers useful beginner-oriented videos, yet it falls short in offering advanced educational content, unlike Octa, which supports traders looking to elevate their expertise. Furthermore, Octa goes beyond basic education by offering a comprehensive investor dictionary containing over 50 investing terms, a resource not available from Trade Nation. This enhanced educational suite has earned Octa a higher rating, with 4 out of 5 stars compared to Trade Nation's 3.5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com's education rankings, Octa takes a slight lead, ranking 41st out of 62 brokers, while Trade Nation follows closely at 42nd.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Trade Nation is better than Octa. Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
Trade Nation’s well-designed, easy-to-use trading app is an innovative trading platform that’s great for beginner forex and CFD traders. However, if you’re a seasoned trader, you may find that Trade Nation lacks advanced features compared to the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
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Octa
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 72 |
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Both Trade Nation and Octa do not offer the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide opportunities to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Trade Nation and Octa provide deposit and withdrawal options such as Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither offers ACH, SEPA, or PayPal services.
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 | Trade Nation | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trade Nation | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Trade Nation | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trade Nation | 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). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trade Nation | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trade Nation | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 257 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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 | Trade Nation | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trade Nation | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 | Trade Nation | 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trade Nation | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 99 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | No | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trade Nation | 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 | 99 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Trade Nation | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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 | No | Yes |
| Education | Trade Nation | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trade Nation | 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 | Trade Nation Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Trade Nation | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review | Octa Review |
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