Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 and Octa are both online brokers that offer trading services. Founded in 2004, Trading 212 holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted, while Octa, established in 2011, has one Tier-1 license. This gives Trading 212 a slight edge in regulatory standing. Neither company is listed on a stock exchange, nor do they operate as banks, which is common in the industry for brokers of their size and focus.
When looking at trustworthiness, Trading 212 has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 79 out of 99, placing it at average risk. Octa, on the other hand, has a Trust Score of 72, also making it an average risk option per ForexBrokers.com guidelines. Each broker has different licenses and year of establishment, but both offer solid, regulated options for traders to consider.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Trading 212 and Octa are both online brokers that offer competitive trading opportunities, yet their approaches to commissions and fees differ significantly. Trading 212 provides zero-commission trading but includes spreads when trading CFDs and forex. Specifically, their average spread for the EUR/USD pair is 1.9 pips, which is above the industry average, potentially putting them at a slight disadvantage. The platform requires a 10-euro minimum deposit for their CFD account. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 is given a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked 43rd out of 62 brokers.
In contrast, Octa has enhanced its pricing structure, improving its position among low-cost MetaTrader brokers. The broker advertises no slippage on the majority of its trades and excludes overnight carry costs, but it has certain limitations for high-frequency traders. Octa provides different account types based on the client's location, affecting the applicable commissions and fees. European clients, using the broker's EU entity, benefit from an average EUR/USD spread of 0.5 pips, which is favorable when compared to its foreign entities that offer 0.9 pips. However, since Octa does not specify a date range for its spread data, it's challenging to ascertain the consistency of these figures. Despite this, Octa has earned a 4-star rating and ranks as the 29th broker in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
Ultimately, both Trading 212 and Octa are reputable options, each with strengths in certain areas. Trading 212 is noted for its straightforward zero-commission structure, albeit countered by higher-than-average spreads. Octa, meanwhile, has significantly improved its pricing strategy, offering competitive spreads, though some transparency concerns remain. Traders should weigh these differences carefully, taking into account each broker’s unique advantages to find the best fit for their trading needs.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Trading 212 and Octa in terms of their available range of investments, Trading 212 clearly offers a broader selection for investors. With 8,025 tradeable symbols versus Octa's 300, Trading 212 provides a more extensive array of choices. In the realm of forex trading, Trading 212 also takes the lead, providing access to 146 tradeable forex pairs compared to Octa's offering of 35. Both platforms enable forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, allowing traders to explore various strategies.
Trading 212 also stands out by offering exchange traded securities from U.S. exchanges, which is not an option provided by Octa. Both brokers, however, offer access to international exchanges for non-CFD securities. While neither platform allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, they both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. However, Octa differentiates itself with the option of copy trading, a feature Trading 212 does not provide. Overall, when assessing the range of investments, Trading 212 is rated 5 stars, whereas Octa holds a rating of 3.5 stars, reflecting its more limited offerings. This distinction is further emphasized in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Trading 212 holds the 15th spot out of 62 brokers, while Octa is positioned at 52nd.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 35 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 the trading platforms and tools of Trading 212 and Octa, both brokers offer several compelling features, including free virtual demo accounts and web-based trading platforms. Trading 212's proprietary platform lacks a downloadable desktop option, which Octa provides alongside its proprietary platform. Additionally, Octa offers popular tools like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, whereas Trading 212 does not support these platforms. Investors interested in copy trading will find Octa a more suitable choice due to its integrated copy trading options, whereas Trading 212 does not offer this feature.
In terms of charting tools, Trading 212 provides a slightly higher number of drawing tools compared to Octa, offering 20 versus Octa's 15. Both platforms allow users to trade directly from stock charts. For customizing watch lists, Octa offers more flexibility with seven columns compared to Trading 212's five. Despite their differences in offerings, both platforms are highly rated at four stars for trading platforms and tools. However, Trading 212 holds a higher ranking at #20 in the Trading Platforms and Tools category by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Octa's rank of #37.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Trading 212 and Octa offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, making them accessible for on-the-go trading. Both apps provide stock and forex price alerts, but Trading 212 takes a lead with more advanced features. It boasts watchlist symbol syncing, which means your list on the app will automatically update to match changes made on your online account. In contrast, Octa lacks this syncing capability. When it comes to charting tools, Trading 212 stands out again, offering 104 technical studies compared to Octa's 30, giving users a richer suite of analytical options.
Features like drawing trendlines and viewing charts across various time frames are available in both apps. Both Trading 212 and Octa also allow the auto-save of drawings and support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. Although both apps share a rating of four stars for mobile trading, Trading 212 has a higher ranking, placed at 17th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Octa's 35th position. This makes Trading 212 a slightly more attractive option for those looking for a comprehensive mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 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 the market research capabilities of Trading 212 and Octa, there are several notable differences. Trading 212 provides access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and offers a sentiment-based trading tool that shows the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. Additionally, Trading 212 includes an economic calendar to keep users updated on global news events. However, it does not offer daily market commentary or advanced research tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central. Trading 212 holds a 3.5-star rating for research and is ranked #46 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Octa, on the other hand, distinguishes itself with daily market commentary and provides advanced research tools from the company Autochartist. It, too, offers access to premium forex news and an economic calendar. Although Octa lacks a sentiment-based trading tool and research from Trading Central, it stands higher with a 4-star research rating and ranks at #26 out of 62 brokers in the same category. Both brokers have certain strengths, making the choice between them dependent on your specific research needs.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources of Trading 212 and Octa, both online brokers provide a wealth of information for beginners eager to delve into trading. Each offers more than ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Both platforms also host at least one live client webinar monthly, allowing users to engage in real-time learning. Archived webinars are easily searchable, ensuring that learners can revisit past sessions at their convenience. Additionally, they cater to a wide range of experience levels with more than ten beginner and advanced educational videos each, helping users build their knowledge at their own pace.
Moreover, Trading 212 and Octa each provide an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, a useful tool for those new to the trading world. Octa slightly surpasses Trading 212 in terms of educational rating, scoring 4 out of 5 stars, compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. Interestingly, despite the slight difference in educational ratings, Trading 212 is ranked higher in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, securing the 20th spot out of 62 brokers, while Octa is placed at the 42nd position. Whether you're a novice or an experienced trader, both platforms offer comprehensive educational content to support your trading journey.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 Trading 212 is better than Octa. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 72 |
| Range of Investments |
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Both Trading 212 and Octa do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrency, but they do allow users to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, making them similar platforms for trading crypto-related products without acquiring the physical asset.
Trading 212 and Octa offer a variety of methods for depositing or withdrawing account funds, with Trading 212 supporting ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires, while Octa provides options for Skrill and bank wires, both allowing Visa or Mastercard transactions, but only Trading 212 includes PayPal and ACH or SEPA transfers in its offerings.
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 | Trading 212 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 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 | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | 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) | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | 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 | 104 | 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 | Trading 212 | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Octa Review |
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