Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB vs Octa, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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XTB and Octa are two online brokers with different regulatory backgrounds and trust scores. Founded in 2002, XTB is a publicly traded company, which contributes to its higher level of transparency. Octa, established in 2011, is privately held, lacking the added scrutiny of a stock exchange listing. Neither broker operates as a bank. XTB boasts a high Trust Score of 96 on ForexBrokers.com, making it highly trusted. This rating is bolstered by its two Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses. In contrast, Octa holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, leading to a Trust Score of 72, categorizing it as an average risk according to ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, XTB's longer history, public company status, and greater number of Tier-1 licenses give it an advantage in terms of trust and regulatory compliance over Octa. For traders seeking higher trust, XTB stands out, although both brokers remain viable options for different types of investors.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing XTB and Octa for their commissions and fees, both brokers offer competitive pricing structures but cater to different trader needs. XTB provides two main account types: a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the latter is now limited to selected professionals in the U.K. and Europe. XTB's average forex spreads on the EUR/USD pair were recorded at 1 pip in Q4 2023, marking its pricing as in line with industry averages. However, XTB incentivizes active traders with their Lower Spread Group, offering discounts from 5% to 30% on spreads, depending on trading volume. This feature makes XTB appealing for those who trade frequently. With a star rating of 4.5 and a ranking of #11 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, XTB stands as a solid choice for traders focused on minimizing fees.
Octa, on the other hand, has made strides in improving its pricing and now competes closely with low-cost MetaTrader brokers. The absence of overnight costs and a high no-slippage rate on executed orders are appealing features. The fees and spreads at Octa depend heavily on the account type and regional entity. European clients selecting Octa's EU entity experience slightly lower average spreads of 0.5 pips for the EUR/USD pair, compared to 0.9 pips in other regions. However, Octa's failure to provide specific date references for its spread data slightly undermines the reliability of these figures. Despite this, Octa has seen progress in its pricing and positions itself as an appealing option for cost-efficient trading. It holds a star rating of 4 and is ranked #29 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, XTB and Octa cater to different segments of the trading market, with XTB appealing to active traders who can benefit from spread rebates, while Octa offers a straightforward fee structure with its MetaTrader accounts. Both brokers continue to refine their pricing models to attract a diverse range of traders, yet XTB edges out Octa in terms of overall rating and industry standing.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 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 XTB and Octa, the range of investments each platform offers reveals significant differences. XTB provides an impressive selection with 7,184 tradeable symbols, including 71 forex pairs. Moreover, XTB allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities, such as U.S. stocks like Apple and international shares like Vodafone. Although XTB does not offer copy trading or the direct purchase of cryptocurrencies, it does support cryptocurrency derivatives. On the other hand, Octa features 300 tradeable symbols and 35 forex pairs, and while it doesn't offer U.S. stocks, it does allow access to international shares like Vodafone. It compensates somewhat for its limited stock offerings by providing copy trading services and access to cryptocurrency derivatives.
This broader selection and access to diverse markets helped earn XTB a 5-star rating for its range of investments, securing the 14th spot out of 62 brokers in this category. In contrast, Octa is rated 3.5 stars for its investment range, placing it at 52nd. The ability to trade a wide variety of instruments, including exchange-traded securities in multiple markets, positions XTB as a more versatile option for traders seeking broader trading opportunities. Meanwhile, Octa may appeal to those interested in copy trading and others who aren't focused on U.S. equities.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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 XTB and Octa, both brokers provide a range of options that cater to different types of traders. XTB stands out with a higher rating of 4.5 stars and ranks as the 9th out of 62 brokers for its offerings. It provides a proprietary platform and supports trading both through a Windows-based desktop and a convenient web-based platform. It facilitates a smooth trading experience with the ability to trade directly from stock charts and offers a more extensive selection of 32 drawing tools for charting. While XTB does not support copy trading or MetaTrader platforms, it still holds a strong position in the market.
Octa also presents a competitive suite of features, offering a proprietary platform and the option for both Windows-based and web-based trading. What's notable is Octa's support for MetaTrader platforms, including MT4 and MT5, as well as the popular copy trading feature. Although its charting tools offer fewer drawing options with 15 tools, Octa compensates with capabilities like trading directly from stock charts. Octa is rated 4 stars in its platform offerings and holds the 37th rank among 62 brokers. Each broker offers a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to explore these platforms without financial risk. With 7 columns available for watch lists, Octa's platform remains versatile yet slightly less customizable than XTB's offering.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both XTB and Octa offer intuitive mobile trading apps available on iPhone and Android platforms. These apps provide essential features such as price alerts for stocks and forex, watchlists with real-time quotes, and auto-saving of chart drawings. While both platforms lack syncing capabilities for watchlists between the mobile app and the client's online account, they excel in technical charting functionality. XTB leads with 39 technical studies compared to Octa's 30, allowing for more detailed analysis. Both apps also support multiple time frames and the ability to draw trendlines directly on charts, catering to traders who need versatile charting on the go.
When it comes to user ratings, XTB's mobile app stands out with 4.5 stars, outperforming Octa's 4-star rating. This favorable reception is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where XTB ranks at #8 among 62 brokers, showcasing its superior mobile trading experience. In contrast, Octa holds the #35 position, indicating room for improvement. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned trader, both apps offer valuable tools, but XTB's higher charting capabilities and user ratings might sway traders toward its mobile solution.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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, both XTB and Octa provide daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, XTB and Octa differ in their offerings of technical analysis tools. While Octa incorporates tools from Autochartist to enhance traders’ understanding, XTB does not provide these specific tools. On the other hand, XTB offers a sentiment-based trading tool that allows traders to see the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments, a feature not available with Octa. Both platforms provide an economic calendar to track global news events, yet neither offers research from companies like TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
In terms of ratings, XTB shines with a full 5-star rating for research, attributed to its comprehensive toolset and presentation, placing it at an impressive #7 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Octa, on the contrary, receives a 4-star research rating, securing the #26 rank. Despite Octa's provision of Autochartist tools, XTB's combination of sentiment analysis and detailed market tools gives it an edge, as reflected in its higher industry ranking. Both brokers are equipped to support informed trading decisions, yet XTB seems to offer slightly more depth for those seeking advanced insights.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for budding traders, both XTB and Octa have a lot to offer. Beginners looking to learn about forex and CFDs will find that both brokers provide a comprehensive library of educational materials, each offering more than ten articles, videos, and archived webinars. Specifically for new traders, both platforms deliver a wealth of beginner-focused videos that cover trading basics. Moreover, both XTB and Octa host regular online educational webinars for their clients and also maintain a searchable archive of recorded sessions, ensuring that beginners have ample opportunities to learn at their own pace.
Despite their similarities in teaching offerings, there are some notable differences. Both XTB and Octa provide advanced educational videos for more seasoned traders, but only Octa includes an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, which can be particularly beneficial for newcomers seeking to master trading jargon. In terms of recognition for their educational efforts, XTB boasts a higher rating and ranking with a 5-star education rating and a ranking of 11th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Octa earns 4 stars and sits at 42nd in the same category. These distinctions highlight XTB’s slightly stronger position in educating beginner traders, making it a worthwhile consideration for those starting their trading journey.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XTB is better than Octa. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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Octa
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 72 |
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Both XTB and Octa do not offer the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to engage in crypto market speculation without owning the digital assets directly.
While both XTB and Octa provide options to deposit or withdraw funds via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, only XTB supports PayPal transactions, whereas neither broker offers ACH or SEPA transfer 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 | XTB | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Octa | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | 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 | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | 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) | XTB | 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 | XTB | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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 | XTB | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | XTB | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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 | XTB | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | 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 | 39 | 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 | XTB | 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 | XTB | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | 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 | XTB Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | XTB | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Octa Review |
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