Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index 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.
City Index vs Octa: For regulatory strength, City Index stands out. It holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license and earns a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com—placing it in the highly trusted range (90–99). Octa holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license and scores 73/99, which ForexBrokers.com classifies as average risk (70–79). These ratings show how each broker is supervised by financial authorities and the level of oversight clients can expect.
Background details also differ. City Index, founded in 1983, is publicly traded (listed on a stock exchange) and is not a bank. Octa, founded in 2011, is not publicly traded and is not a bank. If regulatory credentials and third-party trust ratings are priorities, these points can help you compare City Index and Octa.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index offers commissions and fees that are broadly in line with the industry average for CFDs, forex, and spread betting. For the best pricing, traders can use City Index’s own platforms or MetaTrader. Active traders may also qualify for the Premium Trader account with a deposit over £10,000, while U.K. professional traders and Australian clients can get volume-based rebates and discounts. City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Octa has improved its pricing and now sits closer to some of the lowest-cost MetaTrader brokers. It offers no overnight carry costs and says 97.5% of orders are filled without slippage, but some account and entity rules can limit high-frequency trading. Pricing varies by region, with average EUR/USD spreads listed at 0.5 pips for its EU entity and 0.9 pips for its foreign entities. Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #27 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Overall, City Index has the stronger score and better ranking in this category, making it the better pick on commissions and fees for many traders. Octa can still be appealing for its low-cost setup and no overnight carry costs, but City Index appears to offer the more consistent value based on ForexBrokers.com’s ratings.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
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City Index offers a much wider range of investments than Octa, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more markets to choose from. City Index lists 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrencies or U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities as direct investments.
One key difference is that Octa does offer access to exchange-traded securities on international markets, while City Index does not. Even so, City Index is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Octa scores 3.5 stars and ranks #34. For investors who want a broader selection of CFD markets and more forex pairs, City Index has the edge overall.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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). |
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City Index and Octa both give traders a wide mix of platform choices and helpful tools. Each one offers a free demo account, its own in-house platform, a Windows desktop app, a web-based platform, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both also let you place trades straight from a chart, which is useful for traders who want to act quickly. The main difference is that Octa also supports MetaTrader 5, while City Index does not.
In overall Trading Platforms and Tools scores, City Index comes out ahead with a 4.5-star rating and a #11 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Octa’s 4-star rating and #31 ranking. For traders comparing platform quality, that puts City Index slightly ahead, while Octa may appeal more to those who want MT5 alongside the other core platform features.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Octa both give traders mobile access through iPhone and Android apps, along with stock or forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving for chart drawings. That means both platforms make it easy to follow markets and mark up charts while on the move. However, City Index has a clear edge in app quality and convenience, especially for traders who want their mobile watchlists to stay in sync with their online account.
When it comes to charting, City Index offers 88 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at Octa, which may matter to traders who like more tools for analysis. City Index is also rated higher for mobile trading apps at 4.5 stars, versus 4 stars for Octa, and it ranks much better with ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #9 out of 36 brokers compared with Octa’s #30. Overall, both apps cover the basics well, but City Index offers the stronger mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index and Octa both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar that tracks key global events. Both brokers also help users stay on top of market moves with timely updates and headline coverage, making either one a solid choice for traders who want regular market information.
Where City Index stands out is in its extra research features. It offers Trading Central tools and a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions, while Octa includes Autochartist instead. Based on ForexBrokers.com, City Index scores higher for research at 4.5 stars and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa’s 4 stars and #24 ranking.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and Octa both give beginners a wide range of learning materials, including forex and CFD education with at least 10 relevant resources, regular educational webinars, and plenty of videos for both new and more experienced traders. This means each broker offers useful support for people who want to learn the basics and keep building their skills over time.
That said, City Index comes out ahead for education. It has a 4.5-star education rating and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers for this category, while Octa holds a 4-star rating and ranks #32. For beginners looking for stronger educational support, City Index appears to offer the better overall learning experience.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that City Index is better than Octa. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #35.
Backed by StoneX Group, City Index is a trusted brand known for its versatile trading platforms, excellent mobile app, diverse market research, and extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
City Index
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Octa
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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In a head-to-head comparison, City Index and Octa do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals but not Skrill, while Octa supports Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is unspecified for both brokers.
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 | City Index | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Octa | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | City Index Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | City Index | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Octa Review |
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