Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets 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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IC Markets vs. Octa: IC Markets was founded in 2007, while Octa launched in 2011. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank, so their safety profile relies on regulation and independent ratings.
Regulation and trust: IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 0 Tier-2 licenses; Octa holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license (Tier-2 is considered trusted). On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score, IC Markets scores 83 (trusted) and Octa scores 73 (average risk). If regulation and ratings are priorities, IC Markets edges ahead with more top-tier licenses and a higher trust score.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 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 | 3 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, IC Markets is the stronger pick overall. It earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers for this category. Its pricing is built for low-cost trading, especially on its commission-based Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts. On the cTrader version, the commission is $3.00 per side for every 100,000 units, while the MT4/MT5 Raw Spread account charges $3.50 per side. IC Markets also offers a commission-free Standard account, and its low effective spreads help keep total trading costs competitive for both casual and active traders.
Octa has made clear progress on pricing and now offers better value than it used to, but it still trails IC Markets. It earns 4 stars and ranks #27 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Costs depend on the entity and account type you use, with EU clients seeing an average EUR/USD spread of 0.5 pips, while international accounts show about 0.9 pips. Octa also advertises no overnight carry costs and no slippage on 97.5% of executed orders, though some limits may make it less appealing for high-frequency traders.
In simple terms, IC Markets is the better choice if low trading costs are your top priority, while Octa is a decent lower-cost option but not as cheap overall. IC Markets has the edge on both spread pricing and commission transparency, which is why it ranks much higher in the commissions and fees category.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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IC Markets gives traders a wider choice of investments than Octa. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, and neither lets you buy actual crypto or U.S.-listed exchange traded shares such as Apple. Both do offer access to international exchange traded securities, so clients can buy shares listed outside the U.S. When it comes to forex, IC Markets offers 61 currency pairs, compared with 35 at Octa.
The bigger difference is in overall market selection. IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable symbols, while Octa offers 300, making IC Markets the stronger pick for traders who want more variety. That edge is reflected in its Range of Investments score too, with IC Markets rated 4.5 out of 5 and ranked #22 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, versus Octa’s 3.5 out of 5 and #34 ranking.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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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IC Markets and Octa both give traders a familiar mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Each also lets users place trades straight from a chart, which can be useful for active traders who want to react quickly to market moves. In short, both brokers cover the basics well when it comes to trading platforms and tools.
The main difference is that Octa offers its own in-house platform, while IC Markets does not. Even so, IC Markets comes out ahead in ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools ranking, placing #17 out of 36 brokers compared with Octa’s #31, while both are rated 4 out of 5 stars in this category. For traders who want a broker with a stronger overall rating in this area, IC Markets has the edge, while Octa may appeal more to those looking for a proprietary platform option alongside the standard platform lineup.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Octa both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage positions on either device. Each app also includes price alerts, 30 technical studies for chart analysis, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. In this area, the two brokers look closely matched, and both mobile apps are rated 4 out of 5 stars.
The main difference is in independent ranking. ForexBrokers.com places IC Markets at #22 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while Octa comes in at #30. Neither app offers watchlist symbol syncing, so any watchlists created on mobile do not automatically sync with the client’s online account. For traders who want similar mobile tools with a slightly higher ranking, IC Markets has the edge over Octa.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets and Octa both give traders daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar to track upcoming global events. Each broker also includes Autochartist tools, and both earn a 4-star rating for research, showing a solid range of market data and trading insights for everyday use.
The main difference is that IC Markets offers a few more research features. It includes Trading Central tools and a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are long or short on different markets, while Octa does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s research category, IC Markets is ranked #21 out of 36 brokers, ahead of Octa at #24, which gives IC Markets a slight edge overall for market research.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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.
For beginners looking for trading lessons, both IC Markets and Octa offer a solid amount of learning material. Each broker provides forex and CFD education with at least 10 pieces of content, monthly client webinars, and plenty of beginner and advanced videos. They are also tied on Education ratings, with both earning 4 out of 5 stars, which suggests that each platform gives new traders a useful starting point for learning the basics and building skills over time.
Where the two differ is in their overall ranking for Education. IC Markets places #16 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Octa comes in lower at #32. That means IC Markets has the edge for educational quality and usefulness, even though both brokers cover the essentials well for beginners. If learning resources are a top priority, IC Markets appears to offer the stronger education experience overall.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
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 IC Markets is better than Octa. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #35.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
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Octa
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| Trust Score | 83 | 73 |
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IC Markets vs Octa: neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
IC Markets vs Octa deposits and withdrawals: neither supports ACH or SEPA; both support Skrill and bank wire transfers; IC Markets supports PayPal while Octa does not; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | IC Markets | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Octa | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 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 | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | 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) | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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 | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Octa Review |
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