Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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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Saxo vs Octa: For regulation and safety, Saxo (founded 1992) carries a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted 90–99 range. Octa (founded 2011) holds a 73/99 Trust Score, which falls into the 70–79 average risk band. For reference, ForexBrokers.com rates 90–99 as highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted.
Regulatory makeup: Saxo is a bank and not publicly traded, with 7 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted). Octa is not a bank and not publicly traded, with 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license. This deeper licensing footprint helps explain Saxo’s higher Trust Score compared with Octa.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Saxo comes out ahead on commissions and fees, earning 5 stars and ranking #8 out of 36 brokers for this category. Its pricing is especially attractive for active, high-volume traders and those who can keep larger balances, with the best rates found in Platinum and VIP accounts. As of November 2023, Saxo’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.1 pips on Classic, 1.0 on Platinum, and 0.9 on VIP, and the broker generally charges no forex commission because it builds costs into the spread. One exception is a $3 per-side ticket fee for traders who do less than 50,000 units per month.
Octa is also competitively priced, but it trails Saxo with a 4-star rating and a #27 ranking out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Octa has improved a lot in recent years and offers low spreads, including a listed average EUR/USD spread of 0.5 pips for its EU entity and 0.9 pips for its international entities. It also advertises no overnight carry costs and no slippage on most executed orders, though pricing can vary by account type and regulator, and its published spread data does not include a date range.
Overall, Saxo offers stronger value for traders who want tier-based pricing savings and are able to qualify for lower-cost accounts, while Octa may appeal to traders looking for simple, low-cost trading with no overnight fees. In a straight comparison on commissions and fees, Saxo has the edge on transparency and overall score, while Octa remains a lower-cost option for many everyday traders.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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Saxo offers a much wider range of investments than Octa, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety. Saxo provides access to around 71,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, while Octa offers about 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both also offer cryptocurrency CFDs rather than actual crypto coins. Saxo goes further by letting clients trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, while Octa only offers international exchange-traded securities.
For extra features, Octa includes copy trading, which Saxo does not. But when it comes to range of investments overall, Saxo is clearly ahead. That is reflected in its 5-star rating for Range of Investments and its #3 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa’s 3.5-star rating and #34 ranking. If your main goal is access to a broad mix of markets and assets, Saxo has the edge over Octa.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Saxo and Octa both give traders a choice of simulated trading, a proprietary platform, and access to both desktop and web-based platforms. Each broker also lets you place trades directly from a stock chart, which can make it easier to react quickly while analyzing price moves. In overall platform quality, Saxo stands out more strongly, earning 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranking #3 out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 stars and ranks #31.
The bigger differences come down to trading choices and extra features. Octa supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5, giving it more options for traders who want familiar third-party platforms or social trading tools. Saxo does not offer copy trading, MT4, or MT5, but it still provides a polished trading experience with strong platform access across demo, desktop, and browser use. For traders who want more platform variety, Octa has the edge; for those who want a higher-rated platform setup, Saxo comes out ahead.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and Octa both make it easy to trade from a phone, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Both apps cover the basics well for traders who want to watch the markets and manage trades on the go.
The key differences show up in app quality and charting depth. Saxo stands out with watchlist syncing between mobile and online accounts, so changes stay aligned across devices, while Octa does not offer this feature. Saxo also provides more technical studies for charting, with 64 compared with Octa’s 30. These added tools help explain Saxo’s higher mobile app score of 5 stars and its #3 ranking out of 36 brokers, versus Octa’s 4-star rating and #30 ranking.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo and Octa both give traders a strong range of market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from top names like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist support, and an economic calendar for tracking major events. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so the research lineup is similar in several key areas.
The main difference is that Saxo goes a step further with a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning across markets, while Octa does not. That extra feature helps explain why Saxo earns a higher research rating, with 5 stars and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Octa’s 4 stars and #24 rank.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | 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 help, both Saxo and Octa offer a solid range of educational content, including forex and CFDs learning materials, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner-focused videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means each broker gives new traders access to lessons on the basics, while also offering content for those who want to move beyond the first steps. Saxo and Octa both make it easier for users to learn at their own pace, with a mix of articles, videos, and live sessions.
That said, Saxo comes out ahead in overall education quality. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Octa is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. In simple terms, both brokers are useful for learning, but Saxo appears to offer the stronger educational experience for beginners who want more guidance and a higher-rated set of learning tools.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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 Saxo is better than Octa. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #35.
Saxo is a multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Octa
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Saxo vs Octa: neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading instead.
Comparing online brokers Saxo and Octa: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits/withdrawals, both support bank wire transfers, Octa supports Skrill while Saxo does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | Saxo | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Octa | |
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| Regulation | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | 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 | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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) | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | 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 | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Saxo Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | Saxo | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Octa Review |
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