OCTA Review 2025

Trust

OCTA Regulations

When we review brokers, we look at the licenses held by each of their entities to understand how well they protect clients. We use a simple three-tier system to rank regulatory bodies, with Tier 1 being the most trusted and offering the highest level of protection.

This is what I discovered about the four entities operating under the OCTA trade name:

• OCTA Markets Cyprus Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under license number 372/18. We rate CySEC as a Tier-1 regulator.
• Orinoco Capital (Pty) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) under license number 51913. We rate the FSCA as a Tier-2 regulator.
• OCTA Markets LTD is licensed and regulated by the Mwali International Services Authority (MISA) under license number HY00623410. The entity is also registered as an international brokerage and clearing house with license number T2023320. We rate MISA as a Tier-3 regulator.
• Uni Fin Invest is licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius under license number GB21027161. We rate the FSC as a Tier-3 regulator.

How Does OCTA Protect You?

Brokers operate multiple entities globally, but regulatory protections vary. Some regulators enforce stricter financial standards than others, so traders should understand the safety measures of the entity with which they choose to open an account.

Here is how OCTA protects you:

• Holds client funds in segregated accounts.
• Guarantees negative balance protection.
• Clients of OCTA Markets Cyprus Ltd are covered by up to EUR 20,000 under the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF).

To learn more about the most important safety mechanisms and how they apply to you, click here.

Stability and Transparency

In our Trust category, we assess how stable and transparent a broker is. This includes how long they’ve been in business, the size of the company, and how openly they share important information.

I checked OCTA’s numbers and discovered that the broker has been operational for 14 years and employs over 700 professionals globally, according to its LinkedIn page. I also pored over OCTA’s legal documents, which are readily available, and determined that everything was in order.

I appreciate that OCTA displays live spread data on its website so visitors can quickly assess the broker’s fee competitiveness and transparency.

Is OCTA Safe?

I concluded that OCTA is sufficiently safe due to the following factors:

• Is licensed and regulated by four authorities
• Protects client money from the broker’s credit risk.
• Provides negative balance protection so your account can’t go below zero..
• Has transparent legal documents.

Fees

OCTA Trading Fees

OCTA Spreads

I tested OCTA’s spreads on 5 August 2025 during the London and New York opens. The results are shown in the table below:

When broken down by asset class and compared to the industry average, OCTA delivers low spreads on share CFDs and average spreads on Bitcoin. Its EURUSD spread was impressively tight, but the GBPJPY cost was noticeably higher during my test. Commodities and indices also came in on the pricier side, with crude oil, the German DAX, and the US 30 index showing particularly elevated spreads.

OCTA Swaps

A swap fee is a trader’s cost for holding an open position overnight because of changing interest rates. Swap long refers to the charge deductible or credit receivable for holding a buy position open overnight. In turn, swap short relates to the charges/credits deductible or receivable for holding a selling position open overnight.

OCTA’s unique approach to swaps sets it apart from other brokers. All available assets are swap-free, with no hidden costs or extra commissions. This makes OCTA an attractive option for traders who hold positions overnight.

OCTA Non-Trading Fees

OCTA does not impose an inactivity fee on dormant accounts. Deposits and withdrawals are also free of charge with the broker, though third-party processing fees may apply.

Are OCTA’s Fees Competitive?

Overall, I’d place OCTA’s fees in the mid-range. On the plus side, the broker offers swap-free trading and doesn’t charge any non-trading fees. However, during my tests, I found that spreads on some popular instruments were higher than the industry average.

Platforms and Tools

OctaTrader Web

I tested the OctaTrader web platform and was impressed by its seamless design, high-definition charts, and, especially, its ‘Space’ and ‘OctaVision’ features. ‘Space’ represents an all-in-one research tool, including actionable trading ideas, AI-generated signals, market news, technical breakdowns, and more. The ‘OctaVision’ AI tool helps traders track their performance and learn from their mistakes.

The great thing about the ‘Space’ feature is that it lets users copy trading signals directly from the chart, making it easier to act on insights quickly and make informed trading decisions.

The OctaTrader platform is available on most browsers and supports 13 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and more.

OctaTrader features include:

• Alerts-Setting Option: Traders can set alerts for when the price of a given instrument falls/rises to a predetermined level, which could potentially signal a viable entry opportunity.
• Watchlist Customization: Traders can populate watchlists with their favorite instruments and track market changes more easily.
• One-click Trading: This feature enables instant market entries at the spot price and is invaluable for high-precision traders, such as scalpers.
• Trading from the Chart: Traders can place conventional trading orders directly from the chart, specifying the entry price, volume level, stop and take-profit levels, and more.

In my estimation, OctaTrader is a great fit for technical and day traders looking to scoop the next best trading opportunity, thanks to featured trading signals and market breakdowns. The platform is also suitable for beginners who can track their progress and learn from their mistakes using the ‘OctaVision’ tool.

Charts

I have broken down the available analytical tools and chart configurations below:

• 20 technical indicators: Including trend-based and volume-based indicators, and oscillators to analyze price action and assess market sentiment, helping predict market movements.
• 12 drawing tools: Tools like Fibonacci retracement levels and Elliott waves help identify price patterns, support/resistance levels, and breakout points.
• 7 timeframes: For multi-timeframe analysis, enabling detailed price action analysis.
• 1 chart type: Price action is only represented as candlesticks.

OctaTrader’s charts are light and easily scalable, allowing for detailed technical analysis. However, its analytical tools and chart configurations are very limited.

Orders

OctaTrader features three types of order execution: market, pending, and one-click trading, which supports immediate entries at the spot price.

I have broken down the available order types on the OctaTrader platform below:

• Market Orders: Used for immediate entry at the best available price. They guarantee volume filling, though the entry price may differ from the requested price.
• Limit Orders: Guarantee exact price entries, but won’t be filled if the price doesn’t reach the trigger level.
• Stop Orders: They are used to support open positions by limiting the maximum loss that can be incurred if the market turns in the opposite direction. A stop-loss order is placed at a fixed price below or above the spot price. If the market does indeed turn and trigger the stop-loss, it will transform into a market order and get filled at the best possible price.

OctaTrader: My Key Takeaways

I enjoyed using the OctaTrader platform because of its user-friendly design and high-definition charts. The ‘Space’ and ‘OctaVision’ tools are nice additions, greatly enhancing the platform’s capabilities.

On the downside, OctaTrader does not support all trading instruments available on MetaTrader, has a limited number of analytical tools and chart configurations, and does not support Depth-of-Market (DoM) trading.

OCTA Trading App

The OCTA mobile app is available on iOS and Android, enabling quick and easy access to the market on the go. It is very useful for opening, terminating, and adjusting open positions.

The app can also be used to place market, limit, and stop orders and adjust the exposure of your open trades. It supports one-tap trading, watchlist customization, and trading alerts.

I appreciated that the app also offers access to OCTA’s massive library of past webinars, allowing newbies to learn hands-off even while on the go.

OCTA Trading App: My Key Takeaways

The OCTA app retains the versatility and functionality of its web version. The charts are pleasant-looking and detailed, though they lack a variety of technical indicators and chart configurations.

I appreciated that the app is packed with advanced market analytics, helping traders spot potential opportunities even on the go. I also like how OCTA caters to beginners by integrating past webinars directly into the app.

OCTA Execution Model

OCTA operates on a hybrid STP/ECN model, whereby client orders are either routed to the broker’s pool of liquidity providers, where they are filled at the best possible price, or they are matched (buying orders to selling orders and vice versa) at the interbank level using electronic communication networks.

Tradable Instruments

Compared to the industry average, OCTA offers a low number of indices, an average amount of currency pairs, commodities, and share CFDs, and a high number of cryptocurrencies.

What Are CFDs?

CFDs (Contracts for Difference) let you trade on the price movements of assets—like gold—without actually owning them.

For example, if you go long on gold and the price rises, you profit; if it falls, you lose—without ever buying real gold.

The biggest perk? You can jump in or out of the market quickly to take advantage of even the smallest price changes.

What CFDs Can You Trade With OCTA?

OCTA Instruments: My Key Takeaways

While adequate for most retail traders, OCTA’s instrument lineup is fairly limited compared to competitors. It lacks low-risk securities like ETFs and bonds, as well as alternative contracts such as vanilla options and futures. On the plus side, OCTA provides 100+ real stocks for value investing.

Customer Support

Customer Support Channels

Customer Support Test

When we test a broker’s customer support, we evaluate the agent’s knowledge of their own website, how long it takes them to respond to questions, and how detailed their answers are.

I tested OCTA’s AI chatbot on 5 August at around 13:18 CET and was genuinely impressed by its sophistication. The assistant clearly has access to a broad and well-structured knowledge base, as every answer I received was detailed, clear, and to the point. In many ways, I found it to be a more efficient and reliable option than traditional human agent support.

Deposit and Withdrawal

How Do You Deposit Money With OCTA

How Do You Withdraw Money With OCTA

Account Types and Terms

How to Open an Account With OCTA

To create an account with OCTA, follow these simple steps:

1. Click ‘Sign Up’ at the top-right corner of the main page.
2. Provide your email address.
3. Choose a password.
4. Verify your email address.
5. Enter your personal information.
6. Confirm you have read OCTA’s T&Cs.
7. Elaborate on your financial info.
8. Upload proof of ID and proof of address to verify your account.

OCTA Account Types

The main difference between OCTA’s accounts lies in the trading platform they use. The OctaTrader account offers the best overall conditions of the bunch, but it doesn’t support algorithmic or stock trading.

Stock trading is only available through the MetaTrader 5 account, while Expert Advisors (EAs) can be used on both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 accounts. All accounts come with a low $25 minimum deposit, making them accessible to most traders.

Demo Accounts

OCTA offers a demo account that lets traders explore the broker’s available platforms and test their strategies in a risk-free environment. Since markets are constantly changing, it’s crucial to keep your skills sharp without risking real money. You can open a demo account before or alongside your live CFD account.

Swap-Free (Islamic) Accounts

OCTA provides Islamic accounts for swap-free trading under Shariah Law. Please contact the broker for additional information.

What is CFD Leverage?

Leverage determines a trader’s overall market exposure. When trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs), positions can be opened for a fraction of their value because of leverage. Essentially, the broker lends the trader money so that they can open bigger positions. Leverage multiplies the profits a trader generates from winning positions, but also the losses incurred from failed trades.

What Leverage Does OCTA Offer?

In the table below, I have listed the maximum retail leverage available with OCTA for instruments from different asset classes:

OCTA Restricted Countries

OCTA does not accept as clients residents of the US, Canada, the European Union, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Myanmar, New Zealand, North Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK, or any other jurisdiction where trading with leveraged products is prohibited by law.

Research

Research Tools

I have broken down OCTA’s research content below:

• Economic Calendar: It informs traders of upcoming market releases and other financial news that can stir the market and create viable trading opportunities.
• Market Overviews: OCTA publishes daily video market overviews on its YouTube channel. These offer traders a quick and straightforward breakdown of the most significant events happening on the market.
• News Screener: OCTA’s news screener (available from the website) offers a steady news flow, helping traders stay in sync with the latest market developments.
• Featured Ideas: A wide selection of actionable trading signals and technical breakdowns integrated into the OctaTrader platform and available via the ‘Space’ feature. Traders can quickly copy a trading setup to their liking directly on the platform’s chart.
• Trading Tools: OCTA has built two handy tools—Event Releases and Trading Session trackers—that keep traders updated on key economic reports, like inflation and unemployment data, as well as shifts in global trading sessions. These features are especially useful for news and volatility traders, helping them time their entries and exits more effectively.

OCTA Research: My Key Takeaways

OCTA offers top-notch market research for a streamlined trading experience. I liked its innovative market trackers, sophisticated market breakdowns, and featured trading ideas. My only gripe is that it does not offer any content from third-party sources like Trading Central or Autochartist for extra nuance.

Education

The broker’s YouTube channel hosts over 400 educational videos and past webinars, tackling topics as simple as the ABCs of trading and as complex as Elliott Wave strategies. This rich video content is complemented by 70+ written articles on the OCTA website, giving traders multiple ways to learn.

Fresh webinars are published regularly in English, Malay, Thai, Spanish, and Portuguese, catering to all experience levels—from first-time traders to market veterans. OCTA has also created a detailed 11-lesson video course that dives deeper into core areas like chart analysis, market fundamentals, and building the right trading mindset.

The Bottom Line

OCTA, founded in 2011 and headquartered in the Comoros, sets itself apart with a trader-focused, innovative approach. The standout features include its AI-powered market research, extensive educational resources, and the sleek OctaTrader platform, which provides a refreshing alternative to MetaTrader 4 and 5. The broker’s policy of offering swap-free trading on all instruments, at no extra cost, is a rare advantage in the industry.

When stacked against competitors, OCTA lands in the mid-range for fees. While spreads on EURUSD and share CFDs are impressively tight, costs on commodities and indices—especially crude oil—are noticeably higher than average. Still, the lack of non-trading fees and its universal swap-free structure give it a significant edge for traders who hold positions overnight.

Overall, OCTA’s offering is well-suited for long-term traders, investors, day traders, and copy traders alike. Although its lineup of instruments could be expanded to include more low-risk securities like ETFs or bonds, it delivers strong value through its platform innovation, accessible account structure, and a combination of features that blend usability with robust market insights.

FAQ