Scores, winners and data below compare these brokers as CFD/FX brokers (leveraged trading on forex, indices, commodities and crypto), using the data of eToro's UK entity and OctaFX's Saint Lucia entity. Scores, winners and data below compare these brokers as stock brokers (real shares and ETFs you own outright), using the data of eToro's UK entity and OctaFX's Saint Lucia entity.
eToro
Regulated in your country eToro is allowed by FCA to onboard clients residing in the UK.
61% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Below content does not apply to US users.
OctaFX
Not regulated in your country OctaFX does not accept residents in the UK because it is not regulated by FCA.
73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
Best for
What we compare A comparison of the kinds of traders eToro and OctaFX are best suited to, based on what each one actually offers in United Kingdom.eToro is better than OctaFX for long-term investors. OctaFX, on the other hand, is better for day traders, scalpers and algo traders. High-volume traders, swing traders and news traders can choose either eToro or OctaFX.
| Overall score | eToro 80 83 | OctaFX 80 not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Day trading i | ||
| Long-term investing i | ||
| Professional traders i | ||
| High-volume traders i | ||
| Scalpers i | ||
| Swing traders i | ||
| News traders i | ||
| Algo traders i | ||
| Stock traders i | ||
| Crypto traders i | ||
| Futures traders i | ||
| Options traders i |
Regulation
What we compare A comparison between the financial authorities that supervise eToro and the ones that supervise OctaFX.Only eToro is regulated in the UK, by the FCA. OctaFX holds no licence in the UK and is regulated by CySEC.
| Section score | eToro 100 Best 100 | OctaFX 85 -15 not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Tier-1 regulators | ||
| ESMA (European Union) i | ||
| FCA (United Kingdom) i | ||
| ASIC (Australia) i | ||
| CFTC (United States) i | ||
| NFA (United States) i | ||
| SEC (United States) i | ||
| CIRO (Canada) i | ||
| MAS (Singapore) i | ||
| SFC (Hong Kong) i | ||
| JFSA (Japan) i | ||
| FINMA (Switzerland) i | ||
| Tier-2 regulators | ||
| FMA (New Zealand) i | ||
| CBR (Russia) i | ||
| FSCA (South Africa) i | ||
| DFSA (Dubai) i | ||
| CSRC (China) i | ||
| ISA (Israel) i | ||
| LFSA (Malaysia) i | ||
| JSC (Jordan) i | ||
| CMA (Kenya) i | ||
| Tier-3 regulators | ||
| FSA (Seychelles) i | ||
| MMA (Maldives) i | ||
| SCB (Bahamas) i | ||
| FSC (Mauritius) i | ||
| VFSC (Vanuatu) i | ||
| FSC (Belize) i | ||
| CIMA (Cayman Islands) i | ||
| SV FSA (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) i | ||
| FSRC (St. Kitts & Nevis) i | ||
| BMA (Bermuda) i | ||
| BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands) i | ||
| EDR (External Dispute Resolution) i | ||
Safety
What we compare A comparison of the tools and services that eToro and OctaFX have in place to protect your money in United Kingdom.eToro and OctaFX both offer segregated client funds and two-factor authentication. eToro also offers an investor compensation scheme. OctaFX holds no licence in the UK and is not covered by the FSCS.
| Section score | eToro 85 Best 85 | OctaFX 65 -20 not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Company info | ||
| Is it publicly traded i | ||
| Is it a bank i | ||
| Year founded i | 2007 | 2011 |
| Parent company i | eToro Group Ltd. | Octa Markets Incorporated |
| CEO i | Yoni Assia | Pavel Prozorov |
| Money safety | ||
| Segregated client funds i | ||
| Two-factor authentication i | ||
| Investor compensation scheme i | ||
| Additional money insurance i | ||
| Partner bank i | BNY Mellon, EquiLend | N/A |
| Brand power | ||
| Number of customers worldwide i | 3,610,000 | 40,000,000 |
| Annual revenue i | USD 1,340,000,000 | |
| Monthly website search traffic i | 13.2M monthly visits | |
Costs
What we compare A comparison of what it costs to trade with eToro and with OctaFX in United Kingdom, both on each trade and on holding the account.OctaFX is better than eToro for CFD/FX costs, since OctaFX is cheaper on EUR/USD, at 6 USD per lot (against eToro's 11.6 USD), has tighter gold CFD spreads, at 0.26 points (against eToro's 0.88 points), and charges lower Bitcoin CFD fees, at 29 USD (against eToro's 1,585.8 USD). Neither eToro nor OctaFX charges account maintenance fees or deposit fees.
OctaFX does not offer real stocks, being a CFD broker, so eToro and OctaFX cannot be compared for real stock costs.
| Section score | eToro 52 -33 82 | OctaFX 85 Best not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Broker fees | ||
| Deposit fees i | ||
| Withdrawal fees i | ||
| Overnight fees i | ||
| Inactivity fees i | ||
| Currency conversion fees i | ||
| Discounts on volume i | ||
| Real time market data fee i | ||
| Dividend withholding i | ||
| Account opening fees i | ||
| Account maintenance fee i | ||
| Portfolio management fee i | ||
| Fees on CFDs | ||
| Forex commission per lot i | Free | Free |
| EUR/USD average standard spread i | ||
| EUR/USD average raw spread i | ||
| EUR/USD average fixed spread i | ||
| EUR/USD total cost per lot i | USD 11.6 | USD 6 |
| S&P 500 fees (CFD) i | 1.08 points | 2 points |
| Gold fees (CFD) i | 0.88 points | 0.26 points |
| Bitcoin fees (CFD) i | USD 1,585.8 | USD 29 |
| US stocks fees (CFD) i | Free | |
| Fees on stocks | ||
| Stock fee type i | Free | Commission, Percentage, Spread |
| US stocks fees (real) i | Free | USD 30 |
| ETF fees (real) i | Free | |
| Management costs i | ||
| Connection costs i | ||
| Fees on futures | ||
| Futures fees per contract i | ||
| Platform fees i | ||
| Fees on options | ||
| Options fees per contract i | ||
| Event fees i | ||
| Fees on savings plans | ||
| IRA opening fee i | ||
| IRA maintenance fee i | ||
| 401k opening fee i | ||
| 401k maintenance fee i | ||
Available markets
What we compare A comparison of the markets and products you can trade with eToro and with OctaFX in United Kingdom, and of how many instruments each one gives access to.eToro and OctaFX are equally good for CFD/FX markets, as eToro gives access to 5,461 tradable symbols (against OctaFX's 270), and lets you own crypto, ETFs and stocks outright. On the other hand, OctaFX offers CFDs on crypto. Both eToro and OctaFX offer CFDs on commodities, forex, indices and stocks.
OctaFX does not offer real stocks, being a CFD broker, so eToro and OctaFX cannot be compared for real stock markets.
| Section score | eToro 75 55 | OctaFX 75 not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Total tradable symbols i | 5,461 | 270 |
| Currency pairs i | ||
| Indices i | ||
| Commodities i | ||
| Stocks i | ||
| ETF i | ||
| Cryptocurrencies i | ||
| Bonds i | ||
| Interest rates i | ||
| Portfolios i | ||
| CFDs i | Commodities, Forex, Indices, Stocks | Commodities, Crypto, Forex, Indices, Stocks |
| Futures i | ||
| Options i | ||
| Assets you can own i | Crypto, ETF, Stocks |
Platform
What we compare A comparison of the trading platforms that eToro and OctaFX make available to their clients in United Kingdom.OctaFX is better than eToro for platforms, because OctaFX offers cTrader, MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4, which eToro does not. Both eToro and OctaFX offer social trading and copy trading.
OctaFX does not offer real stocks, being a CFD broker, so eToro and OctaFX cannot be compared for platforms.
| Section score | eToro 84 -5 84 | OctaFX 89 Best not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietary platform i | ||
| MetaTrader 4 i | ||
| MetaTrader 5 i | ||
| cTrader i | ||
| Social trading platform i | ||
| Copy trading platform i | ||
| ZuluTrade i | ||
| TradingView i | ||
| Duplitrade i | ||
| Mirror Trader i | ||
| NinjaTrader i | ||
| AutoChartist i | ||
| Real time pricing i | ||
| 5 digit pricing i | ||
| One-click trading i |
Mobile
What we compare A comparison of the mobile apps of eToro and OctaFX in United Kingdom, and of what each one lets you do from your phone.OctaFX is better than eToro for mobile trading, given that OctaFX offers the cTrader app, the MetaTrader 5 app and the MetaTrader 4 app, which eToro does not. Both eToro and OctaFX offer a proprietary mobile app and a social trading app.
Only eToro can be assessed for mobile trading, since OctaFX is a CFD broker and does not offer real stocks.
| Section score | eToro 87 -13 87 | OctaFX 100 Best not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietary app i | ||
| Social trading app i | ||
| Copy trading app i | ||
| MetaTrader 4 app i | ||
| MetaTrader 5 app i | ||
| cTrader app i | ||
| Mobile trading signals i | ||
| Mobile alerts i | ||
| Mobile charting tools i | ||
| Mobile drawing tools i | ||
| Mobile watchlist i | ||
| Smartwatch app i |
Trading features
What we compare A comparison of the trading tools and strategies that eToro and OctaFX allow on their platforms in United Kingdom.OctaFX is better than eToro for CFD/FX trading features, as OctaFX offers tier-1 liquidity providers, which eToro does not, and allows for scalping and automated trading. eToro and OctaFX both offer negative balance protection and trailing stops. The leverage shown for OctaFX is set by its Saint Lucia entity and exceeds the retail limit in the UK (30:1 on major currency pairs).
eToro and OctaFX cannot be set side by side for real stock trading features, as OctaFX is a CFD broker and does not offer real stocks, unlike eToro.
| Section score | eToro 60 -23 76 | OctaFX 83 Best not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Trade execution | ||
| Broker type i | Agency | NDD |
| Average execution time i | 100 ms | |
| Slippage occurrence i | ||
| Requotes occurrence i | ||
| Tier-1 liquidity providers i | ||
| PFOF i | ||
| Leverage | ||
| Major FX pairs leverage i | 30:1 | 1000:1 |
| Minor/Exotic FX pairs leverage i | 20:1 | 1000:1 |
| Major indices leverage i | 20:1 | 400:1 |
| Minor indices leverage i | 10:1 | 400:1 |
| Gold leverage i | 20:1 | 1000:1 |
| Commodities leverage i | 10:1 | 400:1 |
| Equities leverage i | 5:1 | |
| Cryptocurrency leverage i | 200:1 | |
| Risk management | ||
| Stop losses i | ||
| Take profits i | ||
| Limit orders i | ||
| Trailing stop i | ||
| Margin call i | ||
| OCO orders i | ||
| Guaranteed stop loss i | ||
| Negative balance protection i | ||
| Minimum trade size (FX) i | 0.01 lots | 0.01 lots |
| Minimum trade size (stocks) i | USD 10 | USD 0 |
| Fractional stocks i | ||
| Trading compliance | ||
| Scalping strategies allowed i | ||
| Hedging strategies allowed i | ||
| Automated trading strategy allowed i | ||
| EAs use allowed i | ||
| HFT strategy allowed i | ||
| VPS use allowed i | ||
| API use allowed i | ||
| Price scraping allowed i | ||
| FIFO rule applies i | ||
Account types
What we compare A comparison of the kinds of account you can open at eToro and at OctaFX in United Kingdom, and of who each one is meant for.OctaFX is better than eToro for CFD/FX account types, given that OctaFX offers a managed account, an ECN account and an Islamic account, which eToro does not. eToro and OctaFX both offer a demo account and an unlimited demo account.
eToro and OctaFX cannot be compared for real stock account types, because eToro is a broker offering both CFDs and stocks while OctaFX is a CFD broker.
| Section score | eToro 48 -24 74 | OctaFX 72 Best not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Demo account i | ||
| Unlimited demo account i | ||
| Standard account i | ||
| Micro account i | ||
| Cent account i | ||
| Nano account i | ||
| Raw spread account i | ||
| ECN account i | ||
| Swap-free account i | ||
| Islamic account i | ||
| Professional traders account i | ||
| Fixed spread account i | ||
| Spread betting account i | ||
| Copy trading account i | ||
| Corporate account i | ||
| Managed account i | ||
| Stock investing account i | ||
| Margin investing account i | ||
| Savings account i | ||
| Retirement account i |
Account opening
What we compare A comparison of what it takes to open and fund an account with eToro and with OctaFX in United Kingdom.OctaFX is better than eToro for account opening, since OctaFX requires a lower minimum deposit, at 5 USD (against eToro's 100 USD), offers 2 account base currencies (against eToro's 1), and supports e-wallets, which eToro does not. eToro and OctaFX both offer credit cards and debit cards. OctaFX holds no licence in the UK.
OctaFX does not offer real stocks, being a CFD broker, so eToro and OctaFX cannot be compared for account opening. OctaFX holds no licence in the UK.
| Section score | eToro 59 -21 59 | OctaFX 80 Best not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit i | USD 100 | USD 5 |
| Minimum withdrawal i | USD 30 | USD 0 |
| Wire transfers i | ||
| Credit cards i | ||
| Debit cards i | ||
| eWallets i | Neteller, Skrill | |
| Local payment methods i | ||
| Account base currencies i | USD | EUR, USD |
| Deposit waiting time i | up to 5 business days | up to 3 business days |
| Withdrawal waiting time i | up to 7 business days | up to 3 business days |
| Bonus program i |
Customer care
What we compare A comparison of the customer support of eToro and OctaFX in United Kingdom, in how it can be reached and how fast it answers.eToro and OctaFX are equally good for customer care, as eToro offers a dedicated account manager and priority support. On the other hand, OctaFX offers customer support in 11 languages (against eToro's 7), and has a website in 11 languages (against eToro's 7). eToro and OctaFX both offer live chat and email support.
eToro and OctaFX cannot be set side by side for customer care, as OctaFX is a CFD broker and does not offer real stocks, unlike eToro.
| Section score | eToro 69 69 | OctaFX 67 -2 not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Number of languages supported i | 7 | 11 |
| Website languages i | Arabic, German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese | Bangla, German, English, Indonesian, Malay, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Chinese |
| Website available in English i | ||
| Customer support languages i | Arabic, German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese | Bangla, German, English, Indonesian, Malay, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Chinese |
| Customer support in English i | ||
| Call back request i | ||
| Email support i | ||
| Phone support i | ||
| Live chat i | ||
| Priority customer support i | ||
| Dedicated account manager i | ||
| Cash sweep i | ||
| Stock lending i | ||
| Distributes proceeds i | ||
| Tax withholding agent i | ||
| Tax assistance i |
Learning
What we compare A comparison of the educational material that eToro and OctaFX provide to their clients in United Kingdom.eToro is better than OctaFX for learning, because eToro offers professional reports, daily market commentary and traders' sentiment, which OctaFX does not. Both eToro and OctaFX offer education for advanced traders and webinars.
OctaFX does not offer real stocks, being a CFD broker, so eToro and OctaFX cannot be compared for learning.
| Section score | eToro 100 Best 100 | OctaFX 75 -25 not offered |
|---|---|---|
| Education | ||
| Education center i | ||
| Education for beginners i | ||
| Education for advanced traders i | ||
| Webinars i | ||
| Tutorials i | ||
| Glossary i | ||
| Research | ||
| Economic calendar i | ||
| Traders' sentiment i | ||
| Daily market commentary i | ||
| Daily trading ideas i | ||
| News via social media i | ||
| Professional reports i | ||
| Watchlist i | ||
eToro vs OctaFX: which one should you choose?
eToro
CFD/FX Choose eToro, regulated in the UK by the FCA, if you want an online CFD broker with corporate and professional accounts.
Stocks Choose eToro if you want a broker for securities investing with commission-free US stocks.
Open Account 61% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Below content does not apply to US users.
OctaFX
CFD/FX Choose OctaFX if you want a CFD and forex broker with a small minimum deposit, several trading platforms and room for automated strategies and live in a country where it is licensed to operate.
Not licensed in the UK 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.Other popular comparisons
Below are other head-to-head comparisons that include eToro or OctaFX, each scored with the same data and method as this page.
