Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs Octa
What sets them apart
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Octa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200 | $25Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds | Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Regulators | SIPC | CySEC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | MT4, MT5, OctaTrader, CTrader |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 66% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.9% |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
Same on both: Inactivity fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Octa offers CySEC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Octa: $25 vs $200.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Stocks, Futures, Bonds.
- Markets: only Octa offers Metals.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView.
- Platforms: only Octa offers MT4, MT5, OctaTrader.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app.
- Features: only Octa offers Crypto.
- Pricing model: only IC Markets offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
IC Markets
IC Markets suits experienced day-traders who want a wide market list and no account fee, and it is a weaker fit if you want to start small. The minimum deposit of $200 is the number most readers will notice, while the inactivity fee of $0 takes that worry away.
Octa
Octa suits traders who want a regulated EU broker with a small entry amount and no account costs. It pairs a minimum deposit of $25 with a stock trade fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0, backed by CySEC and EU investor compensation.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | Octa |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 9.1HigherFees of $0 on shares, $0 inactivity charge and No deposit or withdrawal fees, against a minimum deposit of $25. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.8Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick IC Markets if offer matter most.
Pick Octa if minimum deposit matter most.
Also worth a look
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $200 for IC Markets and $25 for Octa.
ActivTrades reviewWhat we checked
IC Markets
- ic.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hercules-finance.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxranking.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Octa
- octaeu.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.octapk.info: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wikifx.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradersunion.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | IC Markets | Octa |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 60 of 147 | 64 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 58 of 145 | 62 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 50 of 122 | 54 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | Octa |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Crypto |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | Octa Markets Cyprus Ltd |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2011 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | Octa | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200highest quarter | $25at the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 66%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.9%above the median | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
IC Markets
Pros
- The inactivity fee is $0, and the brand ranks at 1 of 56 brands on that measure.
- Deposit and withdrawal carry no internal fees, so moving money in and out does not add to the cost of a trade.
- You can trade stocks, forex, contracts for differences, futures, crypto and bonds from one account, which is a wider list than eToro's stocks, etfs and forex.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, so the account is less accessible than CFI, where the minimum deposit is $0.
- The brand ranks at 172 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, which puts the entry cost near the expensive end of the list.
- The stated audience is experienced traders and day-traders, so a first-time investor gets less hand-holding than the low-fees brands on the site.
Octa
Pros
- No stock trade fee, at $0, while the broker operates a commission free model
- Inactivity fee of $0, so dormant balances are not drained
- Deposit and withdrawal charges are clear: No deposit or withdrawal fees
Cons
- Minimum deposit of $25 is above the site median of €4.64
- EUR/USD spread of 0.9% sits in commission free pricing, so cost is built into the spread
- Retail accounts that lose money sit at 66%
Who each suits
IC Markets
Who it suits
- Experienced day-traders trading forex, contracts for differences, futures and crypto through a single account
- Anyone who trades on several platforms and wants MetaTrader, cTrader, TradingView and a web platform side by side
- Traders who want to hold an account open without paying an inactivity fee
Who should look elsewhere
- First-time investors who want a guided, beginner-led platform, where eToro suits better
- Anyone starting with a small amount, since Vantage opens at a minimum deposit of $5 against $200 here
- Long-term investors building a portfolio of funds or exchange-traded products, which eToro covers with its wider stocks, etfs and forex
Octa
Who it suits
- Traders who want a CySEC regulated EU broker and value compensation cover
- Forex and CFD traders who prefer commission free pricing in the spread
- Anyone who wants to fund an account without deposit or withdrawal charges
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, whose minimum deposit of $0 is lower than Octa's
- eToro, whose markets list of stocks, etfs and forex includes shares and ETFs that Octa does not cover
Questions about each
IC Markets
What is the minimum deposit to open an IC Markets account?+
The minimum deposit is $200. Set that against the site median of €4.64 to see where the entry point sits, and remember this money is committed before any trade is placed. Readers starting small may prefer a lower floor elsewhere.
Is there an inactivity fee at IC Markets?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an account can sit open without a charge for being dormant. The brand ranks at 1 of 56 brands on that measure, which makes it one of the strongest results in our data for holding costs.
Octa
How much does Octa charge to open and use an account?+
The stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so holding an open position costs nothing extra. Octa runs a commission free model, which means the trading cost sits in the spread rather than in a separate commission. Funding in and out carries No deposit or withdrawal fees.
Who regulates Octa and what protection does it carry?+
Octa is regulated by CySEC in Cyprus, and the contracting entity is Octa Markets Cyprus Ltd. Client money is covered by the EU investor compensation scheme, and the stated limit is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. Read the cover as a cap: it marks the point above which a claim falls outside the scheme.
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