Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Nutmeg vs Octa
Nutmeg vs Octa: the differences
| Compare |  Nutmeg |  Octa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £500 | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | ETFs, Funds, Stocks, Bonds | Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | CySEC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | no set-up, trading or exit fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile app | MT4, MT5, OctaTrader, CTrader |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 66% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.9% |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
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Key differences
- Nutmeg scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Nutmeg offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Octa offers CySEC.
- Founded is lower at Octa: 2011 vs 2012.
- Markets: only Nutmeg offers ETFs, Funds, Stocks.
- Markets: only Octa offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Nutmeg offers Web, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Octa offers MT4, MT5, OctaTrader.
- Features: only Nutmeg offers Mobile app.
- Features: only Octa offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
Nutmeg
Nutmeg suits UK investors who want a managed portfolio held in an ISA or SIPP rather than a self-directed dealing account. The cost of that convenience is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, with a £0 stock trade fee and FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 in place.
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 | Nutmeg | Octa |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% run above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the entry floor is high. | 9.1HigherFees of $0 on shares, $0 inactivity charge and No deposit or withdrawal fees, against a minimum deposit of $25. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 9.1Higher | 8.8 |
Where these facts come from
Nutmeg
- nutmeg.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investing-reviews.co.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- register.fca.org.uk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- compareandinvest.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- jpm-personal-investing-marketing.cdn.prismic.io: 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
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Nutmeg | Octa |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | J.P. Morgan Personal Investing Limited | Octa Markets Cyprus Ltd |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2012 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Nutmeg | Octa | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $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 47 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Nutmeg
Pros
- One ongoing charge to read: management fees of 0.25% to 0.75%, with no set-up, trading or exit fees on top.
- Holdings span etfs, funds and stocks, so a managed basket can still cover a wide spread of asset types.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the account.
Cons
- Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% sit above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the cost rises as the balance grows.
- The opening deposit is £500 and later money goes in from £100 to £500, higher than the robo-adviser median of €60.06.
- The portfolio range is etf, esg and cash only, so there is no crypto or thematic option to tilt towards.
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
Nutmeg
Who it suits
- UK investors who want a managed portfolio inside an ISA or a SIPP and accept a single ongoing charge for the service.
- People who would rather not research individual funds, since the holdings run to etf, esg and cash approaches chosen and held for you.
- Investors who want a phone line as well as written support, since email, chat and phone includes phone, chat, email and a help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small first payment, since the £500 deposit is well above the robo-advisor lower quartile of €0, and Axos Invest begins at $100 in US dollars.
- Shoppers who want the lowest ongoing charge, since eToro runs a 0% management fee and Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%, against Nutmeg's 0.25% to 0.75%.
- Investors who want accounts in US dollars, because Axos Invest takes $100 in dollars while Nutmeg's £100 to £500 sits in pounds.
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
Current offers
Nutmeg
Current offer
Bonus
Earn £100 when you invest £1,000: GBP 100 cash reward
Invest at least £1,000 in one payment into a General Investment Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA or Personal Pension and keep it invested for at least 6 months; new contributions only, transfers excluded; reward paid as unallocated cash within 55 days; new clients only, cannot be combined with other new-client offers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Nutmeg | Octa |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Nutmeg
What does Nutmeg charge to manage my money?+
The charge is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, which sits above the robo-adviser median of 0.35% in this group. There are no set-up, trading or exit fees to add on top. Money can go in from £100 to £500, so the cost is a percentage of what you hold rather than a price per deal.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £500, and once the account is open money can go in from £100 to £500. That first payment is the step most readers notice, and it sits above the lower quartile of €0 across robo-advisers here.
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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