Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Octa vs SoFi
Where Octa and SoFi differ
| Compare |  Octa |  SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $25 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto |
| Regulators | CySEC | SIPC, FDIC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.9% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, OctaTrader, CTrader | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Inactivity fee ($0).
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Key differences
- SoFi scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Octa offers CySEC.
- Regulators: only SoFi offers SIPC, FDIC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at SoFi: $0 vs $25.
- Markets: only Octa offers Forex, CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only SoFi offers Stocks, ETFs, Options.
- Features: only SoFi offers Fractional shares, Mobile app.
Our verdict on each
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.
SoFi
SoFi suits retirement savers in the US, with a stock trade fee of $0, an account fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The named licences are US registrations, so readers outside the US should check the account types and terms first.
Score breakdown
| Area | Octa | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Fees of $0 on shares, $0 inactivity charge and No deposit or withdrawal fees, against a minimum deposit of $25. | 9.5HigherRanks 1 of 161 on stock trade fee, 1 of 138 on account fee, 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.4 |
| Trust | 8.8 | 9.2Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | Octa | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 68389 FDIC FDIC cert 26881 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Octa | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Octa | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Octa Markets Cyprus Ltd | SOFI SECURITIES LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 2011 | 2011 |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Octa | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Octa | SoFi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $25at the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.9%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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%
SoFi
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 on a commission free model, so cost does not decide which shares you can hold.
- The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so extra accounts and balances left untouched are not billed.
- The minimum deposit is $0 where Vantage asks $5, so a small amount can start an account.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, roth ira and joint, retirement and joint accounts, and a general taxable account is not among them.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and options, while eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs and futures are out of reach here.
- The group sits in US and its registrations are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881, with no UK or EU regulator named.
Who each suits
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
SoFi
Who it suits
- Beginners, which the audience fact lists as beginners, who want to start small with a $0 minimum deposit.
- Retirement savers who want an IRA, a Roth IRA or a joint account at $0 in account fees.
- Fractional share buyers who want crypto and equities in the same app, as the feature list crypto, fractional shares and mobile app shows.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and SoFi lists stocks, etfs and options.
- Investors who want a broader spread of instruments than shares, ETFs, options and crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who need a UK or EU regulated provider, because the licences named are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881.
Country by country
| Country | Octa | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
SoFi
What does it cost to open and hold a SoFi account?+
The published minimum deposit is $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so opening and holding an account adds no charge on the listed terms. Those are account level figures, which is the first thing to check before you choose a wrapper or leave a balance untouched.
What does a stock trade cost?+
A stock trade costs $0 and the pricing model is commission free, so commission does not decide which shares you can hold. Other brands on the site charge a stock trade fee as high as €17.54, and the account fee of $0 and inactivity fee of $0 add nothing on top.
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