OQtima Review 2025

Trust

OQtima Regulations

In our reviews, we examine the licenses and regulations of each entity operated by a broker, allowing us to compare their different levels of protection. We rank licenses by various regulatory bodies on a three-tier system, where Tier-1 licensing indicates the highest level of regulation.

This is what I discovered about the two entities operating under the OQtima trade name:

• OQTIMA INT. LTD is licensed and regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) under license number SD109. We rate the FSA as a Tier-3 regulator.
• OQtima EU Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under license number 406/21. We rate CySEC as a Tier-1 regulator.

Understanding the Regulatory Protections of Your Account

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 they choose to open an account with.

Here is what you need to be looking for in a broker in terms of safety mechanisms:

• Segregation of client funds: Keeping client funds in segregated bank accounts from the ones used for the broker’s corporate capital negates the risk of accounting errors. Both OQtima entities guarantee the segregation of client funds.
• Negative balance protection: This safety mechanism removes the risk of trading losses exceeding the account balance. In other words, the losses you incur from trading are capped at the amount you have put in your trading account. Negative balance protection is available with both entities.
• Compensation scheme: A compensation scheme protects traders against the broker’s liabilities if the company becomes insolvent. Clients of OQtima EU Ltd are protected by up to EUR 20,000 under the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF).
• Maximum leverage: Capping the maximum leverage restricts the extent of market exposure to retail traders. The higher the leverage, the higher the potential profits and potential losses. The maximum retail leverage with OQTIMA INT. LTD is 1:1000.

Stability and Transparency

In our Trust category assessments, we evaluate factors tied to stability and transparency, including the broker’s longevity, company size, and information transparency.

I reviewed the broker’s Client Agreement and noticed some minor discrepancies. In particular, it does not mention the segregation of client funds or negative balance protection. However, the website states that the broker does indeed guarantee both—something that cannot be independently confirmed.

I also checked the broker’s legal documents and discovered that it had issued a ‘best execution policy,’ a legal mandate to provide traders with the most favorable price quotes under the prevailing market conditions.

Is OQtima Safe to Trade With?

I determined that OQtima is safe to trade with due to the following factors:

• It is licensed by two regulators
• It has issued a ‘best execution policy’
• Client funds are kept in segregated accounts

Fees

OQtima Trading Fees

OQtima Spreads

I tested OQtima’s spreads on 16 January 2025 during the London and New York opens. The results are shown in the table below:

My live tests indicate that OQtima charges low spreads on share CFDs and Bitcoin, low-to-average spreads on currency pairs, average spreads on commodities, and high spreads on indices.

OQtima 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.

The values listed below are for one full base currency contract (100,000 units).

I assessed that OQtima’s swaps are average to high compared to the industry benchmark. However, overnight charges change over time.

OQtima Non-Trading Fees

OQtima does not impose a handling fee on deposits or withdrawals, but third-party processing fees may apply. However, the broker charges dormant accounts an inactivity fee of $20, which is applied monthly until activity resumes or the account balance drops to zero. An account is considered dormant after six calendar months of sustained inactivity.

Accounts Comparison

I have compiled the table below to help you better understand the difference between the trading fees with OQtima’s two retail account types and the industry average. It illustrates the spreads and commissions I have recorded for the EUR/USD pair and compares them against the typical costs for ECN and STP accounts in the industry at large.

The table demonstrates how much you would have to pay to trade 1 full lot (100,000 units) in EUR/USD with a pip value of $10 for each account.

To calculate the cost of such a full-sized trade, I used this formula: Spread x pip value+commission

According to my live tests, the trading fees on OQtima’s ONE account are in line with the typical STP account with respect to forex trading. In comparison, its ECN+ account offers marginally better trading fees than the typical ECN account.

Are OQtima’s Fees Competitive?

The competitiveness of trading fees on the OQtima ONE account depends largely on the traded instrument. For instance, the broker offers extremely favorable share CFDs and cryptocurrency spreads, but its commodities and indices spreads were quite elevated. On a positive note, OQtima does not charge a handling fee for deposits and withdrawals.

Platforms and Tools

OQtima MT5 Desktop

I tested the desktop version of the MetaTrader 5 platform, which features multiple essential tools, such as one-click trading, an alarm setting option, and a market depth tool. These allow traders to examine various market developments from different angles and exploit the underlying trading opportunities in multiple ways.

In my opinion, MT5 is best suited for automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs). The platform also has an intuitive strategy tester, allowing experienced algo traders to tweak the parameters of their strategies so that they can be used under different market conditions.

General Ease of Use

OQtima’s MT5 platform is available on both Windows and Mac. The platform supports 52 different languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Chinese, and more.

In addition to the above-mentioned depth of markets tool, MT5 also features:

• 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.

Charts

As shown above, a common issue with MetaTrader is that charts can quickly become cluttered, even with just two indicators. This can obscure price action examination and make it harder to perform detailed technical analysis.

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

• 38 technical indicators: Including trend-based and volume-based indicators and oscillators to analyze price action and assess market sentiment, helping predict market movements.
• 24 drawing tools: Tools like Fibonacci retracement levels and Elliott waves help identify price patterns, support/resistance levels, and breakout points. However, MT5’s design can make price action harder to interpret.
• 21 timeframes: For multi-timeframe analysis, enabling detailed price action analysis.
• 3 chart types: Price action can be displayed as line, bars, or candlesticks, offering diverse perspectives on trading opportunities.

The chart screen is undeniably one of the most crucial features of a trading platform. It equips traders with essential tools and configurations to analyze price action and spot trading opportunities. Just as important is the ability to easily scale price action, allowing for a clearer and more detailed view of market movements.

Orders

MetaTrader 5 features three types of order execution: market, pending, and one-click trading that allows immediate entries at the spot price.

I have broken down the available order types on the MetaTrader 5 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 triggers the stop-loss, it will transform into a market order and get filled at the best possible price.

MT5 Desktop: My Key Takeaways

MetaTrader 5 is a good option for fast and simple order execution. However, its dated and rugged design is inferior to newer and sleeker platforms. As a trader who prioritizes flexible charts that are easily scalable, I find MT5’s charting capability too rigid and less effective.

OQtima MT5 Mobile

The MT5 mobile app is available for both 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 market is continually evolving, marked by periodic surges and declines in volatility. For this reason, staying on top of the latest market developments is crucial, a task made simpler through the mobile app version of MT5.

You can also use the app to place market, limit, and stop orders, as well as to adjust the exposure of your open trades.

MT5 App: My Key Takeaways

The MetaTrader app stands out for its convenience, making it an essential tool for adjusting trades, especially during periods of heightened volatility. However, I consider it cumbersome and not the best choice for analyzing price action.

OQtima Execution Model

OQtima operates as an Electronic-Communication-Networks (ECN) broker without a dealing desk, which allows it to achieve fast execution speeds. Client orders are matched electronically (buyers to sellers and vice versa) at the interbank level.

VPS Hosting

OQtima provides Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting to high-volume traders interested in achieving lightning-fast order execution speeds and stable internet connectivity. The service is free to OQtima clients who maintain an account balance of at least $500 and achieve a monthly traded volume of at least 5 lots.

Tradable Instruments

Compared to the industry average, OQtima provides an average number of currency pairs and commodities and a high number of share CFDs, indices, and cryptocurrencies.

What Are CFDs?

Contracts for difference (CFDs) are derivatives that speculate on the underlying asset’s price without physical ownership.

For example, a long position on gold would generate profit as the price rises or incur a loss as it falls, all without the need to purchase actual gold bars.

One of the biggest advantages of trading CFDs is that traders can get in and out of the market almost instantaneously, thereby catching even minute changes in the price of the derivative.

What CFDs Can You Trade with OQtima?

OQtima Instruments: My Key Takeaways

I appreciated OQtima’s massive offering of 100+ ETFs, which can be used to limit one’s market exposure. The broker also offers quite a few share CFDs and cryptocurrencies, which is important given its low spreads on instruments from these two asset classes. I would appreciate adding some alternatives to CFD contracts, such as vanilla options.

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 conducted my test on 16 January 2025 at around 17:01 p.m. CET via live chat, which is available from the bottom-right corner of the website.

An agent connected to the chat within seconds. He was polite, had a good command of English, and was fairly knowledgeable. I received a prompt reply to my question regarding OQtima’s margin call and stop-out levels. From my experience, customer support agents of other brokers frequently struggle with the same question. I concluded that OQtima offers fast, reliable, and quality customer support.

Deposit and Withdrawal

OQtima Deposits

OQtima Withdrawals

Account Types and Terms

OQtima Account Opening Process

To create an account with OQtima, follow these easy steps:

1. Click ‘Get Started’ at the top-right corner of the main page.
2. State your name, country of residence, and phone number.
3. Provide an email and choose a password.
4. Agree to OQtima’s T&Cs and proceed with the registration.
5. Confirm your email address.
6. Upload proof of ID and proof of address to verify your account.
7. Create a trading account from the client area.
8. Choose a trading platform and account type.
9. Adjust your preferred leverage and select your base currency.

OQtima Account Types

According to my tests, the OQtima ONE account is better suited for casual traders, while the OQtima ECN+ account offers marginally more competitive fees. Beyond the different pricing mechanisms, I find the two accounts quite similar. I also appreciated the combination of an 80% margin call and 20% stop-out that protect traders against the risk of complete account wipeouts.

Demo Accounts

OQtima offers a demo account on all available platforms. It introduces traders to the broker’s services and allows them to tweak their strategies in a risk-free environment. The market is continually evolving and never static, so it is important to hone your skills in a safe environment. You can set up a demo account for yourself before or alongside your live CFD account.

Islamic Accounts

OQtima offers Islamic accounts for swap-free trading under Shariah law. Clients must contact the broker’s customer support to request further assistance.

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.

Maximum Leverage By Asset Class

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

OQtima Restricted Countries

OQtima does not accept as clients residents of the United States, Iran, and North Korea or of any jurisdiction where trading may be prohibited by law or regulation.

Research

Research Tools

I have broken down the available research content with OQtima by type below:

• Economic Calendar: The economic calendar is the most rudimentary research tool and an indispensable feature in the trader’s toolkit. It informs the user of upcoming economic events and releases that can potentially stir price action and create viable trading opportunities.
• Featured Ideas: Trading Central’s featured ideas inform the reader of currently infolding trading setups across multiple tradable instruments available with OQtima. They illustrate the prevailing bias (bullish or bearish), type of trading opportunity (e.g., channel breakout), and likely market behavior afterward.
• Market Buzz: The Market Buzz feature represents a unique market sentiment gauge that tracks the latest mentions of popular tradable instruments on the broker’s platform. This helps the user assess how other traders are positioning themselves.

OQtima Research: My Key Takeaways

OQtima offers high-quality market research from Trading Central. I appreciated that most of the research content is available directly on MT4/MT5 via the Guarding Angel plugin. Furthermore, OQtima provides this highly practical and extremely valuable content for free. However, it has no research content developed in-house.

Education

OQtima’s educational content is limited and lacks depth, making it insufficient for learning essential trading concepts and strategies. While the broker offers basic definitions of forex and CFD trading terms, beginners must seek more comprehensive educational resources elsewhere.

The Bottom Line

Founded in 2022 in Limassol, Cyprus, OQtima is a forex and CFDs broker that offers more than 940 tradable instruments across currency pairs, commodities, share CFDs, indices, cryptocurrencies, and ETFs. OQtima operates as an ECN broker and provides free VPS hosting to high-volume traders.

OQtima incorporates MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and permits hedging and algo trading via EAs. Its trading fees vary greatly between the tradable instruments, but the spreads on Bitcoin and share CFDs are notably low.

The broker impresses with its massive range of 107 ETFs, low cryptocurrency spreads, and top-fo-the-line market research.

Among the drawbacks I found were a lack of copy and social trading solutions and very limited educational content.

Overall, I concluded that OQtima could be a great choice for day traders, algo traders, and cryptocurrency traders.

FAQ