If you happen to reside in Canada and also you’re questioning which on-line brokerage to make use of, you could be on the lookout for a Qtrade vs Questrade comparability.
You’re not alone. Each platforms supply aggressive pricing, helpful buying and selling instruments, and account choices for newbies and skilled buyers alike.
On this head-to-head comparability, we’ll break down every part from Qtrade (learn: QTRADE REVIEW) vs Questrade (learn: QUESTRADEREVIEW) annual charges and registered accounts to cellular apps and analysis instruments. Whether or not you’re constructing your first funding portfolio and on the lookout for free ETFs with no administration charges otherwise you’re a self directed lively dealer trying to optimize your technique with Qtrade direct investing, this information will provide help to resolve which brokerage aligns together with your targets.
So which is the very best low cost Canadian brokerage?
Hold studying to search out out!
Qtrade Direct Investing: A Canadian On-line Brokerage
Is Qtrade legit? Right here’s what it’s best to know.
Qtrade Direct Investing is a self-directed on-line buying and selling platform that gives Canadians with entry to a spread of funding accounts, together with TFSAs, RRSPs, and money accounts.
Backed by Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. and working underneath the umbrella of Aviso Wealth, Qtrade has carved out a status for usability, robust customer support, and top-tier analysis instruments.
Its intuitive platform makes it particularly interesting to newer Canadian buyers, providing curated instructional content material and a formidable useful resource hub that features webinars, market updates, and funding technique breakdowns.
The platform additionally consists of goal-planning instruments that make it simple for newbies to set milestones and monitor monetary progress over time.
Questrade: A Low-Price Powerhouse for Lively Traders
Questrade, a pacesetter in self-directed investing, has earned a robust status amongst Canadian buyers for providing a aggressive various to conventional monetary establishments. With over $50 billion in property underneath administration as of 2025, it stays a go-to on-line buying and selling platform for these in search of management, flexibility, and decrease charges.
Customers can construct customized portfolios utilizing a variety of securities—together with mutual funds, shares, ETFs, and choices—all from a single interface. The platform’s highly effective analysis instruments and streamlined dashboard present extra perception per click on than many different on-line brokerages, making it superb for hands-on buyers who need extra worth from their buying and selling expertise.
For lively merchants, Questrade’s payment construction stays one of the vital aggressive within the Canadian market. The platform even reimburses switch charges (as much as $150 per account) once you deliver property from one other establishment, an incentive not often matched by its rivals.
When evaluating Qtrade Direct Investing and Questrade, each supply wonderful instruments and repair, however Questrade tends to draw these on the lookout for a mix of performance, innovation, and worth. It’s one purpose you’ll usually see the phrase “Questrade and Qtrade” in rankings of Canada’s greatest platforms.
Professional Tip:
Begin constructing your portfolio with the dealer that matches your wants. Open an account with Qtrade to obtain a month of free buying and selling or Questrade to get your first month of choices buying and selling free!
Funding Account Varieties and Flexibility
Each Qtrade and Questrade supply a broad collection of account sorts designed to satisfy the varied wants of Canadian buyers. From on a regular basis money accounts to extra advanced registered and margin accounts, customers can discover buildings suited to their short- and long-term targets.
Qtrade helps accounts just like the TFSA, RRSP, RESP, RIF, and LIRA, in addition to joint and particular person taxable accounts. For buyers coping with U.S. equities, Qtrade additionally gives USD registered accounts that assist decrease forex conversion prices.
Questrade matches these choices and expands them with company and funding membership accounts, giving small companies and superior customers entry to personalised buying and selling methods. Its onboarding course of additionally educates buyers on selecting the best account by means of intuitive walkthroughs and help prompts.
Right here’s a side-by-side comparability.
Pricing and Price Construction
Clear pricing is among the most necessary features when evaluating on-line brokerage providers in Canada.
Each Qtrade and Questrade purpose to ship aggressive worth, however their payment fashions differ in strategy and adaptability.
Qtrade Charges:
$8.75 flat fee per inventory, fairness, or ETF commerce, with some exceptions as famous under. There’s a reduced price of $6.95 out there to buyers who meet minimal thresholds in property or exercise.
Fee-free buying and selling on over 100 curated ETFs.
Account charges fluctuate relying in your steadiness and exercise stage.
A quarterly administration payment applies to low-balance, inactive accounts until customers meet minimal commerce or deposit necessities.
Questrade Charges:
Inventory, ETF, and choice trades at the moment are fee free.
No annual charges for self-directed accounts.
As much as $150 in switch charges reimbursed when shifting funds from one other brokerage.
Choices buying and selling features a base payment plus a per-contract price of $0.99, superb for skilled or high-frequency merchants.
Each brokers supply clear, upfront pricing, however Questrade gives extra flexibility for lively merchants, whereas Qtrade’s fixed-fee mannequin and curated ETF record might attraction to long-term buyers.
Each platforms cost regulatory charges as imposed by the SEC (for United States securities) and sure exchanges. Discover the total Qtrade payment schedule right here and the Questrade payment schedule right here.
Professional Tip:
Prepared for a bonus? Obtain $100 once you fund an eligible Qtrade account, or obtain Questrade to get your first month of choices buying and selling freed from cost!
ETF Investing: Entry and Price Effectivity
Each platforms shine in terms of ETFs, however they strategy price effectivity barely in a different way.
Qtrade affords commission-free entry to greater than 100 curated ETFs, with a concentrate on diversified, low-cost portfolios. These funds are handpicked for long-term development and embrace choices throughout sectors and site. The platform’s construction makes it superb for passive buyers trying to automate their technique whereas minimizing charges.
Questrade, then again, permits customers to buy or promote any ETF listed on North American inventory exchanges with no fee, giving extra flexibility. For frequent merchants, the financial savings could be substantial.
This flexibility appeals to lively and semi-active buyers who wish to construct a custom-made basket of ETFs with out being restricted by a pre-approved record.
Analysis Instruments and Academic Sources
For buyers who depend on analytics and market knowledge, each Qtrade and Questrade supply superior options.
Qtrade integrates Morningstar rankings, portfolio rating instruments, and market commentary. It’s particularly robust in serving to newbies perceive funding fundamentals, because of clear instructional sources and intuitive navigation.
Questrade gives extra customizable charting choices and integrates instruments just like the Intraday Dealer, Mutual Fund Centre, and watchlist alerts. For these with expertise, Questrade’s suite is extra sturdy for technical evaluation and asset screening.
It’s price noting right here that Questrade customers have the choice to subscribe to considered one of two market knowledge packages. The true-time streaming subscription affords up-to-the-minute Stage I knowledge for $9.95 per 30 days, whereas the superior streaming subscription provides Stage II knowledge to the combination for $44.95 per 30 days.
Skilled buyers and even newbies who love analysis would possibly profit from subscribing to considered one of these plans.
Professional Tip:
Making an attempt to speculate smarter? Obtain $100 once you fund an eligible Qtrade account, or attempt Questrade to get your first month of choices buying and selling freed from cost!
Cell Expertise and Buying and selling on the Go
Each Qtrade and Questrade supply cellular apps that give buyers full management over their portfolios from wherever.
Qtrade’s cellular app emphasizes simplicity and reliability, providing real-time market knowledge, biometric login, and seamless commerce execution.
It’s constructed for customers preferring a no-fuss expertise with out sacrificing core performance.
Questrade’s app caters to energy customers by layering in additional superior capabilities. Merchants can analyze real-time quotes, execute bracket orders, and evaluate previous trades.
The interface is barely extra advanced, however well-suited for lively customers who need deeper visibility into efficiency metrics and analytics.
Buyer Assist and Account Safety
Service high quality and platform safety usually affect long-term satisfaction with a brokerage.
It is sensible, proper?
Getting the provide help to want once you want it’s a should, and so is the peace of thoughts that comes with realizing your cash is protected.
Qtrade and Questrade each perceive the significance of dependable help and state-of-the-art safety, although they differ barely of their approaches.
Qtrade is thought for providing attentive, human help throughout buying and selling hours. Its assist channels embrace telephone help from 8:30 AM to eight PM ET, and electronic mail, however there isn’t a reside chat choice.
Most customers report immediate and thorough responses. The platform has earned reward for its clear communication, particularly with newbie buyers navigating account setup or commerce execution.
Questrade additionally gives help by means of a number of channels, together with prolonged weekday hours. You will get telephone help throughout enterprise hours, plus electronic mail and reside chat.
Its customer support staff is backed by an in depth on-line assist middle crammed with how-to guides, FAQs, and platform walkthroughs. Although wait instances can sometimes fluctuate, particularly throughout high-traffic durations, most customers discover their considerations resolved shortly and professionally.
On the safety entrance, each brokerages are regulated by the Canadian Funding Regulatory Group (CIRO) and are members of the Canadian Investor Safety Fund (CIPF), offering insurance coverage for as much as $1 million per shopper within the occasion of insolvency.
Each Qtrade and Questrade use end-to-end encryption and require two-factor authentication (2FA) to guard customers.
Qtrade provides further person safety with its Investor Web Safety Assure, which gives 100% reimbursement of misplaced funds on account of unauthorized brokerage account exercise. Remember they gained’t reimburse you if you happen to compromise your individual account by giving out your password or loaning somebody your telephone.
These options be sure that customers really feel supported and guarded irrespective of their stage of expertise or funding targets.
Remaining Verdict: Qtrade vs Questrade
In the end, the precise platform for you’ll rely on how hands-on you wish to be and which instruments you prioritize most.
Qtrade is a incredible selection for newbies and conservative buyers. Its clear interface, robust help community, and library of instructional instruments make it a great launchpad for constructing foundational funding data.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for an intuitive, low-hassle platform with clear pricing and curated fund entry, Qtrade suits the invoice.
Questrade leans extra towards the skilled investor—or these with aspirations to turn into one. Its tiered pricing, in depth analysis suite, and help for advanced methods like choices and margin buying and selling give customers extra management. The platform rewards those that need customization, analytics, and low-cost execution in a single place.
Total, Questrade affords decrease pricing, which can attraction to buyers who’re involved about charges consuming into the worth of their investments, however newbies ought to remember that there’s a studying curve concerned.
FAQ
Questrade prices are decrease than Qtrade’s as a result of it affords commission-free inventory and ETF trades on all North American securities.
Qtrade is commonly most popular by newbies because of its clear platform and powerful instructional sources. Some may choose its easy pricing mannequin, although it’s dearer than Questrade.
Sure, each platforms help buying and selling on U.S. exchanges and supply USD account choices to assist decrease overseas change charges.
Sure. Qtrade affords over 100 curated commission-free ETFs, whereas Questrade lets you purchase any ETF commission-free.
Each brokerages are regulated by CIRO and are members of the CIPF, offering insurance coverage as much as $1 million per shopper within the occasion of agency insolvency.
