When you stay in Canada and also you’re questioning which on-line brokerage to make use of, you could be searching for a Qtrade vs Questrade comparability.
You’re not alone. Each platforms supply aggressive pricing, helpful buying and selling instruments, and account choices for learners 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 cell apps and analysis instruments. Whether or not you’re constructing your first funding portfolio and searching 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 allow you to determine which brokerage aligns along with your objectives.
So which is one of the best low cost Canadian brokerage?
Maintain studying to seek out out!
Qtrade Direct Investing: A Canadian On-line Brokerage
Is Qtrade legit? Right here’s what you need to know.
Qtrade Direct Investing is a self-directed on-line buying and selling platform that gives Canadians with entry to a variety 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 popularity for usability, sturdy customer support, and top-tier analysis instruments.
Its intuitive platform makes it particularly interesting to newer Canadian buyers, providing curated academic content material and a powerful useful resource hub that features webinars, market updates, and funding technique breakdowns.
The platform additionally consists of goal-planning instruments that make it straightforward for learners to set milestones and monitor monetary progress over time.
Questrade: A Low-Payment Powerhouse for Energetic Buyers
Questrade, a pacesetter in self-directed investing, has earned a robust popularity amongst Canadian buyers for providing a aggressive different 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 looking for 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 crucial aggressive within the Canadian market. The platform even reimburses switch charges (as much as $150 per account) while you convey property from one other establishment, an incentive hardly ever matched by its rivals.
When evaluating Qtrade Direct Investing and Questrade, each supply wonderful instruments and repair, however Questrade tends to draw these searching for a mix of performance, innovation, and worth. It’s one cause you’ll typically see the phrase “Questrade and Qtrade” in rankings of Canada’s finest 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 choice of account varieties designed to satisfy the varied wants of Canadian buyers. From on a regular basis money accounts to extra complicated registered and margin accounts, customers can discover constructions suited to their short- and long-term objectives.
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 supplies 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 customized buying and selling methods. Its onboarding course of additionally educates buyers on selecting the best account via intuitive walkthroughs and help prompts.
Right here’s a side-by-side comparability.
Pricing and Payment Construction
Clear pricing is among the most vital features when evaluating on-line brokerage companies in Canada.
Each Qtrade and Questrade goal to ship aggressive worth, however their payment fashions differ in method and adaptability.
Qtrade Charges:
$8.75 flat fee per inventory, fairness, or ETF commerce, with some exceptions as famous beneath. There’s a reduced fee 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 range relying in your steadiness and exercise degree.
A quarterly administration payment applies to low-balance, inactive accounts until customers meet minimal commerce or deposit necessities.
Questrade Charges:
Inventory, ETF, and possibility 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 fee of $0.99, superb for skilled or high-frequency merchants.
Each brokers supply clear, upfront pricing, however Questrade supplies extra flexibility for lively merchants, whereas Qtrade’s fixed-fee mannequin and curated ETF listing might enchantment 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 while 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 Value Effectivity
Each platforms shine with regards to ETFs, however they method value effectivity barely in another way.
Qtrade presents 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 placement. The platform’s construction makes it superb for passive buyers trying to automate their technique whereas minimizing charges.
Questrade, alternatively, permits customers to buy or promote any ETF listed on North American inventory exchanges with out a fee, giving extra flexibility. For frequent merchants, the financial savings will be substantial.
This flexibility appeals to lively and semi-active buyers who need to construct a personalized basket of ETFs with out being restricted by a pre-approved listing.
Analysis Instruments and Academic Assets
For buyers who depend on analytics and market information, each Qtrade and Questrade supply superior options.
Qtrade integrates Morningstar rankings, portfolio rating instruments, and market commentary. It’s particularly sturdy in serving to learners perceive funding fundamentals, because of clear academic assets and intuitive navigation.
Questrade supplies 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 strong for technical evaluation and asset screening.
It’s value noting right here that Questrade customers have the choice to subscribe to one in all two market information packages. The true-time streaming subscription presents up-to-the-minute Stage I information for $9.95 monthly, whereas the superior streaming subscription provides Stage II information to the combination for $44.95 monthly.
Skilled buyers and even learners who love analysis may profit from subscribing to one in all these plans.
Professional Tip:
Making an attempt to speculate smarter? Obtain $100 while you fund an eligible Qtrade account, or strive 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 cell apps that give buyers full management over their portfolios from wherever.
Qtrade’s cell app emphasizes simplicity and reliability, providing real-time market information, 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 evaluation previous trades.
The interface is barely extra complicated, however well-suited for lively customers who need deeper visibility into efficiency metrics and analytics.
Buyer Help and Account Safety
Service high quality and platform safety typically affect long-term satisfaction with a brokerage.
It is smart, proper?
Getting the allow you to want while you want it’s a should, and so is the peace of thoughts that comes with figuring out 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 stay chat possibility.
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 supplies help via a number of channels, together with prolonged weekday hours. You will get telephone help throughout enterprise hours, plus electronic mail and stay chat.
Its customer support staff is backed by an in depth on-line assist middle full of how-to guides, FAQs, and platform walkthroughs. Although wait occasions can often range, particularly throughout high-traffic durations, most customers discover their issues 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 extra person safety with its Investor Web Safety Assure, which supplies 100% reimbursement of misplaced funds because of unauthorized brokerage account exercise. Be mindful they received’t reimburse you should you compromise your personal account by giving out your password or loaning somebody your telephone.
These options make sure that customers really feel supported and guarded irrespective of their degree of expertise or funding objectives.
Last Verdict: Qtrade vs Questrade
Finally, the appropriate platform for you’ll rely upon how hands-on you need to be and which instruments you prioritize most.
Qtrade is a improbable alternative for learners and conservative buyers. Its clear interface, sturdy help community, and library of academic instruments make it an excellent launchpad for constructing foundational funding information.
When you’re searching for an intuitive, low-hassle platform with clear pricing and curated fund entry, Qtrade matches the invoice.
Questrade leans extra towards the skilled investor—or these with aspirations to turn into one. Its tiered pricing, intensive analysis suite, and help for complicated 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 presents decrease pricing, which can enchantment to buyers who’re involved about charges consuming into the worth of their investments, however learners ought to remember that there’s a studying curve concerned.
FAQ
Questrade prices are decrease than Qtrade’s as a result of it presents commission-free inventory and ETF trades on all North American securities.
Qtrade is usually most well-liked by learners because of its clear platform and powerful academic assets. Some can also want 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 international alternate charges.
Sure. Qtrade presents over 100 curated commission-free ETFs, whereas Questrade permits you to 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.
