Canadian self-directed investing
Compare Canadian investing platforms.
Four major Canadian platforms now advertise $0 online stock and ETF commissions. The useful differences often show up in currency conversion, account support, workflow and service.
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THE SHORT VERSION
Start with what you buy—and what it costs.
If you mostly buy Canadian-listed ETFs, headline commissions may be similar. If you trade U.S. securities, hold cash in U.S. dollars, use options or transfer accounts, costs can diverge. Start with your actual behaviour, then verify the platform’s current fee schedule.
MAKE THE COMPARISON YOURS
What will you use it for?
Four platforms, alphabetical order. Not a ranking or the whole market. Pricing checked September 19, 2026.
All four list $0 online ETF commissions. Check recurring-order support, the ETF’s own fund fee and any account charges. A Canadian listing does not mean the fund holds only Canadian assets.
Calculate the costs for your scenario →SELF-DIRECTED INVESTING
National Bank Direct Brokerage
$0 online Canadian and U.S. stock and ETF commissions
A bank-owned self-directed platform; its fee page separates commissions from other charges.
$100 annual administration fee unless an exemption applies, including the published $20,000 eligible-asset threshold. Check the measurement date and other waivers.
SELF-DIRECTED INVESTING
Qtrade Direct Investing
$0 online equity and ETF commissions
Its published commission schedule also lists $0 mutual fund commissions.
Options, foreign exchange and other services can still carry costs. Check the full fee guide before opening or transferring.
SELF-DIRECTED INVESTING
Questrade
$0 online stock and ETF commissions
The base plan lists no annual or inactivity fee and includes CAD and USD balances.
The base plan lists $9.95 per online journaling request. Currency conversion and other service fees can apply; optional plans have different pricing.
SELF-DIRECTED INVESTING
Wealthsimple
$0 online stock and ETF commissions
Eligible U.S. trades using an existing USD balance avoid the trade’s currency-conversion fee.
The published USD-account fee is $10/month plus tax; check applicable waivers. CAD–USD cash conversions in USD accounts use amount-based fee tiers.
Pricing summaries are not a suitability assessment. Read the provider’s current fees, eligibility and terms before applying. No hands-on testing or service-quality ratings are implied.
SIDE BY SIDE
What the providers publish
Provider order is alphabetical, not ranked. Facts below are condensed from official pricing and product pages.
| Platform | Online stocks & ETFs | Accounts listed | Currency-cost watchout | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Bank Direct Brokerage | $0 online Canadian and U.S. stock and ETF commissions | TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, non-registered and more | Currency-conversion costs and other transaction or account fees may still apply. | NBDB pricing ↗ |
| Qtrade Direct Investing | $0 online equity and ETF commissions | TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, non-registered and more | Review its current fee guide for foreign-exchange spreads and any USD-account charges that fit your use. | Qtrade pricing ↗ |
| Questrade | $0 online stock and ETF commissions | TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, non-registered and more | Dual-currency accounts are included without a subscription. Holding USD does not make CAD–USD conversion free. | Questrade pricing ↗ |
| Wealthsimple | $0 online stock and ETF commissions | TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, non-registered and more | Trading U.S. securities in a CAD account has a 1.5% currency-conversion fee added to its corporate exchange rate. | Wealthsimple fee schedule ↗ |
“$0 commission” does not mean every trade or account action is free. Fees, eligibility and promotions can change without notice.
A SMALL STEP YOU CAN SAVE
Your before-you-open checklist
Use this as a reading checklist, not confirmation that an investment is right for you.
Saved only in this browser. No signup or financial details needed.
OUR CURRENT METHOD
Verified claims, no invented score.
Biowitt checked the linked public pricing schedules on September 19, 2026. These four established providers give readers a focused starting point; the selection is not an exhaustive market survey. We compare published costs, not execution quality, app reliability or service experience. We have not completed standardized hands-on account testing and do not assign scores. The comparison focus changes the explanation, never the provider order.
Read the editorial and comparison standards