CI Direct Investing review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

CI Direct Investing suits investors in Canada who want a managed portfolio of ETFs and ESG funds rather than picking shares themselves, since the minimum investment is CAD 100. Deposits and withdrawals are free deposits and withdrawals, and the whole account runs on mobile app.

Key facts

Best for
A managed ETF and ESG portfolio from a small deposit, run on a phone.
Management fee
0.35% to 0.6% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Minimum investment
CA$100 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Portfolio types
ETF, ESG (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
CI Investment Services Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Canada (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Official website
cidirectinvesting.com

Brokers

Minimum deposit
CA$100 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Markets
Stocks, ETFs (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Deposit and withdrawal fees
free deposits and withdrawals (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Platforms
Mobile app (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
CI Investment Services Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Canada (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Mobile app
Pricing model
Low fees

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store
Elsewhere
LinkedInX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • A starting amount of CAD 100, well below the €438,481.10 highest minimum in the group.
  • free deposits and withdrawals, so moving money in and out adds nothing to what you invest.
  • Mobile access through mobile app, shared by 96.7% of the group.
  • A low fees model, so the annual charge does not rise when you trade more often.

Cons

  • Support runs on email and help centre only, so a question goes by email or into the help centre rather than to a person on the phone.
  • mobile app is the only platform, so managing the account means working on a phone.
  • Investing covers stocks and etfs, and the managed portfolios come in etf and esg varieties only.
CI Direct Investing

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Scored 8.8 / 10 by BrokerCue.

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Who it suits

  • Investors in Canada who want a managed basket of etf and esg portfolios rather than choosing shares themselves.
  • New investors who can begin with CAD 100 and grow the account as income allows.
  • People who do their investing on mobile app and prefer a low fees pricing model to per-trade costs.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Investors who will not pay an annual management fee, since eToro charges 0%.
  • Anyone running a company account, since Vivid Standard's fees run 0.5% to 1.5% against 0.35% to 0.6% here.

How CI Direct Investing compares

Frequently asked questions

How much does CI Direct Investing cost?+

The management fee runs 0.35% to 0.6% a year on the portfolio, and it is a low fees setup rather than a per-trade charge. eToro, for comparison, charges 0% in management fees, so the trade-off is an annual cost in exchange for not choosing shares.

What do I need to start an account?+

Deposits start at CAD 100, and the minimum investment across the managed portfolios is CAD 100, so a small amount is enough to hold a portfolio. Because the model is low fees, the annual charge applies to what you hold rather than to each transaction.

Is it costly to move money in and out?+

Deposits and withdrawals are free deposits and withdrawals, and the minimum deposit is CAD 100. That keeps the cost of moving money low, though the annual management fee still applies to what you hold each year.

Who holds the account?+

The account is held with CI Investment Services Inc., which sits in Canada, and the portfolios available are etf and esg. Money can be managed without picking shares yourself, which suits people who would rather not follow the market day to day.

Can I use a desktop or is it app only?+

Everything runs through mobile app. That keeps the service simple for someone investing on a phone, though it leaves little room for a bigger screen, and 96.7% of the robo-advisors in this group also lean on mobile.

How do I get help if something goes wrong?+

Help comes through email and help centre, so questions go by email or into the online help centre. Phone and live chat are not part of the setup, and if you need to talk to someone during a busy trading day, that is a gap worth weighing.

What will my money be invested in?+

Portfolios come in etf and esg varieties, and the accounts work with stocks and etfs. The ESG option screens for sustainability, while the ETF range is a plain broad-market basket, so you can pick the level of screening you want.

How much money do investors typically lose?+

Most retail accounts on the site lose money, and the median share that lose money here is 70.15%. A managed portfolio cuts the number of decisions you make but not the market risk that drives those losses.

Sources

Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Regulators, Investor protection.

CI Direct Investing

CI Direct Investing

A managed ETF and ESG portfolio from a small deposit, run on a phone.

8.8/10See alternatives

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