Qtrade Direct Investing vs Wealthsimple - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Qtrade Direct Investing vs Wealthsimple

Compare Qtrade Direct Investing and Wealthsimple side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing

Canadian self-directed investors seeking research tools

Qtrade Direct Investing is a Canadian online brokerage offering zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs and m…

VS
Wealthsimple

Wealthsimple

Canadian beginner and passive investors

Wealthsimple is a Canadian all-in-one financial platform offering commission-free stock and ETF trading, mana…

Head-to-head comparison

Qtrade Direct Investing vs Wealthsimple
Feature Qtrade Direct Investing Wealthsimple
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee $0 per trade (Canadian and U.S. exchanges) Commission-free on Canadian and US exchanges
Regulators CIRO, CIPF CIRO, OSC
Best for Canadian self-directed investors seeking research tools Canadian beginner and passive investors
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
-
Bonds
-
Options
Funds
-
Margin
Ready Made Portfolios
Demo Account
-
Business Account
-
Fractional Shares
-
Investment Plans
-

Pros & cons

Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing

Pros

  • Zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs and mutual funds since October 2025
  • No quarterly account or inactivity fees
  • Strong research tools including Morningstar analyst reports and screeners
  • Portfolio analytics with risk exposure and ESG scoring
  • Qtrade Guided Portfolios robo-advisor available for hands-off investors
  • Wide range of registered account types (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, RRIF, LIRA, LIF)
  • Pre-market and after-hours trading available for U.S. markets
  • 30-day free trial account for platform exploration

Cons

  • No support for forex, CFDs, crypto, futures or precious metals
  • No fractional share trading
  • Currency conversion markup of approximately 0.9% applies to U.S. trades
  • Stock alerts not available on the mobile app
  • Options fee of $0.75 per contract is not the cheapest in Canada
  • Transfer-out fee of $150 per account
  • Limited to Canadian and U.S. exchanges only
  • 30-day trial account is view-only and does not support simulated trading
Wealthsimple

Wealthsimple

Pros

  • Commission-free stock and ETF trading
  • No account, inactivity, or transfer-out fees on self-directed accounts
  • Fractional shares with a $1 minimum investment
  • Integrated robo-advisor, self-directed trading, and crypto in one app
  • Multiple registered account types including TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, and RESP
  • CIPF investor protection up to $1 million per account category
  • No minimum deposit requirement
  • TradingView charting integration on web platform

Cons

  • 1.5% CAD/USD currency conversion fee applies to most US stock trades unless a USD account is held
  • $10 per month USD account fee for Core plan users
  • No mutual funds, bonds, GICs, CFDs, or forex products
  • No demo account
  • Advanced research and charting tools are limited compared to full-service brokers
  • Managed portfolio customization is restricted to a small set of model portfolios
  • Higher-tier benefits require $100,000 or $500,000 in household assets
Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing is a Canadian online brokerage offering zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs and mutual funds, with strong research tools and a robo-advisor option.

Visit Qtrade Direct Investing Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Wealthsimple

Wealthsimple

Wealthsimple is a Canadian all-in-one financial platform offering commission-free stock and ETF trading, managed portfolios, crypto, and tax filing in a single app.

Visit Wealthsimple Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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