Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Sarwa vs Wealthsimple
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Sarwa |  Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $500 | CA$0 |
| Stock trade fee | $1 | CA$0 |
| Account fee | $0 | CA$0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto, Futures |
| Account types | Joint | Joint, CorporateCovers more |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) ADGM | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 3.95% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | CA$0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No withdrawal fee | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1.25% |
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Key differences
- Wealthsimple scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Markets: only Sarwa offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only Wealthsimple offers Options, Futures.
- Account types: only Wealthsimple offers Corporate.
- Support channels: only Sarwa offers Community.
- Support channels: only Wealthsimple offers Chat.
- Pricing model: only Sarwa offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Wealthsimple offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Sarwa
Sarwa suits investors who want a managed portfolio with no account fee and no inactivity fee, starting from a minimum deposit of $500. The trade-off is a management fee of 0.4% to 0.85% and a minimum investment of $500, with oversight from Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) ADGM rather than a UK regulator.
Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple serves Canadian beginners and experienced investors who want self-directed trading and managed portfolios in a single app. The minimum deposit is CAD 0, the stock trade fee is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, while the UK is not among its markets (stocks, etfs and options).
Score breakdown
| Area | Sarwa | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Account fee $0 and inactivity fee $0 are nil, but management fees of 0.4% to 0.85% apply. | 9.6HigherMinimum deposit of CAD 0, stock trade fee of CAD 0, options contract fee of CAD 0 and account fee of CAD 0. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.2Managed portfolios charge 0.5% and start at CAD 1, with cash earning 1.25%. |
| Trust | 8.4 | Not confirmed |
Licences and countries
| Country | Sarwa | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Sarwa | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 185 of 471 | 62 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 77 of 151 | 16 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Sarwa | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Sarwa Digital Wealth (Capital) Limited | Wealthsimple Technologies Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | Canada |
| Founded | 2018 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Chat, Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Sarwa | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.4% to 0.85%Lower | 0.5% |
| Minimum investment | $500 | CA$1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Sarwa | Wealthsimple | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 3.95%lowest quarter | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | CA$0lowest quarter | CA$1.25 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1.25%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 43 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Sarwa
Pros
- No account fee of $0 and no inactivity fee of $0 on the account
- Money can be taken out with no withdrawal fee
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, including phone and email
Cons
- Stock trades cost $1 a trade, where eToro charges $0
- The minimum deposit of $500 and minimum investment of $500 sit above CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5
- Oversight sits with Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) ADGM, outside the UK, and that licence names no UK protection scheme
Wealthsimple
Pros
- Stock trade fee of CAD 0 on a commission-free model across self-directed accounts
- Minimum deposit of CAD 0, so an account opens with a small sum
- Managed portfolios charge a management fee of 0.5% and start at CAD 1
Cons
- The UK and Europe are not among its markets (stocks, etfs and options), so a reader there would need a different broker
- Managed portfolios carry a management fee of 0.5% on top of CAD 0 self-directed trades
- Margin is available at a margin rate of 3.95%, which amplifies losses on a levered position
Who each suits
Sarwa
Who it suits
- Investors who want a portfolio built from ETF, ESG, cash and crypto options, per etf, esg and cash
- Beginners who prefer fractional shares and a mobile app, per crypto, fractional shares and mobile app
- Holders who want to keep an account open without an account or inactivity charge, given $0 and $0
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone opening with a very small deposit: CFI takes $0 and Vantage takes $5
- Share buyers who want no per-trade cost: eToro charges $0
- Readers who only want accounts supervised by a UK regulator
Wealthsimple
Who it suits
- Canadian beginners putting money away in a managed portfolio
- Canadian investors buying fractional shares in a mobile app
- Experienced traders wanting stocks, ETFs, options, crypto and futures in a single account
Who should look elsewhere
- UK or EU readers, who should look at CFI, eToro or Vantage instead
- Traders who want a forex and CFD range, since stocks, etfs and options omits both
- Anyone seeking an ISA, SIPP or similar tax-sheltered wrapper, since neither is among its account types (joint and corporate)
Country by country
| Country | Sarwa | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Sarwa
What does it cost to keep a Sarwa account open?+
Sarwa charges an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0, so nothing is deducted for holding the account open. Withdrawals also carry no fee. The ongoing cost on a managed portfolio is a management fee of 0.4% to 0.85%, which is the main figure to weigh.
What is the minimum I need to start?+
You need a minimum deposit of $500 to fund the account and a minimum investment of $500 for the managed portfolio. Both sit above CFI, whose minimum deposit is $0, and above Vantage at $5.
Wealthsimple
What does it cost to trade stocks at Wealthsimple?+
The stock trade fee is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0. Options contracts carry a fee of CAD 0. Cash earns interest of 1.25%. Managed portfolios are the part that still charges, at a management fee of 0.5%.
Is there a minimum deposit or account fee?+
The minimum deposit is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, so opening an account costs nothing. Managed portfolios ask for a minimum investment of CAD 1. Brands across the site typically ask €4.64 to start.
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