Vanguard vs Wealthsimple - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Vanguard vs Wealthsimple

Compare Vanguard and Wealthsimple side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Vanguard

Vanguard

Long-term fund and ETF investors

Vanguard offers funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, margin, options, Cash Plus and advice services, with $0 online coโ€ฆ

VS
Wealthsimple

Wealthsimple

Canadian beginner and passive investors

Wealthsimple is a Canadian all-in-one financial platform offering commission-free stock and ETF trading, manaโ€ฆ

Head-to-head comparison

Vanguard vs Wealthsimple
Feature Vanguard Wealthsimple
Minimum deposit $0 to open an account -
Stock trading fee $0 online stock trading Commission-free on Canadian and US exchanges
Regulators FINRA CIRO, OSC
Best for Long-term fund and ETF investors Canadian beginner and passive investors
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
-
Bonds
-
Options
Funds
-
Fractional Shares
Ready Made Portfolios
Money Market Funds
-
Margin
Investment Plans
-

Pros & cons

Vanguard

Vanguard

Pros

  • $0 online commissions for stocks, ETFs and Vanguard mutual funds
  • $1 minimum for Vanguard ETFs through fractional shares
  • $0 Cash Plus minimum balance and no service fee with e-delivery
  • Digital Advisor starts at $100 with no advisory fee for 90 days
  • SIPC coverage up to $500,000 for eligible brokerage securities
  • Free dividend reinvestment with no commission

Cons

  • $25 annual account service fee unless e-delivery is selected
  • Most Vanguard mutual funds require a $3,000 minimum
  • Individual bonds require a $1,000 minimum investment
  • Personal Advisor requires a $50,000 minimum
  • Cash Plus has no issued checks or ATM card
  • Cash Plus transactions may face 7-day or 60-day holding periods
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
Vanguard

Vanguard

Vanguard offers funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, margin, options, Cash Plus and advice services, with $0 online commissions on major listed products.

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.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Not the right match?

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