Answer one or two questions and we'll point you to the broker that fits your priorities, based on fees, account types, and platform features from our latest comparison.
Question 2
What do you trade most?
Question 2
What kind of advanced trading do you need most?
Question 2
Do you need an RDSP or other specialized accounts?
Question 2
What kind of support matters most?
Question 3
Which bank do you primarily use?
Best for beginners
Wealthsimple
Fastest signup in Canada (under 10 minutes), the cleanest mobile app, fractional shares, and integrated banking and crypto in one account. $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and options. The default starting point for first-time investors.
$0 commissions on Canadian stocks and ETFs, plus the only independent that supports USD in every registered account (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, Spousal, Corporate). The best balance of low cost and account flexibility.
If you trade US stocks, FX is the hidden cost most brokers bury in a 1.5 to 2% spread. IBKR charges 0.20 basis points, which is 0.002%, with a US$2 minimum per conversion. On a $10,000 conversion that is about $2 against roughly $150 at a 1.5% broker, so you keep around $148. Because of the $2 floor, the saving matters most on larger and less frequent conversions.
Wealthsimple charges $0 commission and $0 per contract across every client tier. Questrade now matches that on US equity options, so the two are tied on headline price and the choice comes down to what else you need. Wealthsimple wins on simplicity and a cleaner app. Questrade wins on range, because it also lists Canadian and index options, and its Plus tier pays $0.05 CAD per US contract back. Most bank-owned brokers still charge a base commission plus at least $1.25 per contract. For multi-leg strategies and Greeks, see the 'powerful tools' branch instead.
IBKR's published margin rates are the lowest in Canada: 3.63% on the first $130,000 of a CAD balance and 5.13% on the first $100,000 of a USD balance, falling further on larger balances. Questrade charges 8.70% CAD and 11.25% USD on a non-registered balance under $100,000, and the bank-owned brokers sit in a similar range. On a $100,000 CAD margin balance that gap is roughly $5,000 a year in interest. The platform is also built for active leverage with real-time risk tools.
Serious options trading needs more than cheap commissions, you need full options chains with Greeks, multi-leg order entry, volatility analytics, and a fast execution engine. IBKR is the only Canadian broker that delivers all four. Per-contract pricing is volume tiered from $0.65 down to $0.15, and the platform is built for active traders. If you only trade single-leg US equity options, Wealthsimple and Questrade are cheaper at $0.
IBKR is the only Canadian broker with direct access to 150-plus market centres across more than 30 countries. If you want to trade German equities, Hong Kong listings, or London-quoted ETFs without ADR markups, IBKR is realistically your only option in Canada. Native currency holdings and institutional-grade order routing across markets.
IBKR offers the deepest extended-hours session of any Canadian broker, running close to 24 hours a day, six days a week on US stocks, and full access to US OTC markets. If you trade earnings announcements, follow Asian-market news cycles, or hold OTC positions, IBKR has the broadest access available to Canadian retail investors.
Access to 150-plus global markets, the lowest published margin rates in Canada (3.63% CAD on the first $130,000), institutional-grade trading tools, and the cheapest currency conversion of any broker. The platform of choice for serious traders.
Questrade has built a strong reputation for direct phone and chat support staffed by people who actually know the platform, without the 'let me transfer you to a banking specialist' loops you get with Big-5 brokerages. Combined with $0 commissions and full registered account flexibility, it's the top pick if you value being able to talk to a real broker specialist quickly.
Qtrade is consistently ranked at or near the top for research depth and portfolio analytics, the platform's tools go further than most competitors for investors who like to screen, analyze fundamentals, and review portfolio composition in detail. $0 commissions on Canadian-listed stocks and ETFs, with a research suite that rivals Big-5 banks.
$0 commissions on stocks and ETFs combined with the full registered account suite that the independent brokers don't offer. A strong alternative to a Big-5 brokerage if you don't already bank with one.
Single login with your TD banking, full registered account suite including RDSP and LIF, and the strongest research platform among the Big-5 brokerages. $9.99 per trade, the trade-off for the convenience and account coverage.
Single login with RBC banking, the full registered account suite, and integrated tools across RBC's wealth ecosystem. $9.95 per trade. The default choice for existing RBC clients who want everything in one place.
Single login with BMO banking, full registered account suite, and a long-running track record with strong client service. $9.95 per trade. The right call if you already bank with BMO.
Single login with CIBC banking, full registered account suite, and access to CIBC's CDR program for fractional ownership of US stocks in CAD. $6.95 per trade, the cheapest of the Big-5 brokerages.
Single login with Scotiabank, full registered account suite, and integration with Scotia Wealth services. $9.99 per trade. Best fit if you already bank with Scotia and value keeping your accounts together.
