Questrade Fees 2026: Every Cost, Explained
Questrade joined the $0 commission club in June 2025, making it significantly cheaper than it used to be. But $0 doesn't mean free — ECN fees, a ~1.5% FX spread, and per-contract options fees still apply depending on how you trade. For passive ETF investors and moderate active traders, Questrade remains one of the strongest all-round value propositions in Canada.
Trading Commissions
Canadian stocks: $0 commission on all online trades — TSX, TSX-V, NEO, CSE
US stocks: $0 commission on all online trades — NYSE, NASDAQ
ETFs: $0
Mutual funds: $9.95 per trade
Bonds and GICs: no commission; minimum $5,000 purchase per bond trade
Options
US options: $0.99 per contract (Tier 1, up to 10,000 contracts per month)
Base commission per options trade: $0 — you pay the per-contract fee only
High-volume traders: rates step down progressively — Questrade refunds contract fees on a marginal basis as you hit higher monthly volume tiers
Note: options fees are charged in USD; exchange and regulatory fees may also apply
ECN Fees — What They Are and How to Avoid Them
ECN fees are the most misunderstood part of Questrade's pricing. They don't apply to every trade, but they catch new users off guard.
ECN fees are charged when your order removes liquidity — meaning it fills immediately (market orders, marketable limit orders)
Posting a limit order that sits in the book and gets filled by someone else typically avoids ECN fees entirely
ECN fees are generally $0.003–$0.004 per share for Canadian securities; vary by exchange for US securities
Standard ETF and stock trades placed through the Questrade app or website rarely trigger ECN fees
Direct Market Access (DMA) orders always attract ECN fees
Foreign Exchange (FX)
CAD to USD conversion: approximately 1.5% spread embedded in the exchange rate
Questrade supports dual-currency accounts — you can hold USD in margin accounts without automatic conversion back to CAD
Norbert's Gambit is supported — convert between CAD and USD at near-interbank rates (under 0.2%) using interlisted securities
For TFSA and RRSP accounts: check your currency settlement settings in myQuestrade to control when conversions trigger
Margin
Margin rates are set at a spread above the prime rate and vary by account size. They range from ~7.5% to over 15% at the high end
CAD and USD rates differ — USD rates are higher
No commission on margin equity and ETF trades — you only pay interest on the borrowed balance
Check current rates at questrade.com before trading on leverage
Account and Administrative Fees
Account fees: $0
Inactivity fee: $0
Transfer in: $0 from Questrade's side — and Questrade rebates your transfer fees up to $150 per account (submit your statement within 60 days)
Transfer out: Questrade does not charge to initiate a transfer out — your receiving institution may charge their own fee
EFT withdrawals: free up to $50,000 CAD
Wire transfer withdrawals: $20–$40 depending on residency
SEC fee: small regulatory fee on all sales of US-listed securities (set by the SEC, not Questrade)
Data and Platform
Questrade Edge desktop: included — advanced, highly customizable for active traders
Level 1 data: included for free
Up-to-the-second Level 1 data: $9.95 CAD/mo
Level 2 / market depth: $44.95 USD/mo
Verdict: Who Should Use Questrade?
Questrade is a low-to-moderate cost broker with a significantly broader investment menu than Wealthsimple — bonds, GICs, mutual funds, FX, and options all in one account. The $0 commission update makes it competitive for everyday equity investors, not just active traders.
- Best for: passive ETF investors, moderately active traders, options traders at reasonable volume, investors who want USD accounts in registered accounts, anyone who needs access to bonds, GICs, mutual funds, and FX in one place.
- Not ideal for: very high-frequency traders where ECN fees stack up, anyone who wants the absolute cheapest options pricing at low volume, investors who prioritize a simple mobile-first experience above everything else.
Compare and Explore
- Compare all Canadian brokerages
- How to choose a Canadian online broker
All fees are current as of May 2026 but are subject to change at any moment. Verify rates at questrade.com before making investment decisions. This post may contain affiliate links — see our disclosures for details.
