Questrade is an independent Canadian online broker, not owned by a bank, offering self-directed trading and a robo-advisor (Questwealth Portfolios) outside the big banks. This review covers what Questrade charges as of September 2026, how it handles US dollars, the accounts and platforms it offers, and the investors it suits. To see how it compares with every other broker, start at the online broker comparison.
Questrade at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Stock and ETF commission (online) | $0 to buy and sell, Canadian and US-listed |
| Equity options | $0 per contract on all US equity options; Canadian options $0.99 per contract; $24.95 to exercise; assignment $0 |
| ECN fees | None on Canadian orders; on US orders only in limited cases (direct-routed, OTC or overnight-session orders) |
| Bonds / mutual funds / GICs | $24.95 per trade / $9.95 per trade / no charge |
| Currency conversion | 1.5% |
| US dollars in registered accounts | Yes, dual-currency accounts at no extra charge |
| Journaling (for Norbert’s Gambit) | $9.95 per online request; free with Questrade Plus |
| Annual and inactivity fees | $0 and $0 |
| Transfer out to another institution | $150 per account |
| Robo-advisor | Questwealth Portfolios, 0.25% (0.20% from $100,000) |
| Regulation | CIRO member; CIPF member |
Trading fees
Stock and ETF trades placed online cost nothing on either side of the trade, which matters most for investors who rebalance or sell regularly. Two exceptions remain. ECN fees, charged by trading venues, are passed on only in a few cases, all on US orders: orders you route directly to a specific exchange, US over-the-counter securities and fills in the overnight session. Questrade lists no ECN fees on Canadian orders. Options are free on most US equity contracts; Canadian options cost $0.99 per contract, exercising costs $24.95 and assignment is free. The options trading platforms comparison sets Questrade’s options pricing next to other brokers'.
US dollars and currency conversion
Questrade’s standard conversion charge is 1.5%, or $150 on $10,000. Because accounts hold both currencies, including TFSAs and RRSPs, US dividends and sale proceeds can stay in US dollars instead of being converted back each time. For large conversions, Norbert’s Gambit uses an interlisted security and a journaling request ($9.95 online) to convert at close to the market rate. How to buy US stocks from Canada compares that with other routes.
Account fees
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP or RRIF annual fee | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 |
| Full or partial transfer to another institution | $150 per account |
| Journaling shares | $9.95 |
Accounts and investments
Questrade offers TFSAs, RRSPs and spousal RRSPs, FHSAs, RESPs, RRIFs, locked-in accounts such as LIRAs and LIFs, cash accounts and margin accounts. You can trade Canadian and US stocks and ETFs, options, bonds, GICs, mutual funds and precious metals. Margin rates fall as your trading activity grows; the margin account guide explains how margin and margin calls work.
Platforms and market data
Questrade offers a web platform, a mobile app and Questrade Pro. Snap quotes and Level 1 streaming data are free; expanded US streaming data costs $9.95 a month (free with Questrade Plus), and Level 2 data costs US$44.95 a month. Questrade Plus, at $19.99 a month, also adds unlimited free journaling.
Questwealth Portfolios
Questrade’s robo-advisor builds and rebalances ETF portfolios for 0.25% a year, dropping to 0.20% from $100,000. The Questwealth review covers it in full, and the robo-advisor comparison sets it against other providers.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| $0 on stock and ETF trades, both buying and selling | ECN fees can apply to some US orders |
| US dollars can be held in registered accounts at no extra charge | 1.5% standard conversion unless you use Norbert’s Gambit |
| Wide range of accounts, including locked-in and RESP | $150 to transfer an account out |
| Bonds, GICs, mutual funds and precious metals alongside stocks | Deeper market data is a paid add-on |
| No annual or inactivity fees | Bonds and mutual funds still carry per-trade charges |
Who Questrade suits
Questrade tends to suit ETF and dividend investors who want $0 trading with a full range of registered accounts, investors who hold US-listed securities and want to keep US dollars in a TFSA or RRSP, and options traders. Investors who want investing, a chequing account and crypto from one company may prefer Wealthsimple; the Wealthsimple vs Questrade comparison covers that choice. Frequent traders comparing per-share pricing and currency costs can see Questrade vs Interactive Brokers, and Qtrade vs Questrade compares it with another non-bank $0-commission broker. The Interactive Brokers Canada review and Qtrade review cover those brokers on their own.
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources. How we check facts.
- questrade.com: Trading Fees & Commissions | Questrade Pricing | Questrade: Tilt finance in your favour
- questrade.com: Transaction fees | Self-directed Pricing | Questrade
- questrade.com: Administrative Fees | Trading Commissions | Pricing | Questrade
- questrade.com: Questwealth Portfolios | Questrade