How much does it cost to trade at Qtrade?

Standard stock and ETF trades at Qtrade cost $8.75 per trade. However, there are multiple ways to reduce or eliminate this fee: investors under 26 trade free; investors over 65 get reduced rates; accounts with $500,000+ or 150+ trades per quarter get lower rates; and Qtrade offers a list of over 100 commission-free ETFs that trade for $0 on both buy and sell. Active traders pay $6.95 per trade at 150+ trades/quarter. These commission-free ETFs include Vanguard, iShares, and BMO index ETFs — covering most passive investing strategies.

Is Qtrade good for beginners?

Yes — Qtrade is consistently rated Canada's top brokerage for research, education, and customer service. The platform offers guided portfolio tools, educational content, detailed stock/ETF research reports, and award-winning customer support. The commission-free ETF list means a passive investor buying index funds pays $0 per trade. The main downside for beginners is the $8.75 standard commission if you stray outside the free ETF list, and a $25/quarter inactivity fee for small, inactive accounts.

Does Qtrade have commission-free ETFs?

Yes. Qtrade offers over 100 commission-free ETFs that can be purchased and sold for $0. The list includes major index ETFs from Vanguard Canada, iShares, BMO, and others — covering Canadian, US, and international equity and bond markets. All-in-one ETFs like VGRO, XEQT, XCNS, and VBAL are included. This makes Qtrade effectively free for passive ETF investors who stick to the approved list.

Does Qtrade offer a DRIP (dividend reinvestment plan)?

Yes. Qtrade offers a DRIP (dividend reinvestment plan) at no charge for eligible accounts. The DRIP automatically purchases additional shares when dividends are paid, including fractional shares in some cases. This is a feature that several competing Canadian brokers — including Questrade — do not offer, making Qtrade popular with dividend investors who want automated compounding without selling and re-buying.

How is Qtrade's foreign exchange rate?

Qtrade charges approximately 1.75% on currency conversions. This is slightly better than most bank brokerages (1.75–2%), but more expensive than Questrade's Norbert's Gambit workaround. Qtrade does not natively support USD-denominated RRSP accounts (US dollar side), so all USD purchases require conversion unless you use Norbert's Gambit manually. For heavy US stock traders, this FX spread can be meaningful. For investors primarily using Canadian ETFs (including the commission-free list), FX is not an issue.

Is Qtrade or Questrade better?

It depends on your investing style. Qtrade wins on research tools, customer service rating, DRIP availability, and education. Questrade wins on cost for stock trades ($4.95 vs $8.75), Norbert's Gambit ease, and advanced trading features. For passive ETF investors who stick to the commission-free list, Qtrade is effectively equal on cost to Questrade. For active stock or US market traders, Questrade is typically cheaper. For those who value service, research quality, and a long track record, Qtrade is Canada's most acclaimed broker.

Qtrade Direct Investing Review 2026 | Canada's Top-Rated Broker

Qtrade Direct Investing Review 2026

Qtrade Direct Investing has won J.D. Power’s award for highest investor satisfaction among online brokerages in Canada multiple years running. It charges $8.75/trade for stocks, but offers over 100 commission-free ETFs — making it effectively free for passive investors.

Quick Overview

Feature	Details
Standard commission	$8.75/trade
Commission-free ETFs	✅ 100+ ETFs — $0 buy and sell
Account minimum	$0 (no minimum to open)
Inactivity fee	$25/quarter (waived under certain conditions)
Options trading	✅ $8.75 + $1.25/contract
Margin accounts	✅ Yes
DRIP	✅ Yes — including fractional shares
Currency conversion	~1.75% spread
Mobile app	✅ iOS, Android
Regulation	CIRO member, CIPF coverage

Overall Rating

Category	Score
Fees (standard)	★★★½
Commission-free ETFs	★★★★★
Ease of use	★★★★½
Research tools	★★★★★
Customer service	★★★★★
Advanced features	★★★★
Mobile app	★★★★
Overall	★★★★½

Fees & Pricing

Trading Fees

Transaction	Standard	Active Trader ($150+/qtr)
Stocks	$8.75	$6.95
ETFs (non-free list)	$8.75	$6.95
ETFs (commission-free list)	$0	$0
Options	$8.75 + $1.25/contract	$6.95 + $1.25/contract
Fixed income (bonds, GICs)	$0	$0

Age-Based Discounts

Investor age	Commission
Under 26	$7.75/trade
65 and over	$7.75/trade
Youth account (under 18)	Available via parent

Account Fees

Fee	Cost
Account maintenance	$0
Inactivity fee	$25/quarter
Inactivity fee waived if	Balance ≥ $25,000; or quarterly trade; or PACC set up
RRSP annual fee	$0
TFSA annual fee	$0
Transfer out (full)	$150 per account
USD account	Limited — see FX notes

Commission-Free ETF List

Categories Covered

Category	Example ETFs
Canadian equity	XIC, ZCN, VCN
US equity (CAD-hedged)	ZSP, XSP, VSP
International equity	XEF, ZEA, VIU
Emerging markets	XEC, ZEM
Canadian bonds	ZAG, XBB, VAB
All-in-one ETFs	XEQT, XGRO, XBAL, XCNS, VGRO, VBAL, VCNS, VEQT
Dividend focused	XDV, CDZ, ZDV
BMO ETFs	Most BMO ETF series

This list covers nearly every popular passive investing strategy used by Canadian couch potato investors. Investors who build their portfolio exclusively from these ETFs pay $0 in commissions.

Account Types

Account	Available
TFSA	✅
RRSP	✅
Spousal RRSP	✅
RESP	✅
RRIF	✅
LIRA	✅
LIF	✅
FHSA	✅
Non-registered (individual)	✅
Non-registered (joint)	✅
Corporate / Business	✅
Margin	✅

Research Tools

Qtrade is widely regarded as Canada’s best brokerage for research quality.

Tool	Details
Morningstar research	✅ Full reports — stocks and ETFs
Analyst ratings	✅ Buy/hold/sell consensus
Technical analysis charts	✅ Advanced charting
Screeners	✅ Stock, ETF, and mutual fund screeners
Economic calendar	✅
Options tools	✅ Strategy builder
Portfolio analysis	✅ Asset allocation view
Financial education content	✅ Extensive library
Compare with competitors	Only Questrade and Wealthsimple Match partially

DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan)

Feature	Details
Available	✅ Yes — no charge
Fractional shares	✅ Where eligible
Automatic	✅ Set and forget
Questrade DRIP	❌ Not offered
Wealthsimple DRIP	Limited / partial

DRIP is a significant advantage for dividend investors. Instead of receiving cash dividends and manually reinvesting, Qtrade automatically purchases more shares — including fractional amounts — at no cost.

Currency and US Stocks

Aspect	Details
CAD to USD conversion	~1.75% spread
Norbert’s Gambit	✅ Supported (manual)
USD RRSP (“US dollar side”)	Limited
Best approach for US stocks	Use commission-free CAD-hedged ETFs (e.g., ZSP) or Norbert’s Gambit for large purchases

Who Qtrade Is Best For

Investor type	Is Qtrade a good fit?
Passive ETF investor	✅ Excellent — commission-free ETF list is comprehensive
Dividend investor	✅ Excellent — DRIP with fractional shares
Beginner	✅ Great — top-rated service, education, easy interface
Research-focused investor	✅ Best in class for research tools
Active stock trader	✅ Adequate — $6.95 active trader rate, but Questrade is cheaper
Options trader	✅ Good — $8.75 + $1.25/contract
US stock heavy investor	⚠️ Watch FX costs — use Norbert’s Gambit for large trades
Looking for $0/trade on all assets	❌ Wealthsimple Trade is better

Qtrade vs Competitors: Quick Comparison

Broker	Standard commission	Free ETFs	DRIP	Research	Best for
Qtrade	$8.75	✅ 100+	✅ Yes	★★★★★	Research, service, passive ETF
Questrade	$4.95–$9.95	✅ (buy only)	❌ No	★★★★	Cost, active trading, US stocks
Wealthsimple Trade	$0	✅ All	❌ No	★★★	Beginners, $0 trades
Scotia iTrade	$9.99	❌ No	✅ Yes	★★★	Scotiabank customers
RBC Direct Investing	$9.95	❌ No	✅ Yes	★★★★	RBC customers
NBDB	$6.95	✅ ETFs free	✅ Yes	★★★	Quebec, cost-conscious

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Canada’s most award-winning brokerage	Higher standard commission ($8.75) than Questrade
100+ commission-free ETFs	$25/quarter inactivity fee for small accounts
Best-in-class research tools	$150 full transfer-out fee
DRIP with fractional shares	FX spread for US stocks is moderate
Excellent customer service ratings	No $0 trades outside commission-free ETF list
Comprehensive account types	Less well-known than Questrade or Wealthsimple
Education content library

Bottom Line

Qtrade Direct Investing is Canada’s best online broker for research quality, customer service, and the breadth of its commission-free ETF list. For passive investors using index ETFs, the advertised $8.75 commission is largely irrelevant — virtually every popular index ETF trades for $0. The DRIP program, Morningstar research access, and consistently top-ranked service make Qtrade the right choice for investors who value a premium experience. If you’re a cost-focused active trader or primarily trade US stocks, Questrade’s lower commissions may make more sense. But for most Canadian passive investors, Qtrade and Questrade are functionally free — and Qtrade’s service reputation gives it an edge.