What are Questwealth's fees?

Questwealth charges a management fee of 0.25% per year on balances up to $99,999, and 0.20% on balances of $100,000 and above. On top of this, the underlying ETFs in Questwealth portfolios have their own management expense ratios (MERs) of approximately 0.14–0.22%. The total all-in cost is roughly 0.37–0.47% per year. This is significantly cheaper than Wealthsimple Invest (0.40–0.50% management fee plus ~0.20% ETF MER, totalling ~0.60–0.70%) and dramatically cheaper than mutual funds (1.5–2%+).

Is Questwealth better than Wealthsimple Invest?

Questwealth is cheaper than Wealthsimple Invest — roughly 0.40–0.47% all-in vs 0.60–0.70% at Wealthsimple. On $100,000, that's a difference of ~$200/year. Wealthsimple Invest has a cleaner user experience, better-known brand, and more polished mobile app. Questwealth's advantage is purely cost — same general passive investing approach, but with lower management fees, particularly for larger balances. Both are far cheaper than mutual funds. If cost is your priority, Questwealth wins. If simplicity and UX are more important, Wealthsimple is ahead.

Does Questwealth offer socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolios?

Yes. Questwealth offers SRI (socially responsible investing) portfolios that exclude fossil fuels, weapons, and other ESG-screened sectors. These portfolios have slightly higher all-in costs (management fee + ETF MER of ~0.5%) compared to standard Questwealth portfolios (~0.4%), due to the higher MERs of the underlying SRI ETFs. Wealthsimple also offers SRI portfolios at similar pricing. If ESG alignment is important to you, both robo-advisors are reasonable choices.

What is the minimum to open a Questwealth account?

The minimum investment to open a Questwealth account is $1,000. This is the same minimum as Questrade's self-directed platform. Wealthsimple Invest has no minimum for non-registered accounts (TFSA and RRSP minimums may vary). For investors with less than $1,000 to start, Wealthsimple Invest is more accessible. For investors starting with $1,000+, both are available.

Should I use Questwealth or just buy ETFs myself at Questrade?

If you are comfortable managing your own portfolio — choosing an all-in-one ETF like XEQT or VGRO, rebalancing annually, and staying the course during downturns — self-directed investing at Questrade will cost less. XEQT has an MER of ~0.20% and can be purchased for $0 commission at Questrade. Questwealth adds a 0.20–0.25% management fee on top of ETF MERs. The value of Questwealth is automatic rebalancing, hands-off management, and the reduced temptation to panic-sell. For investors who need that structure, the fee is worth it.

What account types does Questwealth offer?

Questwealth offers TFSA, RRSP (including spousal), RRIF, RESP, and non-registered accounts. It does not offer FHSA at the time of this review — check the Questrade website for current account availability. All Questwealth accounts are managed automatically, with automatic rebalancing and dividend reinvestment included in the management fee.

Questwealth Portfolios Review 2026 | Questrade's Robo-Advisor

Questwealth Portfolios Review 2026

Questwealth Portfolios is the robo-advisor arm of Questrade — Canada’s largest independent broker. It offers passively managed ETF portfolios at a management fee of 0.20–0.25%, significantly undercutting Wealthsimple Invest and most bank-affiliated robo-advisors.

Quick Overview

Feature	Details
Management fee	0.25% (under $100K) / 0.20% ($100K+)
Underlying ETF MER	~0.14–0.22%
Total all-in cost	~0.37–0.47%/year
Account minimum	$1,000
Automatic rebalancing	✅ Yes
Dividend reinvestment	✅ Automatic
SRI portfolios	✅ Yes (~0.50% all-in)
Account types	TFSA, RRSP, RRIF, RESP, non-registered
Regulation	CIRO member, CIPF coverage (via Questrade)

Overall Rating

Category	Score
Management fee	★★★★★
Ease of use	★★★★
Portfolio quality	★★★★
Account options	★★★★
SRI options	★★★★
Mobile experience	★★★★
Overall	★★★★

Fee Structure

Management Fees

Balance	Annual management fee
$1,000–$99,999	0.25%
$100,000+	0.20%

Total Cost Breakdown

Portfolio type	Management fee	ETF MER	Total all-in
Standard portfolios	0.20–0.25%	~0.14–0.22%	~0.37–0.47%
SRI portfolios	0.20–0.25%	~0.25–0.35%	~0.50–0.60%

Cost at Different Balance Levels

Balance	Questwealth annual cost	Wealthsimple Invest annual cost	Self-directed XEQT (Questrade)
$10,000	~$42–$47	~$60–$70	~$20
$50,000	~$200–$235	~$300–$350	~$100
$100,000	~$370–$420	~$600–$700	~$200
$250,000	~$925–$1,045	~$1,500–$1,750	~$500

Portfolio Options

Standard Portfolios

Portfolio	Equity allocation	Risk level
Conservative	~30% equity	Low
Conservative Balanced	~45% equity	Low-medium
Balanced	~60% equity	Medium
Growth	~80% equity	Medium-high
Aggressive Growth	~100% equity	High

SRI (Socially Responsible) Portfolios

Feature	Details
ESG screening	Excludes fossil fuels, weapons, tobacco, adult entertainment
Portfolio construction	ESG-screened ETFs from iShares, BMO
Premium to standard	+0.10–0.15% all-in cost
Available risk levels	Conservative through Aggressive Growth

Questwealth vs Self-Directed ETF Investing

Factor	Questwealth	Self-Directed (XEQT, VGRO)
Annual fee at $100K	~$370–$420	~$200 (ETF MER only)
Annual fee savings (self-directed)	—	~$170–$220/year
Required action	None	Annual rebalance (15 min/year)
Risk of behavioral error	Low — automatic	You must not panic-sell
Effort level	Hands-off	Minimal

For most investors who can hold through downturns, self-directed all-in-one ETF investing is cheaper. Questwealth’s value is removing temptation and automating discipline.

Questwealth vs Wealthsimple Invest

Feature	Questwealth	Wealthsimple Invest
Management fee	0.20–0.25%	0.40–0.50%
ETF MER	~0.14–0.22%	~0.20%
Total all-in	~0.37–0.47%	~0.60–0.70%
Account minimum	$1,000	$0
SRI portfolios	✅	✅
App quality / UX	★★★★	★★★★★
Savings on $100K	—	~$200–$250/year more at Wealthsimple
Brand awareness	Medium	High

Questwealth is meaningfully cheaper. The cost saves roughly $200/year on $100,000. Wealthsimple has a better UX and mobile experience.

Account Types

Account	Available at Questwealth
TFSA	✅
RRSP / Spousal RRSP	✅
RRIF	✅
RESP	✅
Non-registered	✅
FHSA	Check questrade.com for current status
Corporate	❌
Margin	❌

Who Questwealth Is Best For

Investor type	Fit
Cost-focused robo-advisor user	✅ Cheapest major Canadian robo-advisor
Questrade self-directed user who wants hands-off	✅ Same platform, managed option
ESG-minded investor	✅ SRI portfolios available
New investor with $1,000+	✅ Easy entry point
Investor who can’t commit to self-directed	✅ Removes discipline requirement
Investor happy to spend 15 min/year	Better to buy XEQT directly

Bottom Line

Questwealth Portfolios is Canada’s most cost-efficient mainstream robo-advisor. At 0.37–0.47% all-in, it undercuts Wealthsimple Invest by roughly 0.20% — meaningful at higher balances. For someone who wants a fully managed, hands-off portfolio and is choosing between robo-advisors, Questwealth is the financially superior choice. For investors confident in managing a single all-in-one ETF through market downturns, the Questrade self-directed platform with XEQT or VGRO is even cheaper. Questwealth sits in the right middle ground: much cheaper than mutual funds, slightly cheaper than Wealthsimple, and easier than self-directed investing.