Ratehub.ca is two businesses under one name: a comparison site for mortgage rates and other financial products, and a licensed mortgage brokerage that can arrange the mortgage you find there. Knowing which of the two you are using, and how each gets paid, is most of what it takes to use Ratehub well. This review covers both, alongside the other platforms in our mortgage lenders and brokers hub.
Ratehub at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Rate comparison site with its own licensed mortgage brokerage (formerly CanWise Financial) |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Head office | Toronto, Ontario |
| Cost and how it is paid | Free to use; Ratehub is paid by providers and on mortgages its brokerage funds |
The comparison site and the brokerage
The comparison site lists rates from banks, credit unions and other lenders without an account, alongside Ratehub’s calculators. It is a research tool: use it to see the range of rates on offer, then apply through any lender or broker. Other rate comparison sites work in a similar way.
The brokerage is Ratehub’s own, in-house mortgage brokerage. It used to trade as CanWise Financial and was renamed Ratehub.ca; CanWise’s old site now says so. The same company, Ratehub Inc., describes itself as a licensed mortgage brokerage and a CMHC-approved lender, and CanWise mortgages are available through the Ratehub.ca brokerage. Ratehub says CanWise registers its mortgages as a standard charge rather than a collateral charge, which can make a later switch simpler.
What the “Canadian Lender” and “Big 6 Bank” rows mean
Some rows in Ratehub’s rate tables carry a generic name instead of a lender’s. Ratehub explains that “the ‘Canadian Lender’ rate represents the lowest rate our brokerage can offer among the different lenders we work with”, and that the lender isn’t named because the rate “is only available through our brokerage, via a special volume discount or promotion”. A “Big 6 Bank” row is the lowest big-bank rate its brokerage can offer. In other words, those rows are offers from Ratehub’s own brokerage, so taking one means applying through Ratehub rather than going to a lender directly.
Ratehub also says that products are sorted by the rates available to you and the criteria you enter. For today’s rates across lenders, see our mortgage rates section.
How Ratehub is paid
In short: Free to use; Ratehub is paid by providers and on mortgages its brokerage funds. Financial providers pay it when users connect with or apply for their products, and it earns money on mortgages funded through its brokerage. Ratehub adds that many of the products it lists are not monetized. Lender payments to brokerages are the norm in Canada; our guide to how mortgage brokers get paid explains them.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free comparison tables and calculators, no account needed | Comparison site and brokerage are easy to confuse |
| Generic “Canadian Lender” rows show the brokerage’s best offer | Those rows don’t name the lender until you apply |
| Its brokerage can arrange the mortgage end to end | Paid by providers, so listings and offers are commercial |
| Also covers credit cards, insurance and savings products | No in-person offices |
Who Ratehub suits
Ratehub tends to suit borrowers in the research stage who want to see a range of rates quickly, and those benchmarking a renewal offer from their current lender. Its brokerage suits borrowers with straightforward files who are happy to apply online and by phone. Borrowers with complex income have more options in our self-employed mortgage guide.
How Ratehub compares
- nesto is an online lender and brokerage with a long rate hold: see the nesto review, and the head-to-head in nesto vs Ratehub vs True North.
- True North Mortgage has salaried advisors and retail stores: see the True North review.
- Homewise is a separate digital brokerage, not part of Ratehub: see the Homewise review.
- Perch adds home-value tracking for existing homeowners: see the Perch review.
How we rated Ratehub
We give Ratehub 4.0 out of 5. That is an editor’s assessment, not a calculated number: the free tables and an in-house brokerage earn most of it, and the blurred line between listing products and selling them costs the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ratehub charge a fee? Ratehub says its tools are free and that it is paid by financial providers and on mortgages its brokerage funds.
Is Ratehub the same company as CanWise? Yes. Ratehub Inc. owns and operates both names, and its mortgage brokerage was formerly known as CanWise Financial.
Does Ratehub own Homewise? Neither company’s site describes an ownership link. Homewise’s pages are published by Homewise Solutions Inc., and Ratehub’s pages describe its brokerage as the former CanWise Financial.
Is the Ratehub mortgage calculator accurate? It gives a reasonable estimate from the inputs you enter. Your actual payment depends on your rate, amortization and payment schedule, so treat the result as a guide, not a quote.
Related articles
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on October 5, 2026. How we check facts.