Review Questrade
Canada 2026
Founded in 1999 in Toronto, Questrade is Canada's largest independent broker with over $50 billion in assets under administration. Regulated by CIRO and a CIPF member, it offers commission-free ETFs, Forex trading on 110+ pairs, registered accounts (RRSP, TFSA, RESP) and advanced platforms — all in one place.
Independent review: This is an independent review and has not been influenced by the broker. Questrade has only provided general information about its services and offerings to ensure factual accuracy. All opinions expressed in this review are solely those of the reviewer.
Canada's Largest Independent Broker
Founded in 1999 in Toronto, Questrade is Canada's largest independent broker with over $50 billion in assets under administration and more than 350,000 new accounts opened every year. Unlike the major Canadian banks, Questrade was built with a clear mission: to democratize investing in Canada by offering ultra-competitive costs and cutting-edge technology.
Questrade stands out for its unique duality: it is both a discount broker for stock and ETF investors (ETF purchases at $0 commission) and a professional Forex/CFD broker with competitive spreads on over 110 currency pairs. In 2026, Questrade continues to innovate with the launch of Questrade Pro, a new-generation advanced web platform, and the introduction of overnight trading (8PM–2AM ET) on US stocks.
| Caractéristique | Détail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Primary Regulator | CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) |
| Other Regulators | AMF (Quebec), OSC (Ontario), BCSC (British Columbia) |
| Investor Protection | CIPF up to $1,000,000 CAD per eligible account |
| Assets under Administration | $50 billion+ CAD |
| Forex Pairs | 110+ pairs (majors, minors, exotics) |
| ETF Commission (buy) | $0 (free) |
| Stock Commission | $0.01/share (min. $4.95 — max. $9.95) |
| Options | $0 + $0.99/contract |
| EUR/USD Forex Spread | Target 0.8 pip (variable) |
| Registered Accounts | TFSA, RRSP, RESP, Group RRSP, RRIF, FHSA |
| Plateformes | Questrade Edge, Questrade Pro, QuestMobile, Questrade Trading |
| Demo Account | Available for free |
| Forex Overnight Trading | Available (8PM–2AM ET) |
Open a Questrade Account
Commission-free ETFs, Forex 110+ pairs, TFSA/RRSP/RESP accounts — all in one Canadian regulated platform.
No inactivity fees on Forex accounts
Direct Canadian Regulation
— The Highest Standard
Questrade is directly regulated by CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) — Canada's national investment regulatory body — and is a member of the CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund), which protects eligible client accounts up to $1 million Canadian dollars in the event of insolvency. It is also regulated at the provincial level by the AMF (Quebec), OSC (Ontario) and BCSC (British Columbia).
Segregated Funds and CIPF Protection
Client funds are held in segregated accounts separate from Questrade's operational funds. Through CIPF membership, eligible client accounts are protected up to $1 million Canadian dollars in the event of broker bankruptcy — a protection exclusive to direct CIRO members that is not available through offshore brokers accepting Canadian clients.
Accounts for Every Canadian
Financial Goal
- ETF (buy)$0 — free
- Stocks$0.01/share (min. $4.95)
- Options$0 + $0.99/contract
- Account typesCash, Margin, TFSA, RRSP, RESP, RRIF, FHSA
- Minimum deposit$1 CAD
- Inactivity feesNone
- Forex Pairs110+ pairs available
- EUR/USD SpreadTarget 0.8 pip (variable)
- Stock CFDsAvailable
- Index CFDsAvailable
- Max. leverage1:20 on majors (CIRO)
- Inactivity feesNone
- TypeRobo-advisor
- Management fees0.20% – 0.25% / year
- MER of underlying ETFs0.17% – 0.22%
- Minimum deposit$250 CAD
- AccountsTFSA, RRSP, RESP, non-registered
- RebalancingAutomatic
Transparent and Competitive
Fee Structure
Questrade uses different fee structures depending on the products traded — reflecting its nature as a full multi-asset broker. Here is a clear and transparent overview of all costs.
| Instrument | Spread / Commission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD (Forex) | Target 0.8 pip (variable) | Spread + rollover if position held overnight |
| GBP/USD (Forex) | Target ~1.2 pips | Variable by liquidity |
| USD/CAD (Forex) | Target ~1.5 pips | Variable spread |
| ETF (buy) | $0 — free | Sell: standard commission |
| Stocks canadiennes & US | $0.01/share | Min. $4.95 — Max. $9.95 |
| Options | $0 + $0.99/contract | Among the lowest in Canada |
| Index CFDs | Spread cible variable | Overnight financing applies |
| Stock CFDs | 0.10%–0.15% of value | Minimum per transaction |
| Inactivity fees | None | Neither on Forex nor on stocks |
Leverage Available in Canada
In accordance with CIRO regulation, the maximum leverage for Canadian retail traders is 1:20 on major Forex pairs (30% minimum margin on stocks via margin account). This cap is standard for all CIRO brokers and protects traders against excessive losses.
A Platform Ecosystem
for Every Profile
Questrade offers several platforms specially designed for different trader and investor profiles — from the beginner who prefers a simple mobile interface to the professional trader who needs advanced tools.
Choose your Questrade account
Forex (110+ pairs, spreads from 0.8 pip), Commission-free ETFs, or automated management with QuestWealth — all under direct CIRO regulation.
Canada's #1 independent broker since 1999
Over 20,000 Instruments
Multi-Asset
Forex — 110+ Currency Pairs
Questrade offers one of the widest Forex selections among Canadian brokers with over 110 currency pairs, including all majors (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, USD/CAD...), minors and several exotics. Target spreads are competitive from 0.8 pip on EUR/USD — with no separate commission on Forex (the cost is in the spread + overnight rollover if applicable).
ETFs and Stocks — The Core Offering
Questrade is best known for its $0 commission ETF purchases — a major advantage for passive investors building ETF-based portfolios. You can invest in thousands of ETFs listed on the major North American exchanges (TSX, NYSE, NASDAQ) at no purchase commission. Canadian and US stocks are available at $0.01/share (min. $4.95). In 2026, fractional share trading is available in real time on 500+ US securities.
Registered Accounts — The 100% Canadian Advantage
Questrade is the only broker in this comparison to offer a complete range of Canadian registered accounts: TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account), RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan), RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan) and FHSA (First Home Savings Account). These accounts provide significant tax advantages that Canadian investors cannot access through an offshore broker.
Deposits and Withdrawals Fee-Free
— No Inactivity Fees
| Method | Deposit | Withdrawal | Delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic transfer (EFT) | Free | Free | 1-3 business days |
| Bank wire transfer | Free | Fees may apply | 2-5 business days |
| Cheque | Free | Free | Variable |
| Minimum deposit (auto-dirigé) | $1 CAD — None minimum! | ||
| Minimum deposit (QuestWealth) | $250 CAD | ||
| Inactivity fees | None — ni sur Forex, ni sur actions | ||
| Incoming account transfer | Fee rebate up to $150/account | ||
| Available currencies | CAD, USD | ||
Questrade also reimburses account transfer fees from other institutions up to $150 per account — making it easy to migrate your investments from your bank or another broker at no extra cost.
Advanced Research Tools
and Education
TipRanks Smart Score — Analyse Quantitative des Stocks
Questrade natively integrates TipRanks Smart Score — a proprietary quantitative rating system that evaluates stocks on 8 distinct factors (analyst sentiment, momentum, insider performance, retail investor sentiment...) and assigns a score from 1 to 10. Available on Questrade Edge, Edge Web and QuestMobile.
Trading Central — Signals and Technical Analysis
Trading Central integration provides real-time technical signals on major instruments — Forex, stocks and ETFs. These analyses include key support/resistance levels, identified chart patterns and potential entry/exit zones — a valuable decision-support tool for active traders.
OptionsPlay — Simplified Options Strategies
OptionsPlay is integrated directly into the Questrade interface and offers ready-to-use options strategies based on your directional market view. A rare tool in the industry that significantly simplifies access to complex options strategies for non-specialist traders.
Trading Overnight et Fractions d'Stocks
In 2026, Questrade launched overnight trading (8PM–2AM ET) on hundreds of US stocks and ETFs, allowing Canadian investors to react to international news and earnings releases published after market close. Fractional share trading is available in real time on 500+ US securities with a minimum of $1.
Educational Resources
Questrade offers co-branded webinars with OptionsPlay on advanced options strategies, as well as a library of articles and guides for beginner investors. The platform also offers a free demo account to practice risk-free.
Questrade Strengths and Weaknesses
✅ Strengths
- Directly CIRO regulated — CIPF $1M CAD protection
- 100% Canadian, founded 1999, $50B+ under administration
- Commission-free ETF purchases — ideal for passive investors
- 110+ Forex pairs with target spreads from 0.8 pip
- None frais d'inactivité (Forex ou actions)
- Registered Accounts (TFSA, RRSP, RESP, FHSA) — unique au Canada
- Questrade Pro — new advanced browser platform (2026)
- QuestMobile: 4.7/5 App Store, 4.8/5 Google Play
- TipRanks, Trading Central and OptionsPlay integrated
- Overnight trading + US fractional shares
- Minimum deposit 1 $ (auto-dirigé) — très accessible
- QuestWealth Portfolios: robo-advisor fees from 0.37%/year
- Incoming transfer fee rebate (max. $150/account)
❌ Weaknesses
- Forex spread slightly above best ECN brokers (0.8 vs 0.0 pip RAW)
- No MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) for Forex
- TradingView not available for Forex trading
- ETF sales subject to standard stock commission
- Customer support less responsive according to some users
- Restricted to Canadian residents only
- No direct cryptocurrency trading (spot)
- Minimum deposit QuestWealth 250$ (accessible mais pas nul)
Our Rating by Category
Comparison with Leading Brokers in Canada
| Broker | CIRO | Free ETFs | Registered Accounts | Forex | EUR/USD Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questrade | ✓ Direct | ✓ Yes | TFSA, RRSP, RESP, FHSA | 110+ pairs | ~0.8 pip |
| AvaTrade Canada | ✓ Via Friedberg | ✗ No | ✗ No | 55+ pairs | ~0.9 pip |
| FOREX.com Canada | ✓ Direct | ✗ No | ✗ No | 80+ pairs | ~1.2 pips |
| OANDA Canada | ✓ Direct | ✗ No | ✗ No | 70+ pairs | ~1.6 pips |
| Wealthsimple | ✓ Direct | ✓ Yes | TFSA, RRSP, RESP | ✗ No | N/A |
In this comparison, Questrade stands out as the only broker combining professional Forex trading, commission-free ETFs, Canadian registered accounts (TFSA/RRSP/RESP/FHSA) and direct CIRO regulation — all in a single ecosystem. This is a unique value proposition in the Canadian brokerage landscape.
Is Questrade Recommended?
Yes, Questrade is highly recommended — and is effectively the default choice for the vast majority of Canadian investors and traders thanks to its unique value proposition: the only broker combining commission-free ETFs, Forex trading on 110+ pairs, Canadian registered accounts and direct CIRO regulation.
For long-term investors building an ETF portfolio in a TFSA or RRSP, Questrade is hard to beat — commission-free ETF purchases and QuestWealth management fees among the lowest on the market (from 0.37%/year all-in) make it the preferred choice for hundreds of thousands of Canadians. For active Forex traders, the Questrade Global platform (powered by Saxo) with its 110+ pairs and target spreads from 0.8 pip offers a competitive environment — though the absence of MT4/MT5 and TradingView for Forex is a friction point for traders accustomed to those tools.
Bottom line: Questrade is the ideal broker for Canadians who want everything in one place — passive investing (ETFs, TFSA, RRSP), active trading (Forex, options, stocks) and delegated management (QuestWealth). Direct CIRO regulation and the absence of inactivity fees also make it one of the safest and most flexible choices in the Canadian market.
Open your Questrade Account Now
Commission-free ETFs · Forex 110+ pairs (spreads from 0.8 pip) · TFSA, RRSP, RESP · QuestWealth robo-advisor · CIPF protection $1M CAD
FAQ — Questrade