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Secure their future. Combine high-interest savings with government grants (CESG) to grow your child's education fund safely.
On National Bank of Canada's secure site
On Servus Credit Union's secure site
On TD Canada Trust's secure site
On Scotiabank's secure site
On Scotiabank's secure site
A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a Canadian registered account designed to help families save for a child’s post-secondary education. One of its biggest advantages is access to government education grants (eligibility rules apply). This guide explains the key RESP concepts and what to compare on this page—so you can choose with confidence.
An RESP helps you save for education by combining your contributions, potential government grants (if eligible), and tax-sheltered growth inside the account.
Use filters to match provider type, fees, and features, then sort by Lowest Monthly Fee or Highest Interest Rate (if the product is rate-based). If two options look close, the usual tie-breakers are contribution flexibility, withdrawal rules, and fees.
A major reason families open an RESP is access to education-related grants. The most well-known is the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), which is generally based on contributions and has annual and lifetime limits. Some families may also qualify for additional support depending on circumstances and program rules.
RESPs are often described as individual or family plans. The right choice depends on your family situation and how you want to organize beneficiaries. Providers can structure these differently, so the most important thing is to confirm the rules for contributions and withdrawals.
RESP withdrawals can be split into different components. The most important idea is that your contributions are treated differently from grants and growth. The beneficiary’s situation can also affect how withdrawals are handled.
When RESPs look similar, the difference is often fee structure and flexibility (how easy it is to contribute, pause, transfer, or withdraw).
