About Questrade
Questrade remains the premier destination for self-directed Canadian investors seeking professional-grade capabilities without the exorbitant fees of major banks. Renowned for offering free ETF purchases, it is a powerhouse for long-term passive investors. Crucially, Questrade supports true dual-currency accounts, allowing users to hold USD cash natively in registered accounts (TFSA/RRSP) to bypass punitive currency conversion fees. With flexible interfaces ranging from the intuitive QuestMobile to the advanced Questrade Edge platform, it perfectly balances usability with the deep analytical tools required by serious US stock traders.
The Good
- CIRO & CIPF Regulated Dealer
- No Inactivity Fees
- 100% Free Stock & ETF Trading
- No Account Maintenance Fees
- Hold USD Cash in Registered Accounts
The Bad
- $1,000 minimum deposit required to open
- Selling ETFs costs standard commission ($4.95 min)
Fee Structure
Updated 2026| Fee Type | Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Options Commission
|
Base $0 + $0.99/contract for CAD options. US options as low as $0/contract based on volume.
|
$0 |
|
Mutual Fund Commission
|
$9.95 per trade for Mutual Funds.
|
$9.95 |
|
Registered Account Fee (Annual)
|
No annual fees for registered accounts (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, RRIF).
|
$0 |
|
Transfer Out Fee
|
$150 fee for full or partial transfers out to another institution.
|
$150 |
|
FX Conversion Fee / Spread
|
1.5% currency conversion fee on CAD/USD conversions.
|
1.5% |
|
ECN / Routing Fee
|
No ECN fees for Canadian securities. Specific US routed orders that remove liquidity incur $0.003 - $0.004/share.
|
Not listed |
|
Stock Trade Commission
|
$0
|
$0 |
|
ETF Trade Commission
|
$0
|
$0 |
|
ETF Buy Commission
|
$0
|
$0 |
|
ETF Sell Commission
|
$0
|
$0 |
|
Inactivity / Low Balance Fee
|
No inactivity fees
|
$0 |
Key Features
Free Stock Trading
Pay absolutely $0 in base commission fees when buying or selling eligible stocks.
Free ETF Buy
Purchase Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) with zero commission fees (standard fees may still apply when selling).
Free ETF Sell
Sell your Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) with absolutely zero commission fees.
CIRO Member
CIRO-regulated dealer
Best for Active Traders
Built for high-volume traders, offering lightning-fast execution, advanced order routing, and highly sophisticated order types.
U.S. Dollar (USD) Accounts
Hold US dollars natively in your account to avoid paying punishing currency conversion fees every time you trade US stocks.
Extended Hours Trading
Trade during pre-market and after-hours sessions, helping you react to earnings, news, and market-moving events.
Discount Broker
A highly cost-effective platform that significantly undercuts traditional bank fees, keeping your trading expenses to a minimum.
Fractional Shares
Buy slices of expensive stocks or ETFs with as little as $1, making it incredibly easy to diversify a small portfolio.
Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP)
Automatically reinvest your cash dividends to buy more shares, accelerating your portfolio's compound growth over time.
Advanced Charting & Research Tools
Access institutional-grade technical indicators, Level 2 market data, and deep fundamental analysis tools.
No Inactivity Fee
You will not be charged any recurring penalties or maintenance fees for simply holding your investments without trading.
Margin Trading
Borrow money against your existing portfolio to increase your buying power and potentially amplify your returns.
CIPF Protected
Your account is safeguarded by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) against the insolvency of the brokerage.
Mobile App (iOS & Android)
Manage your portfolio, execute trades, and monitor the markets on the go with a fully-featured mobile application.
Mutual Fund Trading
Access thousands of professionally managed mutual funds from leading financial institutions.
Options Trading
Trade options contracts to hedge your portfolio, generate income, or speculate on future price movements.
Stock Trading
Buy and sell individual equities listed on major North American and global stock exchanges.