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10 best stock trading platforms and apps in Canada for 2024

We compared the fees and features of over 15 brokers to find the 10 best stock trading apps for Canadian investors.

Choosing the right stock trading platform is crucial for any investor. The best stock trading platforms are quick and easy to use, have low or no fees and have all the features you need to trade with confidence. But the best platform for you will vary depending on factors such as what you want to trade, how often and whether you’re a beginner or experienced investor.

To help you compare your options, we’ve crunched the numbers to pick the 10 best stock trading platforms and apps in Canada.

Best for Beginners

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  • Easy-to-use platform
  • Low fees
  • Student and young investor discounts

Best for Lowest Commissions

Finder Award
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  • Access to international stock exchanges
  • Low margin rates
  • Powerful research tools

Best for Easy-to-use App

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  • $50 in free trades
  • Low commissions
  • Easy-to-use app

Finder’s best stock trading platforms and apps in Canada for 2024

Methodology: How we chose Canada’s best stock trading platforms

Our first five picks are based on the Finder Stock Trading Platform Awards 2022. To choose the winners, our data team assessed 630 data points across 18 brokers to find the best trading platforms for Canadian investors. The remaining five picks are based on other available options in the Canadian market that offer features and platforms that warrant adding them to the best list.

In the Best Mobile Trading App category, we considered the following factors:

  • App features, such as real-time quotes, research tools, user-friendliness and app store ratings
  • Fees for using the app, including brokerage, deposit, withdrawal, currency conversion, account and inactivity fees
  • The securities available to trade and the order types offered

Read more about how we made our selections in our full methodology.

1. Interactive Brokers – Best overall trading platform and app

Interactive Brokers

Finder score: 4.3 / 5 ★★★★★

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The fact that Interactive Brokers promises to take your investing to the next level signals the type of investors the platform wants to attract. In short, it is well suited to those with plenty of experience in online trading and with plenty of money to trade. It offers access to stock markets in 33 different countries and 68 different order types, including stocks, options, currencies and bonds – far more than other brokerage platforms we looked at.

Interactive Brokers has a tiered pricing structure when it comes to commissions. Basically, the more you trade the cheaper it becomes. There is a minimum commission of $1 per trade and a maximum of 0.5% of the total trade value. The Interactive Brokers web portal has a detailed educational section, with webinars, videos and even a Traders' Academy. It also offers analytical tools to help you make better trading decisions. The offering is so detailed it may be daunting for beginners. Interactive Brokers even lets you borrow money to buy shares, something a beginning investor should be very wary about doing.

Interactive Brokers was the winner of the Overall, US Stocks, International Stock Trading, Day Trading, Long-term Investor, Low-cost Broker and Mobile Trading App awards in the Finder Stock Trading Platform Awards 2022.

Interactive Brokers app store reviews

Google Play app reviewsIBKR GlobalTrader: 3.8/5 stars based on over 420 reviews

IBKR Mobile: 4.7/5 stars based on over 29,400 reviews

Apple App Store app reviewsIBKR GlobalTrader: 2.9/5 stars based on 14 reviews

IBKR Mobile: 4.4/5 stars based on over 2,800 reviews

2. CIBC Investor’s Edge – Best trading platform for beginner traders

CIBC Investor's Edge

Finder score: 3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

100 free trades + up to $4,500 cash back
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CIBC Investor's Edge is an online brokerage that lets you trade a variety of different investment types through its online trading platform. You'll be able to put your money into registered and non-registered accounts, depending on your preferences. The platform is user-friendly and provides a number of resources to help you get acquainted with using the platform. It also gives you access to plenty of research tools to help you make informed decisions about your investments.

CIBC Investor’s Edge app store reviews

Google Play app reviews3.8/5 stars based on over 4,800 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews3.6/5 stars based on over 5,700 reviews

3. Wealthsimple – Best for trading Canadian stocks

PROMOTED

Wealthsimple

Finder score: 3.7 / 5 ★★★★★

Get $25 when you open a Wealthsimple account and fund at least $150.
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Wealthsimple is all about low fees. It does not charge any commissions on trades. And you can make as many trades as you like, free of charge. There are no annual fees or account minimums. It is one of the lowest-cost trading options available to Canadian investors. Wealthsimple stacks up favourably against the other platforms we looked at when it comes to educational resources and tools, with various savings calculators, articles and investor masterclass videos to teach you the basics.

If there is a catch, it's that you are limited in the types of securities you can trade, as Wealthsimple offers mostly stocks and ETFs. You can open a non-registered account, RRSP or TFSA. There is a mobile and web platform, and the application received some of the highest user ratings among platforms we looked at.

Wealthsimple was the winner of the Beginners and Canadian Stocks awards in the Finder Stock Trading Platform Awards 2022.

Wealthsimple app store reviews

Google Play app reviews4.2/5 stars based on over 78,300 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews4.6/5 stars based on over 124,400 reviews

4. Questrade – Best trading platform for low cost with perks

Questrade

Finder score: 4.3 / 5 ★★★★★

Get $50 in free trades when you fund your account with a minimum of $1,000.
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Questrade is one of the cheapest places to buy and sell securities online in Canada. Compared to Wealthsimple, it offers a much larger selection of securities you can trade, including options, foreign currencies and commodity futures. Questrade does not charge an annual fee and you don't pay any commissions when you buy ETFs. Other trading fees range between $4.95 and $9.95. Questrade offers both a web platform and a mobile application, though users complained about lag times on the app.

Questrade app store reviews

Google Play app reviews3.6/5 stars based on over 1,100 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews2.6/5 stars based on over 225 reviews

5. Qtrade Direct Investing – Best for a well-rounded trading experience

Qtrade Direct Investing

Finder score: 3.7 / 5 ★★★★★

Get up to a $150 sign-up bonus. Use code OFFER2024. Ends October 31, 2024.
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A well-known investment broker, Qtrade Direct Investing offers an easy-to-use online platform and mobile trading platform. With low and competitive commissions, you'll also be able to trade 100 select ETFs commission free. You'll get access to independent research tools and online tutorials designed to help you make more-informed decisions about your investments. One downside is that there's a quarterly fee to maintain your account unless you meet certain requirements.

Qtrade Direct app store reviews

Google Play app reviews3.0/5 stars based on 13 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews3.7/5 stars based on 15 reviews

6. RBC Direct Investing – Best trading features

RBC Direct Investing

Finder score: 3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

Use promo code ROL11 to get 100 commission-free trades – a value of up to $995. Ends March 29, 2024

Trade the way you want with RBC Direct Investing, which offers a robust online investing platform, trading dashboard and mobile app. Get real-time quotes for stocks and ETFs, including Level 2 quotes for stocks and ETFs trading on the TSX and TSXV. Use RBC's powerful screener powered by Refinitiv to filter securities based on performance, Morningstar rating or any other criteria you set.

Active traders save on commissions, and margin trading is available with competitive interest rates. Not every platform offers a demo account for you to practice trading without using real money, but RBC Direct Investing does. Plus, you can easily view all your RBC account balances and transfer funds to and from your investment account with a single sign-on.

RBC Direct Investing was the winner of the Trading Features award in the Finder Stock Trading Platform Awards 2022.

RBC Mobile app store reviews

Google Play app reviews3.6/5 stars based on over 38,000 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews4.8/5 stars based on over 207,000 reviews

7. Scotia iTRADE – Best platform for commodity trading

Scotia iTRADE

Finder score: 4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

Scotiabank is one of Canada's Big Six banks. Commissions start at $9.99 per trade, although this is lowered to $4.99 per trade if you make more than 150 trades per quarter. It charges an annual fee of $100 on accounts with less than a $25,000 balance. Here's a cool thing. Scotia iTrade offers a so-called practice account with a fictional portfolio of $100,000 that lets you use the platform and get your feet wet with different kinds of trades using what is essentially play money. Mobile users weren't impressed with the UI or the overall speed of the experience.

Scotia iTRADE app store reviews

Google Play app reviews3.4/5 stars based on over 2,300 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews4.2/5 stars based on over 8,500 reviews

8. National Bank Direct Brokerage – Best trading platform by a big bank

National Bank Direct Brokerage

Finder score: 4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

National Bank is recognized for charging no commissions for trading ETFs, stocks and investment funds. They also charge no trading fee on options, however there is a $1.25 charge per contract. Typically big banks charge commissions on trades, so this is a unique offering that makes National Bank stand out. Other perks include no minimum account balance, a wide range of securities to trade, and a large offering of account types that you can open to start trading.

National Bank Direct Brokerage app store reviews

Google Play app reviews4.3/5 stars based on over 375 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews4.7/5 stars based on over 1,800 reviews

9. BMO Investorline – Best platform for an easy-to-use interface

BMO InvestorLine

Finder score: 3.9 / 5 ★★★★★

BMO Investorline is not the cheapest, nor the most feature-heavy platform. You'll pay $9.95 per trade and an annual fee if you don't meet minimum balance requirements ($15,000 or $25,000 depending on your account). You can trade stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds, GICs and bonds. There's no minimum account balance required. BMO Investorline offers in-house investment research, but you can also access analysis from providers like Morningstar and S&P Global Ratings.

BMO Invest app store reviews

Google Play app reviews3.6/5 stars based on over 1,000 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews4.4/5 stars based on over 2,900 reviews

10. MogoTrade – Best new trading app

MogoTrade

Finder score: 3.9 / 5 ★★★★★

Enjoy commission-free trades and free real-time streaming quotes.
MogoTrade lets you invest in stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for free on your phone. There are no minimum balance requirements and no annual fees, and you can access free real time streaming data to help you determine which investments to make. You'll also get a chance to help replant Canadian forests and save the planet every time you invest. The main drawback is that MogoTrade is still in its rollout phase so many features aren't available and there are limited investment types to choose from.

MogoTrade app store reviews

Google Play app reviews3.7/5 stars based on over 190 reviews
Apple App Store app reviews4.4/5 stars based on over 940 reviews

What is the best stock trading app in Canada for mobile?

Out of the apps we reviewed, the highest rated stock trading app for iOS on the Apple App Store is the RBC Mobile app, which gives you access to RBC Direct Investing. When it comes to the highest rated stock trading apps for Android, there was a three-way tie on the Google Play Store between the Interactive Brokers app, Wealthsimple app and National Bank Direct Brokerage app.

Here is a summary of stock trading app ratings in Canada for iPhones and Androids:

Apple App StoreGoogle Play Store
Interactive Brokers

IBKR GlobalTrader
3.8 – ★★★★★

420+ reviews

IBKR Mobile
4.7 – ★★★★★

29,400+ reviews

IBKR GlobalTrader
2.9 – ★★★★★

14 reviews

IBKR Mobile
4.4 – ★★★★★

2,800+ reviews

CIBC Investor’s Edge

3.8 – ★★★★★

4,800+ reviews

3.6 – ★★★★★

5,700+ reviews

Wealthsimple

4.2 – ★★★★★

78,300+ reviews

4.6 – ★★★★★

124,400+ reviews

Questrade

3.6 – ★★★★★

1,100+ reviews

2.6 – ★★★★★

225+ reviews

Qtrade

3.0 – ★★★★★

13 reviews

3.7 – ★★★★★

15 reviews

RBC Mobile

3.6 – ★★★★★

38,000+ reviews

4.8 – ★★★★★

207,000+ reviews

Scotia iTRADE

3.4 – ★★★★★

2,300+ reviews

4.2 – ★★★★★

8,500+ reviews

National Bank Direct Brokerage

4.3 – ★★★★★

375+ reviews

4.7 – ★★★★★

1,800+ reviews

BMO Invest

3.6 – ★★★★★

1,000+ reviews

4.4 – ★★★★★

2,900+ reviews

MogoTrade

3.7 – ★★★★★

190+ reviews

4.4 – ★★★★★

940+ reviews

What is the best free stock trading app in Canada?

Based on our top picks, the best free stock trading apps that don’t charge a trading fee and come with a $0 account fee are Wealthsimple and MogoTrade.

Most stock trading apps are free to download and also free to sign up for an account. But there are fees you need to be aware of when you trade.

The most common fee is the broker’s commission. While some brokers charge $0 commissions on certain assets, many charge a flat fee per trade. And even if an app does advertise fee-free trading, this will typically only apply to a limited selection of assets (such as Canadian stocks and ETFs).

There are other fees to be aware of too. Many (but not all) brokers charge a monthly fee if your account balance doesn’t exceed a minimum limit, while fees and currency conversion costs may apply if you trade foreign stocks and ETFs.

That’s why even if a broker says it offers “$0 commissions” or “no fees”, it’s always important to check the fine print. Compare a range of apps to find the best free stock trading app for you.

A photo of cameronmillband

Find the stock trading platform that matches your investing needs and style

I opened a self directed investing account with Questrade after researching RESP trading accounts. Wealthsimple has an option for a robo account but I wanted to build my own portfolio. I love the interface on desktop and the app is good after you get the hang of it. ETF trades are free which is what I was looking for. The CESG match is automatically deposited into the trading account which is great. You do need to make an initial deposit of $1,000 when opening the account which might not be ideal for everyone.

— Cameron Millband, Performance Director

How to choose the best stock trading app

The best trading app for you might not be the same as the best choice for someone else. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor, you will have your own unique requirements from a trading app. That’s why it’s important to consider the following factors when comparing your options.

Brokerage fees

Some brokers don’t charge any commissions on Canadian stock and ETF trades, but others charge a flat fee of typically $5–$10 per trade. Others charge a fee based on the number of stocks you buy, for example $0.01 per share, so work out how much it’ll cost you to invest.

Other fees

There are a few other fees that may apply, so check the fine print for any:

  • Subscription fees to access features such as market news, real-time data and expert analysis.
  • Inactivity fees if you don’t make any trades for a specified period of time.
  • Minimum balance fees if your account balance is less than a specified minimum
  • Currency conversion fees if you trade on foreign markets

Ease of use

The best stock trading apps are easy to use right from the moment you sign up. A user-friendly interface is particularly important if you’re a novice investor, so search for an app that offers a simple and intuitive experience. Reading reviews from other users is a great way to work out whether an app is easy to use straight away.

Market access

Do you only want to trade Canadian stocks and ETFs or do you want to invest in US, European, Asian and emerging markets? If you want to trade international stocks, be aware that not all brokers provide access to foreign stock exchanges. Check the list of exchanges you can access and what fees apply to overseas trade.

Tradable assets

Check which securities you can trade from each broker’s app, such as:

  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Options
  • Bonds
  • Futures
  • Mutual funds
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies

Research and analysis

Find out what sort of research and analysis you can access through the app. For example, you may be able to access in-depth market analysis from the broker’s in-house team or a third-party service, plus be kept up to date with the latest market news.

Minimum investment amount

Check whether the broker has a minimum account balance requirement. Some providers don’t have any minimum limits, but others will charge a monthly fee if your balance is less than a specified amount.

Customer support

If you ever have a problem with a trade or a question about your account, how can you get in touch with your broker’s customer support team? Check the contact methods available and the hours during which the support team is available. An online help center with answers to a range of FAQs is also a useful resource.

Other features

Put together a list of any other key features you want in a trading app, such as:

  • Advanced charting tools and technical indicators.
  • Stock screeners that allow you to narrow down your potential investments.
  • Automated investing with a robo-advisor.
  • Social trading that allows you to see and copy other people’s trades.
  • Educational resources to help you learn about trading and how to use all of the app’s features

Other platforms

If you’ll also be placing trades through your broker’s web-based or desktop platform, check out whether those platforms are user-friendly and offer all the key features you need. If there’s a free demo account available, use it to put a platform through its paces with virtual rather than real money.

Is it regulated?

Make sure you only consider brokers that are regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), and that the funds you deposit will be covered under the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).

All of our picks for the best trading app are regulated by IIROC and CIPF, meaning if they go under, your money will be protected up to specified amounts. Some providers also offer 2-factor authentication and high-level encryption of data to keep your account safe.

User reviews

Head to the app store for your smartphone and read reviews from other users. You can also explore customer feedback in places like the Better Business Bureau and Reddit to find out what investors really think about the platform and what issues they run into. Are they happy with the app? Are there any major problems repeatedly mentioned in reviews? Is there a common theme about how the app could be improved?

A photo of matthewmiczulski

How to pick the best stock trading platform

The best trading platforms are the ones that offer a combination of low fees, numerous investment options, a modern trading platform and plentiful resources that help you learn and grow as a trader. But at the end of the day, personal preference matters too.

— Matt Miczulski, Editor, Investments

What are the pros and cons of stock trading apps?

Before you download a stock trading app and sign up for an account, make sure you’re aware of the benefits and drawbacks of trading through an app:

Pros

  • User-friendly. The best stock trading apps in Canada provide a streamlined user experience, making it simple to start building your investment portfolio.
  • Convenient. Stock trading apps make Canadian and global markets more accessible than ever before. You can buy and sell stocks with just a few taps, and make adjustments to your portfolio on the go.
  • Feature-packed. The best stock trading apps let you do more than just buy and sell stocks. They make it easy to track the performance of your portfolio, stay up to date with the latest market news and research potential investment opportunities.
  • Low minimum investment. With many brokers supporting fractional share trading, you don’t necessarily need a big savings balance to start trading.

Cons

  • You need to understand the risks involved. The best stock trading apps make it quick and easy to invest in the stock market, so you need to take care not to fall into the trap of buying and selling on impulse. Make sure you research any potential investment carefully and understand the risks involved before you trade.
  • Lack of advanced features. If you’re an experienced investor searching for advanced charting and technical analysis tools, you may prefer to trade using a desktop or web-based platform.
  • Limited choice on some apps. Some trading apps only provide access to a limited range of tradable assets.

Canadians consider stocks a smart investment option in 2023

According to results from the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q1 (CSTQ1), more than a third (36.18%) of Canadians considered equities to be a smart investment in the first quarter of 2023. This dropped only slightly in the second quarter of 2023 to 27%, according to the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q2 (CSTQ2).

Men preferred stocks as an investment option, with 41% considered Q1 2023 a “good time to invest in stocks,” compared to 32% of female investors.(1)

Age also had an impact on an investor’s confidence in stocks as an investment opportunity. The youngest generation, Gen Z (investors up to the age of 24) had the most confidence in stocks as a good investment opportunity in the first quarter of 2023 with 53% believing “now is a good time to invest in stocks,” compared to 42% of millennials, 31% of Gen X and 19% of baby boomers.

In general, almost a third of Canadians investors (31%) held stocks outside of their registered accounts, such a retirement savings fund (RRSP) or Tax-Free Savings Fund Account (TFSA) and almost three quarters (72%) bought or sold stock through an online stock platform or app. This seems logical, given that 29% of respondents in the CSTQ2 stated they had never worked with and had no plans to use the services of a financial advisor.(2)

Bottom line

There are many things to consider when choosing a stock trading platform or app to buy and sell stocks and other securities. The right trading platform for you will match your needs, so if on-the-go trading is your number 1 concern, you’ll probably end up choosing a different app to someone who wants to focus on commodity trading.

The key thing to remember is to do your research and compare a range of trading platforms first. Start with our range of trading platform reviews to get an idea of what’s available in Canada and the key features you need to consider.

Frequently asked questions

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades.

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