Best trading platform for beginners for 2026

If you’re a new investor, the world of online stock trading can seem daunting—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Many stock trading platforms and apps are designed specifically for beginners, making it quick and easy for anyone to start buying and selling stocks. In this guide, we’ll show you how to find the best trading platform in Canada for beginners and compare six popular stock trading apps for new investors to help you find the right platform for you.

The best trading platform for beginners

• Overall best trading platform for beginners: CIBC Investor's Edge
• Best low-fee trading platform for beginners: Questrade
• Best user-friendly trading platform for beginners: Wealthsimple Investing
• Best simplified big bank platform for beginners (stocks and ETFs only): RBC GoSmart
• Best beginner stock trading app with helpful features: Interactive Brokers
• Best mobile stock trading app for beginners: Moomoo
• Best beginner trading platform from a big bank: Scotia iTRADE

Finder Score	Stock Trading Fee	Monthly Account Fee	FX Fee	Min. Deposit
Overall best trading platform for beginners
7.9 Great CIBC Investor's Edge	7.9 Great	$6.95	$0 if conditions met, or $100	0.2%–1.6%	$0	Get 200 free trades for 2 years, using promo code EDGE2026. Valid until September 30, 2026. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it CIBC Investor's Edge is our top pick as the best trading app for beginners. This big-bank brokerage offers competitive fees, user-friendly online and mobile trading, and the ability to trade stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options and more. There's also commission-free stock and ETF trading for investors under 25 who also have a chequing account with CIBC Smart Start. And as your investing knowledge grows, Investor's Edge offers a range of advanced order types and charting tools to help inform your trading decisions. Pros & cons Pros Low fees for a big-bank brokerage Discounts for students and young investors Easy to set up watchlist and alerts Plenty of useful research tools Cons You'll find lower commissions elsewhere Inconvenient account funding if you don't have a CIBC account $100 annual fee if you don't meet a minimum balance requirement
Best low-fee trading platform for beginners
9.6 Excellent Questrade Exclusive	9.6 Excellent	$0	$0	1.5%	$0	Finder exclusive: Get $125 cash back with the Questrade promo code FINDER125. Offer ends June 22, 2026. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Searching for a user-friendly trading platform where you can also save on fees? There's a lot to like about Questrade. This Canadian brokerage offers commission-free stock and ETF trading, and it supports fractional shares so you don't need a big investing budget to get started. And with a beginner-friendly trading platform and mobile app at your fingertips, plus research tools to help you identify trading opportunities, Questrade is a top option for new investors. Pros & cons Pros Zero-commission trades Supports fractional share trading User-friendly mobile app Pre-built investment portfolios also available Instant deposits Cons No joint accounts available Minimum $5,000 for bonds, GICs and IPOs
Best user-friendly trading platform for beginners
8.6 Great Wealthsimple Investing	8.6 Great	$0	$0	1.50%	$0	Get a 1% match cash bonus on eligible $25,000+ transfers from other financial institutions to your Wealthsimple Self-directed Investing and Managed Investing accounts. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Wealthsimple offers self-directed trading of over 14,000 stocks and ETFs on Canadian and US markets. Streamlined online and mobile trading platforms make it easy for the average person to start investing, while fractional trading means you don't need a big bank balance to get started. And with commission-free trading and handy features like automatic investing also available, Wealthsimple is one of the best trading platforms for beginners. Pros & cons Pros Instant deposits Supports fractional share trading Commission-free trading No annual account fees User-friendly app Cons Other platforms allow you to trade a wider range of assets $10 monthly fee with USD accounts for Core clients 1.50% foreign exchange fees
Best simplified big bank platform for beginners (stocks and ETFs only)
6.2 Standard RBC GoSmart	6.2 Standard	$0 - $9.95	$0		$0	Open your first GoSmart account and get $50 when you deposit $500. Valid until July 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it For beginners who want to start trading with a big bank, but without the typical complicated investing platform and instead want a stripped-back, mobile-first experience, RBC GoSmart is the best option. The platform is designed for investors who want a simplified experience, which is why it exclusively supports trading stocks and ETFs, cutting out the noise of more advanced order types. Investors can also set up recurring investments, enabling a set-and-forget investment strategy. Users can invest using various types of registered accounts like TFSA, RRSP and FHSA accounts, and get 50 commission-free stock & ETF trades per year, which can be just enough for passive investors. Pros & cons Pros Beginner-friendly platform 50 commission-free stock & ETF trades per year Easy to set up a recurring investment No minimum investment required Invest in a TFSA, FHSA or RRSP Cons High fee per trade once you exceed the annual free trade limit Currency conversion costs apply when trading US securities No advanced trading tools or order types You'll need to be an existing RBC client
Best beginner stock trading app with helpful features
9.4 Excellent Interactive Brokers	9.4 Excellent	Min $1.00, Max 0.5%	$0	0.08–0.2 bps trade value, min $1.00–$2.00 USD	$0	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Interactive Brokers offers a complete trading platform with a huge range of trading tools and resources, but that doesn't mean it's not beginner-friendly. This popular brokerage makes it quick and easy to sign up and start trading, while the IBKR GlobalTrader mobile app offers a streamlined and user-friendly trading experience. You can also access 160 markets around the world, plus free research and analysis to help you identify investing opportunities. Pros & cons Pros Access a huge range of global markets Separate trading platforms to suit beginners and advanced traders User-friendly mobile app Low commissions Cons Only 1 free withdrawal per month Some advanced features may overwhelm beginners Monthly fee if you want real-time market data
Best mobile stock trading app for beginners
8.6 Great Moomoo	8.6 Great	$1.49/stock	$0	0%	$0	Get up to 30 free stocks, 6% on uninvested cash, commission-free trades for 30 days and up to $2,300 in cash rewards. Offer ends August 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Discount brokerage Moomoo is well worth a closer look if you're searching for the best stock trading app for beginners. Pros & cons Pros No account minimum User-friendly interface Free Level 2 market data Demo account available Low fees Cons Canadian and US securities only No maximum fee limits Mixed reviews on Trustpilot
Best beginner trading platform from a big bank
8.5 Great Scotia iTRADE	8.5 Great	$4.99–$9.99	$0 if conditions met, otherwise $100/yr	Varies	$0	New clients can get up to $6,000 and free trades by opening and funding a new account. Valid until August 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Scotiabank's self-directed investing platform, Scotia iTRADE, is our pick for the best trading platform from a big bank in Canada. It offers newbie investors a well-built trading platform, especially ideal for active traders, young investors and high-balance traders who can take advantage of trading fee discounts. One of Scotia iTRADE's biggest benefits for beginner investors is its practivce trading account with $100,000 in fake CAD and USD funds users can use to test out different types of trades before actually making the trade on the market. While there are fees per trade, the platform comes with some solid perks including including third-party data and performance benchmarking tools. Pros & cons Pros Wide range of accounts and assets Free trades with select Scotiabank chequing accounts Free practice demo account Access Scotia iTRADE and Scotia mobile banking apps with a single sign-on Cons Higher fees than discount brokers No fractional share trading High minimum balance to waive the annual fee

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Summary of the best trading platforms in Canada for beginners

From trading commissions to educational resources and research tools, there are lots of key features to look for when choosing a trading platform. Check out the table below for a quick rundown of what some of the best trading platforms in Canada for beginners have to offer.

Trading platform	Stock trading fee	ETF trading fee	Educational resources	Analysis and research tools	Access to a financial advisor
CIBC Investor's Edge	$6.95	$6.95
Questrade	$0	$0
Wealthsimple	$0	free
RBC GoSmart	$0 - $9.95
Interactive Brokers	Min $1.00, Max 0.5%	Min. $1.00, Max. 0.5%
Moomoo	$1.49/stock	USD$0.99/stock
Scotia iTRADE	$4.99–$9.99	$9.99 ($4.99 if completed 150 trades or more a quarter)

What is a stock trading platform?

A stock trading platform is an online system that allows you to buy and sell stocks. This software connects you with financial markets in Canada and around the world, allowing you to trade stocks, bonds, commodities and a whole lot more.

Stock trading platforms are offered by brokers and by financial institutions like the Big Five banks. As well as the ability to execute trades, they also offer all the information you need to inform your trading decisions, like real-time market price data, the latest market news, and stock research and analysis.

And while some platforms offer advanced charting tools and order types for experienced traders, the best stock trading platforms for beginners tend to keep things simple. They offer user-friendly online and mobile trading interfaces, low or no trading commissions, and educational resources to help you learn more about trading.

What is the best trading platform in Canada for beginners?

CIBC Investor’s Edge is the overall best trading platform in Canada for beginners. It combines user-friendly online and mobile trading with competitive fees and plenty of research tools to help you choose stocks. And with fee discounts for young investors, it’s worth a look if you’re just starting your investing journey.

But the best stock trading app for beginners can vary from one person to the next. The right platform for you is the one that you find the easiest to use, that provides access to the markets and assets you want to trade, and that offers the lowest fees for the type of trading you do.

That’s why it’s important to compare a range of stock trading platforms for deciding where to open an account.

How to choose the best trading platform as a beginner

Choosing the best stock trading app for beginners can be a confusing task. To help make your choice easier, look for the following features when comparing platforms.

Low fees

The best trading platform for beginners will offer low or no commissions on stock and ETF trades. Learn more about how to save on fees in our guide to commission-free stock trading.

You’ll also need to check whether there are any other platform fees to worry about, such as:

• If you want real-time market data to see up-to-date stock prices, will you need to pay a subscription fee?
• Is there a quarterly or annual account maintenance fee? (This can sometimes be waived if you meet a minimum balance requirement.)
• If you’re trading on international markets, what currency conversion fees apply?

Ease of use

The right platform for you will be simple and straightforward to use. One way to test this out is to sign up for a paper trading or practice account — this lets you try out the features and user-friendliness of a platform before committing any real money.

You can also read customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Google Play and the App Store to make sure a broker offers user-friendly online and mobile trading.

Available markets

If you just want to trade Canadian and US stocks and ETFs, most brokerage platforms have got you covered. But if you also want to trade on international markets, or trade other assets like options and mutual funds, you’ll need to shop around to find a trading platform that meets your needs.

Research and analysis

Look for a beginner-friendly trading platform that offers access to market research and stock screening tools to help you choose your investments. Many platforms also offer access to analysis and stock recommendations from reputable third-party providers — check whether these are available for free or if you’ll have to pay an additional fee.

Account types

The most basic type of trading account is a cash account where you can deposit funds and start buying and selling stocks. But many trading platforms also provide registered accounts like TFSAs, RRSPs, FHSAs and RESPs that offer various tax benefits.

And if self-directed investing isn’t for you, some platforms also offer access to a range of managed investment portfolios. They take the hassle out of choosing your investments, but management fees apply.

Customer support

If you ever have a problem with a trade, how can you contact customer support? Check which communication channels are available and during which hours support is provided.

Educational resources

The best beginner trading platform will also provide you with lots of resources to help expand your trading knowledge. Look for free explainer articles, how-to videos and webinars that you can use to become a smarter investor.

How to sign up for stock trading apps for beginners

Ready to create a stock trading account? Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1: Compare stock trading platforms

Compare online stock brokers to find the right trading platform for your needs. Look for a platform that offers low fees, access to the markets you want to trade and a user-friendly interface. You might also want to look for the best brokerage signup bonuses to sweeten the deal when you sign up for an account.

Step 2: Fill out an online application

You can apply for a trading account by filling out an online application with the following information:

• Your name, address and date of birth
• Your email address and phone number
• Your SIN
• Details of your income, assets and net worth

Step 3: Verify your identity

You’ll need to provide a government-issued form of photo ID, such as a driver’s licence or passport, to verify your identity. You’ll typically be asked to upload a photo of your ID document.

Step 4: Deposit funds

Now it’s time to transfer money from your bank account to your trading account. Depending on the broker you choose, you may be able to send funds via e-Transfer, direct deposit, debit card, wire transfer or bill payment.

Step 5: Start trading

Once your funds have cleared, you can start trading. Research the stocks and ETFs you want to trade, and use the trading platform’s stock screener to identify potential investments.

How much money do I need to begin on a trading platform?

You don’t need to be super-rich to start trading stocks. In fact, you don’t need much money at all. Most brokers have no minimum deposit requirement, so the days of needing thousands to start trading are long gone.

Many stock trading platforms also allow you to buy and sell fractional shares. This allows you to buy a portion of a high-priced stock, such as a quarter or half a share. So if you want to invest in a stock priced at $500 but you only have $100 to invest, you can do so.

Check the table below for the minimum deposit requirements for some of the best trading platforms for beginners.

Should I start with a paper or demo trading account?

If you’re not ready to risk any real money just yet, many stock trading platforms offer what are known as paper trading accounts. Also referred to as practice or demo accounts, these accounts offer all the features of a regular trading account but with one key difference: you trade with fake money.

So instead of risking any of your hard-earned cash straight away, you get the chance to practise trading strategies and learn how the platform works first. The trades are executed just as they would be in the real world — you use the same interface to place trades and the value of the stock you “buy” moves up and down in line with the market.

Paper trading accounts can be a great way to learn the basics before risking any money. The downsides are that you won’t make any money from your trades, and you might make different trading decisions than you would if you were trading with real cash.

Are online stock trading platforms safe?

Yes, online stock trading platforms are safe — provided that you choose a reputable and regulated broker. Choose a stock trading platform that is regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). If the broker is also a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), you’ll also be protected if the investment company becomes insolvent.

Of course, you’ll also need to be aware of the risks involved in trading stocks and ETFs. Markets can be volatile and there is a risk of losing the money you invest, so make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting yourself into before you start trading.

What are the best types of trades for beginners?

As a new investor, it’s generally recommended that you keep things simple. Rather than complicated assets and strategies, such as forex trading or day trading, you might want to start by investing in stocks and ETFs with the aim of long-term price growth. This is a lower-risk approach and a simple way to wrap your head around the basics of investing.

As you go you will learn how to place buy and sell orders, how to monitor the performance of your investments, and get a feel for how financial markets work. And as you gain more knowledge and experience, you can develop and refine a trading strategy that suits your investment goals.

Bottom line

Stock trading seems daunting and a little overwhelming at first, but getting started is a lot easier than you might think. The best trading platforms in Canada for beginners offer user-friendly interfaces, low fees and educational resources to help you boost your investing knowledge. Compare a range of providers to find the stock trading platform that’s right for you.

FAQs about the best trading platforms for beginners in Canada

• Can I buy stocks without a brokerage or trading account?

  You need a brokerage or trading account to buy and sell stocks on an exchange. There may sometimes be exceptions to this, such as if you buy shares directly from a company through its Initial Public Offering (IPO), but most investors will need to open an account with an online broker.

• Is Robinhood available in Canada?

  No, Robinhood is not available in Canada and is designed to be used by US residents only. Check out our guide to Robinhood alternatives for similar platforms in Canada.

• Can I trade stocks through an app?

  Yes. Most online brokerages also offer mobile apps that you can use to place trades, check the latest market data and monitor your investments. These apps are free to download from Google Play and the App Store.

• Can I start trading with $100?

  Yes, you can start trading stocks with $100 — or potentially even less. Most trading platforms don't have any minimum balance requirements, and many also support fractional share trading to make high-priced stocks available to a wider range of investors.

• How do beginners trade stocks in Canada?

  To start trading stocks as a beginner, you'll need to create an account with an online stock trading platform or app. Once you've created an account, you can deposit money from your bank account and place your first trade.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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