How to invest in the NYSE

It's easy to trade on the world's largest stock exchange. Here's how you can trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Tom Stelzer

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Can I invest in the NYSE from Canada?

Yes, it’s relatively straightforward to invest in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Canada. These days, most trading platforms and brokers provide access to US stock markets, including the NYSE and NASDAQ. There are also stock trading apps and brokers that offer access to US stocks.

How to invest in the NYSE

  1. Choose a broker or trading platform. When choosing a platform, make sure it gives you access to the NYSE, or at least lets you trade the specific NYSE stocks you want to invest in. Different brokers also have different fee structures, and it’s important to find the one that will be most cost-effective for the way you’d like to invest.
  2. Open a share-trading account. Once you’ve selected a broker or platform, you’ll need to open a trading account before you can start investing in the NYSE.
  3. Deposit funds. In order to begin trading, you’ll need to deposit money into your account. Depending on which platform you use, your money may be automatically converted from CAD into US dollars, and you may need to pay a forex fee.
  4. Buy stocks on the NYSE . Once your account is funded, you’ll be able to buy and sell shares. Most brokers or platforms will let you search for the specific stocks on the NYSE you want to buy.

Compare trading platforms with access to the NYSE

9 of 9 results
Finder Score Available Asset Types Account Types Stock Trading Fee Monthly Account Fee
9.1 Excellent
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs, IPOs
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal, Joint, FHSA, Margin
$0
$0
$80$80 Reward

Finder Rewards: Join Finder then open a new Qtrade Direct Investing account through Finder as a new Qtrade client and fund it with a deposit that settles by the end of the promotion to receive an $80 digital Visa gift card. Ends 30 Nov 2026. T&Cs apply.

Earn up to $5,000 in cashback (+$100 quick-pay bonus) when you open and fund a new Qtrade account. Valid until January 5, 2027. T&Cs apply.
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9.6 Excellent
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, Index Funds, ETFs, Forex, GICs, Precious Metals, IPOs
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal, Joint, FHSA, Margin
$0
$0
Get $50 cash back when you open a Questrade self-directed investing account through Finder. T&Cs apply.
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CIBC logo
7.9 Great
CIBC Investor's Edge
7.9 Great
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs, Precious Metals, IPOs
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal, Joint, Business, FHSA, Margin
$6.95
$0 if conditions are met, or $100
Young investors 18 to 24 get free online Canadian and US stock and ETF trades and a $0 annual fee using CIBC Investor’s Edge and a chequing account with CIBC Smart Start. T&Cs apply.
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Wealthsimple logo
8.6 Great
Wealthsimple Investing
8.6 Great
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal, FHSA, Margin
$0
$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.
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BMO logo
8.2 Great
BMO InvestorLine Self-Directed
8.2 Great
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs, Precious Metals, IPOs
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal, Joint, FHSA, Margin
$0
$0
Get up to $20,000 cash back. Plus, get a chance to win $300,000. Apply by March 1, 2027. T&Cs apply.
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RBC logo
6.2 Standard
GoSmart by RBC Direct Investing
6.2 Standard
Stocks, ETFs
RRSP, TFSA, FHSA
$0 - $9.95
$0
Open your first GoSmart account and earn up to 7,500 Avion points when you invest. Valid until January 11, 2027. T&Cs apply.
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Interactive Brokers logo
9.4 Excellent
Interactive Brokers
9.4 Excellent
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Index Funds, ETFs, Forex, Currencies, Futures
RRSP, TFSA, Personal, Joint, Business, FHSA, Margin
Min $1.00, Max 0.5%
$0
View details
Compare product selection
Moomoo logo
8.6 Great
Moomoo
8.6 Great
Stocks, Options, ETFs
RRSP, TFSA, Personal, Margin
$1.49/stock
$0
View details
Compare product selection
Webull logo
8 Great
Webull
8 Great
Stocks, ETFs
RRSP, TFSA, Personal, Margin
$0
$10/year
View details
Compare product selection
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Showing 9 of 9 results

Finder Score for stock trading platforms

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Trading costs, account fees and features across 10+ stock trading platforms and apps are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score, the better the platform—it's that simple.

Read the full methodology

How much does it cost to invest in the NYSE?

This will depend on the specific broker or trading platform you use, as each has its own fee structure. When comparing platforms, it’s important to understand the types of trading fees you’re going to be charged, as this can have a big influence on the cost of investing.

Some brokers charge high commissions on individual trades, so if you’re only planning on investing small amounts, it will be a lot more cost-effective to go with a broker that has commission-free trades. You can compare trading fees below:

Broker trading fees

Below is a breakdown of the basic fees you’ll pay when making a single NYSE trade using each broker:

A cheaper alternative may be to invest in an NYSE index fund, which tracks the performance of certain stocks without you having to buy the stocks directly. Exchange-traded funds in particular are a low cost way to get exposure to the stocks on the NYSE, with annual fees that are far below what traditional stock brokers usually charge.

Other ways to invest in the NYSE

If you want to invest in the NYSE without having to buy stocks directly, there are a couple of ways to do so. The most common method is to invest in an ETF or index fund, which tracks the performance of all or certain stocks on the NYSE. If the value of those stocks goes up, so does the value of your fund.

There are hundreds of index funds available for the NYSE, so there’s likely to be one that closely suits your investing goals. Many of the most famous stock market indices, such as the Dow Jones, NYSE Composite and S&P 500, also track stocks listed on the NYSE.

NYSE ETFs

  • Guggenheim S&P 500 Pure Growth ETF (NYSE Arca|RPG)
  • iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Mkt (NYSE Arca|ITOT)
  • iShares NYSE Composite Index Fund (NYSE Arca: NYC)
  • iShares Russell 3000 Index (NYSE Arca|IWV)
  • Schwab Fundamental US Broad Market Index ETF (NYSE Arca|FNDB)
  • Schwab US Broad Market ETF (NYSE Arca|SCHB)
  • Vanguard Total World Stock (NYSE Arca|VT)
  • Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE Arca|VTI)
  • Vanguard Total International Stock (NYSE Arca|VXUS)
  • Vanguard Russell 3000 (NYSE Arca|VTHR)

Why should I invest in the NYSE?

The New York Stock Exchange is by far the world’s largest stock exchange, with a total market capitalization of over $20 trillion. It features over 2,800 stocks, including some of the most valuable companies in the world. If you’re looking to diversify your portfolio, the NYSE offers more access to stocks and securities than any other exchange in the world, including US stocks that you can’t buy on the London Stock Exchange.

With many brokers and trading platforms now offering easy access to US stock markets, investing in the NYSE can be a good way to broaden your portfolio and get exposure to successful stocks.

Is now a good time to invest in the NYSE?

There’s no single best time to invest in the NYSE. Stock prices can rise or fall based on a number of factors, including economic conditions, interest rates, company performance and geopolitical events, making it difficult to predict market movements. If you’re investing for the long term, you may want to consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon rather than trying to time the market.

Frequently asked questions about investing in the NYSE

Important information: Powered by Finder.com. This information is general in nature and is no substitute for professional advice. It does not take into account your personal situation. This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, 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 most investors. You do not own or have any interest in the underlying asset. Capital is at risk, including the risk of losing more than the amount originally put in, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Tax on profits may apply. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination for the product on the provider's website. Consider your own circumstances, including whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money and possess the relevant experience and knowledge. We recommend that you obtain independent advice from a suitably licensed financial advisor before making any trades.

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Tom Stelzer is a writer for Finder specialising in personal finance, including loans and credit, as well as small business and business loans. He has previously worked as a freelance writer covering entertainment, culture and football for publications like FourFourTwo and Man of Many. He has a Master of Media Arts and Production and Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney. See full bio

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