Qtrade offers $0 commissions on equities, mutual funds, ETFs and options.
Consider Qtrade Direct InvestingTM if you want to trade a variety of securities on a user-friendly platform. Look elsewhere if you want access to a wide range of advanced research tools.
Best for: Beginner and moderately experienced investors
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.
Pros
No trade fees for ETFs, equities, mutual funds and options
Many types of investments & orders
No minimum balance
Free 30-day trial
Cons
Can't fund accounts via debit or e-wallet
In this guide
Our verdict
Frequently asked questions
Your reviews
Rewards highlight
FINDER REWARDS EXCLUSIVE
Investing
ENDS SOON
Get $80 from Finder
Become a Finder member, then open a new Qtrade Direct Investing account through Finder as a first-time client and fund it with a deposit that settles by the end of the promotion to receive an $80 digital Visa card from Finder + up to $5,000 in cashback (+$100 quick-pay bonus) from Qtrade. Keep your account open and funded until the reward is paid. Offer ends November 30, 2026, 5:00 PM ET.
Separate T&Cs and limits apply.
$0 commissions on equities, mutual funds, ETFs and options
Available securities
Trade stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, GICs, IPOs and options. Access to Canadian and US securities including OTC/Pinksheet stocks.
Customer support
Contact customer service by phone (5 days a week), email or letter mail.
Mobile app
Qtrade’s mobile app has mediocre ratings. Complaints commonly mention inconvenient features.
Research and tools
Real-time quotes; TipRanks, Morningstar and Recognia analysis; charts and portfolio scoring and simulation tools.
Reliability
No major outages have been reported recently.
More pros and cons of Qtrade
Many accounts. Open a TFSA, RESP, RSP/RRSP, RIF/RRIF, LIRA/LRSP, LIF or FHSA. Supports cash and margin accounts as well as dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPS).
Many investment types. Trade stocks (including OTC/Pinksheet stocks and IPOs), bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, GICs and options.
Strong investment research tools. New and experienced investors can make smart, efficient investment decisions with TipRanks analyst consensus ratings ranging from “strong buy” to “strong sell” as well as analysis from sources like Morningstar and Recognia.
Investor Plus. Active, high-balance traders get reduced trading fees, dedicated phone service and no fee with USD registered accounts.
Special offer. 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
Free trial. Take Qtrade Direct Investing for a test spin with a free 30-day trial (view only, no trades).
Minimum purchase amount for mutual funds. You must purchase the minimum amount outlined in the mutual fund’s prospectus or $1,000, whichever is greater.
Limited funding options. You can’t transfer money into your Qtrade account via debit or e-wallet, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Qtrade is good for beginner and moderately experienced investors
Qtrade Direct Investing is good for investors who want to manage their own portfolios and trade a variety of investment types without being overwhelmed by an advanced, complex interface.
Nevertheless, experienced investors can enjoy having access to options trading and limit orders.
IPOs (not all new issues are available through Qtrade)
Where Qtrade shines
Qtrade Direct Investing offers a great balance of user-friendly features and flexible trading options for investors with varying levels of experience. Optional help is available during the application process to guide you in selecting the right account, and photo capture technology makes it super easy to verify your identity.
In addition, Qtrade now has competitive fees, with $0 commissions on equities, mutual funds, ETFs and options.
Choose between a number of popular account types including TFSAs, RRSPs and RESPs. Trade with your own funds, or borrow funds and trade on the margin (not recommended for beginners). The platform supports market and limit orders, so you can buy at the current price or wait until stocks reach a more favourable price.
Where Qtrade falls short
Qtrade Direct Investing doesn’t allow users to fund accounts using a debit or e-wallet. It also doesn’t have access to as many global stock markets as some other Canadian competitors, like Interactive Brokers, does.
Yes. Qtrade Direct Investing is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) through its parent company, Aviso Financial Inc. It’s also eligible for coverage under the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) through Aviso Financial. Qtrade is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Qtrade’s platform is easy to use
Here are some of the tools you can use to trade with on Qtrade Direct Investing:
Access to TipRanks Analyst Ratings, Recognia stock analysis software and Morningstar research and reports
Portfolio score evaluates your portfolio and provides tips on how to improve it
Portfolio simulator shows how your portfolio would be affected if you added/removed assets
Charting tools
Stock screener
Qtrade’s app
With the Qtrade Direct Investing mobile app, you can trade stocks, ETFs and other securities. View real-time stock quotes, see how your investments are performing, transfer funds between your bank and Qtrade, create watchlists more.
Qtrade’s desktop tools
Qtrade Direct Investing‘s desktop app offers real-time market data and screening tools to help you find investments that match your goals and risk tolerance. Create your own stock watchlists to track the performance of specific securities.
Get the latest investment news and insights with the Morning Brief, and benefit from expert recommendations for growth, value and income stocks. Jump on opportunities to invest in the latest public offerings with the New Issues centre.
From the Get Quotes or Quotes and Market Info sections, you can view TipRanks-powered analyst consensus ratings from “strong buy” to “strong sell,” average analyst 12-month price targets, price target estimates and low to high ranges. You can also view individual analysts recommendations and news sources (where available).
Qtrade’s app store reviews
Google Play app reviews
4.2 –
★★★★★
455 Qtrade Direct Investing reviews
Apple App Store app reviews
3.7 –
★★★★★
497 Qtrade Direct Investing reviews
Qtrade’s customer support
You can contact Qtrade Direct Investing by phone, email or letter mail. Phone support is available Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 8:00PM. You can also access lots of helpful how-to articles and FAQs online.
Qtrade Direct Investing follows industry-standard best practices to protect customers’ money and data. This includes using 256-bit encryption, two-factor authentication, firewalls, round-the-clock surveillance, timed logoff and digital site safety certificates issued by trusted third-party companies. The company also restricts employees’ access to customer data.
The Qtrade Internet Security Guarantee states that you’ll be fully reimbursed for any account losses due to unauthorized online brokerage activity, provided you’ve met your responsibilities.
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.
Online brokerage services are offered through Qtrade Direct Investing, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. Qtrade, Qtrade Direct Investing, and Write your own future are trade names and/or trademarks of Aviso Wealth Inc.
Frequently asked questions
Qtrade is an online investment platform that offers self-directed investing through Qtrade Direct Investing and algorithmically-managed robo-advisor services through Qtrade Guided Portfolios. Self-directed investors can trade a wide variety of securities, and you get discounts if you're an active trader (150+ trades per quarter) or 18 to 30 years old.
Qtrade Direct Investing, originally named Qtrade Financial Group, was founded in 1999 and is currently owned by Toronto-based integrated financial services company, Aviso Wealth.
To withdraw funds from a registered account, login to your account, navigate to Accounts, and go to Transfer Funds. Select the account under Withdraw Registered Funds. For some types of withdrawals, such as withdrawing US cash, you'll need to download, complete and send Qtrade a form by fax, email or letter mail.
Qtrade Direct Investing's online application can be completed in minutes. Mobile ID verification takes an additional 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Submitted applications are reviewed in 1-3 business days. Once approved, it takes 1-2 business days for electronic funds transfers to show up in your account. (It may take up to 10 more business days before you can trade or transfer funds out of your account.)
Finder writers are subject matter experts and use primary sources, in-depth research and interviews with other experts to ensure you're getting accurate, up-to-date information. Articles are fact checked in line with our editorial guidelines.
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 all investors. Trading CFDs and 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. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.
Stacie Hurst is an editor at Finder, specializing in loans, banking, investing and money transfers. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Writing, and she has completed FP Canada Institute's Financial Management Course. Before working in the publishing industry, Stacie completed one year of law school in the United States. When not working, she can usually be found watching K-dramas or playing games with her friends and family.
See full profile
Claire Horwood was a writer at Finder, specializing in credit cards, loans and other financial products. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from the University of Victoria, and an Associate’s Degree in Science from Camosun College. Much of Claire’s coursework has focused on writing and statistics, with a healthy dose of social and cultural analysis mixed in for good measure. In her spare time, Claire enjoys rock climbing, travelling and drinking inordinate amounts of coffee.
See full profile
We are an independent comparison platform and information service designed to help you make better decisions. To keep our service free, we receive compensation from the companies whose products or services are featured on our site. We may receive payment when you click on links or apply for products through our platform.
How compensation affects our site
While our commercial arrangements may affect the inclusion, order, position and placement of products on our site, they do not influence our independent assessments or editorial views. The inclusion of a provider or product in content or the order in which products are displayed in tables or lists should not be interpreted as a specific endorsement or recommendation from us.
Our market coverage
We compare a wide range of products, providers, and services, but we do not cover the whole market. There may be other options available to you outside of our platform.
Not financial advice
The information we provide does not constitute financial advice. You should consider your own personal circumstances and read the provider's terms and conditions before making a decision.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
