Qtrade vs Questrade: A full breakdown

Compare two of Canada’s most popular trading platforms to find out which one is the best fit for your needs. 

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Questrade vs qtrade

Choosing the right trading platform can make a big difference in how easily and affordably you can invest. Questrade and Qtrade are two of Canada’s most popular online brokerages, each offering commission-free stock, ETF and options trading, registered accounts and a range of tools for different investing styles.

In this guide, we compare Questrade vs. Qtrade on fees, features, investment products and user experience to help you decide which platform is the better fit for your financial goals.

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Questrade vs Qtrade: An overview

QuestradeQtrade
Founded in19992000
Best forGo with this platform if you want commission-free trading for many types of securities.Go with this platform if you want commission-free trading and access to educational tools and online tutorials.
After-hours tradingYes, from 4:00 am to 9:30 am and 4 pm to 8 pm ET Monday to Friday, and 8:00 pm to 2:00 am ET Sunday to Friday on certain US-listed stocks and ETFsLimited, between 8:30 am and 9:29 am ET, and between 4:00 and 5:00 pm ET on US market trades
Minimum deposit
  • Self-directed investing account: $0
  • Questwealth Portfolio: Typically $250
$0
Fractional sharesYes, for eligible Canadian and US securitiesNo
Customer supportAvailable via phone, email, live chat and in person at Questrade’s North York locationAvailable via phone, email and live chat
Minimum age1818
Funding methods
  • Online banking bill payments
  • Interac e-Transfer
  • Pre-authorized deposit
  • Transfers from another bank or broker
  • Wire transfer
  • Non-certified cheque
  • Online banking bill payments
  • Interac e-Transfer
  • Pre-authorized deposit
  • Transfers from another bank or broker
Withdrawal methods
  • Electronic funds transfer
  • Wire transfer
  • Cheque
  • Electronic funds transfer
Get started
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What is Questrade?

Questrade is an online brokerage that provides self-directed investing and a managed portfolio service called Questwealth Portfolios. Through its web and mobile platforms, clients can trade stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds and other securities. Questrade also offers commission-free stock, ETF and options purchases, registered accounts for tax-deferred or tax-free growth and an advanced trading platform called Questrade Edge for more experienced investors.

What is Qtrade?

Qtrade is an online brokerage and a division of Aviso Financial Inc. that offers both self-directed and managed investing options through Qtrade Guided Portfolios. It provides access to stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options and other securities through its web platform and mobile app. Qtrade also offers promotions for new customers, cashback, portfolio analytics and planning features designed to help investors make informed decisions.

Quick video breakdown: Qtrade vs Questrade

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Questrade vs Qtrade: Investment products

Both Questrade and Qtrade provide a range of investment products suited to different types of investors, from beginners to active traders. Here’s a breakdown of what you can trade on each platform.

Questrade

  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Options
  • GICs
  • IPOs
  • Pre-IPO investments
  • CFDs
  • Mutual funds
  • Bonds
  • FX
  • International equities
  • Precious metals

Qtrade

  • Stocks
  • Mutual funds
  • ETFs
  • Crypto ETFs
  • Options
  • Bonds
  • New issues
  • GICs

Award iconWho’s the winner?

Questrade for its wider range of investment options, such as precious metals and international equities.

Questrade vs. Qtrade: Fees

Fee typeQuestradeQtrade
Account fee$0$0
Trading fees
  • Stocks: $0
  • ETFs: $0
  • Options: $0 + $0.99 per contract or free for USD equity options
  • Precious metals: $19.95 USD/trade
  • Bonds and GICs: $0 (min. $5,000 purchase) for GICs and $24.95 per trade for bonds
  • Mutual funds: $9.95/trade
  • International equities: 1% of the trade value in USD (min. $195)
  • Stocks: $0
  • ETFs: $0
  • Options: $0 + $0.75 per contract
  • Mutual funds: $0
Management fee0.2%–0.25%
  • $2,000–$100,000: 0.60%
  • Next $400,000: 0.50%
  • Next $500,000: 0.40%
  • Above $1 million: 0.35%
Currency conversion fee1.5%varies based on volume converted
Withdrawal fee$0 for Interac e-Transfers (up to $50,000 CAD or $25,000 USD)$0
Deposit fee$0$0
Inactivity fee$0$0
Account transfer fee$150$150

Award iconWho’s the winner?

Qtrade. While both platforms offer no account or commission fees on stocks, bonds and ETFs, Qtrade offers lower fees on options, mutual funds and currency conversions.

Questrade vs Qtrade: Account types

Questrade and Qtrade offer the same types of accounts to suit different investing goals, including:

  • TFSA
  • FHSA
  • RRSP
  • RESP
  • RRIF
  • LIRA
  • LIF
  • Margin
  • Cash (including trusts, company accounts and joint accounts)

Both brokerages also let you hold and trade in CAD and USD, but they handle it differently. With Questrade, you can hold both currencies within a single account, making it easier to trade US securities without converting your funds each time. Qtrade, on the other hand, generally requires separate CAD and USD accounts if you want to hold both currencies.

Award iconWho’s the winner?

Questrade. Although both brokerages offer the same account types, Questrade offers more flexibility when it comes to managing multiple currencies in one place.

Questrade vs Qtrade: Margin accounts

Questrade and Qtrade both offer margin accounts that let investors borrow against their eligible investments to increase buying power.

Questrade’s margin account supports stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, GICs and short selling, while Qtrade’s margin account can be used to trade stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds and options, as well as short sell stocks.

The main difference between the margin accounts Questrade and Qtrade offer is Questrade’s Margin Power feature. This allows investors to link their TFSA to their margin account and use its equity to increase their buying power without actually moving the funds.

Another difference is the standard margin account interest rates both platforms offer for non-registered accounts:

QuestradeQtrade
CAD prime rate4.45%4.45%
CAD margin rate (<$100,000)Prime + 4.25%Prime + 1.55%
CAD margin rate ($100,000+)Prime + 3.25%Prime + 1.00%
USD prime rate6.75%6.75%
USD margin rate (<$100,000)Prime + 4.50%Prime + 1.55%
USD margin rate ($100,000+)Prime + 3.50%Prime + 1.00%

Award iconWho’s the winner?

Qtrade. Although Questrade supports a slightly broader range of investments and has a unique Margin Power feature, Qtrade’s margin rates are significantly lower.

Questrade vs Qtrade: Investor experience

Questrade offers several platforms, including its standard Questrade platform, Questrade Edge and Questrade Pro. Questrade Edge is its established advanced trading platform, while Questrade Pro is the next evolution with new tools like AI-powered research and automated pattern detection. As of August 2026, Questrade Pro is in open beta and free to use until September 30, 2026, while Questrade Edge remains available.

In contrast, Qtrade is more tailored to beginners as it emphasizes ease of use and provides guided support, with user-friendly web and mobile platforms, portfolio simulation tools and educational resources that teach new investors about diversification, risk and long-term planning.

Both platforms also have their own robo-advisor services that help beginners start investing with minimal effort. Questrade’s Questwealth Portfolios builds and manages a diversified ETF portfolio automatically, while Qtrade Guided Portfolios assists new investors in creating and maintaining a balanced portfolio with guided recommendations and automatic rebalancing.

Award iconWho’s the winner?

Questrade. Although beginners can take advantage of either platform’s robo-advisor services, more advanced investors may find Qtrade limiting.

Questrade vs. Qtrade: Learning and tools

Questrade and Qtrade both offer a variety of educational resources and tools to help investors improve their skills, but they cater to slightly different needs.

Questrade offers a broader range of resources, including webinars, third-party research tools and market insights, which can benefit both new and more advanced investors. Some of its notable resources include:

  • OptionsPlay
  • Passiv
  • Morning Brief
  • TipRanks
  • SeekingAlpha
  • IPO Centre
  • TradingView
  • VectoreVest
  • Wealthica

Qtrade focuses on beginners, providing structured tutorials, step-by-step guides and portfolio planning tools that make it easier to learn investing fundamentals. Here are some of the platform’s educational resources:

  • Morningstar Analyst Ratings
  • Morning News Call
  • Portfolio Score
  • Portfolio Simulator
  • Portfolio Creator
  • Goal Planning
  • Watchlists
  • Recognia

Award iconWho’s the winner?

Questrade. While both brokerages provide educational resources and investment tools, Questrade offers a wider selection tailored to both beginner and advanced investors.

Questrade vs. Qtrade: Canadian regulatory bodies

Both Questrade and Qtrade (under its parent company, Aviso Financial) are registered dealers with the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), which oversees investment dealers and trading activity. They’re also members of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), which protects eligible assets up to $1 million in the event of a broker’s insolvency.

Award iconWho’s the winner?

It’s a tie. Both brokerages are regulated by CIRO and CIPF members.

Questrade vs. Qtrade: Security features

Questrade offers advanced security features, including Digicert verification to help confirm safe transactions, alerts for suspicious logins, Touch ID/Face ID login and a PIN system to save time on security questions when contacting customer support. Questrade also has an Online Security Guarantee, offering 100% reimbursement for any unauthorized transactions.

Qtrade emphasizes a multi-layered approach to online security through 256-bit encryption, trusted digital certificates and powerful firewalls to protect client data. All accounts require two-factor authentication and users can set up trusted devices so any login from a new device triggers alerts and approval requirements. Qtrade also offers an Internet Security Guarantee, reimbursing account holders for losses from unauthorized online activity as long as clients follow best security practices.

Award iconWho’s the winner?

It’s a tie. Both Questrade and Qtrade meet industry standards for account security and client protection.

Questrade vs Qtrade: Market data

Questrade provides comprehensive market data, including Level 1 quotes with the best bid and ask prices and last trade, as well as Level 2 market data for securities listed on Canadian and US exchanges through an optional paid subscription for its Questrade Edge platform.

Level 2 data can be useful for analyzing market depth, timing trades and making more informed investment decisions by showing the full order book beyond the best bid and ask prices.

Qtrade offers Level 1 data for real-time quotes and free Level 2 quotes for Canadian exchanges during order execution. This means you can see market depth at the moment you place a trade, but you don’t have ongoing access to the full order book like you do with Questrade.

Award iconWho’s the winner?

Questrade. Its paid Level 2 data covers both Canadian and US markets and provides full, continuous access to the order book.

How do the mobile apps for Questrade vs. Qtrade compare?

Both Questrade and Qtrade offer mobile apps for Android and iOS. On Questrade’s app, users can trade on the go, access real-time market data and set up customizable alerts for price changes and trading activity. Questrade also has an app for its advanced trading platform called Questrade Edge, which enables users to execute complex orders like straddles and bracket orders.

Qtrade’s mobile app also offers trading on the go, real-time market data and a customizable watchlist so users can monitor their preferred stocks.

Here’s a look at each app’s user ratings on the Apple App Store and Google Play:

QuestradeQuestrade EdgeQtrade Direct Investing
Apple App Store rating 4.7 – ★★★★★
19,406 Questrade reviews 		4.5 – ★★★★★
4,881 Questrade Edge reviews 		3.7 – ★★★★★
497 Qtrade Direct Investing reviews
Google Play rating 4.3 – ★★★★★
12.3K Questrade reviews 		4.3 – ★★★★★
4.22K Questrade Edge reviews 		4.2 – ★★★★★
455 Qtrade Direct Investing reviews

Award iconWho’s the winner?

Questrade offers two mobile apps, both with a higher rating and a greater volume of user reviews than Qtrade’s app.

Other features we like about Questrade vs. Qtrade

Trial account

Qtrade offers a 30-day trial account that lets prospective clients explore the platform before opening a funded account. The trial provides view-only access to research and analysis features, but trades can’t be placed. Questrade doesn’t offer a trial account for its self-directed investing platform, but it does offer a separate 30-day practice account through Questrade Global for practising forex and CFD trading with $100,000 CAD virtual cash.

Automatic contributions

Questrade and Qtrade allow you to set up automatic contributions from a linked bank account, helping you keep your investment plan on track. Choose the amount you want to contribute and the frequency from weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

Dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs)

Questrade and Qtrade both offer dividend reinvestment plans for eligible Canadian and US stocks and ETFs. With a DRIP, any cash dividends you receive will be automatically used to purchase additional shares of the same security, helping your investments grow through compounding over time.

reddit logoWhat does Reddit think of the Questrade vs. Qtrade debate?

On Reddit, the Questrade vs Qtrade debate is mixed, with opinions varying based on user experience and trading style. Many users like Questrade’s modern platform, wide range of tradable securities and low fees.

Qtrade, on the other hand, is often described as reliable and stable, though some find its interface dated and slow compared with Questrade. One user also mentioned having to pay a $100 account closure fee with Qtrade for closing their account within the first year of opening it, but many users like the cashback and signup bonus offers that the platform provides.

Who’s the final winner?

Questrade and Qtrade cater to different types of investors. Questrade excels with its broad range of tradable securities, advanced trading features and tools that support both beginners and experienced investors.

Qtrade, on the other hand, is designed for newcomers, offering a simple interface, guided portfolio options and educational resources to help investors learn as they go.

Ultimately, Questrade is better suited for investors seeking flexibility and advanced tools, while Qtrade is ideal for those who prefer a more guided, beginner-friendly experience.

Award icon

For active traders and investors who want more features and investment options, the winner is Questrade.

For beginners and casual investors, the winner is Qtrade.

Alternatives to Questrade and Qtrade

While Questrade and Qtrade are two strong options for Canadian investors, they’re not the only brokerages worth exploring. Here are some of the best trading platforms and apps in Canada to consider.

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is a global brokerage known for its advanced trading tools, low fees and access to international markets. It’s ideal for active traders and those looking to trade a wide range of securities, including stocks, options, ETFs, cryptocurrency and forex, though beginners may find the platform complex.

Moomoo

Moomoo offers low-cost trading on stocks, ETFs and options using a per-share pricing model, along with a user-friendly mobile app and access to real-time market data. It’s a good choice for investors seeking a modern platform with research tools and educational resources.

CIBC Investor’s Edge

CIBC Investor’s Edge is a Canadian bank-owned brokerage that combines competitive fees with easy integration to CIBC banking accounts. It’s best suited for investors who prefer a simple, reliable platform and value the security and convenience of trading with a major Canadian bank.

Bottom line

Ultimately, choosing the right brokerage depends on your investing experience and goals. Questrade stands out for its low fees, broad range of tradable securities, advanced trading tools and extensive research and educational resources, making it ideal for both new and experienced investors.

Qtrade is a strong option for beginners who prefer guided tutorials, portfolio planning tools and an easy-to-use interface, though more advanced investors may find its offerings limiting over time. And, if you’re not sure how to get started, read our guide to online trading in Canada for step-by-step instructions.

Frequently asked questions about Questrade vs. Qtrade

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Rebecca Low is a writer for Finder. She has contributed to a range of digital publications, including Wise, income.ca and Indeed, writing on topics like personal finance, career development, and travel. See full bio

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