RBC GoSmart review
- Stock Trading Fee
- $0 - $9.95
- Monthly Account Fee
- $0
- Min. Deposit
- $0
- Available Asset Types
- Stocks, ETFs
Our verdict
RBC's mobile-first platform for new investors offers a free and easy way to start your investing journey, but it's not without limitations.
RBC GoSmart is well worth a look if you're a beginner investor. It offers unlimited trades on over 50 ETFs, plus 50 commission-free trades each year on Canadian and US stocks and ETFs. You can invest through an RRSP, TFSA or FHSA, and it's easy to set up recurring investments in selected iShares ETFs.
It's a basic trading app, so don't expect cash or margin accounts or any advanced trading tools. But if you just want a streamlined platform for investing with CAD, and if you won't exceed your yearly limit of 50 free trades, it ticks a lot of important boxes.
Best for: RBC clients looking for an easy way to start investing.
Pros
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Beginner-friendly platform
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Supports commission-free trading
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Easy to set up a recurring investment
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Invest in a TFSA, FHSA or RRSP
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No minimum investment required
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$50 welcome bonus
Cons
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You'll need to be an RBC client
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Selected registered accounts only
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$9.95 fee per trade once you exceed your annual limit of free trades
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Currency conversion costs apply when trading US securities
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Stocks and ETFs only
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No advanced trading tools
RBC GoSmart features
| Fees | 50 free trades per year on Canadian and US stocks and ETFs, plus uncapped commission-free trading on 50+ ETFs. Brokerage fees apply once you exceed your yearly free trade limit. |
| Available securities | Trade Canadian and US stocks and ETFs. |
| Customer support | You can reach out to customer support by phone (Mon-Fri), email, live chat or by visiting an Investor Centre. |
| Mobile app | The RBC Mobile app has a clean user interface but has received some mixed reviews regarding glitches. |
| Research and tools | Limited access to research and analysis tools. |
| Reliability | Some users report glitches. The mobile app is occasionally down for routine maintenance. |
What is RBC GoSmart?
Launched in February 2026, GoSmart is a new investing platform from RBC. It’s a beginner-friendly mobile platform designed to make it easy for new investors to trade stocks and ETFs. GoSmart operates alongside RBC’s existing platform for more experienced investors, RBC Direct Investing, and can be accessed through the RBC Mobile app.
If you open a GoSmart account, you can invest exclusively in three types of registered accounts:
- Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)
- Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs)
- First Home Savings Accounts (FHSAs)
The platform offers 50 commission-free trades of Canadian and US stocks and ETFs each year. You can also trade a selection of 53 ETFs commission-free.
Finally, GoSmart also gives you the opportunity to set up a recurring investment into one of four ETFs:
- iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio (XEQT)
- iShares Core Growth ETF (XGRO)
- iShares Core Balanced ETF (XBAL)
- iShares Core Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio (XCNS)
Who is RBC GoSmart best for?
Beginners and casual investors. If you’re new to investing, GoSmart offers a simple and straightforward way to get started. And with 50 fee-free trades per year, it offers a low-cost way to start your investing journey—especially if you plan to buy and hold for the long-term.
GoSmart is definitely not a good fit for active and advanced traders. It doesn’t offer professional-grade charting tools, advanced order types or cash or margin accounts. And if you exceed your yearly free trade limit, you’ll pay a very pricey $9.95 on every subsequent trade.
What you can trade on RBC GoSmart
- Canadian stocks and ETFs
- US stocks and ETFs
Pros and cons of RBC GoSmart
Pros
- Beginner-friendly app. GoSmart boasts a clean and intuitive user interface that is simple for new investors to understand and navigate.
- Commission-free trading. You get 50 commission-free stock and ETF trades per year, along with no-fee trading of 53 ETFs.
- Recurring investments. Automate your investing by setting up a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly recurring investment into one of four iShares ETFs that suits your financial goals and risk tolerance. You can change your recurring investment whenever you want, and these repeat transactions don't count toward your 50 commission-free yearly trades limit.
- Tax advantages. Investing in a registered account like a TFSA, RRSP or FHSA allows you to make the most of the tax benefits those accounts offer.
- No minimum investment. There is no minimum investment required to start trading with GoSmart.
- Live streaming data. You get access to live streaming data to help inform your investing decisions.
- Invest with Avion points. RBC GoSmart also allows you to invest using your Avion points, so you can turn your credit card rewards into funds for investing.
- $50 welcome bonus. If you sign up for a GoSmart account by July 31, 2026 and deposit at least $500 by April 2, 2027, you will receive a $50 welcome bonus.
- Quick and easy signup. It only takes minutes to open an account, and GoSmart supports instant transfers to and from your RBC bank accounts so you can start trading straight away.
- All in one app. You can manage your GoSmart investments alongside all your other RBC accounts and products in the RBC Mobile app.
Cons
- You need to be an RBC client. You'll need to become an RBC client and open an RBC bank account to use GoSmart.
- Registered accounts only. You can only invest through a TFSA, FHSA or RRSP—cash accounts, margin accounts and other registered accounts are not supported.
- Limited commission-free trades. GoSmart only supports 50 commission-free trades per year, and a $9.95 fee applies per trade once you reach that limit, so it's not suitable for active traders.
- Currency conversion costs. GoSmart is CAD only, so you'll need to factor currency conversion costs into your calculations when trading US securities
- No transfers in. GoSmart cannot accept transfers in from other investment accounts, including transfers from RBC accounts.
- Stocks and ETFs only. If you want to invest in options, mutual funds, bonds, international stocks or other assets, you'll need to consider other trading platforms.
- No advanced trading tools. If you want features like advanced order types, in-depth market research and professional charting tools, you'll need to look elsewhere.
- Mobile-first won't suit everyone. If you prefer investing online or via a desktop app, GoSmart may not be right for you.
RBC GoSmart fees
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Stock and ETF trade fees | $0 for first 50 trades per year, $9.95 for subsequent trades $0 on selected ETFs |
| Inactivity fee | $0 |
| Outgoing account transfer fee | $150 |
Is RBC GoSmart legit?
Yes, it most certainly is. As a Big Five bank and the largest Canadian bank in terms of assets, RBC needs no introduction.
GoSmart is offered by RBC DIrect Investing, which is a registered investment dealer overseen by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). It is also a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), which offers up to $1 million of protection for your assets in the event of dealer insolvency.
What research tools does RBC GoSmart provide?
RBC GoSmart users get access to mobile tools and research in the RBC Mobile app, with basic access to RBC’s online trading platform. Live streaming data is also available so you can check up-to-date stock and ETF prices when trading.
But GoSmart users don’t get access to the RBC Trading Dashboard, which is a customizable workspace for advanced traders. Trading Dashboard provides Level 2 market data, news feeds and advanced charts, but you’ll need to have an RBC Direct Investing account to access it.
RBC GoSmart vs RBC Direct Investing
GoSmart was launched alongside RBC Direct Investing, which will continue to offer brokerage services in Canada. The two platforms are designed with different users in mind, so let’s look at how they compare side-by-side.
| RBC GoSmart | RBC Direct Investing | |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Beginners who want easy, low-cost investing | Experienced investors who want access to a wider range of assets, research and trading tools |
| Investment products | US and Canadian stocks and ETFs | US and Canadian stocks and ETFs, international equities, mutual funds, options, bonds, GICs, precious metals, IPOs |
| Account types | TFSA, FHSA, RRSP | Cash, margin, TFSA, FHSA, RRSP, RESP, RRIF, business, trust |
| Pricing |
|
|
| Currencies | CAD | CAD, USD, EUR, GBP, HKD |
| Platforms | RBC Mobile app | Online, RBC Mobile app, Trading Dashboard |
| Transfer in from an investment account | No | Yes |
RBC Mobile app
GoSmart is accessible through the RBC Mobile app. It features a clean and streamlined user interface, making it easy to check the latest prices, place buy orders and monitor your portfolio.
But the RBC Mobile app as a whole has received mixed reviews. It gets a good average rating on the App Store and is praised for its ease of use, but Google Play reviewers rate it much lower, with several complaints about app glitches.
| Apple App Store reviews | 4.7/5 stars based on 211,000+ ratings |
| Google Play reviews | 2.4/5 stars based on 48,000+ ratings |
RBC GoSmart customer support
If you need help with your GoSmart account, you can get in touch with customer support in the following ways:
- Phone
- Chat
- In-person at an Investor Centre in Toronto or Montreal
How to open an RBC GoSmart account and start investing
If you’re not an existing RBC client and RBC Mobile user, you will need to open an RBC bank account before you can open a GoSmart account.
You will then be able to open a GoSmart account in the RBC Mobile app, and deposit funds from your RBC account into your GoSmart account. After that, choose the stock or ETF you want to purchase and place your first buy order.
Eligibility
To open a GoSmart account you will need to:
- Be a Canadian resident
- Be the age of majority in your province or territory
- Have a valid RBC personal bank account
Compare RBC GoSmart with other platforms
9.6 Excellent
Available Asset Types
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, Index Funds, ETFs, Forex, GICs, Precious Metals, IPOs
Stock Trading Fee
$0
Min. Deposit
$0
Signup Offer
Get $125 by using our Questrade promo code FINDER125 when signing up (with a $250 minimum deposit). Offer ends June 22, 2026.
7.9 Great
Available Asset Types
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs, Precious Metals, IPOs
Stock Trading Fee
$6.95
Min. Deposit
$0
Signup Offer
Get 200 free trades for 2 years, using promo code EDGE2026. Valid until September 30, 2026.
8.6 Great
Available Asset Types
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
Stock Trading Fee
$0
Min. Deposit
$0
Signup Offer
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.
Bottom line
If you bank with RBC and you’re looking for an easy way to start investing casually, GoSmart is an attractive proposition. It’s dead simple to use, lets you avoid trading fees, and makes it easy to automate your investing.
It’s certainly not the perfect choice for everyone—active traders or anyone wanting to trade US stocks without paying a foreign exchange spread, for example, will want to look elsewhere. But if you just want a user-friendly platform for commission-free stock and ETF trading, GoSmart is a solid pick.
Frequently asked questions
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