Scotia iTRADE review
- Stock Trading Fee
- $4.99–$9.99
- Monthly Account Fee
- $0 if conditions met, otherwise $100/yr
- FX Fee
- Varies
- Min. Deposit
- $0
- Available Asset Types
- Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs, IPOs
Our verdict
Scotia iTRADE offers discounted fees for active traders and a practice account, so you can try before you decide.
Consider Scotia iTRADE if you're an active trader, young investor or high-balance trader. Look elsewhere if you don’t trade frequently and want a discount brokerage with low fees.
Best for: Active, self-directed investors.
Pros
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Wide range of accounts and assets
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200+ commission-free ETFs
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Free trades with select Scotiabank packages
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Discounts for active traders, young investors and high-balance traders
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Free practice demo account
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Easily navigate between Scotia iTRADE and Scotia mobile banking apps with single sign on
Cons
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Higher fees than discount brokers
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No fractional share trading
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High minimum balance to waive the annual fee
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Many critical mobile app reviews
Scotia iTRADE’s features
| Fees | Fees are higher than some discount brokerages, but there are discounts for active, young (under 26) and high-balance (over $25,000) investors. |
| Available securities | Stocks, bonds, options, ETFs, mutual funds, GICs and new issues (IPO stocks). |
| Customer support | Contact customer support by phone or email 5 days a week. No live chat option. |
| Mobile app | The mobile app receives many critical reviews for its design and functionality. |
| Research and tools | Third-party data, real-time quotes (extra fees may apply), watchlists, charts, alerts, technical events screener and performance benchmarking tools. |
| Reliability | No major outages have been reported, but some users report glitches when using the mobile app. |
Scotia iTRADE is best for active investors
Scotia iTRADE is good for self-directed investors who want access to advanced tools and features on a platform backed by an established major bank. Existing Scotiabank customers can easily transfer funds to/from their iTRADE accounts, and the mobile app makes it easy to view all your Scotiabank accounts in one place.What you can trade on Scotia iTRADE
- Stocks
- Bonds
- ETFs
- Mutual funds
- Options
- GICs
- IPOs (new issues)
Where Scotia iTRADE shines
Scotia iTRADE offers an impressive array of research tools for beginners and experienced investors. Active (150+ trades per quarter) pay $4.99 instead of $9.99 per equity trade.The $25 quarterly Low Activity Account Administration Fee is waived if you’re 26 years old or younger, you’ve made at least one commissionable trade within the past three months or you hold more than $10,000 in equity across Scotia iTRADE accounts.
Scotiabank’s StartRight Program offers new residents and international students free banking for one year, unlimited fee-free international money transfers and 10 free equity trades with a minimum $1,000 investment in a Scotia iTRADE account.
Where Scotia iTRADE falls short
Compared to discount brokerages and other major Canadian Banks, Scotia iTRADE‘s trading fees are somewhat high. You can’t trade fractional shares, which makes it tough for investors with limited funds to buy into companies with high-priced stocks.
Beginner and intermediate investors may be overwhelmed by certain tools designed for experienced traders.
There’s a $25 annual maintenance fee if you hold less than $15,000 across both registered and non-registered accounts unless you’re 26 years old or younger, you’ve made at least 12 commissionable trades in the past 12 months or you hold more than $25,000 in equity across Scotia iTRADE accounts.
A $100 maintenance fee applies for non-registered investment accounts.
Scotia iTRADE’s fees
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Annual fee | $0 if conditions met, otherwise $100/yr |
| Stock and ETF trade fees | $4.99–$9.99 |
| Inactivity fee | $25/year |
| Wire transfer (domestic and international) | Wire in: No fee Wire out: $25 (plus a clearing fee for US/international wires) |
| Returned cheque/deposit | $25 |
| Outgoing account transfer fee | $100 |
Is Scotia iTRADE legit?
Yes. Scotia iTRADE is owned by Scotia Capital Inc., which is regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). Additionally, Scotia Capital Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), a not-for-profit corporation that safeguards investors’ money in the event that a financial institution goes bankrupt.
Scotia iTRADE offers platforms for different investors
Scotia OnLine is the default Scotia iTRADE trading platform. It offers a streamlined interface, stock screening tools and features like watchlists and alerts. Plus, you can view all your regular Scotiabank accounts and investment accounts in one place.
For $6 to $54.95 per month, get access to Trade Pro, an advanced, customizable platform that lets you stream real-time quotes. Not for beginners, Trade Pro offers a lot for experienced investors who want to customize their interface and access deep-level investment data. The monthly data streaming fee may be waived if you make a minimum number of trades per quarter.
Scotia iTRADE’s app
With Scotia iTRADE mobile you can buy and sell equities, ETFs, options and index options, and you can view option chains. Get real-time market data and track securities on your watchlist. Easily switch between your Scotia iTRADE and other Scotiabank accounts.
Scotia iTRADE’s desktop tools
Deep dive into market performance, company data and stock picks from third-party providers like the Centre for Financial Research & Analysis (CFRA). The platform offers real-time data, customizable watchlists and charts, technical event alerts and powerful stock screening tools.
Use the backtesting feature to see how your current investment strategy would have performed over the last five years. The Performance Reporting tool lets you see how your investments are performing relative to your other iTRADE accounts and popular indices like the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P/TSX Composite.
Scotia iTRADE’s app store reviews
| Google Play app reviews |
3.6 –
★★★★★ 4.3K Scotia iTRADE reviews |
| Apple App Store app reviews |
4.2 –
★★★★★ 14K Scotia iTRADE reviews |
Scotia iTRADE’s customer support
Scotiabank iTRADE customer service can be contacted by phone, email, mail or fax. You can also visit a Scotiabank branch to speak to an agent in person if you want more information about your account.
- Phone
How to open an account with Scotia iTRADE
- Go to the Scotia iTRADE website, and select Get started.
- Use the online application to provide personal information like your name, email address, proof of ID and relevant documents.
- Review and submit your application.
- Get verified and load funds into your account to start trading.
- Set up a Scotia iTRADE practice account if you want to take the platform for a spin before using real funds.
Eligibility and required information
- Canadian resident
- Be at least the age of majority in your province or territory
- Valid ID issued by the Canadian government (name and address needs to match your application)
- Scotiabank account or a void cheque if you want link a non-Scotiabank account to your iTRADE account
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
How safe is Scotia iTRADE?
Some of the safeguards Scotia iTRADE has in place to guard against unauthorized account access include:
- Data encryption
- Two-step verification on the Scotia iTRADE mobile app
- Security questions/answers
- Optional fingerprint or facial recognition login on Apple and Android devices
Compare Scotia iTRADE with other platforms
8.5 Great
Available Asset Types
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs, IPOs
Stock Trading Fee
$4.99–$9.99
Min. Deposit
$0
Signup Offer
New clients can get up to $6,000 and free trades by opening and funding a new account. Valid until August 31, 2026.
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 between $100 and $500 when you open and fund your first Questrade self-directed account and complete qualifying actions. Conditions apply. Offer ends July 23, 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.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
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