Micro-investing is when you invest small amounts of money on a regular basis so that it adds up to a larger investment over time. Micro-investing apps have grown more and more popular among the next generation of investors. Learn how it works and your options for getting started in Canada.
What is micro-investing?
Micro-investing allows you to invest small amounts of money to contribute to building up a profitable fund. The premise is simple: If you make small, frequent contributions over time into an investment portfolio, you have the potential to earn more than if you’d saved it up as cash in a savings account.
Not every micro-investing platform works the same way. Some apps let you buy fractional shares, which are small portions of a full stock or ETF. This lets you invest with just a few dollars, making it easier to start building a portfolio gradually. Others work by investing spare change from everyday purchases when you link your bank account.
Example of spare change micro-investing.
Let’s say you purchase a coffee for $4.60 with your debit card. Your micro-investing app may round up the total purchase to $5 and automatically invest the extra 40 cents into your portfolio. The small amount doesn’t sound like a lot on its own, but it can add up over time into a more sizable investment balance than you might realize.
Which providers offer micro-investing?
The following Canadian brokerages allow you to engage in micro-investing, while also offering competitive fee structures and other helpful trading features.
CIBC Investor’s Edge
CIBC Investor's Edge
7.6
Great
Get 100 free online stock and ETF trades when you open a new account & get up to $15,000 in cashback when you transfer funds from outside CIBC to your new or existing account. Valid until March 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.
CIBC Investor's Edge is the self-directed brokerage arm of one of Canada's Big Five banks, CIBC. While it doesn't offer traditional micro-investing features like fractional shares or automated roundup contributions, investors can use Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs) to gain exposure to high-value US or global stocks in Canadian dollars. CDRs represent a fraction of a foreign share and trade on Canadian exchanges, making it easier to invest smaller amounts without needing to buy full shares or handle currency conversion.
Pros
No minimum deposit required
Discounted trading fees for active, young and student investors
Backed by a major bank
Regulated by CIRO
CIPF member (through its parent company, CIBC Investor Services)
Cons
$6.95 commission fee is high for small investments
Questrade is one of Canada's leading online discount brokerages, known for its low fees, wide range of investment options and user-friendly web and mobile platforms. It lets you start investing with small amounts through fractional share trading, allowing you to buy portions of eligible US stocks and ETFs for as little as $1 with no commission fees. Questrade also has a RoundUp program that automatically invests spare change from everyday purchases made on your linked Visa or Mastercard.
Pros
Fractional shares let you start small
Automatically invest your spare change
No commissions on stock/ETF trades
Regulated by CIRO
CIPF member
Cons
Fractional shares limited to US securities for now
Not all assets are optimized for micro-investing
Signup Offer
Get free contracts, no commissions and a 30 day free trial of Questrade Plus. Use the offer code FREEOPTIONS.
Interactive Brokers is a global brokerage that gives Canadian investors access to a wide range of assets, including stocks, ETFs, options and futures. For smaller-scale investing, Interactive Brokers offers fractional share trading, allowing you to buy portions of eligible US, Canadian or European securities with minimal capital. The platform also provides access to micro and mini futures contracts, which let traders participate in futures markets with smaller contract sizes and lower capital requirements.
Pros
Fractional US, Canadian and European securities available
Set up recurring investments
Free trading courses
Regulated by CIRO
CIPF member
Cons
Commission fee of 0.25–0.85 USD per futures contract
Complex platform not suited for beginners
Monthly Account Fee
$0
Account Types
RRSP, TFSA, Personal, Joint
Available Asset Types
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Index Funds, ETFs, Forex, Currencies, Futures
Moomoo Financial Canada is a low-cost trading platform that gives Canadians access to stocks and ETFs with no account minimums and competitive per-trade pricing. It only offers fractional shares to US residents and doesn't have a round-up feature, but you can use the platform for small-scale investing by starting with lower-priced stocks or ETFs. Its commission fee of $0.0149 per share (with a minimum $1.49 per trade) makes it feasible to invest smaller amounts.
Pros
No minimum deposit required
No currency exchange fees
No account maintenance fees
Regulated by CIRO
CIPF member
Cons
No traditional micro-investing options
Only stocks, ETFs and options available
Signup Offer
Get up to $4,600 in trading perks.
Monthly Account Fee
$0
Account Types
RRSP, TFSA, Personal, FHSA
Available Asset Types
Stocks, Options, ETFs
ETF Transaction Cost
USD$0.99/stock
Option Fee
US stocks and ETFs: USD$0.99/stock (min. US$1.99 per trade)
Get 5% cash back on every dollar you invest up to $15,000 and 1% cash back on any amount above that. Plus, new clients receive unlimited free trades. Use code QTRADE2025. Valid until January 5, 2026. T&Cs apply.
Qtrade Direct Investing is an online Canadian brokerage that offers commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs. It doesn't support traditional micro-investing features, but you can still use that platform for small-scale investing by purchasing low-cost ETFs and stocks and taking advantage of the $0 commission to build your portfolio at your own pace.
Pros
$0 commission
No minimum deposit required
Free research and analysis tools
Regulated by CIRO
CIPF member (through its parent company, Aviso Financial)
Cons
No fractional-share trading
No micro-investing automation
Signup Offer
Get 5% cash back on every dollar you invest up to $15,000 (up to $750 cash back) and 1% cash back on any amount above that (up to max. cash back of $2,000). Plus, new clients receive unlimited free trades. Use code QTRADE2025. Valid until January 5, 2026.
Micro-investing is a suitable option if you’re looking for a cheap, convenient way to start building an investment portfolio. However, because micro-investing requires a long time frame in order to build up significant wealth, it’s well suited for younger investors.
Keep an eye on costs that can eat into what you’re saving or getting back in returns. Double-check fees with the performance of the app’s chosen investment portfolio. For example, if you’re investing only $5 per month, the total fees are $2.50 a month and the returns are less than 1% a month, you’re likely better off sticking to a savings account.
Common fees your micro-investment app may charge include:
Commission/trading fees. Brokers typically charge a commission or trading fee each time you buy or sell a security, ranging from $1–$6.95.
Subscription or management fees. Some apps charge ongoing annual fees of $100 to keep your account open.
Clearing fees. A small charge of $2 may be passed on to investors to cover the cost of settling and finalizing a trade through a clearing house.
Inactivity fees. If you don’t trade for a certain period or don’t meet activity thresholds, you may be charged $25 per quarter.
Currency conversion fees. When buying foreign securities, some platforms charge 1.5%–1.6% to convert your Canadian dollars.
Withdrawal fees. Most investment platforms allow you to withdraw your funds by bank transfer for free, but you may have to pay $25–$50 for wire transfers.
Regulatory fees. Third parties like exchanges, clearing houses or regulatory bodies may charge regulatory fees that vary greatly depending on variables like the share count and price.
Benefits of micro-investing
Many micro-investing platforms offer a quick and simple way to link your bank account, acting like an electronic piggy bank for your spare change.
It’s convenient. Micro-investing requires minimal input on your part. In some cases, the entire process is automated and you can start building an investment balance without realizing it. In other cases, you can access investments you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford.
Establish a savings habit. Micro-investing can help create positive saving habits that last a lifetime. It’s an effective way for Canadians who have never invested their money before to make a start.
Minimal investment required. You don’t need a huge bank balance to take advantage of a micro-investing platform. Start by investing your small change, and watch your balance grow over time.
No need for investment expertise. The money in your investment fund can be balanced in a diversified ETF portfolio based on your financial goals and your appetite for risk.
Like any other investment option, there’s no guarantee that the investment portfolio you choose through your micro-investing platform will perform as you hope, and you could end up losing money. The investment portfolio recommended for you is chosen based on your risk tolerance, so depending on your financial goals, you have the option to minimize your risk exposure.
Potential fees. You may need to pay an account management fee that’s either a flat fee or calculated based on a percentage of your account balance, while brokerage and ETF management fees may also apply when you purchase ETFs through your account.
Easy to forget. Because the investing takes place in the background, you might not remember it’s there. While this can be a good thing for investors who tend to “overmanage” their savings, make sure to regularly review the performance of your investments to ensure they are meeting your expectations.
Market risk. The value of the stocks, ETFs or other assets you invest in can fluctuate due to market conditions, economic growth or global events.
Alternatives to micro-investing
If you’re not ready to break into investments or need quick, on-demand access to your money, check out these similar options offered by banks to boost your savings. Examples include:
Scotiabank’s Bank the Rest program. Your purchases are rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the difference is transferred to a designated bank account.
TD’s Simply Save program. Arrange to have a small, pre-determined amount transferred to your savings account every time you make a debit purchase or an ATM withdrawal.
RBC’s NOMI Find & Save program. This program uses artificial intelligence to analyze your spending habits and automatically move small amounts of money into a savings account when it predicts you can afford it.
KOHO’s RoundUps program. Every purchase you make with your KOHO card will be automatically rounded up to the nearest $1, $2, $5 or $10, depending on the amount you choose.
Bottom line
It doesn’t always take a large amount of money to invest for the future. Through micro-investing features like roundups and fractional shares, you can begin investing without altering your lifestyle and access the investments you want easily and affordably.
Each platform invests a little differently, so compare your options to find the right fit for your budget and spending habits. And if you’re not sure what’s available, check out our guide to the world of investments.
Frequently asked questions about micro-investing
No. Like the majority of bank and brokerage accounts, micro-investing with a Canadian-based company requires government-issued ID to open and is often limited to Canadian citizens.
Yes. Several micro-investing platforms like Wealthsimple offer retirement account options so that your roundups or fractional shares can grow over time inside an RRSP account.
It depends on the platform. Some invest your spare change daily, weekly or monthly, while others wait until your roundups reach a minimum threshold, usually around $5–$10.
Most micro-investing platforms support registered accounts like TFSAs and RRSPs, including all the platforms mentioned in this article.
Sources
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.
Rebecca Low is a writer for Finder. She has contributed to a range of digital publications, including income.ca, Indeed, and Expatden, writing on topics like personal finance, career development, and travel.
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Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
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