Questrade Review 2026:
Last updated June 2026
Questrade is a strong all-round choice for self-directed Canadian investors who want room to grow. Free stock and ETF trades both ways, US dollars in every registered account, and the country's top-rated customer service carry it. The things to watch out for are a 1.5 percent currency conversion fee and high margin rates that hit currency-converters and borrowers hardest.
Data verified June 2026Is Questrade Worth It? The Bottom Line Up Front
Questrade earns a 7.5 out of 10 and is a strong pick for the broad middle of self-directed investors: people building a long-term portfolio who want a full account lineup, US dollars held natively in registered accounts, and a platform they can grow into. You trade Canadian and US stocks and ETFs commission-free, pay no account or inactivity fees, and get the best independently ranked customer service in Canada. The one caveat that matters: currency conversion costs 1.5 percent, so heavy US-dollar converters and active margin borrowers will find cheaper homes elsewhere.
Who Is Questrade For, and Who Should Skip It?
- Long-term investors who want a complete account lineup (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, LIRA, LIF, RRIF, plus cash and margin) under one roof.
- Anyone holding US-listed stocks and ETFs who wants to keep US dollars in a registered account and skip conversion on every trade.
- Self-directed Canadian investors who value service, Questrade ranks first nationally for client experience.
- Investors who want to start simple and later move up to advanced charting, Level 2 data, and full order types without switching brokers.
- Frequent currency converters, the 1.5 percent currency fee adds up fast on regular Canadian-dollar-to-US-dollar moves.
- Heavy margin borrowers, Questrade's margin rates are well above the cheapest in the market.
- Investors who want to buy and hold cryptocurrency directly, Questrade offers crypto only through ETFs.
- Absolute beginners who want one simple all-in-one money app for spending, saving, and investing together.
For the investors in that second list there are better-suited options, which you can compare in our master comparison table.
Questrade at a Glance
Questrade charges 1.5 percent to convert Canadian dollars to US dollars and back. On a $10,000 conversion that is about $150 each way, though holding US dollars natively or converting in bulk with Norbert's Gambit sidesteps it.
What Are Questrade's Fees?
Questrade's headline is genuinely cheap for the everyday investor, and the real costs sit in the details rather than the trade commission.
Commission-free where it counts
Canadian and US listed stocks and ETFs trade free online, both buying and selling, with no account or inactivity fees and no minimum to open. The costs that remain are currency conversion and margin, and they fall on specific users rather than the average investor.
Trading commissions and the costs that remain
Stock and ETF trades are free. The line items below are where Questrade earns its keep, and where a currency converter or margin borrower pays more than at the cost leaders.
| Fee | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | $0 | Commission-free online, buying and selling, Canadian and US listed. |
| Options | $0 + $0.99 | No base commission, US$0.99 per contract, with tiered monthly refunds. |
| Currency conversion | 1.5% | Built into the exchange rate. About $150 on a $10,000 conversion. |
| Margin (CAD) | ~8.7% | Posted prime plus a spread. US dollars run about 11.25%. |
| Account / inactivity fee | $0 | No administration or inactivity fee, and no minimum to open. |
| Mutual funds | $9.95 | Per trade. ECN fees can apply on some order types but are avoidable. |
Where Questrade is not the cheapest
Currency conversion and margin are where Questrade lags the cost leaders. The 1.5 percent FX fee costs about $150 on a $10,000 conversion versus roughly $2 at Interactive Brokers, and margin at about 8.7 percent on Canadian dollars is well above the lowest rates in the market. For a buy-and-hold investor trading Canadian ETFs in Canadian dollars, neither bites; for a frequent converter or active margin borrower, both do.
Is Questrade's Platform Easy to Use?
Questrade gives you a tiered platform set rather than one app, and that is both its strength and its friction. The everyday web and mobile platforms handle the basics cleanly, and Questrade Edge adds advanced charting, Level 2 market data, and full order types, so you can start simple and grow into the depth without changing brokers. Account opening is fully online and usually takes about a day.
You can move between platforms at any time on the same account.
What Can You Trade with Questrade?
Questrade covers the core of a Canadian portfolio: Canadian and US listed stocks and ETFs, options, bonds, GICs, mutual funds, and new issues, with fractional shares on US listings and US dollars held in any registered account. International access beyond North America runs through the trade desk rather than easy online trading, and there is no direct cryptocurrency, only crypto ETFs.
What Account Types Does Questrade Offer?
Questrade carries one of the broadest lineups available to Canadian self-directed investors: TFSA, RRSP, Spousal RRSP, FHSA, RESP, RRIF, LIRA, and LIF on the registered side, plus cash, margin, joint, corporate, and formal trust accounts. The one notable omission is the RDSP. There is no minimum to open.
Does Questrade Have Good Research Tools?
Questrade's research leans on respected third-party tools: TipRanks analyst ratings, Trading Central signals, and TradingView charting, which is genuinely capable for technical analysis. The deepest real-time data sits behind paid market-data packages or a Questrade Plus subscription, so the richest version is not free, but the included tools cover most self-directed needs.
How Is Questrade's Customer Service?
This is where Questrade is best in market. It placed first in Surviscor's 2026 national review of online brokerage client experience, the latest in a multi-year run at or near the top, with phone, live chat, email, and secure message support over extended weekday hours and a deep help library.
Is Questrade Safe?
Yes. Questrade clears the same regulatory bar as every broker we list, and it is Canada's largest independent online brokerage, operating since 1999. As with every broker, protection covers the failure of the firm, not investment losses.
Final Verdict: Should You Open an Account with Questrade?
For most self-directed Canadians, Questrade is the easiest yes in the category. Free stock and ETF trades both ways, no account or inactivity fees, US dollars in registered accounts, and the best-rated service in the country add up to a broker that does almost everything well and very little badly. The honest weak spots are the 1.5 percent currency fee and expensive margin, both of which matter to specific users rather than the average investor. If you convert currency constantly or borrow heavily on margin, look at Interactive Brokers. If you want one simple all-in-one money app, Wealthsimple is gentler for absolute beginners. For everyone building a long-term portfolio who wants room to grow, Questrade is a strong default.
Affiliate disclosure: Broker Guide Canada may earn a commission when you open an account through links on this page. See our Disclosures page for more details.
Ready to Open an Account?
New clients who open and fund a first self-directed account with code GET300 can earn a tiered cash bonus of up to $300, and Questrade rebates the transfer fee your old broker charges.
Our scoring rubric weights affiliate revenue at 0 percent, brokers are ranked on the same categories regardless of commercial relationships. Promo terms current as of June 2026, verify with Questrade before signing up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Questrade
Is Questrade really free to use?
Stock and ETF trades are commission-free to buy and sell online, and there are no account administration or inactivity fees and no minimum to open. You will still pay $0.99 per contract on US options, a 1.5 percent currency conversion fee when you exchange money, possible ECN fees on certain order types, and $9.95 per mutual fund trade.
Does Questrade charge to sell ETFs?
No. Selling Canadian and US listed ETFs online is free, alongside buying. This is a change from Questrade's older policy, where buying ETFs was free but selling them carried a commission.
Can I hold US dollars in my Questrade TFSA or RRSP?
Yes. Every Questrade account is dual-currency, so you can hold Canadian and US dollars in any account, including registered ones, and trade US securities without converting on each transaction.
How much does Questrade charge for currency conversion?
1.5 percent, built into the exchange rate. On a $10,000 conversion that is about $150. You can reduce it by holding US dollars natively or by using Norbert's Gambit to convert in bulk.
What account types does Questrade offer?
TFSA, RRSP, Spousal RRSP, FHSA, RESP, RRIF, LIRA, and LIF on the registered side, plus cash, margin, joint, corporate, and formal trust accounts. The one gap is the RDSP, which Questrade does not offer.
Does Questrade offer cryptocurrency?
Not directly. You can get crypto exposure through ETFs held in a Questrade account, but you cannot buy, hold, or withdraw the coins themselves. For direct crypto, a registered Canadian crypto platform is the better route.
Is Questrade good for beginners?
Yes, with a caveat. The everyday platform is straightforward and the service is the best ranked in Canada. If you want a single app that combines spending, saving, and investing, Wealthsimple is simpler, but Questrade gives you far more room to grow.
How does Questrade compare to Wealthsimple and Qtrade?
Questrade wins on account breadth and the ability to grow into advanced tools, ties on the 1.5 percent currency fee with Wealthsimple's base tier, and matches Qtrade near the top for service. See the head-to-head in our Questrade vs Wealthsimple comparison and the full comparison table.
