Questrade Self-Directed Investing

A self-directed brokerage with $0 online Canadian and U.S. stock and ETF commissions and free dual-currency accounts.

Cash admin fee$0

Canadian stocks$0 buy / $0 sell

U.S. stocks$0 buy / $0 sell

Standard tierQuestrade

Institution: Questrade
Official website: https://www.questrade.com/pricing/self-directed-commissions-plans-fees ↗

Brokerage context

Overview

Questrade Self-Directed Investing provides $0 online commissions to buy and sell stocks and ETFs listed in Canada or the United States. U.S. regulatory charges and limited direct-route, OTC or overnight-market ECN fees can still apply. Options, mutual funds, international equities, currency conversion and administrative requests have separate pricing.

Individual cash, TFSA, RRSP and FHSA accounts have no opening, annual or inactivity fee. CAD and USD can be held directly, including in registered accounts, while converting between the currencies costs 1.5%. Questrade Plus is a separate CA$19.99 monthly tier and is not required for standard commission-free trading.

The platform lineup includes web, mobile and the Questrade Pro desktop application. Free real-time Level 1 stock and ETF data is included, while expanded and Level 2 packages cost extra. Margin, short selling, fractional shares, advanced charts, options tools, direct routing and automated order instructions are supported.

Eligibility facts

Standard account and commission facts

These facts describe the standard tier without relying on temporary promotions. Pass-through, foreign-exchange, service, and paid-tier costs appear below.

Individual accounts

CASH: Available · $0 recurring feeIndividual cash accounts are available with no opening, annual or inactivity fee. Questrade has no annual account or inactivity fee.
TFSA: Available · $0 recurring feeIndividual dual-currency TFSAs are available without a recurring administration fee. Questrade lists TFSA accounts as free and has no annual account fee.
RRSP: Available · $0 recurring feeIndividual dual-currency RRSPs are available without a recurring administration fee. Questrade lists RRSP accounts as free and has no annual account fee.
FHSA: Available · $0 recurring feeIndividual FHSAs are available without a recurring administration fee. Questrade lists FHSA accounts as free and has no annual account fee.

Standard online commissions

Canadian Stock: Buy $0 · sell $0Online Canadian-listed stock buys and sells have $0 commission. Buy: Online Canadian-listed stock purchases have $0 commission and no Canadian ECN fee. Sell: Online Canadian-listed stock sales have $0 commission and no Canadian ECN fee.
Canadian Etf: Buy $0 · sell $0Online Canadian-listed ETF buys and sells have $0 commission, excluding fund expenses. Buy: Online Canadian-listed ETF purchases have $0 commission and no Canadian ECN fee. Sell: Online Canadian-listed ETF sales have $0 commission and no Canadian ECN fee.
Us Stock: Buy $0 · sell $0Online U.S.-listed stock buys and sells have $0 commission; direct routing, overnight trading and regulatory charges are separate. Buy: Online U.S.-listed stock purchases have $0 commission; limited direct-route and overnight ECN cases can apply. Sell: Online U.S.-listed stock sales have $0 commission; SEC and limited ECN charges can apply.
Us Etf: Buy $0 · sell $0Online U.S.-listed ETF buys and sells have $0 commission, excluding fund expenses, direct-routing, overnight and regulatory charges. Buy: Online U.S.-listed ETF purchases have $0 commission; limited direct-route and overnight ECN cases can apply. Sell: Online U.S.-listed ETF sales have $0 commission; SEC and limited ECN charges can apply.

Full inventory

Fees, access, platforms, and capabilities

Accounts and tiers

Individual accounts: Cash, margin, TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, LIRA, RRIF and LIF
Joint and entity accounts: Joint margin, trusts, estates, corporate cash and margin, partnership and sole proprietorship
Standard tier: Questrade at CA$0 monthly with no balance, activity or trade-count requirement
Questrade Plus: CA$19.99 monthly paid tier with expanded data, free journalling and other benefits

Minimums and recurring fees

Account opening: Free; CA$0 required to start self-directed investing
Annual account fee: None
Inactivity fee: None at any balance
Dual-currency accounts: Included free
Questrade Plus subscription: CA$19.99 per month; not required for standard trading

Service and transfer fees

Incoming transfer fee reimbursement: UnknownA standing public reimbursement policy was not established from the reviewed official sources.
EFT: Free for CAD and USD
Wires and cheques: CA$20 CAD wire; CA$30 USD wire; CA$40 international wire; CA$50 uncertified cheque
Institutional transfer out: CA$150 for full or partial account transfer
Deregistration: CA$50 partial and CA$100 full for listed retirement plans; HBP and LLP CA$25 partial and CA$50 full
Journalling shares: CA$9.95 per request; free and unlimited with Questrade Plus
Certificates and DRS: Generally CA$300; rush and other certificate services cost more
Electronic documents: Free; copies and retrieval generally CA$20
Estate settlement: CA$200

Investments and trading costs

Canadian and U.S. stocks and ETFs: $0 online buy and sell commission
U.S. equity options: $0 commission and contract fee; assignment free; exercise CA$24.95
Canadian options: CA$0 base plus CA$0.99 per contract
U.S. index options: Volume-tiered through September 27, 2026; US$0.99 per contract from September 28, 2026
Mutual funds: CA$9.95 per buy or sell
Bonds and GICs: Dealer remuneration in price or rate; CA$5,000 minimum purchase
International equities: 1% of trade value in USD; US$195 minimum
Trade desk: CA$45 in addition to applicable regular fees
Pass-through charges: U.S. SEC sales fee and limited direct-route, OTC or overnight ECN fees

Foreign exchange and currency

Dual-currency handling: CAD and USD can be held in registered accounts without forced conversion
Currency conversion: 1.5% for CAD-USD conversion
Margin account conversion: Not automatic; an unsupported-currency purchase creates a debit balance and interest

Markets

Commission-free listings: Stocks and ETFs listed on Canadian or U.S. exchanges
Extended hours: U.S. overnight session supported with a US$0.003 per-share fee
Other investments: Options, mutual funds, bonds, GICs, new issues, international equities, precious metals and private investments

Trading features

Fractional shares: Supported
Margin and short selling: Available in margin accounts
Dividend reinvestment: Free
Direct routing: Available through Questrade Edge platforms; route-specific ECN fees can apply

Platforms and market data

Platforms: Web, mobile and free Questrade Pro desktop platform
Live market data: Real-time stock and ETF bid, ask and last prices plus options snap quotes; free
Expanded data: CA$9.95 monthly or included with Questrade Plus; U.S. streaming and OPRA data
Advanced data: US$44.95 monthly for Canadian and U.S. Level 2 and S&P indices
Pro tools: Custom workspaces, chart trading, one-second candles, pattern detection, hot keys and automation

Orders and research

Advanced execution: Chart trading, hot keys, hot buttons and conditional automation in Questrade Pro
Options tools: Options Radar and strategy builder
Analytics: Performance dashboard and advanced charting

Margin

Stock margin requirements: 30%-100% depending on eligibility and share price; Questrade may impose higher requirements
Option approval: Four levels; levels 1-2 no minimum, level 3 CA$5,000, level 4 CA$10,000
Standard CAD debit interest: Prime plus 4.25% below CA$100,000; prime plus 3.25% at CA$100,000 or more
Standard USD debit interest: Prime plus 4.50% below US$100,000; prime plus 3.50% at US$100,000 or more
Margin calls: Positions may be liquidated, in some cases without prior notice

Custody and protection

Dealer and custodian: Questrade, Inc. provides administrative, execution, custodial and reporting services
CIRO and CIPF: Questrade, Inc. is a registered investment dealer and member of CIRO and CIPF
ADR custody fee: Depositary-bank fee may be deducted according to the ADR prospectus