Looking for a convenient onlnie platform to manage your investments? Qtrade Direct Investing has become one of Canada’s top online brokerages, offering powerful tools, competitive pricing, and a user-friendly experience. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just starting out, Qtrade makes investing easy and accessible. In this review, we’ll break down its features, costs, and how it stacks up against the competition.
Let’s take a closer look at Qtrade review to help you determine whether this is the right platform for you to trade on.
Key Points:
- Qtrade Direct Investing offers a user-friendly, affordable online platform with multiple account types and extensive research tools.
- The platform provides real-time account opening and robust security.
- Investors can access a wide range of investment products, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options, and GICs.
- Qtrade is ideal for both beginners and experienced investors, thanks to its educational tools, customer service, and long track record.
Our Verdict
| Who Is Qtrade Direct Investing Best For? | Best for investors who: – Want commission-free trades – Want a wide range of account types, strong research tools, and reliable customer support – Are either beginners seeking an easy-to-use platform or experienced investors looking for advanced feature |
| What We Like About Qtrade Direct Investing | – $0 Commission Trades – Variety Of Account Types – No Minimum Balance – Educational Tools |
| What We Don’t Like About Qtrade Direct Investing | – Limited Market Coverage – Limited Advanced Research Tools |
Who Is Qtrade?
Qtrade Direct Investing™ is an award-winning online investment brokerage that provides investors with an easy-to-use trading platform that can be accessed virtually via desktop, laptop, or mobile device. The platform offers several account types for investors to choose from to accommodate various investment needs. Plus, it provides a number of handy research tools that help investors make more informed decisions about investing.
Special Offer:
Get 5% cash back on every dollar you invest up to $15,000*. Plus, get an additional 1% cash back on any further investments over $15,000*
Simply open a new account with Qtrade Direct Investing using promo code QTRADE2025 before January 5, 2026.
Overview Of Qtrade Direct Investing Review
| Fees | – Equities, ETFs, Mutual funds: $0 – Options: $0 + $0.75/contract |
| Account Maintenance Fee | $0 |
| Minimum balance | $0 |
| Account types | – RSP (RRSP) – TFSA – LIRA / LRSP – RESP – RIF (RRIF) – LIF |
| Investment types | – Stocks – ETFs – Mutual funds – Bonds – Options – GICs – New issues |
| Currencies supported | CAD and USD |
| Perks | – 100+ commission-free ETFs – Real-time quotes – Customized reports – Watchlists – Market news – Portfolio analysis |
How Does Qtrade Direct Investing Work?
To start trading on Qtrade, you’ll need to follow the following steps:
Step 1: Create An Account
You can create an account by clicking “open an account” and entering your name and email address. You’ll receive an email with a 4-digit confirmation code to verify your account.
Step 2: Set Up Your Profile
From there, you’ll need to create a profile by providing information about the account you want to open as well as information about your personal and financial background. Once you’ve completed your application, you can submit it for review.
Step 3: Wait For Application Review
Your application will then be reviewed, and thanks to a streamlined process, you can access your account within minutes of completing your application. Once opened, you can log in to your Qtrade Direct Investing online platform and start trading and managing your investments.
You’ll get access to the markets data tools along with comprehensive research tools to help you establish your goals, review your investment portfolio, and come up with investing ideas.
There is also a trial account that you can open and test for 30 days for free. That way, you can test the waters before paying for the service.
| Qtrade Investor Plus Account Investor Plus is a premium service designed for clients who maintain larger balances or trade frequently. It provides access to exclusive pricing and added benefits, including: – No charges for physical certificate or DRS deposits and withdrawals on US and Canadian securities – A dedicated support line for Investor Plus members – No fees for USD-registered account |
Account Types Available With Qtrade Direct Investing
Qtrade Direct Investing offers a number of non-registered and registered investment accounts that you can trade with, including the following:
Registered
- RSP (RRSP)
- TFSA
- LIRA / LRSP
- RESP
- RIF (RRIF)
- LIF
- USD RRSPs
- USD TFSAs
- Joint accounts
- Estates
- Trusts
- Cash
Non-Registered
- Margin account
- Cash account
Securities Available With Qtrade Direct Investing
You can trade the following assets with Qtrade Direct Investing:
- Equities
- ETFs
- Mutual funds
- Bonds
- Options
- GICs
- New issues
- Cash
What Assets Cannot Be Traded With Qtrade Direct Investing?
The following assets cannot be traded on Qtrade Direct Investing:
- Commodities
- Cryptocurrencies
- Foreign markets outside of Canada and the US
Important Features To Consider When Choosing To Work With Qtrade Direct Investing
Qtrade Direct Investing comes with a wide variety of features. Before you decide to trade with this platform, it’s always a good idea to get familiar with its many features and options.
Educational Resources
- Options Lab: Options Lab helps both new and experienced investors explore option strategies tailored to their goals and risk tolerance.
- Analysts’ Recommendations: Make better decisions with the use of highly-researched reviews of investments from expert analysts, including top picks.
- Fundamental Research: Get key performance metrics about various companies, including recent financial statements and data on performance history and ratings.
Stock Market Analysis Tools
- My News: Qtrade has teamed up with PersonaFin to bring Canadian investors My News, an AI-driven personalized newsfeed. It delivers tailored insights and actionable investment data based on your goals and market trends. Plus, you can sign up to get notified immediately when an initial public offering is made available.
- Screening Tools: Sift through thousands of stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds to find ones that best suit your goals.
- Market Orders: Use Qtrade’s market orders to buy and sell assets.
- Real-Time Quotes: Accurately follow market movements to properly time your entry and exit points.
- Technical Research: Peruse and filter possible investments and assess appropriate entry and exit points based on specific technical indicators.
Portfolio Insights
- Watchlists: Develop a portfolio of stocks that you want to keep tabs on.
- Portfolio Review: Get a full picture of your accounts and holdings and compare their performance against benchmarks. Compare valuation, performance, and allocation.
- Mobile App: Stay in touch with the markets, no matter where you are.
How Much Does Qtrade Direct Investing Cost?
Qtrade recently announced its $0 commission trades, helping investors keep more money in their pockets:
| Equities | $0 |
| Options | $0 + $0.75 per contract |
| ETFs | $0 |
| Mutual funds | $0 |
| Fixed income and Exchange-traded debentures | $1 per $1,000 |
Qtrade Account Fees
There are a few account fees that Qtrade charges that you should beware of, listed below are the fees that the average trader should consider, but for a full list please visit the Qtrade site.
- Administration fee: $0
- Account closure within one year of opening: $100
- Transfer your account to another institution: $150
- Formal trust accounts: $100 setup + $50/year after first year
- Electronic statements: Free
- Paper trade confirmations: $2.50/trade
- Paper account statements: $6/quarter (waived for Investor Plus clients)
| Note: All administrative fees have recently been cut. |
What Perks Does Qtrade Direct Investing Have?
There are many reasons why Qtrade Direct Investing should be on your shortlist of online trading platforms:
- $0 Commission Trades: Enjoy commission-free trading to keep more money in your pocket.
- Real-Time Account Opening: Qtrade has reduced the time it takes to open an account, using technology to automate key steps in the account-opening process, specifically client ID verification and authentication.
- Real-Time Identity Verification: Users can upload a selfie to help verify their identity through the Qtrade app.
- Variety Of Account Types: Qtrade offers all major account types, including RRSPs, RESPs, TFSAs, cash accounts, and margin accounts.
- No Minimum Balance: Qtrade does not have a minimum account balance required to begin trading.
- Long Track Record: Qtrade has been around for over 25 years, so it’s developed a long and successful track record of helping investors trade.
- Many Educational Tools: You’ll have a number of training tools accessible to you to help you trade successfully.
What Are The Drawbacks Of Qtrade Direct Investing?
Before investing with Qtrade Direct Investing, it’s worth noting a couple of potential drawbacks:
- Limited Market Coverage: Qtrade only provides access to Canadian and US markets. Investors looking to trade in Europe, Asia, or other global exchanges will need another platform.
- Limited Advanced Research Tools: Although Qtrade offers great educational resources and portfolio insights, it lacks some of the more advanced analytics and tools available on other online platforms.
How Do I Contact Qtrade For Customer Support?
You can reach out to a representative for support in the following ways:
- Email: DirectInvesting@qtrade.ca
- Telephone: 1-877-787-2330
- Mail: Qtrade Direct Investing 700 – 1111 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4T6
Who Is Qtrade Direct Investing Best Suited For?
Qtrade Direct Investing is ideal for investors who are looking to have a direct hand in managing their investments through a convenient online trading platform that offers educational tools, excellent customer service, and many investment options to choose from.
Beginner and experienced investors alike will find this platform easy to use that will help them to achieve their investment goals.
Is Qtrade Direct Investing Safe?
Trading with Qtrade is very secure, it has many of the security features that you would find at a traditional big bank. It’s a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), so your funds are safe when held with Qtrade.
Further, there are several safeguards put in place to keep your personal information protected from hackers.
How Does Qtrade Direct Investing Compare To WealthSimple Trade?
Wealthsimple Trade is another online trading platform available to Canadians. So, how do the two platforms compare?
| Qtrade Direct Investing | Wealthsimple Trade | |
| Commission Fees | $0 | $0 |
| Investment Types | – Stocks – ETFs – Options – GICs – Mutual funds – Bonds | – Stocks – ETFs – Options – Cryptocurrencies – Precious metals |
| Minimum Investment | None | None |
| Platforms Available | App (App Store & Google Play) and desktop | App (App Store & Google Play) and desktop |
| Features | – 2-factor authentication – Access to real-time data – Research tools available – Fractional shares | – 2-factor authentication – Instant deposits – Watchlists – Price alerts |
Final Thoughts
Qtrade Direct Investing is a great option for traders looking for a range of investment services and accounts and a robust online trading platform. With all the educational and trading tools available, as well as the market watches and timers, Qtrade makes trading very efficient.
That said, the platform does not offer futures, forex trading, or crypto assets, which is something traders may want to keep in mind before choosing this particular trading platform.
FAQs
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**Maximum $2,000 cash back.
Online brokerage services are offered through Qtrade Direct Investing, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. Qtrade and Qtrade Direct Investing are trade names and trademarks of Aviso Wealth.
