Pillar guide · investing
Best Stock Trading App Canada 2026: $0 Commission Picks
There are eight credible Canadian stock trading apps in 2026. Here are my picks ranked by use case, with the underlying tradeoffs.
Best stock trading apps in Canada
| Wealthsimple Trade | Questrade | Moomoo CA | TD Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock commission | $0 | $4.95–$9.95 | $0 | $9.99 |
| ETF buy commission | $0 | $0 | $0 | $9.99 |
| Mobile app rating | 4.8/5 | 3.0/5 | 4.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| USD account (free) | No (1.5% FX) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, Cash | All registered + corp | TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, Cash, Margin | All registered + corp |
| Fractional shares | CAD + US | US only | US only | No |
| Account minimum | $1 | $0 (cash) | $0 | $0 |
| Best for | Beginners | Active investors, USD | Technical traders | TD bank customers |
| CIPF insured | $1M | $1M | $1M | $1M |
#1: Wealthsimple Trade — best overall app
Wealthsimple Trade is the best Canadian stock trading app for most investors in 2026.
Why it wins:
- $0 commissions on buy AND sell — Canadian and US stocks/ETFs
- Modern mobile app — 4.8/5 App Store, fastest UX of any Canadian broker
- $1 minimum — start with whatever amount you have
- Fractional shares — both Canadian and US (most brokers only do US fractional)
- Auto-deposit and auto-invest — set monthly recurring buys, never think about it
- Integration with Wealthsimple Cash and Tax — one app for banking, investing, and tax filing
- TFSA, RRSP, FHSA all supported
- CIPF-insured up to $1M
Catches:
- 1.5% FX fee on USD trades (free tier) — upgrade to Plus ($10/mo) for native USD account
- No RESP, LIRA, LIF, RDSP, joint, or corporate accounts
- No options trading on the free tier (limited support on paid tiers)
- Has had occasional outages during volatile market events
Best for: Beginners, mobile-first investors, anyone with portfolios under $25,000, users who want banking + investing integrated.
For deeper review: Wealthsimple Trade Review.
#2: Questrade — best for active and USD investors
Questrade is the best Canadian stock trading app for serious investors in 2026.
Why it wins:
- Free ETF buys — $0 commission on any ETF purchase
- Native USD account on free tier — no FX cost on USD trades
- Best Norbert’s Gambit support — cheapest CAD-to-USD conversion in Canada
- Full account-type support — RESP, LIRA, LIF, RRIF, RDSP, joint, corporate
- Powerful desktop platform (Questrade Edge) — Level 2 quotes, advanced charting
- CIPF-insured up to $1M
Catches:
- $4.95–$9.95 per stock trade and ETF sell
- Mobile app is dated (3.0/5)
- $1,000 minimum for margin accounts
- Customer service slow during tax season
Best for: Active investors, US-stock holders, families needing RESPs, anyone needing LIRA/LIF/RDSP, advanced traders.
For deeper review: Questrade Review.
#3: Moomoo Canada — best for technical traders
Moomoo launched in Canada in 2023 and has built a following among active traders. It offers:
- $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
- USD account support
- Advanced charting (multi-timeframe, hundreds of indicators)
- Level 2 quotes (real-time)
- Options trading with sophisticated chain interfaces
- Paper-trading mode for practice
Catches:
- Limited registered account support (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA only — no RESP)
- Customer service primarily online (no phone)
- Newer in Canada — less local track record than incumbents
- Heavy focus on active trading; less optimized for buy-and-hold
Best for: Active traders who want professional-grade tools, options traders, anyone moving from US platforms (Robinhood, Webull) to a Canadian equivalent.
#4-#6: Big 5 bank brokers (TD Direct, RBC Direct, BMO InvestorLine)
Bank-owned brokerages offer:
- Full account-type support (everything Questrade has)
- Branch-network access for in-person help
- Larger parent balance sheets
But they typically charge $9.95 per trade (some offer $6.95 for active traders or fee waivers for $50K+ accounts) and have dated mobile apps (often rated 2.0–3.5/5).
Use a bank broker only if:
- You have $250K+ in the bank’s wealth tier and qualify for fee waivers
- You specifically want branch-network access
- Your employer plan or pension is integrated with the bank
- You’re an existing customer who values consolidation
For active stock trading, the bank brokers are not competitive on cost or UX vs Wealthsimple, Questrade, or Moomoo.
#7: National Bank Direct Brokerage (NBDB)
NBDB went fully commission-free in 2021 — $0 on stocks and ETFs, both buy and sell. Available to all Canadian residents (not just NBC customers).
Why it’s good:
- Truly $0 commissions
- USD account on the free tier
- Full account-type support
- Established Schedule I bank parent
Catches:
- Older platform UX
- Slower account opening process
- Less brand awareness than Wealthsimple
Best for: Cost-optimization-first investors who want bank-broker stability with $0 commissions.
#8: Interactive Brokers Canada
For very active traders or international investors:
- Cheapest commissions globally
- Access to dozens of markets (US, Canada, Europe, Asia, etc.)
- Most powerful trading platform (Trader Workstation)
- Steep learning curve
- $0 monthly fee for most users
Best for: Active or institutional traders, anyone trading international markets, options professionals.
For most retail Canadian investors, IBKR is overkill. For specialists, it’s unmatched.
My personal stack
I use a hybrid:
- Questrade — main TFSA, USD account, Norbert’s Gambit
- Wealthsimple Trade — secondary account for Canadian-only ETF auto-deposit
- Bank account at TD — for chequing only (not investing)
This split optimizes for: USD investing at Questrade (free USD account), simple monthly Canadian ETF buys at Wealthsimple Trade (free + clean app), banking at TD (legacy convenience).
If forced to use one only: Wealthsimple Trade for portfolios under $25K, Questrade above.
Decision framework
Pick Wealthsimple Trade if:
- You’re new to investing or this is your first brokerage
- Your portfolio is under $25,000
- You want the best mobile UX
- You don’t need RESP, LIRA, LIF, RDSP, joint, or corporate accounts
Pick Questrade if:
- You’re an active investor (20+ trades/year)
- You hold US-listed ETFs and want a free USD account
- You need RESP, LIRA, LIF, RDSP, joint, or corporate
- You’ll use Norbert’s Gambit
- Your portfolio is $25,000+
Pick Moomoo if:
- You want professional-grade charting and Level 2 quotes for free
- You trade options actively
- You’re moving from a US-style platform like Robinhood
Pick a bank broker (TD, RBC) if:
- You have $250K+ at the bank and qualify for fee waivers
- You strongly value branch-network access
- You’re institutionally consolidated and don’t want a separate broker
Sign-up offers
Reader offer
Wealthsimple Trade
$25 sign-up bonus when you fund $100
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Reader offer
Questrade
Up to $250 cashback when you fund $1,000+
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Read next
- Wealthsimple vs Questrade — head-to-head
- Wealthsimple Trade Review
- Questrade Review
- Best Canadian ETFs — what to buy with your trading app
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free stock trading app in Canada?
Wealthsimple Trade is the best free stock trading app for most Canadians — $0 commissions on Canadian and US stocks/ETFs, modern mobile app, $1 minimum to open. Questrade offers free ETF buys (with $4.95–$9.95 per stock trade or ETF sell). Moomoo Canada offers free trades but is more focused on active traders. National Bank Direct Brokerage is also $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs.
Is Wealthsimple Trade or Questrade better?
Wealthsimple Trade for beginners and small portfolios — simpler UX, $0 commissions everywhere. Questrade for active investors and USD-stock holders — native USD account on the free tier, free ETF buys, and full account-type support (RESP, LIRA, etc.). For most Canadians under $25K invested, Wealthsimple wins; above $25K with USD holdings, Questrade often wins.
Are Canadian stock trading apps safe?
All major Canadian stock trading apps (Wealthsimple Trade, Questrade, Moomoo, Big 5 bank brokers) are CIRO-regulated and CIPF-insured up to $1 million per general account category. Client assets are held in segregated custodian accounts, separate from the broker's own balance sheet. The risk profile is similar across all CIPF-member dealers.
Can I trade US stocks on a Canadian app?
Yes. All major Canadian brokerages support US stocks. Wealthsimple Trade free tier charges 1.5% FX on every CAD-USD conversion; Wealthsimple Plus ($10/mo) eliminates the FX cost. Questrade has a native USD account on the free tier. Moomoo includes USD account support. Big 5 bank brokers all support US stocks but typically charge $9.95 per trade.
What is the cheapest Canadian stock trading app?
On commissions alone: Wealthsimple Trade ($0 buys and sells), Moomoo Canada ($0), and National Bank Direct Brokerage ($0). Questrade is $0 to buy ETFs but $4.95–$9.95 to sell. Big 5 bank apps charge $9.95 per trade. For pure cost optimization, Wealthsimple Trade and NBDB are tied as cheapest.
Is Moomoo available in Canada?
Yes. Moomoo launched in Canada in 2023 and offers commission-free stock trading, advanced charting tools, and Level 2 quotes. It targets active traders and is a credible alternative to Wealthsimple Trade for users who want more advanced features. Moomoo is CIPF-insured up to $1M like other Canadian brokers.
What's the best app for beginners in Canada?
Wealthsimple Trade. It has the cleanest mobile UX of any Canadian broker, $1 minimum to start, $0 commissions to remove decision friction, and instant deposits. Account opening is fully digital and takes 10 minutes. Beginners can buy XEQT (or any ETF) commission-free and never worry about minimum trade costs.
Can I trade options on Canadian apps?
Yes, on most. Wealthsimple Trade offers basic options trading. Questrade has more advanced options support (long, short, multi-leg). Moomoo has the most advanced options interface. TD Direct Investing and Interactive Brokers Canada are top-tier for options traders. Beginners shouldn't trade options without significant education first.
Do Canadian trading apps support TFSA and RRSP?
Yes. All major Canadian brokerages support TFSA, RRSP, and FHSA registered accounts. Questrade and Big 5 brokers also support RESP, LIRA, LIF, RDSP, joint, and corporate accounts. Wealthsimple Trade currently does NOT support RESP, LIRA, LIF, RDSP, joint, or corporate — that's the main gap if you need those account types.
What's the best app for small investments?
Wealthsimple Trade — $1 minimum, $0 commissions, fractional shares (Canadian and US). You can put $50 into XEQT, $100 into VFV, etc., without minimum trade costs eating returns. For investors building from $0, Wealthsimple removes essentially all friction.
Ready to get started?
Open your first investment account in 10–15 minutes online. Both options below are commission-free for stocks and ETFs.
Wealthsimple Trade
Best for beginners — $0 commissions, $1 minimum, modern app.
$25 sign-up bonus when you fund $100
Open Wealthsimple Trade accountQuestrade
Best for active investors — free ETF buys, USD account, full account types.
Up to $250 cashback when you fund $1,000+
Open Questrade accountAffiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure.
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