Pillar guide · investing
Questrade Fees Explained 2026: All Real Costs Itemized
Questrade’s fee structure is fairly transparent — but the actual cost varies dramatically by usage. Here’s every fee, itemized, plus what most Canadian investors actually pay annually.
Quick reference: all Questrade fees in 2026
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stock buy/sell | $0.01/share, min $4.95, max $9.95 | Same per side |
| ETF buy | $0 | Any ETF, any exchange |
| ETF sell | $0.01/share, min $4.95, max $9.95 | Same as stocks |
| Options | $9.95 + $1/contract | Both Canadian and US options |
| FX conversion | ~1.5-2% | Avoided via USD account |
| Inactivity fee | $25/quarter | Waived with $1K+ balance and one trade |
| Transfer-out | $150/account | Often reimbursed by receiving broker |
| Real-time data | $19.95/month (or free with active trading) | Free if you exceed threshold |
| IQ Edge platform | $89-$199/month | Waived with active trading |
| Wire transfer (incoming) | $0 | Free |
| Wire transfer (outgoing) | $20-$45 | Domestic vs international |
| Cheque withdrawal | $5 | Mailed cheque |
Actual annual cost: real Canadian investor scenarios
Scenario 1: Beginner buy-and-hold ETF investor
- Profile: $500/month auto-purchase of XEQT in Questrade TFSA, no selling
- Annual trades: 12 ETF buys = $0 (free buys)
- Other fees: $0 (above $1K balance, has quarterly activity)
- Annual cost: $0
For passive investors making monthly ETF auto-purchases, Questrade is genuinely free.
Scenario 2: Active Canadian stock trader
- Profile: 5 stock trades/month buying/selling Canadian stocks at ~$2,500 each
- Annual trades: 60 trades × $5-$9.95 = ~$300-$600/year
- Other fees: $0
- Annual cost: $300-$600
For active traders, Questrade’s commission structure adds up. Compare to Wealthsimple Trade ($0) or Interactive Brokers ($1.25/trade tiered, ~$80-$120/year for the same activity).
Scenario 3: US-stock-focused investor
- Profile: $5,000 of US stocks bought monthly, occasional sells, CAD account
- Annual trades: 12 buys = ~$60-$120 in commissions
- FX conversion: $5,000 × 12 × 1.5% = $900 in FX fees
- Total annual cost: $960-$1,020
This is where Questrade gets expensive without using a USD account. Switching to native USD account + Norbert’s Gambit saves ~$900/year.
Scenario 4: Optimized Questrade user (USD account + Norbert’s Gambit)
- Profile: Same $5,000/month US investing, native USD account
- Annual trades: 12 buys = ~$60-$120 in commissions
- FX conversion: Norbert’s Gambit transfers, ~$15-$30 in spread costs
- Total annual cost: $75-$150
Optimal Questrade usage avoids FX fees entirely. Total annual cost drops from $1,000 to under $150.
How to minimize Questrade fees
Tactic 1: Buy ETFs only
ETF purchases are $0. If your strategy is monthly XEQT or VFV auto-investing in a TFSA, Questrade is essentially free.
Tactic 2: Open a USD account + use Norbert’s Gambit
Questrade’s USD account is free to open. Combined with Norbert’s Gambit (using DLR.TO and DLR.U.TO), you can convert CAD to USD at near-spot rates. Saves 1.5-2% on every US trade.
For more: Norbert’s Gambit at Questrade.
Tactic 3: Sell rarely
ETF sells cost $4.95-$9.95. If you’re a buy-and-hold investor selling once a year (or never), this is negligible. If you’re rebalancing monthly, it adds up.
Tactic 4: Maintain activity to avoid inactivity fees
$1,000+ balance AND one trade per quarter waives the $25/quarter fee. For dormant accounts: $100/year wasted.
Tactic 5: Don’t pay for IQ Edge unnecessarily
Questrade Web is free and handles all common trading needs. Only pay for IQ Edge if you specifically need its advanced features (Level 2 data, advanced order types, hot keys). Most retail investors don’t.
Questrade vs major competitors on cost
For a typical Canadian investor making 12 ETF purchases per year:
| Broker | Annual cost (12 ETF buys) |
|---|---|
| Wealthsimple Trade | $0 |
| Questrade | $0 |
| Moomoo Canada | $18 ($1.50 × 12) |
| Interactive Brokers | $15 ($1.25 × 12 tiered) |
| TD Direct Investing | $120 ($9.99 × 12) |
| RBC Direct Investing | $119 ($9.95 × 12) |
| BMO InvestorLine | $119 ($9.95 × 12) |
For ETF buy-and-hold: Questrade and Wealthsimple Trade are tied at $0.
For an active stock trader making 60 stock trades per year:
| Broker | Annual cost (60 stock trades) |
|---|---|
| Wealthsimple Trade | $0 |
| Interactive Brokers (Tiered) | $75-$120 |
| Questrade | $300-$600 |
| Moomoo Canada (US stocks) | $0 |
| TD Direct Investing | $599 |
| RBC Direct Investing | $597 |
For active stock trading: Wealthsimple Trade is cheapest, then Interactive Brokers, then Moomoo (US-only).
Hidden Questrade fees to watch
1. ECN fees on certain orders
For certain order types (limit orders that add liquidity to the orderbook), Questrade charges a small ECN fee (typically $0.0035-$0.0050/share). This is small but adds up on high-volume orders. Most retail investors don’t notice.
2. Borrowing fees on margin
Margin accounts at Questrade charge ~9-11% annual interest on borrowed funds. Avoid carrying significant margin balances.
3. ADR / international stock fees
Some American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and international stocks have additional pass-through fees from the underlying issuer. Typically $0.005-$0.01/share. Small but real.
4. Special handling fees
Wire transfers ($20-$45 outgoing), paper statements ($2/each), and similar incidental fees apply. Use online statements and EFT transfers to avoid.
5. Mutual fund commissions
Mutual fund trades at Questrade are $9.95 each — same as stocks. But ETFs accomplish the same goal for $0 to buy. Don’t use Questrade for mutual funds.
Bottom line
Questrade’s fees in 2026 are straightforward and reasonable for most Canadian investors, but they’re not the cheapest. Specifically:
Choose Questrade for cost reasons if:
- You’re a buy-and-hold ETF investor (essentially free)
- You need native USD account (saves on FX vs Wealthsimple)
- You need RESP, LIRA, or corporate accounts (Wealthsimple doesn’t offer)
Don’t choose Questrade for cost reasons if:
- You’re an active stock trader (Wealthsimple Trade is $0)
- You only buy and sell US stocks (Wealthsimple Trade or Moomoo are cheaper)
- You don’t need Questrade’s broader feature set
Most retail Canadian investors using Questrade pay $0-100 per year in total fees by avoiding common mistakes (not using USD account, paying for IQ Edge unnecessarily, leaving accounts dormant).
For maximum optimization: open the USD account, use Norbert’s Gambit for currency conversion, and stick to ETF purchases.
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Read next
- Questrade Review — full platform review
- Wealthsimple Trade vs Questrade — head-to-head
- Norbert’s Gambit at Questrade — avoid FX fees
- Best Canadian Online Brokerage — full landscape
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to trade at Questrade?
For stocks: $0.01 per share with a $4.95 minimum and $9.95 maximum per trade. So buying 100 shares: $4.95 (the minimum applies); buying 500 shares: $5.00; buying 2,000+ shares: $9.95 (capped). For ETFs: $0 to buy, $4.95-$9.95 to sell using the same per-share calculation. Options: $9.95 base + $1 per contract.
Are Questrade ETFs really free?
Free to buy, but not free to sell. ETF purchases (any ETF on Canadian or US exchanges) are commission-free at Questrade. ETF sells use the standard stock commission ($0.01/share, $4.95-$9.95). For long-term buy-and-hold investors, this asymmetry is essentially free buying with sell costs only when you actually sell (potentially years later).
What are Questrade's monthly account fees?
Questrade charges a $25/quarter (~$8.33/month) inactivity fee for accounts with under $1,000 in equity OR no trades during the quarter. The fee is waived if you maintain $1,000+ AND make at least one trade per quarter. For active investors or those with established balances: $0 monthly fees. For dormant accounts: $25/quarter ($100/year).
Does Questrade charge for FX conversion?
Yes — approximately 1.5-2% on currency conversions when buying US stocks/ETFs in a CAD account. To avoid this fee: open a Questrade USD account (free) and pre-convert larger amounts using Norbert's Gambit. The Norbert's Gambit method converts CAD to USD at near-spot rates, saving the 1.5-2% on every US trade. For frequent US traders: USD account + Norbert's Gambit pays for itself quickly.
What's the difference between Questrade IQ Edge and Questrade Web?
Questrade Web is free for all account holders. Questrade IQ Edge (advanced desktop trading platform) is also free for active users; charged $89-$199/month for inactive users (waived above certain trading volume). For typical retail Canadian investors using Questrade Web for monthly ETF purchases: zero platform fees. For day traders using IQ Edge: ensure your trade volume meets the activity threshold.
Is there an account opening fee at Questrade?
No. Opening a Questrade account is free. There's no application fee, no setup fee, and no minimum opening deposit (though you need $1,000+ to start trading without minimum balance fees). The only fee at account opening is for transferring an existing account FROM another broker — those external transfer fees ($150) are typically reimbursed by Questrade for accounts above $15,000.
What's the Questrade transfer fee?
$150 per account when you transfer your investments from Questrade to another broker. Questrade charges this; the receiving broker may reimburse if you're transferring $15,000+ to them. Common reimbursing brokers: Wealthsimple Trade (full reimbursement), Interactive Brokers (full reimbursement), TD Direct (partial, by request).
Are Questrade fees worth it vs Wealthsimple Trade?
Depends on usage. Wealthsimple Trade is $0 commissions on all stocks and ETFs (cheaper for active traders). Questrade is $0 to BUY ETFs (essentially the same for buy-and-hold) but charges to SELL stocks and ETFs. For most Canadian buy-and-hold ETF investors: Wealthsimple Trade is simpler and cheaper. For investors needing native USD accounts, RESP, LIRA, or corporate accounts: Questrade's broader feature set is worth its commission structure.
How can I minimize Questrade fees?
Five practical tactics: (1) Buy ETFs only ($0 commission). (2) Sell rarely (long-term buy-and-hold). (3) Use Questrade USD account + Norbert's Gambit to avoid FX fees. (4) Maintain $1,000+ balance and any quarterly trade activity to waive inactivity fees. (5) Avoid options unless trading actively (each option costs $9.95 + $1/contract). For typical buy-and-hold investors: total annual cost of using Questrade is $0-50.
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+
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