Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple Referral Bonus: Every Condition and How to Claim It
How much is the Wealthsimple referral bonus, and how do you get it?
Wealthsimple's referral bonus is $25 cash for a new client who signs up through a referral link and deposits at least $100 from another institution within 30 days. No promo code is needed. The bonus lands in Wealthsimple Chequing and must stay at Wealthsimple for 180 days; registering for the transfer offer and moving $25,000 or more adds a match of 1% of the net amount transferred. YieldMaple checked Wealthsimple's terms on September 23, 2026.
- A new client gets $25 and the person who referred them gets $25 once at least $100 arrives from outside Wealthsimple within 30 days.
- No promo code is needed: the referral link carries the code, and every personal referral link pays the same $25.
- The bonus is paid into Wealthsimple Chequing within 24 hours of the qualifying deposit being processed and must stay at Wealthsimple for 180 days.
- Registering for the transfer offer and moving $25,000 or more within 30 days earns a match of 1% of the net amount transferred, capped at $20,000 and paid over 24 months.
- Transfers of $25,000 or more also get your old institution's transfer-out fee reimbursed, up to $150 per account.
- The tiered referral Ladder is closed: flat terms have applied since June 8, 2026, so pages quoting bonuses in the thousands are out of date.
— YieldMaple, figures checked against official sources on September 23, 2026.
The Wealthsimple referral bonus is a flat $25 for new clients, and every condition attached to it fits on one checklist. This page covers that checklist, the promo-code question, the official affiliate offer, the separate transfer match (which is where larger balances get paid now), and what happened to the old Ladder. YieldMaple checked Wealthsimple’s referral terms, affiliate terms, transfer-bonus page and promotions page on September 23, 2026. Every figure below comes from those pages or from another official provider page named beside it.
Wealthsimple bonus offers at a glance
| Personal referral link | Official affiliate link | Transfer match | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What a new client gets | $25 | $25 | 1% of the net amount transferred, capped at $20,000 |
| Minimum to qualify | $100 in net deposits within 30 days | $1 within the funding period | $25,000 within 30 days of registering |
| When it's paid | within 24 hours of the qualifying deposit being processed | up to 60 business days | over 24 months, in equal monthly deposits |
| Paid into | Wealthsimple Chequing (required) | The account you opened | Wealthsimple Chequing (required) |
| Combines with | The transfer match | Not with a referral-link bonus | yes — it stacks with the welcome bonus |
How much is the Wealthsimple referral bonus?
The Wealthsimple referral bonus is $25 for the new client and $25 for the person who referred them, a flat amount since June 8, 2026.
The amount doesn’t scale. A new client who deposits the $100 minimum gets the same bonus as one who deposits far more. Anyone moving a large balance can earn more through the transfer match, a separate offer you register for, covered further down.
Wealthsimple also runs an invitation-only “super referrer” boost for clients who refer a lot of people. Under those terms the referrer earns a larger reward per sign-up, but the new client’s bonus stays at $25, so a super referrer’s link is worth no more to you than anyone else’s.
Do you need a Wealthsimple promo code?
No: a Wealthsimple referral link carries the referral code, so you don’t need to type any code when you open your account from the link.
Wealthsimple’s promotions FAQ says many of its offers don’t require a promo code, and some use referral codes or links. If a friend reads you a code rather than sending a link, the same FAQ says to paste it under Profile, then Promotions, during or after sign-up and before you complete the qualifying action. Whether the link arrives by text, in a social post or as a QR code, what matters is that the account is opened through it.
The Wealthsimple buttons on this page use YieldMaple’s own link, and the offer line beside each button shows which bonus that link carries today.
Wealthsimple referral bonus conditions checklist
Wealthsimple’s terms call the deposit that earns the bonus the “qualifying referral” (the affiliate terms call it the “qualifying action”). Every requirement below comes from the Referral Bonus Promotion 2026 terms, updated September 2026, and Wealthsimple’s referrals page. Miss one and the bonus doesn’t pay.
| What the terms require | How to pass it | |
|---|---|---|
| New to Wealthsimple | The bonus is for someone opening a new Wealthsimple account | Start from the link before you create any Wealthsimple account |
| Minimum funding | $100 in net deposits (deposits less withdrawals) | Deposit a little over the minimum and don't withdraw until the bonus lands |
| Deadline | Within 30 days | Start transfers early; most take 2–4 weeks |
| Source of money | deposits or transfers from another institution (money moved within Wealthsimple doesn't count) | Fund from your bank or move an account from another institution |
| Eligible account | Self-directed investing, Crypto, Managed Investing or Chequing | For an RESP, spousal RRSP or joint account, the primary holder registers |
| Chequing account | Bonus paid into a Wealthsimple Chequing account (you need one to receive it) | Open Chequing in the app; it has a $0 monthly fee |
| Keep the bonus | Must stay at Wealthsimple for 180 days | Invest it or leave it; don't empty and close your accounts early |
Two conditions are the easiest to miss. The first is net deposits: the terms count deposits and transfers minus withdrawals, so taking money back out during the funding window can drop you under $100. The second is Chequing (the account many people still call Wealthsimple Cash): the bonus is paid into a Wealthsimple Chequing account (you need one to receive it), even if you only meant to open a TFSA. Chequing has a $0 monthly fee, so opening one costs nothing.
The funding source matters too. Qualifying money is deposits or transfers from another institution (money moved within Wealthsimple doesn't count). The terms name deposits, institutional transfers and crypto transfers from outside Wealthsimple. If you are moving an account rather than depositing cash, the transfer has to complete within 30 days, and Wealthsimple lists 2–4 weeks as the average time for most account types, so start it in the first few days.
How do you claim the Wealthsimple referral bonus?
Open your account from a referral link, fund it with at least $100 from another institution within 30 days, and have Chequing open to receive the bonus.
- Start from a referral link before creating any Wealthsimple account. If you were given a typed code, add it under Profile, then Promotions, before your first deposit.
- Open an eligible account: self-directed investing (long known as Wealthsimple Trade), Crypto, Managed Investing or Chequing. For an RESP, spousal RRSP or joint account, the primary account holder must be the one who registered.
- Open Wealthsimple Chequing if you started with a different account, because that is where the bonus is paid.
- Register for the transfer match first if you plan to move $25,000 or more. Transfers started before you register don’t count toward the match.
- Fund from outside Wealthsimple: at least $100 within 30 days, with no withdrawals that take you back under it.
- Check Chequing for the bonus. The terms say it is applied within 24 hours of the qualifying deposit being processed.
- Leave the bonus at Wealthsimple for 180 days. Investing it or moving it between your Wealthsimple accounts is fine.
Referral link or affiliate link: which bonus is better?
Both pay a new client $25; the referral link needs $100 and pays within a day, while the affiliate link needs only $1 but pays much later.
Wealthsimple runs two separate programs for new-client bonuses:
- Personal referral links come from existing clients; every client has one to share. The bonus is $25, paid into Chequing within 24 hours of the qualifying deposit being processed.
- Official affiliate links come from publishers in Wealthsimple’s affiliate program. The Affiliate Referral Program terms pay $25 once you open a first account and fund it with at least $1, and they allow up to 60 business days for it to arrive, or about 12 weeks. The bonus goes into the account you opened through the link, which doesn’t have to be Chequing. The affiliate terms also say that if the bonus lands in a TFSA, RRSP or FHSA, Wealthsimple reports it to the CRA as a contribution.
You can’t collect both. The affiliate terms say the affiliate bonus can’t be combined with the referral promotion when you are the one being referred. Pick based on what you have: if you can spare the $100 and want the money quickly, a referral link wins; if you only want to try the app with a token deposit, an affiliate link has the lower bar.
How does the Wealthsimple transfer bonus work?
Wealthsimple pays a match of 1% of the net amount transferred when you register and move at least $25,000 from other institutions, capped at $20,000 and paid over 24 months.
This offer, which Wealthsimple’s site calls the transfer match or transfer bonus, is separate from the referral bonus. Per wealthsimple.com/en-ca/transfer-bonus, September 2026:
- Register first, in the app or online. Transfers made before you register don’t qualify.
- Move $25,000 within 30 days of registering. Several accounts count together, so a TFSA and an RRSP can combine to reach the minimum. Wealthsimple’s FAQ says you have 30 days to start the transfer; with most transfers taking 2–4 weeks, start on day one rather than day 29.
- Only money from another institution counts. Cash deposits, Interac e-Transfers and moves between your own Wealthsimple accounts don’t count toward the match.
- Eligible accounts named on the page are TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, personal (non-registered), corporate, managed and crypto accounts. A LIRA isn’t named, so check the match terms before counting on it for a locked-in account.
- Payment arrives in 24 equal monthly deposits into Wealthsimple Chequing, so you need a Chequing account in good standing.
- Withdrawals are allowed at any time, but taking out more than the buffer the transfer-bonus FAQ allows during the payout period shrinks your remaining payments in proportion.
- Stacking: yes — it stacks with the welcome bonus, so a new client can earn both on the same transfer.
What the match pays on a real transfer
| Net amount you transfer in | Match | Paid per month, for 24 months | Transfer-out fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | None (under the $25,000 minimum) | None | Not reimbursed |
| $25,000 | $250 | about $10.42 | Up to $150 per account |
| $100,000 | $1,000 | about $41.67 | Up to $150 per account |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | about $208.33 | Up to $150 per account |
| $2,000,000 or more | $20,000 (the cap) | about $833.33 | Up to $150 per account |
In sentence form: a transfer of $25,000 earns a match of $250, paid as about $10.42 a month. A new client who moves a single $100,000 account through a referral link would collect up to $1,175 over roughly two years, if the transferred money stays put: the $25 welcome bonus once the transfer is processed, up to $150 back for the old institution’s transfer-out fee, and a $1,000 match, of which about $500 arrives over the first 12 monthly payments. A $500,000 transfer earns $5,000, or about $208.33 a month, and the $20,000 cap is reached at $2,000,000. A $10,000 transfer earns no match at all.
For the step-by-step mechanics of moving a TFSA, RRSP or FHSA, see YieldMaple’s guide to transferring an account to Wealthsimple.
Does Wealthsimple reimburse transfer fees?
Yes: Wealthsimple reimburses your old institution’s transfer-out fee, up to $150 per account, when you transfer $25,000 or more.
The details, from Wealthsimple’s transfer fee reimbursement policy (updated September 2026):
- One fee per $25,000 moved. The policy reimburses one administrative transfer-out fee for every $25,000 you transfer in, and the referral terms describe the qualifying transfer as $25,000 or more in a single account transfer. Don’t count on reimbursements for several small accounts that only reach the minimum together.
- Stay funded. Accounts must remain funded for 90 days after the transfer.
- Only the administrative fee. Deferred sales charges, low-load charges, trading fees, commissions and account-closure fees are not reimbursed.
- Not a contribution. The reimbursement doesn’t count as a TFSA or RRSP contribution, so it doesn’t use your room.
- Proof. Wealthsimple’s help centre says reimbursements are automatic, while its transfer-bonus page says to send proof of the fee. Keep your old institution’s fee statement in case you’re asked for it.
Below $25,000, the fee is yours to pay. Wealthsimple’s own transfer-bonus page notes that most banks and brokerages charge a transfer-out fee per account, and on a small account that fee can be larger than the $25 welcome bonus. Check your current institution’s fee schedule before you move a small account just for a bonus.
What happened to the Wealthsimple referral Ladder?
Wealthsimple closed its tiered referral Ladder and replaced it with the flat $25 bonus on June 8, 2026.
Under the Ladder, the bonus grew with the size of the deposit. The current terms say referral relationships created before June 8, 2026 follow the old, closed terms; everyone referred on or after that date gets the flat amount. Older articles, including earlier YieldMaple posts that this page replaces, quoted Ladder tiers that reached into the thousands of dollars. Those numbers don’t apply to anyone signing up now. For large balances, the offer that grows with the amount is the transfer match above.
Is there a Wealthsimple direct deposit bonus?
The direct-deposit perk is an interest boost, not a cash bonus: Core and Premium clients get an extra 0.5% with at least $2,000 direct-deposited within 30 days.
On Core, that lifts the Chequing rate from 1.25% to 1.75%; on Premium, from 1.75% to 2.25%. In dollars, the boost is worth about $50 a year on a steady $10,000 balance, before tax. That is useful if your pay goes there anyway, but it is not a reason on its own to move your paycheque.
Direct deposits also count toward waiving the Wealthsimple credit card’s annual fee, which is $240 a year ($20/month), waived with $100,000+ in individual assets or $4,000+/month direct deposit.
What other Wealthsimple promotions are running now?
Besides the referral bonus and the transfer match, Wealthsimple’s promotions page lists a credit card welcome offer and a prize draw called Monthly Millionaire, as of September 23, 2026.
- Credit card welcome offer. New clients get a higher cash-back rate for their first month on the Wealthsimple credit card, after which it earns the standard 2% on every purchase. YieldMaple’s Wealthsimple credit card guide covers the fee and whether the card pays for itself.
- Monthly Millionaire. A prize draw where saving with Wealthsimple earns entries. Treat it as a lottery ticket, not a reason to choose an account; the odds and entry rules are in its own terms.
- Stacking. Wealthsimple’s promotions FAQ says most of its offers can’t be stacked, and that it generally applies the higher-value one when you qualify for more than one. The transfer match is the stated exception: yes — it stacks with the welcome bonus.
How does the Wealthsimple referral program work for existing clients?
Existing clients earn $25 for each new client who signs up through their link and deposits at least $100 within 30 days, with no limit on the number of referrals.
Per Wealthsimple’s referrals page, your link is in the app under the gift icon at the top of the screen, on the Referrals tab; on the web, the gift icon sits at the bottom left. The referrer’s bonus goes into Chequing too, and it has to stay at Wealthsimple for the same 180 days. You can’t use a friend’s link to claim the new-client bonus for yourself once you already have an account, and Wealthsimple’s terms note that bonuses like these have tax implications in most instances.
Who should (and shouldn’t) chase a Wealthsimple bonus
Use a referral link if you were going to open a Wealthsimple account anyway. Signing up without a referral link forfeits the $25 referral bonus, and the conditions are easy to meet with a normal first deposit. YieldMaple’s full Wealthsimple review covers whether the platform itself suits you, which matters far more than the bonus.
Register for the transfer match if you’re moving $25,000 or more from another institution and plan to leave it at Wealthsimple for the two-year payout period. On a large balance, the match plus fee reimbursement pays far more than the flat welcome bonus.
Skip it, or look elsewhere, if:
- The bonus is the main reason. $25 that has to stay put for 180 days, and may be taxable, is too small to justify a platform you won’t use.
- You’ll need the money soon. If you plan to withdraw a big share of a transferred account within 24 months, for example an FHSA you’ll spend on a home next year, your remaining match payments shrink.
- Your account is under $25,000 and your current institution charges a transfer-out fee. You pay that fee yourself, and it can exceed the bonus.
- You trade US stocks heavily inside a TFSA or RRSP and will stay on the Core plan. Wealthsimple’s USD account costs $10 a month for Core clients; free for Premium and Generation. At Questrade, per its pricing page, you can hold USD in registered accounts, so US trades don't force a conversion. The Wealthsimple vs Questrade comparison lays out that trade-off account by account.
The verdict: the Wealthsimple referral bonus is a small, easy $25 for anyone already choosing Wealthsimple, and the transfer match is the offer that matters for larger balances. This page is general education, not financial advice. For everything else about fees, accounts and safety, start with our complete Wealthsimple guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Wealthsimple referral bonus?
The Wealthsimple referral bonus is $25 for the new client, and the person who referred them gets $25. To qualify, the new client deposits at least $100 from another institution within 30 days. The amount is flat, so a bigger deposit doesn't raise it. The tiered Ladder that paid more for larger deposits closed on June 8, 2026.
Do I need a Wealthsimple promo code to get the bonus?
No. A Wealthsimple referral link carries the referral code, so signing up from the link is enough. If someone gives you a typed code instead, Wealthsimple's promotions FAQ says to paste it under Profile, then Promotions, before you complete the qualifying action. Every personal referral code pays the same $25, so there is no better code to hunt for.
How long does the Wealthsimple referral bonus take to arrive?
Through a personal referral link, Wealthsimple's terms say the bonus is applied within 24 hours of the qualifying deposit being processed, into your Chequing account. Through an official affiliate link, the terms allow up to 60 business days, which is roughly twelve weeks. If your qualifying money is an account transfer rather than a deposit, add the transfer time itself: 2–4 weeks for most account types.
What counts as a qualifying deposit for the Wealthsimple bonus?
For the referral bonus, qualifying money is deposits or transfers from another institution (money moved within Wealthsimple doesn't count). The terms count deposits, institutional transfers and crypto transfers, less any withdrawals, into a self-directed investing, Crypto, Managed Investing or Chequing account. Withdraw part of it and your net deposits can fall under $100, so deposit a little more than the minimum and leave it alone until the bonus arrives.
Is there a Wealthsimple transfer bonus?
Yes. Register for the transfer offer, then move at least $25,000 from other institutions within 30 days, and Wealthsimple pays a match of 1% of the net amount transferred, capped at $20,000. The match is paid over 24 months in equal monthly deposits into Chequing, and it stacks with the new-client welcome bonus. Cash deposits, Interac e-Transfers and moves between your own Wealthsimple accounts don't count toward it.
Does Wealthsimple pay the transfer fee from my old bank?
Yes, on larger transfers. Wealthsimple reimburses the administrative transfer-out fee your old institution charges, up to $150 per account, when you transfer $25,000 or more. The account has to stay funded for 90 days afterwards. Deferred sales charges, trading commissions and account-closure fees are not covered, and the reimbursement doesn't count as a TFSA or RRSP contribution.
Is the Wealthsimple bonus taxable?
Possibly. Wealthsimple's referral terms say bonuses like this have tax implications in most instances and tell clients to ask an accountant, and its transfer-bonus FAQ says the match payment may be taxable. If an affiliate-link bonus is paid into a TFSA, RRSP or FHSA, Wealthsimple reports it to the CRA as a contribution, so it uses your room. Transfer-fee reimbursements don't count as contributions.
Can existing Wealthsimple clients get the bonus?
Not the welcome bonus, which is for people opening their first Wealthsimple account. Existing clients earn by referring others instead: $25 per friend who qualifies, with no limit on the number of referrals. The transfer match works by registration rather than a referral link, so read its terms for your own eligibility before you move money.
What happened to the Wealthsimple referral Ladder?
Wealthsimple closed the tiered Ladder, which paid larger bonuses for larger deposits, and moved to a flat $25 bonus for referrals created on or after June 8, 2026. Referral relationships created before that date fall under the old, closed terms. A page still quoting Ladder tiers for a new sign-up is out of date; for large balances, the transfer match is now the offer that grows with the amount.
Is there a Wealthsimple direct deposit bonus?
Not a cash one: Wealthsimple's promotions page, checked September 23, 2026, lists no direct-deposit cash bonus. The direct-deposit perk is an interest boost on Wealthsimple Chequing: Core and Premium clients get an extra 0.5% with at least $2,000 direct-deposited within 30 days, on top of the 1.25% Core or 1.75% Premium rate. Direct deposits also matter for the Wealthsimple credit card, whose annual fee is $240 a year ($20/month), waived with $100,000+ in individual assets or $4,000+/month direct deposit.
Are Wealthsimple referral codes on Reddit legit?
A referral link or code shared on Reddit by an existing Wealthsimple client works like one from a friend. Every personal referral link pays the new client the same $25, so no thread has a better code than another. Check that the link opens a wealthsimple.com page, use only one link, and never send personal details to someone offering a code.
Does the bonus work for an RRSP, TFSA or LIRA transfer?
For the referral bonus, the terms define eligible accounts by product (self-directed, Crypto, Managed Investing or Chequing), not by account type, so an RRSP, TFSA or LIRA transfer can qualify if it comes from another institution and completes within 30 days. For the transfer match, Wealthsimple's transfer-bonus page names TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, personal, corporate, managed and crypto accounts; a LIRA isn't named, so confirm it in the match terms first. Transfers of $25,000 or more get the transfer-out fee reimbursed, up to $150 per account.
Can I withdraw the Wealthsimple bonus right away?
You can use it, but keep it at Wealthsimple. The referral terms require the bonus to stay in your Wealthsimple account or accounts for 180 days from the day it's applied; otherwise Wealthsimple can deduct it from your final withdrawal or recover it another way. Investing it, or moving it from Chequing into your TFSA, keeps it at Wealthsimple.
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New clients get a $25 cash bonus when they open a Wealthsimple account through our referral link and deposit at least $100 from another institution within 30 days.
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