Questrade Review 2026: Free ETF Buys, USD-Registered Accounts, Real Fees

TL;DR
Questrade is the long-running ETF-investor favourite in Canada. Free ETF buys, USD-side registered accounts, and a full account suite (RESP, LIRA, corporate) make it ideal for serious long-term portfolios. The $1,000 trading minimum and per-trade equity fee are the main trade-offs.
What Questrade is
Questrade is one of Canada's longest-operating discount brokerages, founded in 1999. It holds CIRO membership and CIPF coverage, and supports the broadest set of registered accounts of any app-first Canadian broker.
Fees at a glance
| Equity commission | $0.01/share, min $4.95, max $9.95 |
| ETF buy | $0 |
| ETF sell | $0.01/share, min $4.95, max $9.95 |
| Options | $9.95 + $1/contract |
| FX margin | ~1.5–2.0% on auto-conversion (Norbert's Gambit available) |
| Account minimum | $1,000 to start trading |
| USD registered | Yes (TFSA / RRSP / FHSA) |
| Investor protection | CIPF up to $1M |
The DCA advantage: free ETF buys
For an investor making monthly $500 ETF purchases into a TFSA or RRSP, Questrade's free-buy structure saves roughly $60/year in commissions versus a flat $4.95-per-trade broker. Across 30 years that's a meaningful drag avoided. The catch — sells cost the standard equity rate — rarely matters for buy-and-hold portfolios.
USD registered accounts
Questrade was the first Canadian broker to offer USD-side registered accounts at scale. If you hold US-listed dividend stocks (or US-listed ETFs like VTI), USD payouts stay in USD instead of being auto-converted at 1.5% on each dividend. This saves roughly $15 per year per $1,000 of US-dollar dividends.
Pros
- Free ETF purchases — ideal for monthly dollar-cost averaging
- USD-side TFSA and RRSP avoid forced FX on US-dollar dividends
- Full RESP, LIRA, and corporate account support
Cons
- $1,000 minimum to start trading (deposits below sit idle)
- ETF sells incur commission
- Older interface than newer app-first competitors
Who it's best for
- Long-term ETF investors using monthly DCA into a TFSA or RRSP.
- Investors holding US-listed dividend stocks who want USD-side registered accounts.
- Families needing RESP, or self-employed Canadians needing a corporate investment account.
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors with under $1,000 to commit — start with Wealthsimple Trade.
- High-volume active traders — IBKR is cheaper at scale.
Sources
Not investment advice. Brokers change pricing — verify on the official site. We do not accept referral commissions. Last reviewed: April 18, 2026.
Editorial disclaimer
This article is published by LoonieLabs for general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal, accounting, or immigration advice and must not be relied on as such. Rules, dollar figures, interest rates, and program eligibility change — always verify with the Canada Revenue Agency, IRCC, or a qualified professional before acting. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy. Last reviewed: April 18, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written and reviewed by Shrey Patel — Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Winnipeg, MB · Fact-checked by our Banking & Credit reviewer · Last reviewed April 18, 2026 · LinkedIn
Founder of LoonieLabs · based in Winnipeg, MB · writes and reviews every page on the site I oversee every figure on this page personally — verified against primary sources (CRA, IRCC, Statistics Canada, the Bank of Canada, or the originating provincial ministry). LoonieLabs has no affiliate relationships with any bank, credit card, or immigration consultant featured on this site. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Published by the LoonieLabs Editorial Team.