Wealthsimple Trade vs Invest 2026: DIY or Managed?
TL;DR
Trade = DIY, $0 commissions, you do the work. Invest = managed robo-portfolio for 0.50%/year, runs on autopilot. Most savvy DIYers use Trade with XEQT/VEQT. People who want zero decisions use Invest.
What you actually buy with each
Trade gives you a brokerage account where you place buy and sell orders for any Canadian or US-listed stock, ETF or option. You pay $0 commission. The cost is the FX margin on USD-listed trades and the time spent picking and rebalancing.
Invest gives you a managed account. You answer ~10 risk-tolerance questions, Wealthsimple slots you into a portfolio of 6–10 ETFs, then automatically rebalances and reinvests dividends. You pay 0.50%/year on Core (or 0.40% Premium / 0.20% Generation).
Fee comparison at $50K invested
| Cost component | Trade (DIY in XEQT) | Invest (Core) |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | $0 | $250 (0.50%) |
| ETF MER | $100 (0.20%) | $100 (0.20%) |
| Trading commissions | $0 | $0 |
| FX (CAD-listed only) | $0 | $0 |
| Annual cost | $100 | $350 |
Assumes you stick to CAD-listed all-in-one ETFs and don't day-trade.
The 25-year cost
That $250/year management fee compounded over 25 years on a growing portfolio is meaningful. For a $50K starting balance growing at 6% nominal:
- Trade DIY ending balance: ~$214,000
- Invest Core ending balance: ~$199,000
- Difference: ~$15,000 (roughly 7% of the final value)
Plug your own numbers into the compound interest calculator to see the long-run drag.
Who should use Trade
- You're comfortable buying one ETF (XEQT, VEQT, ZEQT) and holding it
- You want fractional shares or to occasionally pick individual stocks
- You want the lowest possible cost
- You can ignore short-term volatility without panicking
Who should use Invest
- You want a "set and forget" portfolio with automatic rebalancing
- You want SRI (Socially Responsible) or Halal portfolio options
- You'd otherwise leave money in cash or a 1.5–2.5% bank mutual fund
- You'll add monthly automatic deposits and never log in
Account types — both support the basics
Both Trade and Invest support TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, and non-registered (Cash). Premium upgrades unlock USD-side registered accounts on Trade. Full account-type and product matrix in our Wealthsimple Review 2026.
Combining both
A common combo: Invest for your RRSP (set-and-forget retirement) and Trade for your TFSA (where you can buy individual stocks tax-free). One login, one tax slip aggregation, no duplicate paperwork.
Curious about the underlying fees? See the full Wealthsimple fees breakdown.
Related guides
Not investment advice. Costs and product features change — verify on Wealthsimple's official site before opening. We accept no referrals. Last reviewed: April 22, 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 22, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written and reviewed by Shrey Patel — Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Winnipeg, MB · Figures cross-checked against official banking & credit sources · Last reviewed April 22, 2026 · LinkedIn
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