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Intro and winners
Top 5 picks for best online brokers in Canada in 2023:
- Interactive Brokers is the winner, the best online broker in Canada in 2023 - Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
- XTB - Commission-free stocks/ETFs for some. Free and fast deposit and withdrawal. Easy and fast account opening.
- Questrade - Low stock and ETF fees. Solid research tools. Superb customer service.
- Oanda - Great trading platforms. Outstanding research tools. Fast and user-friendly account opening.
- MEXEM - Low stock and ETF fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
How did we select the best online brokers in Canada in 2023?
- We checked whether the broker is regulated by a trusted regulator,
- Compared fees (including spreads, withdrawal fee, commission),
- We checked and compared every aspect of their services,
- Opened an account and tested the platform (charting, features, usability) with real money.
Our expert team has done all the work for you, and reviewed brokers based on BrokerChooser's unique methodology.
Best online brokers
Summary of online trading in Canada
| Summary of online trading in Canada | |
|---|---|
| What is the minimum deposit on average needed to start trading in Canada? | There is no set minimum deposit but pro traders recommend starting with at least $100. |
| Is profit from online trading taxable in Canada? | In Canada, 50% of the value of any capital gains is taxable. Capital losses can only be claimed against capital gains to lower the taxable amount. |
| What is the best time to trade during market hours? | Pro traders suggest the following best times to execute trades: 09:00 - 11:00 am and 15:00 - 16:00 pm |
Best online brokers
Top online trading platforms in Canada in 2023
While many international online brokers catering to Canadian investors offer an excellent service, the ones in our toplist go the extra mile.
| Broker | Info | Good for beginners | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | International broker providing all asset classes | No | $0 |
| XTB | Global CFD broker | No | $0 |
| Questrade | Canadian stockbroker | Yes | $1,000 |
| Oanda | US forex broker | No | $0 |
| MEXEM | Global stockbroker | No | $0 |
Popularity of the best online brokers in Canada
Interested in what others think? Here's how many of our users chose these best online brokers over the last 6 months.
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Trading fees at the top online brokers in Canada
How much you pay in fees for a given trade is a key broker selection criteria. We calculated a benchmark fee that includes all spreads, commissions and financing rates for opening a position, holding it for a week, and closing. Check out the following table to see how the top 5 brokers stack up against each other in terms of trading fees.
| Broker | US stock | UK stock | EURUSD spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | $1.0 | $3.4 | 0.1 |
| XTB | $0.0 | $0.0 | 0.9 |
| Questrade | $5.0 | - | 2.0 |
| Oanda | - | - | 0.9 |
| MEXEM | $2.5 | $2.8 | 0.1 |
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Product selection at the top online brokers in Canada
Even though the brokerages in our toplist grant access to a wide range of products, there are differences in their product portfolios. See what you can trade at the best online brokers in Canada.
| Interactive Brokers | XTB | Questrade | Oanda | MEXEM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Best online brokers
Online trading in Canada
Canada, which has the world's 9th largest economy according to the World Bank, has two major stock exchanges: the TMX Group Limited and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The two provide the main market for senior equity securities in Canada. The TSX has more than 1,500 companies listed with a combined market capitalization of over $3 trillion, making it the eighth largest stock exchange by market capitalization globally.
Due to the country's proximity to the US, Canadian investors have easy access to the main US financial markets, including trading on the NASDAQ and the NYSE.
The Canadian dollar is the fifth most-held reserve currency in the world after the US dollar (USD), the euro (EUR), British pound sterling (GBP) and the Japanese yen (JPY).
Financial markets and service providers (such as online brokers) active in Canada are regulated by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA). The CSA comprises the country's provincial and territorial securities regulators in charge of overseeing Canadian capital markets. Its main objectives are: investor protection; fair, transparent, and efficient markets; and reducing systemic risk.
Canadian investors are entitled to investor protection under the scheme operated by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) provided they trade with an investment service provider that is a member of IIROC (Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada). The CIPF investor protection amount is CAD 1 million.
Best online brokers
How to choose the best online brokers in Canada
A great selection of products and low trading fees are the most important selection criteria beyond the safety profile of the broker. Our experts also put great emphasis on the overall service quality, the account opening experience and deposit/withdrawal options and fees.
Didn't find the best broker for you? Answer a few questions and get a personalized broker list!
Your broker toplist will be selected based on your answers.
And now, let's see the best online brokers for Canadian investors one by one, starting with the winner, Interactive Brokers.
#1 Best international online broker in Canada in 2022
Interactive Brokers
Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
| Interactive Brokers snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Mobile app score | 3.5 stars |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Number of stocks available | 87,000 |
| Number of currency pairs available | 105 |
| Number of ETFs available | 13,000 |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
For a detailed analysis of Interactive Brokers services, check out our full review for 2023.
#2 Best international online broker in Canada in 2022
XTB
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service
| XTB snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Mobile app score | 4.4 stars |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Number of stocks available | 3,000 |
| Number of currency pairs available | 56 |
| Number of ETFs available | 270 |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Paysafe, Skrill |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
For a detailed analysis of XTB services, check out our full review for 2023.
#3 Best international online broker in Canada in 2022
Questrade
Recommended for traders and investors focusing on the canadian and us markets
| Questrade snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 |
| Mobile app score | 4.8 stars |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Number of stocks available | 23,500 |
| Number of currency pairs available | 116 |
| Number of ETFs available | 1,800 |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Interac Online |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
For a detailed analysis of Questrade services, check out our full review for 2023.
#4 Best international online broker in Canada in 2022
Oanda
Recommended for forex traders who value a user-friendly platform and great research tools
| Oanda snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Mobile app score | 5.0 stars |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Number of stocks available | - |
| Number of currency pairs available | 70 |
| Number of ETFs available | - |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
For a detailed analysis of Oanda services, check out our full review for 2023.
#5 Best international online broker in Canada in 2022
MEXEM
Recommended for investors and traders looking for low fees and sophisticated trading platforms
| MEXEM snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Mobile app score | 3.5 stars |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Number of stocks available | 87,000 |
| Number of currency pairs available | 105 |
| Number of ETFs available | 13,000 |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
For a detailed analysis of MEXEM services, check out our full review for 2023.
Best online brokers
FAQ
How to buy stocks in Canada?
If you want to become a stock investor, you will need to open a brokerage account at an online broker. Once you have your account up and running, deposit funds into your account, select the stocks you want to buy, and place a buy order. Read our article on how to buy stocks as a beginner for more detailed information.
What are the best online brokers for beginners in Canada?
All the brokers featured in this article are suitable for beginner investors. If you want to trade forex, check out our ranking of the best forex brokers in Canada for beginners.
How can I buy stocks without a broker in Canada?
You can buy stocks in Canada without using the services of a broker through a direct stock plan, which allows investors to buy shares from the issuing company. Note, however, that such plans have become more scarce in recent years. Apart from this, you will need an online brokerage to be able to invest in stocks.
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