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Written by: Oskar G. Updated: Dec 2022
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Our top alternative brokers to Qtrade Direct Investing
TD Ameritrade
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Interactive Brokers
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The best alternatives to Qtrade Direct Investing are

  1. RBC Direct Investing - Canadian discount stockbroker
  2. Questrade - Canadian stockbroker
  3. TD Ameritrade - US-based stockbroker
  4. Interactive Brokers - International broker providing all asset classes

Let's see in a bit more detail how the Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives compare to Qtrade Direct Investing and each other:

Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives comparison
Qtrade Direct Investing RBC Direct Investing Questrade TD Ameritrade Interactive Brokers
Overall score 4.2 stars 4.1 stars 4.5 stars 4.9 stars 4.9 stars
Fees score 3.3 stars 3.5 stars 3.4 stars 4.1 stars 4.5 stars
Account opening score 4.2 stars 3.7 stars 3.5 stars 4.0 stars 3.2 stars
Deposit and withdrawal score 3.0 stars 2.4 stars 2.7 stars 2.2 stars 3.0 stars
Web platform score 3.5 stars 2.9 stars 3.8 stars 4.3 stars 3.8 stars
Markets and products score 2.9 stars 2.4 stars 4.5 stars 3.9 stars 5.0 stars
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Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to Qtrade Direct Investing? There are many areas based on which Qtrade Direct Investing can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to Qtrade Direct Investing we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:

  • The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
  • The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.

Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives recommendations

Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:

  • Qtrade Direct Investing is recommended for investors, including beginners, who focus on the canadian and us markets
  • RBC Direct Investing is recommended for investors, including beginners, focusing on the canadian and us markets
  • Questrade is recommended for traders and investors focusing on the canadian and us markets
  • TD Ameritrade is recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform
  • Interactive Brokers is recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment

Important factors of finding Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives

So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 101 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.

Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we

  • open a live account
  • check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
  • refresh data regularly

Whether Qtrade Direct Investing or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:

Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. The amounts Qtrade Direct Investing charges you are considered average. When picking an alternative, you could prioritize brokers that are cheaper than Qtrade Direct Investing.

Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you cannot make a deposit with your credit card at Qtrade Direct Investing, some alternatives might allow you to do that.

Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.

Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given Qtrade Direct Investing alternative is a must.


Now let's dive into the details of how Qtrade Direct Investing and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!

Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives
RBC Direct Investing

RBC Direct Investing is the brokerage division of the Royal Bank of Canada, which was founded in 1864. It is regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).

RBC Direct Investing is considered very safe because it has a long track record, is listed on the stock exchange, has a banking background, discloses its financials and is regulated by a top-tier financial authority.

Recommended for investors, including beginners, focusing on the canadian and us markets

Pros
Cons
Quick, useful customer service
Only US and Canadian markets covered
Easy account opening in some cases
Lack of withdrawal/deposit options
High-quality educational tools
Outdated mobile trading platform

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Fees
3.5

RBC Direct Investing has no mutual fund fees and low non-trading fees. However, withdrawals are only free for RBC banking clients, while there is also an account fee under a certain account balance.
Pros
Cons
Low non-trading fees
Quarterly account fee
Low stock and ETF fees / Free stock trading
High withdrawal fee for non-RBC clients
Low fund fees
No mutual fund trading fee
No withdrawal fee for RBC clients
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. RBC Direct Investing: Trading fees
RBC Direct Investing Qtrade Direct Investing
Apple benchmark fee $15.0 $17.8
Vodafone benchmark fee - -
EURUSD benchmark fee - -

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX

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Account opening
3.7

RBC Direct Investing has an easy, fully digital and fast account opening, with no minimum deposit. However, account opening for non-RBC bank clients is more complicated.
Pros
Cons
Fully digital
Account opening complicated for non-RBC bank account holders
No minimum deposit
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. RBC Direct Investing: Minimum deposit, time to open an account
RBC Direct Investing Qtrade Direct Investing
Minimum deposit $0 $0
Time to open account 1-3 days 1-3 days

If you are interested more in RBC Direct Investing minimum deposit, this overview will help you.

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Deposit and withdrawal
2.4

Withdrawals and deposits are free if you have a bank account with RBC. On the other hand, credit/debit cards and electronic wallets are not available and most withdrawal options carry a fee if you are not an RBC bank client.
Pros
Cons
No deposit fee
Credit/Debit card not available
User-friendly
Fewer withdrawal and deposit options for non-RBC clients
Free withdrawal for clients with RBC bank account
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. RBC Direct Investing: Withdrawal options
RBC Direct Investing Qtrade Direct Investing
Bank transfer Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No
Electronic wallets No No
Withdrawal fee $0 $0

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Web trading platform
2.9

RBC Direct Investing does a great job of covering the basics, and has clear fee reports. On the other hand, there is no two-step login and the design feels outdated.
Pros
Cons
Clear fee report
No two-step (safer) login
Price alerts
Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
Outdated design
Web trading platform of RBC Direct Investing, a Qtrade Direct Investing alternative
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. RBC Direct Investing: Trading platform scores
RBC Direct Investing Qtrade Direct Investing
Web platform score 2.9 stars 3.5 stars
Mobile platform score 0.7 stars 3.0 stars
Desktop platform score - -

Learn more about RBC Direct Investing's web trading platform in the detailed RBC Direct Investing review.

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Markets and products
2.4

You can trade multiple asset types, but some important ones like forex or CFDs are not available. The offering is also limited to the Canadian and US markets.
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. RBC Direct Investing: Markets and products
RBC Direct Investing Qtrade Direct Investing
Stocks Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes
Forex No No
Funds Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes
Futures No No
CFDs No No
Crypto No No

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Verdict

RBC Direct Investing is regulated by the top-tier IIROC. Its parent company, the Royal Bank of Canada has a banking license and is listed on the stock exchange. It offers an easy, fully digital and fast account opening for clients who already bank with RBC. Education resources are outstanding, providing a lot of relevant and useful tools. Customer service provides fast and relevant answers.

There are some drawbacks, though. The product portfolio covers only the US and Canadian markets, you can't use credit/debit cards or electronic wallets for money transfers, and the mobile app is in desperate need of an update.

Overall, since RBC Direct Investing has great account opening, advanced research and education tools, feel free to give them a try.

RBC Direct Investing
Summary RBC Direct Investing is a Canadian stockbroker regulated by the top-tier IIROC.
Fees score 3.5 stars
Recommended for Investors, including beginners, focusing on the Canadian and US markets

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Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives
Questrade

Questrade, founded in 1999, is one of the most popular brokerage firms in Canada. It is regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).

Questrade is considered safe because it has a long track record and is regulated by a top-tier regulator.

Recommended for traders and investors focusing on the canadian and us markets

Pros
Cons
Low stock and ETF fees
Slow account opening for non-Canadians
Solid research tools
High withdrawal fee for non-Canadians
Superb customer service
Limited account base currencies

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Fees
3.4

Questrade has competitive fees for stocks, ETFs, and funds. However, margin rates are at the higher end.
Pros
Cons
Low non-trading fees
High margin rates
Low stock and ETF fees / Free stock trading
Low fund fees
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Questrade: Trading fees
Questrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Apple benchmark fee $10.2 $17.8
Vodafone benchmark fee - -
EURUSD benchmark fee $17.2 -

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX

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Account opening
3.5

For Canadian citizens, opening an account at Questrade is easy and fully digital. However, there is a high minimum deposit of $1,000.
Pros
Cons
Fast
Minimum deposit is higher than $500
Fully digital
Complicated for non-Canadians
User-friendly
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Questrade: Minimum deposit, time to open an account
Questrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Minimum deposit $1,000 $0
Time to open account 1 day 1-3 days

If you are interested more in Questrade minimum deposit, this overview will help you.

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Deposit and withdrawal
2.7

Deposits and withdrawals are free and user-friendly with electronic transfer for Canadians. However, the process is expensive for non-Canadians and non-Visa debit cards are not available.
Pros
Cons
Free withdrawal
Slow withdrawal - over 3 days
No deposit fee
High fee for wire withdrawals
User-friendly
Non-Visa debit card not available
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Questrade: Withdrawal options
Questrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Bank transfer Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No
Electronic wallets Yes No
Withdrawal fee $0 $0

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Web trading platform
3.8

Questrade's web trading platform offers a simple, intuitive design, a wide variety of order types and price alerts. However, its customizability is limited and the fee reports are not clear.
Pros
Cons
User-friendly
No clear fee report available
Good variety of order types
Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
Price alerts
Web trading platform of Questrade, a Qtrade Direct Investing alternative
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Questrade: Trading platform scores
Questrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Web platform score 3.8 stars 3.5 stars
Mobile platform score 4.8 stars 3.0 stars
Desktop platform score 4.3 stars -

Learn more about Questrade's web trading platform in the detailed Questrade review.

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Markets and products
4.5

At Questrade, you can trade almost all asset classes except futures and cryptos. The product portfolio covers only the US and Canadian markets, though.
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Questrade: Markets and products
Questrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Stocks Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes
Forex Yes No
Funds Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes
Futures No No
CFDs Yes No
Crypto No No

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Verdict

Questrade is among the fastest-growing online brokerage firms in Canada. Its stock and ETF fees are low, research tools are advanced and customer service is outstanding.

Questrade has some shortcomings as well. Even though the account opening process for Canadians is quick and easy, it's slow and time-consuming if you are not Canadian. You can face high withdrawal fees if you are not a Canadian citizen and there are only USD and CAD as account base currencies.

Since Questrade has advanced research tools and offers great customer service, feel free to give it a try.

Questrade
Summary Questrade is a Canadian online brokerage firm. Questrade is a member of Canadian self-regulatory industry body IIROC and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).
Fees score 3.4 stars
Recommended for Traders and investors focusing on the Canadian and US markets

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Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives
TD Ameritrade

If you are an experienced trader looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform, we definitely recommend TD Ameritrade.

Founded in 1975, TD is one of the biggest US-based stockbrokers and is regulated by top-tier authorities like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

This online broker is considered safe as it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange, has a banking background, discloses its financials and is overseen by top-tier regulators.

Recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform

Pros
Cons
Low trading fees (free stock and ETF trading)
You can trade only on US markets
Superb desktop trading platform
Accounts mostly limited to US residents
Great customer support
No credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for money transfer

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Fees
4.1

TD Ameritrade offers free stock and ETF trading, while forex, bond and options fees are also low. On the other hand, it charges high fees for non-free funds and futures.
Pros
Cons
Low trading fees
High fund fees
Low non-trading fees
Free stocks and ETFs
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. TD Ameritrade: Trading fees
TD Ameritrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Apple benchmark fee $0.3 $17.8
Vodafone benchmark fee - -
EURUSD benchmark fee $15.1 -

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX

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Account opening
4.0

TD Ameritrade offers many different account types and there is no minimum deposit for US citizens.
Pros
Cons
Fully digital
None
No minimum deposit
Many account types
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. TD Ameritrade: Minimum deposit, time to open an account
TD Ameritrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Minimum deposit $0 $0
Time to open account 1-3 days 1-3 days

If you are interested more in TD Ameritrade minimum deposit, this overview will help you.

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Deposit and withdrawal
2.2

The account funding is user-friendly with no deposit fees; however, USD is the only available base currency and wire transfers incur a high fee.
Pros
Cons
Free withdrawal
Credit/Debit card not available
No deposit fee
Only one account base currency
User-friendly
High withdrawal fee for wire transfers
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. TD Ameritrade: Withdrawal options
TD Ameritrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Bank transfer Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No
Electronic wallets No No
Withdrawal fee $0 $0

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Web trading platform
4.3

TD Ameritrade offers a good web trading platform with a clean design. On the flip side, the platform is not customizable.
Pros
Cons
User-friendly
Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
Two-step (safer) login
Good variety of order types
Web trading platform of TD Ameritrade, a Qtrade Direct Investing alternative
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. TD Ameritrade: Trading platform scores
TD Ameritrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Web platform score 4.3 stars 3.5 stars
Mobile platform score 4.8 stars 3.0 stars
Desktop platform score 4.5 stars -

Learn more about TD Ameritrade's web trading platform in the detailed TD Ameritrade review.

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Markets and products
3.9

You can trade many asset classes, from stocks to futures and forex, while nice extras include social trading and robo-advisory. On the other hand, only the US market is covered.
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. TD Ameritrade: Markets and products
TD Ameritrade Qtrade Direct Investing
Stocks Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes
Forex Yes No
Funds Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes
Futures Yes No
CFDs No No
Crypto Yes No

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Verdict

TD is one of the biggest US online brokers and it charges no commission on stock and ETF trades.

Research and education are outstanding, the thinkorswim desktop platform is one of the best on the market, and customer service is great.

There are a few drawbacks, most notably high financing (margin) rates, and the fact that credit/debit cards and electronic wallets are not accepted for money transfers. Furthermore, the product portfolio covers only US markets.

We definitely recommend giving TD a try, especially as their education tools include a demo account.

TD Ameritrade
Summary TD Ameritrade is a US stockbroker regulated by top-tier authorities SEC and FINRA. The company is listed on NASDAQ and has a banking background as part of the TD Group. The brokerage was acquired by Charles Schwab Corporation in 2020. Client account conversion is expected between April and September of 2023.
Fees score 4.1 stars
Recommended for Investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform

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Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives
Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers, one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, was founded in 1977. The broker is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including top-tier ones like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Given that the broker has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, has a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange; it all points towards IB being a safe service provider.

Interactive Brokers recently launched a new app for global stock trading:. GlobalTrader is a simple platform where you can trade stocks and ETFs. If you are looking to trade only those two assets, GlobalTrader is the solution for you, since you will not get distracted with the other unnecessary information about other asset classes. In addition, you will have a more convenient time navigating through its simple user interface. It is also easier and quicker to create a GlobalTrader account than to create an Interactive Brokers account.  Read our review of IBKR GlobalTrader

In addition, Interactive Brokers also has an app you can use for ESG investing: read our review of IMPACT by Interactive Brokers.

Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment

Pros
Cons
Low trading fees
Complicated account opening process
Wide range of products
Complex desktop trading platform
Many great research tools
Understaffed customer service

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Fees
4.5

Interactive Brokers has low trading fees and the best margin rates in the industry. For US clients, stock and ETF trading is free if they choose the Lite plan.
Pros
Cons
Low trading fees
None
Free stock and ETF trading for US clients
Low margin rates
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Interactive Brokers: Trading fees
Interactive Brokers Qtrade Direct Investing
Apple benchmark fee $2.3 $17.8
Vodafone benchmark fee $7.6 -
EURUSD benchmark fee $14.7 -

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX

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Account opening
3.2

IB's account opening process is fully digital and the required minimum deposit is low. On the negative side, the process is complicated and account verification takes relatively long.
Pros
Cons
Fully digital
Not user-friendly
No minimum deposit for most account types
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Interactive Brokers: Minimum deposit, time to open an account
Interactive Brokers Qtrade Direct Investing
Minimum deposit $0 $0
Time to open account 1-3 days 1-3 days

If you are interested more in Interactive Brokers minimum deposit, this overview will help you.

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Deposit and withdrawal
3.0

Interactive Brokers offers several account base currencies and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawback is that you can only use bank transfer.
Pros
Cons
No deposit fee
Credit/Debit card not available
Several account base currencies
First withdrawal free each month
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Interactive Brokers: Withdrawal options
Interactive Brokers Qtrade Direct Investing
Bank transfer Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No
Electronic wallets No No
Withdrawal fee $0 $0

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Web trading platform
3.8

The Interactive Brokers web platform is simple and easy to use, even for beginners, however there are some minor but annoying glitches.
Pros
Cons
User-friendly
User experience could be better
Clear fee report
Two-step (safer) login
Web trading platform of Interactive Brokers, a Qtrade Direct Investing alternative
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Interactive Brokers: Trading platform scores
Interactive Brokers Qtrade Direct Investing
Web platform score 3.8 stars 3.5 stars
Mobile platform score 3.5 stars 3.0 stars
Desktop platform score 3.8 stars -

Learn more about Interactive Brokers's web trading platform in the detailed Interactive Brokers review.

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Markets and products
5.0

At Interactive Brokers, you have access to an extremely wide range of markets and all product types are available.
Qtrade Direct Investing vs. Interactive Brokers: Markets and products
Interactive Brokers Qtrade Direct Investing
Stocks Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes
Forex Yes No
Funds Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes
Futures Yes No
CFDs Yes No
Crypto Yes No

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Verdict

Interactive Brokers is one of the biggest US-based lowest spread brokers, regulated by several top-tier regulators globally. We recommend this broker both for advanced traders and for everyday investors who want to have access to many stock markets.

On the plus side, IB offers very low fees, a vast range of markets and products, and diverse research tools

There are some drawbacks, however. We weren't satisfied with the quality of the customer service and the account opening process is complicated. Unlike the web and mobile platforms, the desktop platform is complex and hard to get a handle on, especially for beginners.

If you have experience navigating complex platforms and enjoy transparent, low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers is a great fit for you.

Interactive Brokers
Summary Interactive Brokers is a US discount broker. It is listed on a stock exchange and regulated by several authorities, including top-tier ones like the FCA and the SEC.
Fees score 4.5 stars
Recommended for Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment

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Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives
Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing is a Canadian online stockbroker founded in 2000. It is regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC).

Qtrade Direct Investing is considered safe because it has a long track record, offers high-level investor protection and is overseen by a top-tier regulator.

Recommended for investors, including beginners, who focus on the canadian and us markets

Pros
Cons
Low trading fees
Only Canadian and US markets covered
Easy account opening
High trading fees for some products
Solid educational tools
Credit/debit cards, e-wallets not accepted

Fees
3.3

Qtrade Direct Investing charges low fees for stocks, ETFs, bonds and mutual funds, but options fees and margin rates are high, and there is also an inactivity fee.
Pros
Cons
Low stock and ETF fees / Free stock trading
Inactivity fee
Low fund fees
High margin rates for stock trading
Low stock and ETF fees
High options fees and margin rates
Trade 100+ ETFs commission-free
No mutual fund fees
Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives trading fees
Qtrade Direct Investing RBC Direct Investing Questrade TD Ameritrade Interactive Brokers
US stock $8.8 $7.4 $5.0 $0.0 $1.0
UK stock - - - - $3.4

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k

Account opening
4.2

Qtrade Direct Investing has an easy and fully digital account opening process, with no minimum deposit and plenty of account types.
Pros
Cons
Fully digital
Only available to clients with valid Canadian SIN
No minimum deposit
Many account types
Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives minimum deposit and account open times
Qtrade Direct Investing RBC Direct Investing Questrade TD Ameritrade Interactive Brokers
Minimum deposit $0 $0 $1,000 $0 $0
Time to open account 1-3 days 1-3 days 1 day 1-3 days 1-3 days

Learn more about Qtrade Direct Investing minimum deposit here.

Deposit and withdrawal
3.0

Qtrade Direct Investing offers user-friendly and free deposit and withdrawal. Unfortunately, your options for both are quite limited, as you can only use bank transfer.
Pros
Cons
Free withdrawal
Credit/Debit card not available
No deposit fee
Electronic wallets not accepted
User-friendly
Qtrade Direct Investing and alternatives withdrawal options and fees
Qtrade Direct Investing RBC Direct Investing Questrade TD Ameritrade Interactive Brokers
Bank transfer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No No No No
Electronic wallets No No Yes No No
Withdrawal fee $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Web trading platform
3.5

Qtrade Direct Investing has rebranded its web trading platform, which has solid search, alert and order functions and portfolio reports. A safer, two-step login is now also available.
Pros
Cons
Clear fee report
Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
Two-step (safer) login
Good search function
Qtrade Direct Investing and alternatives trading platform scores
Qtrade Direct Investing RBC Direct Investing Questrade TD Ameritrade Interactive Brokers
Web platform score 3.5 stars 2.9 stars 3.8 stars 4.3 stars 3.8 stars
Mobile platform score 3.0 stars 0.7 stars 4.8 stars 4.8 stars 3.5 stars
Desktop platform score - - 4.3 stars 4.5 stars 3.8 stars

Learn more about Qtrade Direct Investing's web trading platform in the detailed Qtrade Direct Investing review.

Markets and products
2.9

Qtrade Direct Investing covers only the Canadian and US markets. You can trade basic asset classes like stocks, ETFs or mutual funds, but forex, futures, CFDs and cryptos are not available.
Qtrade Direct Investing and alternatives markets and products
Qtrade Direct Investing RBC Direct Investing Questrade TD Ameritrade Interactive Brokers
Stocks Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Forex No No Yes Yes Yes
Funds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Futures No No No Yes Yes
CFDs No No Yes No Yes
Crypto No No No Yes Yes

Verdict

Qtrade Direct Investing offers competitive stock, ETF, bond and mutual fund fees. The account opening process is easy and fully digital. Qtrade Direct Investing's education resources are outstanding, with many relevant and useful tools.

Qtrade Direct Investing does, however, have its downsides. The biggest one is its product portfolio, which covers only the US and Canadian markets. Other areas for improvement include missing credit/debit card and e-wallet integration for money transfers, and some bugs in its user interfaces.

Since Qtrade Direct Investing has great trading fees, easy account opening and top-quality educational tools, feel free to give it a try today.

Qtrade Direct Investing
Summary Qtrade is a Canadian stockbroker regulated by the top-tier IIROC.
Fees score 3.3 stars
Recommended for Investors, including beginners, who focus on the Canadian and US markets

Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives
Bottom line

Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to Qtrade Direct Investing. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.

Qtrade Direct Investing alternatives
Broker Info Recommended for
Qtrade Direct Investing Canadian stockbroker Investors, including beginners, who focus on the Canadian and US markets
RBC Direct Investing Canadian discount stockbroker Investors, including beginners, focusing on the Canadian and US markets
Questrade Canadian stockbroker Traders and investors focusing on the Canadian and US markets
TD Ameritrade US-based stockbroker Investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform
Interactive Brokers International broker providing all asset classes Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment

Still unsure? Use our broker finder and find the best broker for you or learn more about investing your money.

Author of this article

Oskar Golebiowski

Author of this article

Oskar's goal is to bring transparency to investors in the Canadian stock brokerage market. With a bachelor’s degree in finance and over 3 years of business experience, Oskar has tested many different investing platforms in the past. His aim is to provide unbiased and honest reviews of the best tools available to Canadian investors.

Oskar Golebiowski

Canadian broker expert

Oskar's goal is to bring transparency to investors in the Canadian stock brokerage market. With a bachelor’s degree in finance and over 3 years of business experience, Oskar has tested many different investing platforms in the past. His aim is to provide unbiased and honest reviews of the best tools available to Canadian investors.

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology

Our top alternative brokers to Qtrade Direct Investing

TD Ameritrade Interactive Brokers

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