Canadian dealer established since 1999, authorized by CIRO, valued for its registered accounts (RRSP, TFSA) and its local platform.
Questrade is one of Canada's largest independent online brokers, founded in Toronto in 1999. Authorized by CIRO and a member of the CIPF, Questrade stands out with two rare strengths: a full range of registered accounts (RRSP, TFSA, LIRA, RRIF, RESP) for investing in North American stocks, ETFs and options, and additional Lloyd's of London insurance on top of CIPF coverage. Its offering covers more than 4,500 North American stocks in addition to Forex, which is traded in a separate margin account.
Ideal for Canadian investors who want to bring their Forex trading and long-term investments together with a single dealer, keeping a margin account for Forex and separate registered accounts for stocks and ETFs. Also suits investors who want a dedicated Forex and CFD platform (Questrade Global) alongside an advanced stock platform (Questrade Edge), with access to more than 4,500 North American stocks.
Less suited to traders who want to start with very limited capital ($1,000 required to enable margin trading), to those who want to trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 or TradingView, or to cryptocurrency traders (not available at Questrade for Forex).
Questrade was founded in Toronto in 1999 and has grown over the years into one of the largest independent online brokers in Canada. The company is authorized by CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, created by the merger of IIROC and the MFDA in June 2023) and is a member of the CIPF. It serves more than one million client accounts, mainly Canadian retail investors and independent financial advisors.
Questrade's main distinguishing feature in our comparison is the breadth of its multi-account offering. The broker offers both margin accounts for Forex trading and a full range of registered accounts (RRSP, TFSA, LIRA, RRIF, RESP) for investing in North American stocks, ETFs and options. This combination makes Questrade a particularly interesting option for Canadian investors who want to centralize their activity with a single dealer, bearing in mind that CFDs and margin Forex are not eligible for registered accounts in Canada under CRA rules.
The product range is also more diversified than that of specialist Forex brokers: 55 currency pairs, 21 indices, more than 4,500 stocks listed on North American and international exchanges, 25 commodities, more than 100 Forex options, and Canadian and US government bonds. Cryptocurrencies are not available for Forex trading (a CIRO restriction), but Questrade Wealth offers exposure to listed crypto funds.
In our 2026 comparison, Questrade earns 9.2 out of 10. Its rating reflects a unique combination of strong Canadian regulation, accessible registered accounts and two complementary proprietary platforms (Questrade Global for Forex and CFDs, Questrade Edge for stocks). The additional Lloyd's of London insurance of up to $9 million CAD per account far exceeds standard CIPF protection and is a rare strength among Canadian brokers.
On Questrade Global, the Forex and CFD platform, the broker earns only on the spread, with no commission per lot: EUR/USD spread from 0.8 pip in optimal conditions, typically around 1.9 pip on a weighted average basis. Spreads at Questrade vary with market hours and liquidity. The published minimum of 0.8 pip on EUR/USD is seen in optimal conditions (high liquidity, no major event). The typical weighted average is about 1.9 pip, the value our fee calculator uses by default. For Canadian and US stocks, Questrade removed commissions in 2025. Options and other instruments keep their own pricing schedule; check the official Questrade website for current amounts. One important point: Questrade charges no inactivity fees, which is rare among brokers that offer this many services. Deposits and withdrawals by bank wire and Interac are free. For a Canadian investor who combines Forex and stock trading, this structure can be very economical if trading volume stays moderate.
| Fee type | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread EUR/USD | From 0.8 pip in optimal conditions, typically around 1.9 pip (weighted average) |
| Spread USD/CAD | From 1.4 pip |
| Commission | Forex: no commission (revenue from the spread). Canadian and US stocks: no commission since 2025 (Questrade Self-Directed). Options and other instruments: see the current official pricing schedule. |
| Overnight financing (swap) | Varies by position and pair, calculated daily based on interbank rates |
| Deposit fees | Free by bank wire and Interac. Usual bank fees may apply. |
| Withdrawal fees | Free by bank wire and Interac. Credit cards are not accepted for withdrawals. |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fees on Questrade accounts (an important differentiator compared with most brokers). |
Questrade relies on two proprietary platforms. Questrade Global is the platform dedicated to Forex and CFDs, available on web, desktop and mobile (iOS and Android), with a demo account on the web version. Questrade Edge is the platform for investment accounts, for North American stocks, ETFs and options. This split is consistent with Questrade's positioning as a multi-asset broker: investors who want to combine Forex and North American stocks with a single dealer will find a suitable infrastructure. The point to watch concerns traders used to third-party platforms: Questrade offers neither MetaTrader 4, nor MetaTrader 5, nor direct trading from TradingView, which rules out MQL4 or MQL5 Expert Advisors. Technical analysis tools are built directly into Questrade Global.
A proprietary platform dedicated to Forex and CFD trading, available on web, desktop and mobile. An interface suited to traders of all levels, with built-in technical analysis, watchlists and alerts.
The platform for Questrade investment accounts (formerly IQ Edge), designed for North American stocks, ETFs and options. It serves investors who manage their investments alongside their Forex account.
Approximate figures published by the broker. The exact list may vary by account type.
Questrade, Inc. has operated in Toronto since 1999 as a member of CIRO (formerly IIROC, before the June 2023 merger) and the CIPF. This dual protection is the standard regulatory foundation for Canadian brokers, providing coverage of up to one million Canadian dollars per account category if the broker becomes insolvent. Questrade stands out, however, with an additional layer of protection: private insurance with Lloyd's of London that covers up to $9 million CAD more per account, on top of CIPF coverage. This additional insurance is rare among Canadian brokers and is a notable protection for clients with significant assets. Client funds are segregated from Questrade's operating funds and held at top-tier Canadian banking institutions. The Toronto head office and the CIRO licence give clients access to the dispute resolution mechanisms provided by Canadian regulation.
Yes. Questrade, Inc. is authorized by CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) and is a member of the CIPF. In addition to standard CIPF protection of up to $1 million CAD per account category, Questrade offers additional private Lloyd's of London insurance of up to $9 million CAD per account.
There is no minimum deposit to open an account with Questrade. However, to enable margin trading (required for Forex and leveraged positions), a minimum deposit of $1,000 CAD is required. No minimum applies to regular stock investment accounts.
No. Margin Forex trading and CFDs are not eligible for registered accounts in Canada under CRA rules. However, Questrade offers all the main registered accounts (RRSP, TFSA, LIRA, RRIF, RESP) for investing in North American stocks, ETFs and options. For Forex, a separate margin account is required. You can hold both types of account at Questrade.
Questrade offers two proprietary platforms: Questrade Global, for Forex and CFD trading (web, desktop and mobile), and Questrade Edge, for stocks, ETFs and options. Questrade offers neither MetaTrader 4, nor MetaTrader 5, nor direct trading from TradingView.
For Forex trading, cryptocurrencies are not available directly at Questrade due to CIRO restrictions. However, through Questrade Wealth, Questrade offers exposure to listed funds (ETFs) specializing in cryptocurrencies, which provide indirect exposure in a registered account.
No. Questrade charges no inactivity fees on its accounts, a policy that is rare among Canadian brokers. You can keep a Questrade account with no trading activity without worrying about monthly or quarterly fees.
Brokers in the same category (Forex) with similar ratings, ranked by rating.
Overall rating: 9.2/10
Trading CFDs involves a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
