Mar 25, 2025
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Questrade enthusiastically showered a lot of love on Canadian investors when it announced the elimination of trading fees on stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) bought and sold on its award-winning trading platform.
By eliminating fees — effective as of Feb 9, 2025 — Questrade is helping Canadians save hundreds and even thousands on trading fees when building and rebalancing an investment portfolio of stocks and ETFs.
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“We are continuing our tradition of disrupting the industry,” said Edward Kholodenko, president and CEO of Questrade. “We believe Canadians should keep more of their money, and $0 commissions, coupled with our industry-leading platform, will help them do just that — whether [investors] are just starting out or are highly sophisticated traders.”
How much could you save with Questrade’s $0 commissions?
The amount an investor will end up saving if they used the $0 commission Questrade platform depends on a number of factors. But to illustrate, let’s assume an investment portfolio worth $100,000 that's made up of four broad-market ETFs and six blue-chip stocks.
Even a conservative, growth-oriented investor would still need to purchase and sell shares — on a monthly or quarterly basis if using a dollar-cost-averaging strategy to invest, or on an annual basis, when the investor rebalances their portfolio.
Based on the trading fee of $9.95 per trade, this theoretical (albeit conservative) investor would save approximately $480 per year. Over a decade, that’s nearly $5,000 in savings — money that stays invested and compounds over time.
More active traders could save double or quadruple this amount — amounting to $10,000 or $20,000 in savings over the next 10 years.
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Not the first time Questrade disrupted the investing space
Questrade has a history of challenging traditional brokerage models. It was the first to pare down trading fees to $9.95 when competitors charged $30 or more. Later, Questrade introduced $4.95 stock trades and eventually dropped these fees to $0.01 per share before eliminating the fee completely on all stock purchases.
This latest move to $0 commissions reinforces Questrade’s reputation as a disruptor in the investing and trading platform space.
Innovative offerings from Questrade
Beyond pricing, Questrade has proven it’s a market leader in trading app space. Notable firsts include:
- The first Canadian brokerage to offer the First Home Savings Account (FHSA).
- Ranked best in Canada for its award-winning customer service.
- Advanced trading platforms available on web, mobile and desktop.
- Integration with more than 30 third-party platforms, including TradingView and Passiv.
- Low-fee, professionally managed investment portfolios offered through Questwealth Portfolios.
- Free US dollar (USD) accounts.
Questrade’s company profile
Questrade, Inc. has been in operation for 25 years, managing over $50 billion in assets. It's a registered investment dealer and a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).
Read more: The ultra-rich are bailing on volatile stocks right now — these 4 shockproof assets are their new safe havens
Why should investors care?
Questrade’s move to eliminate trading commissions is more than just a cost-saving measure — it’s a game-changer for Canadian investors.
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By removing barriers to entry, the investing platform gives both new and experienced traders the opportunity to get actively involved in their investment strategy without losing a portion of their returns to fees.
Over time, the savings from commission-free trading can compound significantly, reinforcing the long-term benefits of disciplined investing.
Whether an investor follows a passive strategy with ETFs or actively manages a diverse portfolio, the ability to buy and sell securities without commission fees enhances portfolio flexibility and growth potential.
Moreover, this recent update by Questrade reinforces the trading platform’s position as a positive disrupter in the brokerage industry — putting pressure on competitors and traditional financial institutions to innovate. This competition only serves to help the every day investor benefit from an industry-wide shift toward more affordable and accessible trading.
Make the switch and open a Questrade brokerage account, today.
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Romana King is the Senior Editor at Money.ca. She writes for various publications, and her book -- House Poor No More: 9 Steps That Grow the Value of Your Home and Net Worth -- continues to be an Amazon bestseller. Since its publication in November 2021, this book has won five awards, including the New York CPA Society's Excellence in Financial Journalism (EFJ) Book Award in 2022.
