TD Direct Investing and Questrade are two of Canada’s most popular brokerage platforms.
Unlike TD Direct Investing, which a big bank (TD) owns, Questrade is an independent, self-directed trading platform.
Although DIY investors are in good hands with either brokerage, my top choice is Questrade after considering fees and overall trading experience.
This Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing comparison delves into their investment offerings, account options, trading fees, platforms, promotions, pros, and cons.
Featured Offer:
Readers of Savvy New Canadians get $50 in free trade credits when they open a Questrade account and fund it with at least $1,000.
Table of Contents Show
Questrade Overview
Questrade
Learn more
On Questrade’s Website
- Fees: Buy ETFs commission-free and stocks at$0.01 per share
- Account minimum: $1,000 to start trading
- Promotions: Get $50 in free trades
SNC Rating
4.7
Read review
- Choose from thousands of stocks and ETFs with commission-free ETF purchases and low-commission stock trading.
- Supports multiple investment products, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, GICs, options, foreign currencies, and precious metals.
- No minimum balance to open a new account and only $1,000 to start trading.
- No quarterly inactivity fees for all accounts. Transfer fees are waived up to $150 when you transfer your accounts at other brokerages to Questrade. Annual fees for TFSA or RRSP accounts and no account transfer fees either.
- Unlimited snap quotes for stocks and ETFs with the option to upgrade to real-time quotes through a monthly subscription starting at $19.95/month.
- Real-time customer support via talk, email, or live chat.
- Enjoy extended hours trading on U.S. Markets from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM EST.
- QuestMobile allows you to manage your investments from any mobile device.
- You can open a Questwealth portfolio to invest in a pre-built portfolio with 0.20% to 0.25% management fees.
- Gain access to other Questrade financial tools, including QuestMortgage.
- Trust in one of Canada’s top brokerages with over $30 billion in assets under administration.
Our Verdict
Questrade is Canada’s largest and oldest discount brokerage. It offers accounts and financial tools for investors of all experience levels. Commission-free ETFs allow you to generate long-term wealth through diversified exposure to global equities while saving on trading fees.
Access to multiple investment assets
Offers real-time market data for day traders
No commissions on ETF purchases
Highly-rated mobile app
Advanced charting and analytical tools are available
Minimum $1,000 balance to trade
Advanced data packages have a monthly fee
Trading fees apply to all stock trades
Questrade is an investment trading platform founded in 1999.
It has over $30 billion in assets under administration and is one of the fastest-growing online brokerages in Canada, with over 200,000 accounts opened annually.
The company was ranked #1 among self-directed brokerage firms in the J.D. Power 2020 Canada Self-Directed Investors Satisfaction StudySM.
In addition to its DIY trading platform offered through Questrade Inc., you can also access managed investment portfolios through Questwealth Portfolios via Questrade Wealth Management Inc.
Questrade, Inc. and Questrade Wealth Management Inc are part of the Questrade Group of Companies.
What is TD Direct Investing?
TD Direct Investing
Learn more
On TD’s Website
- Fees: Trade stocks and ETFs at $9.99 per trade
- Account minimum: $15,000 to avoid account maintenance fees
- Promotions: Sometimes available
- TD Direct Investing is an all-access brokerage that offers stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, and fixed-income assets.
- Two tiers of accounts are available: Standard Trading for $9.99 per trade or Active Trading for $7.00 per trade, which requires a minimum of 150 trades per quarter.
- No minimum account balance, but to avoid maintenance fees, a minimum of $15,000 is required or a minimum of three traders per quarter.
- Invest your money across registered and non-registered accounts, including RRSP, TFSA, and RESPs.
- Experienced traders can apply for a margin account and trade in options and derivatives.
- Enjoy monitoring your portfolio and trading on the go with TD’s highly-rated mobile app.
- Active traders can access Level II data and powerful charting via the thinkorswim platform.
Our Verdict
TD Direct Investing is one of the largest investment platforms in Canada due to its high exposure to TD Canada Trust banking customers. With a full range of investment products and advanced trading technology, TD Direct Investing is one of the most complete brokerages, albeit with higher commission fees than discount brokerages.
Full access to both Canadian and U.S. markets
Highly-rated mobile and desktop apps
Open a number of self-directed accounts including RRSPs and TFSAs.
Advanced charting and analytical tools available via thinkorswim
Lower commission fees available for active traders
A high minimum account balance is needed to avoid maintenance fees
Higher commission fees for trades
Accounts are self-direct with no Robo-investing for less-active traders
TD Direct Investing has a storied history starting with the launch of TD Green Line Investor services in 1984, when it was the first self-directed brokerage platform in Canada owned by a bank.
It introduced WebBroker in 1996 (the first online brokerage platform) and was rebranded as TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage in 1999.
The online brokerage was again rebranded to TD Direct Investing in 2012. It is owned by the Toronto-Dominion Bank, the second-largest bank in Canada by asset size.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing
Following an overview of both discount brokerages, let’s dig into how they compare based on end-user needs and requirements.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Investment Products
Both TD Direct Investing and Questrade offer the most popular investment types, including:
- Stocks
- Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
- Mutual Funds
- Options
- Guaranteed Investment Certificates
- Fixed Income assets
- Precious metals
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Investment Accounts
Both platforms support the most used registered and non-registered investment account types.
For registered accounts, Questrade and TD Direct Investing offer:
- Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)
- Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
- Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF)
- Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)
- Locked-In Retirement Accounts (LIRA)
- Life Income Fund (LIF)
Their non-registered accounts include personal, corporate, investment club, and margin accounts.
Questrade also offers Forex and Contracts for Difference (CFD) accounts.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: No-Commission ETFs
No-commission trading is increasingly becoming a factor when deciding which brokerage platform to choose, as differences in other service offerings become insignificant.
Questrade is one of a few brokerages to waive trading commissions when you buy ETFs (another is Wealthsimple Trade).
TD Direct Investing does not waive trading commissions when you buy or sell ETFs.
While Questrade has a $9.95 fee per transaction for mutual funds, there is no fee to buy, sell or switch mutual funds on TD Direct Investing (the greater of a 1% short-term redemption fee or $45 applies when the fund is held for less than 30 days).
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Trading Fees
Aside from offering no-commission trading for ETFs, Questrade also beats TD Direct Investing on its standard trading fees. Here’s how they compare below:
| Trading Commissions | Questrade | TD Direct Investing |
| Stocks | $4.95-$9.95/trade | $9.99/trade |
| ETFs | Free to buy: $4.95-$9.95 per “sell” trade | $9.99/trade |
| Options | $9.95 + $1/contract | $9.99 + $1.25/contract |
| Bonds | Free with a minimum $5,000 purchase | Not specific (fee included in the quoted price) |
| Mutual funds | $9.95/trade | Free |
| FX & CFDs | Spread as low as 0.08 pips | N/A |
| Precious metals | $19.95 USD/trade | $30 + $1/oz gold bullion; $30 + 0.10/oz silver bullion (USD) |
Active traders who subscribe to an advanced Canadian or U.S. market data plan on Questrade get a discount on trading fees under a fixed or variable plan:
| Investment Product | Fixed Pricing | Variable Pricing |
| Stocks | $4.95/trade | 1 cent/share up to a maximum of $6.95 per trade |
| Options | $4.95 + $0.75/contract | $6.95 + $0.75/contract |
| ETFs | Free to buy; $4.95/trade to sell | Free to buy; 1 cent/share up to a maximum of $6.95 per trade |
On TD Direct Investing, you must place 150+ trades per quarter to qualify for “active trader pricing.”
- Stocks & ETFs: $7/trade
- Options: $7 + $1.25/contract
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Administrative Fee
On both platforms, you may have to pay other transaction and service fees depending on the types of trades you place.
Of note is the quarterly “maintenance fee” of $25 you pay on TD Direct Investing when your total account asset is below $15,000.
Questrade does not charge a maintenance or inactivity fee.
Both Questrade and TD Direct Investing charge $150 to transfer your account in full to another financial institution.
Learn about RRSP and TFSA transfers between banks.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Minimum Investment
To begin investing using Questrade, you need a minimum deposit of $1,000.
TD Direct Investing does not have a minimum investment amount.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Trading Platform and Tools
Both TD Direct Investing and Questrade offer trading platforms on all devices to investors with varying skill levels (newbies and experts alike).
Questrade has a web app, mobile app, Questrade IQ Edge (desktop app for advanced order types), and Questrade Global for international markets.
With a WebBroker, mobile app, and Advanced Dashboard for active traders, TD Direct Investing is just as good. TD also offers a ThinkorSwim platform for U.S. options trades.
How about market data?
Both platforms provide access to level 1 and 2 live-streaming data depending on the package you pay for or whether you qualify as an active trader.
Standard accounts get access to basic live streaming data (snap quotes).
Research tools include screeners, charts, alerts, watchlists, and market reports from third-party providers.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Customer Service
Customer service is one area where your mileage may vary depending on the help you need, who you speak to, and when you make contact.
As per their websites, TD Direct Investing provides customer support from Monday to Friday (7am – 6pm ET).
As for Questrade, you can reach someone by chat and phone from Monday to Friday (7:30am – 8pm ET).
If the comments on my review page for both platforms are anything to go by, they both need to work on the level of support they provide to clients.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Are They Safe?
Both Questrade and TD Direct Investing are members of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) and are regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organisation of Canada (IIROC).
CIPF protects your investments against member-firm insolvency by up to $1 million.
TD Direct Investing is owned by one of Canada’s oldest (and biggest) banks.
In addition to the default CIPF insurance, Questrade client accounts are protected with an extra $10 million in private insurance.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Promotions
When you open a new Questrade account using our exclusive link (or use referral code SAVVY50), you get $50 in free trades.
TD Direct Investing does not offer a comparable promotion as of this writing.
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Other Features
If you want some help with investing, a managed investment portfolio overseen by experts at Questwealth may work for you.
Questwealth clients enjoy low investment fees (like 0.25% vs. 1.98% for equity mutual funds), and everything is done on your behalf (i.e. investment picks, portfolio rebalancing, etc.).
Readers of Savvy New Canadians can invest up to $10,000 free for 1 year on Questwealth.
TD Bank does not offer a robo-advisor service; however, you can get some assistance via TD GoalAssist.
Pros and Cons of Questrade
The advantages of using the Questrade platform include:
- Free ETF purchases and competitive fees for other trades
- No account maintenance fee, which is great if you are just starting to invest
- Transfer fees incurred when you move your investment account to Questrade are waived up to $150
- Supports multiple investment products and accounts
- $50 in free trades
Downsides
- A minimum investment deposit of $1,000 is required
- Its no-commission trading does not extend to stocks
Pros and Cons of TD Direct Investing
TD Direct Investing clients enjoy:
- Versatile trading platforms for experienced traders
- Access to multiple investment products and accounts
- Backed by a big bank
- Extensive investment educational resources
- Transfer fees are waived up to $150 when you transfer an account worth $25,000 or more
Downsides
- Does not offer free ETF trades
- Has one of the highest trading fees in Canada
- A quarterly $25 fee applies to small accounts
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing vs. Wealthsimple Trade
| Questrade | TD Direct Investing | Wealthsimple Trade | |
| Stock trading fee | $4.95 – $9.95 | $9.99 | $0 |
| ETF trading fee | $4.95 – $9.95 (purchases are free) | $9.99 | $0 |
| Option trading fee | $9.95 + $1 | $9.99 + $1.25 | N/A |
| Active trader pricing (stocks/ETFs) | $4.95-$6.95 | $7 | N/A |
| Accounts offered | RRSP, TFSA, RESP, LIF, LIRA, RRIF, corporate, margin | RRSP, RDSP, RESP, TFSA, RRIF, LIF, LIRA, margin | RRSP, TFSA, personal non-registered account |
| Investment products | Stocks, ETF, bonds, mutual funds, GICs, IPOs, FX, CFD, precious metal | Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, precious metals, GICs, bonds | Stocks and ETFs |
| Minimum investment | $1,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Maintenance fee | N/A | $25/quarter if your account balance is below $15,000 | N/A |
| USD accounts | Free | Free | $10 monthly fee for USD account and real-time data |
| Transfer fees waived? | Up to $150 | Up to $150 for transfers of $25,000 or more | Up to $150 for transfers of $5,000 or more |
| Promotional offer | $50 in free trades | N/A | $25 bonus when you deposit $150 or more (Read Review) |
Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing: Conclusion
I have used both Questrade and TD Direct Investing, and you can’t go wrong with either one.
That said, Questrade wins this match-up between Questrade vs. TD Direct Investing.
Cost-conscious investors can save on trading fees with Questrade by not paying fees when they purchase ETFs and paying a minimum of $4.95 on stock trades.
If you choose Questrade, get $50 in free trades here.
Editorial Disclaimer: The investing information provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as individual investment advice or recommendation to invest in any specific security or investment product. Investors should always conduct their own independent research before making investment decisions or executing investment strategies. Savvy New Canadians does not offer advisory or brokerage services. Note that past investment performance does not guarantee future returns.
