Questrade has been named the best digital brokerage in Canada for 2026 by The Globe and Mail, marking the first time the veteran platform has topped the annual ranking. Launched over 25 years ago, Questrade earned top marks for its consistent performance across all key criteria, including fees, service, platforms, and product offerings.
Questrade’s Winning Formula
Questrade’s success stems from its balanced strengths. The introduction of commission-free trading in February 2025 propelled it to second place in the fees category, behind Qtrade, which went zero-commission in October 2025. The platform scored highly for usability, from account opening to desktop and mobile apps that provide clear information and easy access to tools for bonds, GICs, and custom indexes. The new Questrade Pro platform offers advanced charting, options trading tools, and AI analysis.
Underpinning these features is excellent customer service. Questrade ranked first in service, with quick, helpful support and multiple digital options, lifting it above competitors. According to Surviscor, which conducted the assessment, Questrade’s service score was “head and shoulders above its peers.”
Room for Improvement
Despite its win, Questrade has areas to address. Fractional share trading is limited to U.S. stocks and ETFs; Canadian partial shares remain unavailable, unlike at Interactive Brokers, TD Direct Investing, or Wealthsimple. The platform also lacks registered disability savings plan (RDSP) accounts, a significant gap for eligible Canadians. Some long-time Questrade customers in The Globe’s reader survey noted that service quality has come under pressure, raising questions about its ability to maintain its edge as competition intensifies.
Wealthsimple: Innovation Leader, Service Laggard
Wealthsimple, known for pioneering zero-commission trading and fractional shares in Canada, ranked near the top for low costs and innovation. It was the first to offer commission-free trades and fractional shares, and recently announced plans for a prediction markets app. However, Surviscor’s data showed Wealthsimple ranked last in service among 15 brokerages, with long wait times for non-premium customers. Its desktop platform, analysis tools, and transactional experience were rated below average, dragging it down in the overall ranking.
TD Direct Investing: Strong but Costly
TD Direct Investing, the three-time previous winner, remains a strong option for most investors. It offers a clean interface, wide range of registered accounts including RDSPs, and fractional share investing (called “partial share investing”) for U.S. and Canadian stocks and ETFs—matched only by Wealthsimple and Interactive Brokers. TD’s customer support earned second place in service. However, its fee structure—$9.99 per stock/ETF trade and $1.99 for fractional trades—held it back. TD now offers over 100 commission-free ETFs and 100 free trades annually through its mobile-only TD Easy Trade platform, aimed at younger investors. But TD Easy Trade and TD Direct Investing require separate accounts, limiting the appeal for those seeking an all-in-one solution.
Webull: Newcomer Surprises with Service
Webull, a Chinese-founded platform that launched its Canadian digital brokerage in January 2024, impressed in its first year in the ranking. Its zero-commission trading (introduced April 2024) boosted its fees score, but standout service quality—particularly speedy and helpful responses to queries—lifted it into the top half. Webull targets active, tech-savvy traders with professional-grade tools like real-time options quotes and overnight U.S. stock trading. However, it has rough edges: no RRIFs or other registered accounts beyond RRSP and TFSA, desktop trading via a standalone app (Windows, Mac, Linux) rather than a browser, and a mobile-first design that may not suit desktop-focused investors. Its long-term service quality remains unproven as it scales.
CIBC Investor’s Edge: Improved but Still Pricey
CIBC Investor’s Edge, described as “serviceable at best” in 2020, has improved with a revamped website, solid mobile app, and strong research resources. Service is above average. However, its $6.95 commission—once competitive—now lags behind zero-commission rivals. CIBC now offers over 180 commission-free ETFs (up from zero last year) and a promotion with 200 free trades for new clients, but costs remain a barrier.
Methodology and Reader Insights
The Globe and Mail partnered with Surviscor, a financial services digital experience ranking firm, to assess 15 brokerages. Surviscor surveyed brokerages in April 2026, asking 45 questions across four categories: fees (35% weight), support (15%), platforms (20%), and platform products and services (30%). Weights were based on a reader survey conducted in April 2026, which found low costs—commission-free trading and low account fees—as the top deciding factor. Service scores were based on repeated interactions over 12 months (or four months for Moomoo and Webull). The results showed that low costs alone are no longer sufficient; strong mobile platforms and service quality differentiate winners.
Intense Competition Benefits Investors
With at least six brokerages offering commission-free trading for Canadian and U.S. stocks, Canadian investors are the real winners. Improvements across the board—from lower fees to better platforms and service—mean the default options are getting better, whether through big banks or innovative newcomers. As Surviscor’s data and reader feedback make clear, the best brokerage depends on individual priorities, but Questrade’s all-around strength makes it the top pick for 2026.
