What Questrade does

Questrade is Canada's largest independent online brokerage, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Toronto. The company serves self-directed retail investors with a multi-platform trading ecosystem spanning web (Questrade Trading), mobile (QuestMobile, Questrade Edge Mobile), desktop (Questrade Edge), browser-based pro (Questrade Pro in Open Beta), and global FX/CFD (Questrade Global) — supporting stocks, ETFs, options, forex, CFDs, and forthcoming precious metals. Core product surface includes Custom Indexing (Canada's first zero-fee personalized index investing product with up to 600 securities from 10,000+ US-listed instruments), Fractional Shares from $1, Securities Lending with 50/50 revenue share, Margin Power linking TFSA to margin accounts, and 22-hour overnight US trading. Underlying technology features AI-powered Pro Intelligence for natural-language research, Auto Pattern Detection for technical pattern mapping, and an open API with a Partner Centre integrating 17+ third-party apps including TradingView, TipRanks, OptionsPlay, Passiv, and Seeking Alpha.

Questrade generates revenue through a hybrid model: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs act as a customer-acquisition engine, while monetization is layered through tiered options contract fees ($0.99 down to $0 for 50,000+ monthly contracts), margin interest tied to US Prime Rate, Questrade Plus subscriptions at $11.95 CAD/month (Professional at $124.95 CAD/month), securities lending revenue share, premium market data subscriptions ($9.95-$44.95/month), Questwealth managed portfolio fees starting at 0.25% (0.20% above $100K), and forex/CFD spreads. Distribution is exclusively digital via product-led growth targeting Canadian retail investors, supplemented by finfluencer and creator-network partnerships (Ticker Take, Braden Dennis, Simon Belanger, Dan Kent). The company is privately held under parent Questrade Financial Group Inc., with $100B+ in assets under administration and 1,001-5,000 employees.

In November 2025, Questrade received an OSFI Schedule 1 banking license after a six-year application process and is launching Questbank in H1 2026 on Temenos Core Banking SaaS, entering retail banking with deposit and mortgage products. A private markets platform offering pre-IPO and institutional-grade private credit to accredited investors was announced in June 2026. The company is regulated by CIRO (investment dealer membership), CIPF (with 100% cash collateral on loaned securities), and through its Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer registrations via subsidiary Questrade Wealth Management Inc. (QWM). Questrade claims 100% Canadian ownership with no disclosed external institutional investors.

Name

Questrade

Legal name

Questrade, Inc.

Website

https://questrade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Questrade is Canada's largest independent online brokerage, serving self-directed retail investors across multiple trading platforms with $0 commission stocks/ETFs, managed portfolios, and an OSFI-banking-licensed subsidiary (Questbank) launching in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Brokerage & Self-Directed Investing

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (52316)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Brokerage & Self-Directed Investing Platforms (FSAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Discount & Online Retail Brokerage (FSAEACAB), Retail FX/CFD Broker Trading Venues (FSAFADAD)

Keywords

• Online brokerage services
• Self-directed investing platform
• Managed portfolio investing
• Options and ETF trading
• Forex and CFD trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Transaction-based Trading Commissions: Questrade charges $0 commissions for stocks and ETF trades placed online. This zero-commission model drives customer acquisition and assets under administration, with revenue generated through other complementary streams.
2. Options Contract Fees: Tiered pricing from $0.99 per US contract down to $0 for high-volume traders (50,000+ contracts/month), with additional margin rate discounts for active options traders.
3. Questrade Plus Subscription: $11.95 CAD/month subscription offering advanced charting, custom alerts, P&L calculator, Market View heat map, and enhanced market data streaming. Professional subscribers charged $124.95 CAD/month.
4. Securities Lending Revenue Share: 50/50 revenue split with clients on securities lending fees, generating passive income from loaned securities in client portfolios.
5. Margin Interest: Interest earned on borrowed funds in margin accounts, with rates tied to US Prime Rate with tiered discounts for high-volume traders.
6. Market Data Subscriptions: Additional revenue from premium market data packages including $9.95 CAD/month for real-time streaming and $44.95 USD/month for advanced streaming with Level 2 data.
7. Questwealth Portfolio Management: Managed portfolio service with management fees starting at 0.25% (0.20% after $100,000), generating recurring revenue from AUM.
8. Forex and CFD Trading: Revenue from currency and CFD trading on Questrade Global platform, with spreads and commissions on over 110 currency pairs and international instruments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Questrade is Canada's largest independent online brokerage, providing self-directed retail investors with $0-commission trading in Canadian and US stocks and ETFs, tiered per-contract options pricing, and Forex/CFD trading across multi-platform access (web, desktop, mobile). It supplements self-directed trading with managed ETF portfolios under Questwealth Portfolios (AUM fees starting at 0.25%) and is expanding into retail banking and private markets via its newly licensed Questbank subsidiary and a planned pre-IPO private markets platform.

Product overview

Questrade operates as a multi-platform online brokerage offering both self-directed and managed investing solutions. The core offering spans multiple trading platforms (Questrade Trading web platform, QuestMobile app, Questrade Edge desktop/web, Questrade Edge Mobile, Questrade Global for FX/CFDs, and the new Questrade Pro in Open Beta) alongside managed portfolios through Questwealth. Key differentiated products include Custom Indexing (Canada's first personalized index investing with no fees), Fractional Shares, Securities Lending Program, and Overnight Trading extending to 22 hours. The company is expanding into banking through Questbank (OSFI-licensed) and private markets access for pre-IPO investments. A subscription add-on (Questrade Plus) provides advanced tools including AI-powered Pro Intelligence for research and automated pattern detection. The platform integrates with TradingView, TipRanks, OptionsPlay, and over 20 partner applications through its Partner Centre, while the API enables developer-built trading and analytical applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Questbank: Federal banking subsidiary offering everyday banking products and services, powered by Temenos Core Banking SaaS platform. Scheduled to launch in H1 2026.
• Questwealth Portfolios
• Questrade Pro
• QuestMobile
• Questrade Edge
• Questrade Global

Products and services

• Questrade Trading (Web Platform) Web-based self-directed trading platform for retail investors to buy and sell Canadian and US stocks and ETFs, manage accounts, watchlists, real-time quotes, smart alerts, and consolidated charts.
• QuestMobile iOS and Android mobile app for self-directed retail investors to research, trade stocks and ETFs commission-free, fund accounts, and manage portfolios on the go with real-time snap quotes and customizable alerts.
• Questrade Edge Advanced desktop and web trading platform for active self-directed traders, with customizable workspaces, advanced charting, options trading, bracket and multi-leg options orders, TipRanks research integration, stock screeners, and market data.
• Questrade Edge Mobile Mobile app version of Questrade Edge for active equity and options traders, featuring advanced order types including trailing stop, bracket, and multi-leg options with strategy builder.
• Questrade Global FX and CFD trading platform providing self-directed access to global markets on 15+ international exchanges, with over 110 currency pairs plus international stock CFDs, indices, metals, energy, and agriculture.
• Questrade Pro Browser-based next-generation trading platform for active traders, integrating AI-powered Pro Intelligence research, automated chart-pattern detection, Options Radar, customizable workspaces, chart trading, and hot buttons for rapid order entry.
• Questwealth Portfolios Professionally managed diversified low-fee ETF portfolios (and SRI variants) for investors who want expert management; management fees starting at 0.25% (0.20% above $100K) with actively managed returns and real-time rebalancing.
• Custom Indexing Personalized index investing product that lets self-directed investors build portfolios of up to 600 securities from over 10,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs with one-click rebalancing, available in TFSA, RRSP, and non-registered accounts with no management, trading, or account fees.
• Fractional Shares Feature for self-directed retail investors to buy fractional US stocks and ETFs starting at $1 minimum, commission-free in real time with dividend reinvestment (DRIP) available across self-directed account types.
• Securities Lending Program Program that lets self-directed clients earn passive income by lending eligible stocks and ETFs to borrowers, with Questrade handling borrower selection, a 50/50 revenue split, 100% cash collateral protection, and retained ownership, tradability, and voting rights (via share recall).
• Overnight Trading Extended-hours trading feature that lets self-directed investors trade US stocks and ETFs overnight from 8pm to 2am ET (Sunday 8pm to Friday 8pm ET), providing a 22-hour trading window beyond standard Canadian bank hours at standard commissions.
• Questrade Plus Monthly subscription add-on for self-directed and active traders offering streaming Level 1 market data, advanced charts with 50+ technical studies, custom alerts, P&L calculator, Market View heat map, and interactive learning sessions, at $11.95/month (professional tier $124.95/month).
• Quest Metals Precious metals trading product for retail investors to trade real vaulted gold (and access physical silver and platinum) like stocks, with Canada's lowest gold trading fees at 0.25% per transaction.
• Questbank Federal Schedule 1 licensed Canadian banking subsidiary of Questrade Financial Group, planned to offer everyday retail banking products and services including deposits and mortgages, powered by the Temenos cloud-native Core Banking SaaS platform; intended for H1 2026 launch.
• Private Markets Platform Upcoming private markets platform for accredited investors offering pre-IPO opportunities and institutional-grade private credit, extending self-directed investing beyond public markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Earn up to 50% more over 30 years versus comparable mutual funds through lower Questwealth portfolio fees
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration26 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Finance Content CreatorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 June 2026Questrade partnered with finance creators Braden Dennis, Simon Belanger, Dan Kent, and others to offer curated index libraries within the Custom Indexing platform, providing themed investment templates for users.
• TemenoscoreTechnology or Integration · 5 May 2026Questrade Financial Group adopted Temenos Core Banking SaaS platform to power Questbank, the firm's new regulated banking subsidiary. The cloud-native platform built on Temenos Core, Data Hub, and Extensibility Framework enables rapid configuration of deposit and mortgage products aligned with OSFI regulatory requirements.
• Ticker TakeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2026Ticker Take, creator-driven financial media network co-founded by Jon Erlichman and Caroline Lesley, partnered as founding sponsor. Network reaches 1.8M+ investors across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, Substack, and podcasts with 3B+ total views.
• Zūm RailscoreTechnology or Integration · 19 February 2026Zūm Rails became official payments facilitator in US and Canada through partnership with Fiserv, enabling Questrade to embed credit card acceptance and unified payment processing across ACH, RTP, FedNow, Interac, and Visa/Mastercard Debit rails.
• FiservcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 February 2026Fiserv partnership with Zūm Rails enables Questrade to serve as official payments facilitator managing merchant onboarding, settlement, and compliance, completing full financial operations backbone for cross-border payments.
• TradingViewcoreTechnology or IntegrationQuestrade is first Canadian-owned broker to fully integrate with TradingView, allowing users to trade directly from TradingView charts with access to over 400 pre-built indicators, 110+ drawing tools, and 100M+ TradingView user community.
• TipRankscoreTechnology or IntegrationTipRanks provides stock research tools including Smart Score (1-10 prediction), analyst ratings, news analysis sorted by sector and market cap, and comprehensive financial blogger opinions integrated into Questrade platforms.
• OptionsPlaycoreTechnology or IntegrationOptionsPlay is integrated into Questrade Edge Desktop and Web platforms, providing scoring system and plain English trade explanations for options strategies, helping investors find and assess options trades.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wealthsimple: Canadian fintech offering $0-commission self-directed trading, managed portfolios, and recently expanded into private markets and crypto. Questrade's closest direct competitor, serving the same Canadian retail and mass-affluent investor base with a similar fintech-led model.
• Interactive Brokers: Global multi-asset online brokerage serving active retail and professional traders with low-cost execution, advanced platforms (Trader Workstation), and broad market access. Directly comparable to Questrade Edge/Pro for the active trader segment.
• Robinhood Markets: US-based pioneer of $0-commission self-directed retail trading with product-led growth, fractional shares, and a mobile-first platform. Closely comparable to Questrade Trading/QuestMobile in product positioning and target customer, though geographically separate.
• Webull: Mobile-first discount brokerage offering commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading with advanced charting and active trader features (Webull Desktop). Highly comparable to Questrade Edge/Pro on platform capabilities and target segment.
• eToro: Social investing platform offering $0-commission stock trading, fractional shares, and copy-trading functionality. Comparable to Questrade on the self-directed retail broker core, with an additional social discovery layer.
• Saxo Bank: Global multi-asset online broker serving active and professional retail investors with multi-currency accounts, FX/CFDs, and advanced platforms. Comparable to Questrade Global and the Questrade Edge/Pro active trader stack.

Broad incumbents

• TD Direct Investing (TD WebBroker): Bank-affiliated online brokerage from one of Canada's Big Six, offering self-directed trading, ETFs, options, and research. Directly competes with Questrade for Canadian DIY investors but offers a broader wealth ecosystem.
• BMO InvestorLine: Big Six bank-affiliated online discount brokerage with self-directed and advised offerings. Targets the same Canadian self-directed retail segment as Questrade with comparable account types and platform features.
• Scotia iTRADE: Scotiabank's online brokerage providing self-directed trading, research, and commission-based pricing. A direct Canadian competitor that leverages the parent bank's distribution.
• CIBC Investor's Edge: CIBC's online discount brokerage serving Canadian DIY investors with stocks, ETFs, options and mutual funds. Operates as a bank-affiliated incumbent similar to other Big Six self-directed offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/questrade
• Facebookfacebook.com/79398043643
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/questrade

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Questrade