March 10, 2025 06:53 PM
| Feature | National Bank Direct Brokerage | Questrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trades (CAD/USD) | $0 commission | $4.95 – $9.95/trade |
| ETF Purchases | $0 commission | Free to buy / $4.95 to sell |
| Account Maintenance Fee | $0 (with $20K balance or 5+ trades/quarter) | $0 (with $1,000+ balance or 1 trade/quarter) |
| Currency Conversion Fee | 1.5% | ~1.5% (or use Norbert’s Gambit for ~0.1%) |
✅ Winner: NBDB for zero-commission trades across all stocks and ETFs.
✅ Winner: Questrade for smaller accounts with free ETF buys.
| Feature | NBDB | Questrade |
|---|---|---|
| USD Account Available? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Cost to Maintain USD Account | Free | Free |
✅ Winner: Both platforms offer USD accounts to avoid constant currency conversion fees.
| Feature | NBDB | Questrade |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Clean but basic | Modern, intuitive design |
| Mobile App | Available (simpler features) | Available with robust tools |
| Advanced Trading Tools | Limited | Offers better charting & tools |
| Research Resources | Basic research tools | Stronger data for technical analysis |
✅ Winner: Questrade for advanced tools and better user experience.
✅ Winner: NBDB for simplicity if you prefer fewer features.
| Feature | NBDB | Questrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks (CAD & USD) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| ETFs | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Options Trading | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mutual Funds | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Bonds, GICs, IPOs | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Forex & CFDs | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Cryptocurrency | ❌ No | ✅ Indirectly via ETFs like BTCX, ETHX |
✅ Winner: Questrade for more investment variety, especially Forex and crypto ETFs.
| Feature | NBDB | Questrade |
|---|---|---|
| TFSA, RRSP, RESP | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Non-Registered (Cash/Margin) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Corporate & Trust Accounts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
✅ Winner: Both platforms offer flexible account options.
| Feature | NBDB | Questrade |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Live Chat | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Email Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Support Hours | Mon-Fri (8AM – 8PM ET) | Mon-Fri (8AM – 8PM ET) |
✅ Winner: Questrade for live chat support.
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