Canadian Covered Call ETF Tracker Open a Brokerage Account →
Quick answer: National Bank Direct Brokerage (truly free), Questrade (free ETF purchases), or Wealthsimple Trade (zero commissions) are the best options. Big bank brokerages charge $9.99/trade — money you don't need to pay.

Top Picks for 2026

Qtrade Direct Investing

Rated Canada's best overall broker by the Globe and Mail and Surviscor for multiple years running. Now completely free — zero commissions on stocks and ETFs (buys AND sells), no account fees, no inactivity fees.

  • ✅ Completely free — buy & sell ETFs with $0 commissions
  • ✅ No account fees or inactivity fees
  • ✅ Best-in-class platform and mobile app
  • ✅ TFSA, RRSP, RESP, margin, non-registered
  • ✅ Excellent customer service (#1 rated)
Open a Qtrade Account →

No referral link — visit Qtrade directly.

Questrade

Canada's largest independent brokerage. Free ETF buys and sells as of 2025. Great platform, strong reputation, good for active investors.

  • ✅ Free ETF buys and sells
  • ✅ TFSA, RRSP, RESP, non-registered
  • ✅ Well-established, CIPF protected
  • ⚠️ ECN fees may apply on some trades
  • ⚠️ Customer service has had delays
Open a Questrade Account →

Referral link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Wealthsimple Trade
Zero Commission

Completely commission-free on Canadian and U.S. stocks and ETFs. Clean, simple mobile-first interface. Best for beginners who want simplicity.

  • ✅ Zero commissions — buys AND sells
  • ✅ TFSA, RRSP, non-registered
  • ✅ Clean mobile app, easy to use
  • ⚠️ Less advanced platform than Qtrade/Questrade
  • ⚠️ Customer service can be slow
Open a Wealthsimple Account →

Referral link — we may both earn a bonus.

National Bank Direct Brokerage
Free Trading — No Minimums

Free buy and sell on Canadian and U.S. ETFs and stocks. No account minimum. Good option if you bank with National Bank.

  • ✅ Zero commissions — buys AND sells
  • ✅ No account minimum
  • ✅ TFSA, RRSP, non-registered
  • ⚠️ $100 annual fee if balance under $20K
  • ⚠️ No mobile app, dated platform

Visit National Bank's website directly — no referral link.

CIBC Investor's Edge
Big Bank Option

Good option if you already bank with CIBC and want everything in one place. Lower fees than most big bank brokerages at $6.95/trade.

  • ✅ Lower fees than other big banks ($6.95/trade)
  • ✅ Fractional shares available
  • ✅ TFSA, RRSP, non-registered
  • ⚠️ $100 annual account maintenance fee
  • ⚠️ No free ETF trading
  • ⚠️ Below average customer service ratings

Visit CIBC directly — no referral link.

Interactive Brokers Canada
Best for Serious Investors

The gold standard for active investors. Very low commissions, access to global markets, most powerful platform available to Canadian retail investors.

  • ✅ Very low commissions (~$1–$2/trade)
  • ✅ Global market access
  • ✅ Advanced platform and order types
  • ✅ CIPF protected
  • ⚠️ More complex — not ideal for beginners

Visit Interactive Brokers Canada directly — no referral link.

Quick Comparison

BrokerETF BuyETF SellAccount MinAccount Fee
QtradeFreeFreeNoneNone
QuestradeFreeFree$1,000None
WealthsimpleFreeFreeNoneNone
NBDBFreeFreeNone$100/yr under $20K
CIBC IE$6.95$6.95None$100/yr
Interactive Brokers~$1–$2~$1–$2NoneNone

Which Account Type Should You Use?

AccountTax TreatmentBest for ETFs?
TFSACompletely tax-free✅ Best — keep 100% of every monthly distribution
RRSPTax-deferred until withdrawal✅ Good for retirement income
Non-RegisteredFully taxable annually⚠️ Less efficient — annual tax drag

FAQ

What is the best broker to buy ZWB?

National Bank Direct (free), Questrade (free ETF purchases), or Wealthsimple Trade (zero commissions). All far better than paying $9.99/trade at big bank brokerages.

Can I buy ZWB in a TFSA?

Yes — at any Canadian brokerage. In a TFSA all monthly distributions are completely tax-free.

Do I need a lot of money to start?

No. NBDB and Wealthsimple have no minimum. Questrade requires $1,000. You can start with one ETF unit (~$20–$25 for ZWB).

Disclosure: Questrade and Wealthsimple links are referral links. We may earn a commission if you open and fund an account — at no extra cost to you. NBDB and Interactive Brokers links are not referral links.