Tool Comparison
National Bank Direct Brokerage vs RBC Direct Investing
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
Pick National Bank Direct Brokerage if
National Bank Direct Brokerage
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
Pick RBC Direct Investing if
RBC Direct Investing
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
Skip both if: These two cover the same ground; it really comes down to price and which interface you enjoy using.
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Our take
The bottom line
National Bank Direct Brokerage and RBC Direct Investing cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
National Bank Direct Brokerage
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RBC Direct Investing
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- RBC Direct InvestingAdds commodities
What National Bank Direct Brokerage does best
- $0 online Canadian and US stock and ETF commissions.
- Online options at $1.25 per contract with a $6.25 minimum.
- CAD and USD cash, margin, short-selling and major registered accounts.
- Mutual funds, GICs, bonds, debentures and other fixed-income access.
- Canada and Quebec tax slips and annual tax guidance.
What RBC Direct Investing does best
- Canadian and U.S. stocks and ETFs with standard and active pricing.
- More than 50 selected ETFs eligible for conditional $0 online commissions.
- Options, mutual funds, bonds, GICs, gold and silver certificates, and international trading access.
- CAD and USD non-registered and major Canadian registered accounts.
- Instant eligible RBC transfers plus external account transfers.
Side by side
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 5 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Try it | Visit National Bank Direct Brokerage | Visit RBC Direct Investing |
Standout features
The best features of National Bank Direct Brokerage and RBC Direct Investing.ShowHide
Standout features
What National Bank Direct Brokerage does best
- $0 online Canadian and US stock and ETF commissions.
- Online options at $1.25 per contract with a $6.25 minimum.
- CAD and USD cash, margin, short-selling and major registered accounts.
- Mutual funds, GICs, bonds, debentures and other fixed-income access.
- Canada and Quebec tax slips and annual tax guidance.
What RBC Direct Investing does best
- Canadian and U.S. stocks and ETFs with standard and active pricing.
- More than 50 selected ETFs eligible for conditional $0 online commissions.
- Options, mutual funds, bonds, GICs, gold and silver certificates, and international trading access.
- CAD and USD non-registered and major Canadian registered accounts.
- Instant eligible RBC transfers plus external account transfers.
All details
Every attribute we track for National Bank Direct Brokerage and RBC Direct Investing.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsBonds | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsBondsCommodities |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: CAIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Countries: CAIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | National Bank Financial Inc.Country: CanadaSupport: Phone, Email, and Chat | RBC Direct Investing Inc.Country: CanadaSupport: Phone and Email |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between National Bank Direct Brokerage and RBC Direct Investing?
National Bank Direct Brokerage leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while RBC Direct Investing puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do National Bank Direct Brokerage and RBC Direct Investing cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
What asset classes do National Bank Direct Brokerage and RBC Direct Investing cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds. RBC Direct Investing adds commodities on top.
Can I export data from National Bank Direct Brokerage and RBC Direct Investing?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with National Bank Direct Brokerage or RBC Direct Investing?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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