Tool Comparison
RBC Direct Investing vs Wealthsimple
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
Pick RBC Direct Investing if
RBC Direct Investing
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
Pick Wealthsimple if
Wealthsimple
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
RBC Direct Investing and Wealthsimple 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
RBC Direct Investing
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Wealthsimple
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- RBC Direct InvestingAdds mutual funds and bonds
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.
What Wealthsimple does best
- Canadian and U.S. listed stocks and ETFs with $0 stated online commission.
- Supported stock and ETF fractional market orders from $1.
- TFSA, FHSA, RRSP, spousal RRSP, RRIF, LIRA, LIF, RESP and non-registered trading accounts.
- CAD and optional USD accounts with separate currency-conversion rules.
- Listed equity and ETF options with $0 standard contract fees, subject to specialized charges.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
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 RBC Direct Investing | Visit Wealthsimple |
Standout features
The best features of RBC Direct Investing and Wealthsimple.ShowHide
Standout features
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.
What Wealthsimple does best
- Canadian and U.S. listed stocks and ETFs with $0 stated online commission.
- Supported stock and ETF fractional market orders from $1.
- TFSA, FHSA, RRSP, spousal RRSP, RRIF, LIRA, LIF, RESP and non-registered trading accounts.
- CAD and optional USD accounts with separate currency-conversion rules.
- Listed equity and ETF options with $0 standard contract fees, subject to specialized charges.
All details
Every attribute we track for RBC Direct Investing and Wealthsimple.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsBondsCommodities | StocksETFsOptionsCommodities |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: CAIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Countries: CAIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | RBC Direct Investing Inc.Country: CanadaSupport: Phone and Email | Wealthsimple Investments Inc.Country: CanadaSupport: Chat, Phone, and Email |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Free“Core self-directed brokerage” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between RBC Direct Investing and Wealthsimple?
RBC Direct Investing leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Wealthsimple 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 RBC Direct Investing and Wealthsimple 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 RBC Direct Investing and Wealthsimple cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, options, and commodities. RBC Direct Investing also handles mutual funds and bonds.
Can I export data from RBC Direct Investing and Wealthsimple?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with RBC Direct Investing or Wealthsimple?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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