Compare brokers side by side before you choose.
Pick up to four brokers and quickly spot the differences that change a decision: trust, fees, platforms, withdrawals, restrictions, and notes you should verify.
Built for final-shortlist moments: select brokers, scan the trade-offs, then open the profile for deeper source notes.
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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.
Broker 1
Broker 2
| VS field |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | 84 | 91 |
| Trust score | 88 | 100 |
| Cost score | 86 | 89 |
| Platform score | 94 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 89 | 89 |
| Best for | Canadian residents wanting a simple app/web broker for stocks, ETFs, crypto and cash · Investors who value $0 stock/ETF commissions and integrated managed portfolios · Clients eli… | Evidence supports Fidelity as a U.S.-focused, highly regulated multi-asset broker for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds/CDs, options, cash management, managed portfolios, and sepa… |
| Watch out | Needs verification | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | WSII is a CIRO member investment dealer; WSP is FINTRAC registered and registered with the Bank of Canada as a payment service provider; crypto relief/registration is under Canadian securities regulators. Source | Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC. Source |
| License numbers | No numeric license/registration number was disclosed on the reviewed official Wealthsimple legal/help pages; WSII registration and CIRO membership are disclosed. Source | FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740. Source |
| Regulated entities | Wealthsimple brand includes Wealthsimple Investments Inc. (WSII), Wealthsimple Payments Inc. (WSP), and Wealthsimple Asset Management Inc. (WAMI). Source | Primary securities brokerage entities are Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS) and National Financial Services LLC (NFS), each member NYSE/SIPC; advisory and crypto entities differ by product. Source |
| Negative balance protection | No explicit negative balance protection policy found in reviewed official sources; futures and margin products can involve margin calls/losses beyond simple cash investment risk. Source | Not applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations. Source |
| Investor compensation | CIPF applies to eligible WSII investment accounts within limits; CDIC trust coverage up to CAD 1,000,000 for eligible chequing deposits; crypto assets themselves are not protected by CIPF/CDIC. Source | SIPC coverage up to $500,000/$250,000 cash plus Fidelity excess SIPC; FDIC sweep coverage may apply to eligible cash programs; important exclusions apply. Source |
| Restricted countries | Users must live in Canada; Wealthsimple is not licensed to hold accounts for individuals living outside Canada, including Canadian citizens abroad. Source | U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | No general account minimum; investing can start with $1 for eligible fractional ETFs/stocks; private market fund as little as $10,000. Source | $0 to open a retail brokerage account; Fidelity states no account minimum and ability to invest with as little as $1; exceptions apply by account/product. Source |
| Spread from | Not disclosed as a securities spread; Wealthsimple discloses FX conversion fees/corporate exchange-rate spread and crypto trading fees instead. Source | Not applicable to Fidelity's core U.S. stock/ETF brokerage model; securities trade by exchange/market prices rather than quoted CFD/FX spreads. Source |
| Commission | Commission-free stocks/ETFs; product-specific fees apply for FX, crypto, futures, precious metals, some index options and special services. Source | $0 online U.S. stock and ETF trades; $0 online options commission plus $0.65/contract; other product/service fees apply. Source |
| Maximum leverage | Maximum leverage ratio is not disclosed in a simple maximum-leverage table; Wealthsimple offers margin with rates as low as 3.95%, and futures margin/leverage depends on exchange requirements and product. Source | No universal maximum leverage ratio disclosed for Fidelity retail brokerage; margin borrowing is available subject to approval and margin requirements/rates rather than a single max leverage figure. Source |
| Deposit fee | Bank transfer/EFT deposits are $0 according to the trade fee schedule. Source | $0 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge. Source |
| Withdrawal fee | Standard EFT withdrawals are free; instant withdrawals cost 2.5%; wires/network fees may apply. Source | $0 Fidelity fee for EFT and domestic bank wire withdrawals; foreign exchange wire up to 3% of principal; receiving bank may charge. Source |
| Inactivity fee | Inactive account fee is $0. Source | No explicit inactivity-fee line found in official fee schedule; official account pages state no retail brokerage account fees/no account or subscription fees. Treat as needs manual confirmation before publishing as '$0 inactivity fee'. Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | Wealthsimple supports stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto, precious metals/gold, managed portfolios and cash products. Source | Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international. Source |
| Trading platforms | Clients can place orders through Wealthsimple mobile application, website, or trading desk; platform is app/web based rather than MT4/MT5. Source | Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic. Source |
| Account types | Registered and non-registered accounts, managed/trading/crypto/cash account types are offered, with availability varying by product. Source | Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts. Source |
| Deposit methods | Multiple funding methods are supported, with availability varying by account type. Source | EFT/ACH, bank wire, check/mobile check, direct deposit, recurring deposit, Fidelity-to-Fidelity/account transfer, transfer of assets, and eligible payment apps. Source |
| Withdrawal methods | Withdrawals can be made to linked bank accounts; instant debit-card withdrawals are available for eligible cards; chequing also supports cheques/bank drafts/wires where applicable. Source | EFT/ACH, bank wire, paper check, Fidelity-to-Fidelity transfers, third-party/person-to-person transfers and eligible debit card/ATM access. Source |
| Withdrawal processing time | Standard withdrawals are generally 1-3 business days for trade/crypto/cash accounts and 4-6 business days for managed accounts. Source | EFT withdrawals 1-3 business days; bank wire same day if submitted by 4 p.m. ET; paper check about 5-6 days. Source |
BrokerVS provides broker comparison research only. Scores and evidence can vary by country, account type, and legal entity; users should verify source links before opening an account.