How much does it cost to trade at Scotia iTRADE?

Scotia iTRADE charges $9.99 per trade for stocks and most ETFs. Active traders (150+ trades/quarter) pay $4.99/trade. There is also a $9.99 + $1.25/contract fee for options. Scotia iTRADE does not offer commission-free ETF purchases. This makes it significantly more expensive than Questrade (free ETF purchases, $4.95 stocks), Qtrade (100+ free ETFs), or Wealthsimple Trade ($0). The main reason Scotiabank customers use iTRADE is the convenience of integration with their existing Scotiabank accounts.

Is Scotia iTRADE good for beginners?

Scotia iTRADE is accessible for beginners who are already Scotiabank customers, since account opening is simplified and fund transfers are instantaneous between Scotiabank and iTRADE accounts. However, the $9.99 commission is high by 2026 standards, and the platform lacks the research depth of Qtrade or the simplicity and low cost of Wealthsimple Trade. Beginners who prioritize low fees would be better served by Questrade or Qtrade. Beginners who value being able to move money instantly from their Scotiabank chequing account may find iTRADE''s integration worth the premium.

Does Scotia iTRADE offer a DRIP?

Yes. Scotia iTRADE offers a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) for eligible Canadian dividend-paying stocks and ETFs. This is an advantage over Questrade, which does not offer a DRIP. However, Qtrade''s DRIP is generally considered more comprehensive, including fractional share reinvestment.

Does Scotia iTRADE offer commission-free ETFs?

No. Scotia iTRADE does not have a commission-free ETF program. Every ETF trade — buy and sell — costs $9.99 at the standard rate. This is a significant gap compared to Questrade (free ETF purchases), Qtrade (100+ free ETFs both ways), and NBDB (free ETF trades). For a monthly ETF investor making 12 purchases per year, iTRADE costs ~$120/year in commissions vs $0 at the alternatives.

Should I use Scotia iTRADE or switch to Questrade or Qtrade?

If cost is your priority, switch. Questrade''s free ETF purchases and $4.95 stock trades, or Qtrade''s 100+ free ETFs, will save most investors hundreds of dollars per year at Scotia iTRADE''s $9.99 rate. The main reasons to stay with Scotia iTRADE are: you hold a Scotiabank account and value instant fund transfers, you are uncomfortable opening an account at a non-bank broker, or your employer or pension administrator requires a bank-affiliated broker. For most self-directed investors, the switching cost (a few hours, transfer reimbursement available) is worth the ongoing savings.

Does Scotia iTRADE have an inactivity fee?

Yes. Scotia iTRADE charges a $25 quarterly administration fee for accounts with less than $10,000 in total assets or less than 2 commission-generating trades per quarter. This fee is waived for accounts meeting either threshold. At larger account sizes or with regular trading activity, the fee does not apply. This aligns with most bank brokerage structures.

Scotia iTRADE Review 2026 | Big Bank Brokerage Compared

Item: Scotia iTRADE
Rating: 3.5

If you want the broader shortlist before looking at Scotia iTRADE specifically, start with best online brokers in Canada and best trading platforms in Canada.

Scotia iTRADE Review 2026

Scotia iTRADE is Scotiabank’s self-directed investing platform. It has the full backing of Canada’s third-largest bank — integration with Scotiabank accounts, CDIC coverage, and a wide range of account types. Its main drawback is a $9.99/trade commission in an era when competitors charge $0–$4.95.

Quick Overview

Feature	Details
Stock commission	$9.99/trade
Active trader rate	$4.99/trade (150+ trades/quarter)
ETF purchases	$9.99 (no commission-free program)
Options	$9.99 + $1.25/contract
Account minimum	$0 to open
Inactivity fee	$25/quarter (waived at $10,000+ or 2+ trades)
DRIP	✅ Yes
USD accounts	✅ Yes
Regulation	CIRO member, CIPF coverage
Bank affiliation	Scotiabank (Big 6)

Overall Rating

Category	Score
Fees	★★½
Ease of use	★★★★
Bank integration	★★★★★
Research tools	★★★★
Account types	★★★★★
Customer service	★★★★
Mobile app	★★★★
Overall	★★★

Fees & Pricing

Trading Fees

Transaction	Standard	Active Trader
Stocks	$9.99	$4.99
ETFs	$9.99	$4.99
Options	$9.99 + $1.25/contract	$4.99 + $1.25/contract
Fixed income	$0	$0
Mutual funds	$0	$0

Account Fees

Fee	Cost
Account maintenance	$0
Administration fee	$25/quarter (waived: $10K+ balance or 2 trades/quarter)
RRSP annual fee	$0
TFSA annual fee	$0
Transfer out (full)	$135 per account
USD account	✅ Available

Commission Cost Comparison

Trades per year	iTRADE cost	Questrade cost	Qtrade cost (ETFs)
12 ETF trades	$119.88	$0	$0
24 ETF trades	$239.76	$0	$0
12 stock trades	$119.88	$59.40–$119.40	$105
50 stock trades	$499.50	$247.50–$497.50	$437.50

That difference is most relevant if you are buying core ETFs regularly through best all-in-one ETFs in Canada or best ETF portfolio for $100 per month.

Account Types

Account	Available
TFSA	✅
RRSP / Spousal RRSP	✅
FHSA	✅
RESP	✅
RRIF / LRIF	✅
LIRA / RLSP	✅
LIF / RLIF	✅
Non-registered	✅
Corporate / Business	✅
Margin	✅

Scotiabank Integration

Integration feature	Details
Instant fund transfers	✅ Between Scotiabank and iTRADE
Linked chequing/savings	✅ Same login ecosystem
Scotia Rewards link	✅ Some integration
Online banking view	Accessible alongside other Scotiabank accounts
Branch support	✅ Can visit branch for questions

This integration is the primary reason to choose iTRADE over independent brokers. For a Scotiabank customer who values seeing all accounts in one place and transferring funds instantly, the integration has real convenience value.

If you want to test whether that convenience is worth the commission drag, compare wealthsimple vs the Big 5 banks.

Research Tools

Tool	Available
Thomson Reuters data	✅
Analyst ratings	✅
Charting	✅ Advanced
Screeners	✅ Stock and ETF
News and research reports	✅
Education content	✅
Options analytics	✅

Scotia iTRADE has solid research — better than Wealthsimple Trade, roughly comparable to Questrade, but not as deep as Qtrade’s Morningstar full reports.

When iTRADE Makes Sense vs When to Switch

Reason to stay	Reason to switch
✅ You bank at Scotiabank and want one login	❌ $9.99/trade is $5–10 more per trade than alternatives
✅ You need instant non-hold fund transfers	❌ No commission-free ETF program
✅ Employer or pension requires bank brokerage	❌ Annual ETF investing costs $100+ vs $0 at Questrade/Qtrade
✅ You value in-branch support	❌ Transfer-out fee of $135 (often reimbursed by receiving broker)
✅ RESP + LIRA + all account types in one place

Compared to Competing Brokers

Broker	Commission	Free ETFs	DRIP	Bank integration	Best for
Scotia iTRADE	$9.99	❌	✅	✅ Scotiabank	Scotiabank customers
RBC Direct Investing	$9.95	❌	✅	✅ RBC	RBC customers
Questrade	$4.95–$9.95	✅ (buy)	❌	❌	Active traders, cost-focus
Qtrade	$8.75	✅ 100+	✅	❌	Research, service
NBDB	$6.95	✅ ETFs	✅	✅ National Bank	National Bank customers
Wealthsimple Trade	$0	✅ All	❌	❌	$0 trades, beginners

Bottom Line

Scotia iTRADE offers the full account range, solid research, and seamless Scotiabank integration — but at $9.99/trade with no commission-free ETF program, it is significantly more expensive than competitors for the average investor. If you’re a Scotiabank customer who values instant fund transfers and a single banking relationship, iTRADE is a reasonable choice. If you’d rather optimize for cost, opening a Questrade or Qtrade account takes an afternoon, most receiving brokers reimburse the $135 transfer fee, and you’ll save hundreds of dollars a year in trading costs going forward.

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