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Wealthsimple vs Justwealth 2026: Which Robo-Advisor Is Better for Canadians?

Updated

This comparison makes the most sense after you have seen the broader best robo-advisors in Canada rankings and the individual platform breakdowns for Wealthsimple Managed and Justwealth. Since the headline fee gap is relatively small above $25,000, it also helps to anchor this page against the full robo-advisor fees comparison and the family-specific RESP decision in our main RESP guide.

Quick Comparison Summary

FeatureWealthsimple ManagedJustwealth
Management fee (under $25K)0.40%0.50%
Management fee ($25K–$500K)0.40%0.40%
Management fee ($500K+)0.40% (Generation at $2M = 0.20%)0.40%
Underlying ETF MERs~0.10–0.20%~0.15–0.25%
All-in estimated cost~0.50–0.60%~0.55–0.65%
Minimum investment$0$5,000
RESP target-date glide path❌ No✅ Yes
Portfolio selection5 risk levels + SRI + Halal70+ portfolio options
Halal portfolio✅ Yes❌ No
Human advisor accessLimited (Generation tier)✅ Yes (all clients)
App quality⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Self-directed brokerage integration✅ Yes (Wealthsimple Trade)❌ No
Regulatory coverageCIRO / CIPFCIRO / CIPF

Fee Comparison at Different Portfolio Sizes

Portfolio SizeWealthsimple All-InJustwealth All-InDifference
$10,000~$55~$65Justwealth +$10/yr
$25,000~$138~$163Justwealth +$25/yr
$50,000~$275~$300Justwealth +$25/yr
$100,000~$550~$575Justwealth +$25/yr
$250,000~$1,375~$1,375Roughly equal
$500,000~$2,750~$2,750Roughly equal

Estimates are approximate. All-in cost = management fee + blended ETF MER. RESP portfolios may have slightly different MERs.

RESP Comparison — Justwealth’s Key Advantage

If this feature is the deciding factor for your household, pair it with the broader RESP guide and the later-stage planning in RESP withdrawal strategies.

FeatureWealthsimple ManagedJustwealth
RESP account available✅ Yes✅ Yes
Target-date glide path❌ No✅ Yes (adjusts automatically by child’s age)
Years to maturity portfolios❌ No✅ Yes (10+ portfolio options keyed to when child turns 17–19)
CESG processing✅ Yes✅ Yes
CLB (Canada Learning Bond)✅ Yes✅ Yes
Provincial grants (BCTESG, QESI, ACEI)✅ Yes✅ Yes
Family plan RESP✅ Yes✅ Yes
Portfolio auto-de-risking as child ages❌ No✅ Yes

Why the RESP glide path matters: A common investor mistake is keeping aggressive RESP portfolios through a market crash just before a child starts university. Justwealth’s automatic age-based de-risking removes this behavioural risk entirely. No other major Canadian robo-advisor offers this automatically.

Portfolio Selection

Wealthsimple Portfolio Types

PortfolioDescription
Core Conservative30% equities, 70% fixed income
Core Balanced50/50
Core Growth70% equities
Core Aggressive Growth90% equities
SRI (Socially Responsible)ESG-screened ETFs; growth and balanced options
HalalIslamic finance screened; MSCI global equities only

Justwealth Portfolio Types (Selected)

Portfolio CategoryExamplesCount
Target-Date RESP“2028 RESP Portfolio”, “2033 RESP Portfolio”, etc.8+
Standard (Income to Aggressive Growth)Conservative, Balanced, Growth, etc.~10
Responsible InvestingESG-screened ETFs~8
US Dollar PortfoliosNon-registered USD accounts~5
Canadian-focusedHigher Canada tilt~4
Total portfolio options70+

Advisor Access

Access LevelWealthsimple ManagedJustwealth
Online chat support✅ Yes✅ Yes
Phone or email advisor consultation❌ Not below $500K✅ Yes (all clients)
Human portfolio manager review❌ Not below $2M (Generation)✅ Yes ($500K+, enhanced)
Onboarding call❌ No✅ Yes (offered to new clients)

Account Types

Account TypeWealthsimple ManagedJustwealth
TFSA
RRSP
FHSA
RESP
RRIF
LIRA
Personal non-registered
Joint
Corporate
USD non-registered

Who Should Choose Each Platform

Choose Wealthsimple Managed If…Choose Justwealth If…
You’re a beginner under $5,000You have $5,000+ and want maximum RESP features
You want a best-in-class appYou want a portfolio manager to consult with
You want Halal-compliant investingYou want 70+ portfolio options with custom fit
You want the Wealthsimple Cash + Tax ecosystemYou want automatic RESP age-based de-risking
You keep under $25K (Justwealth costs more here)You have a family and RESP is a priority
You plan to be very hands-offYou value advisor contact even at modest balances

The Verdict

For most beginner investors, Wealthsimple’s polished app, no minimum, and familiar brand make it the default choice. For families focused on RESP optimization, Justwealth’s target-date portfolios are a compelling reason to pay a small premium (or accept roughly equal cost at $50K+). For clients who want to speak to a human about their portfolio without paying traditional advisor fees, Justwealth provides that accessibility.

Bottom line: Wealthsimple for beginners and app lovers. Justwealth for RESP-focused families and investors who want portfolio manager access.