Wealthsimple Fees: Every Fee by Product and Tier
WealthScale is independent and not affiliated with Wealthsimple.
Wealthsimple fees are low but not zero: stocks and ETFs trade at $0 commission and moving an account out costs $0, while the USD account costs Core clients $10 plus tax a month, managed portfolios cost 0.5% a year on Core and 0.4% from $100,000, crypto market orders cost 0.5% plus a spread, and the credit card costs $20 a month unless waived. This guide puts every Wealthsimple fee in one master table by product and tier, shows what each costs in dollars, and explains how to avoid it. Figures were checked October 22, 2026.
Written by Sharad Gondaliya, CPA CPAChartered Professional Accountant, CPA Ontario No. 61040184
Financial reviewer: Neha Gupta, CFA CFA charterholderReview of this page scheduledAt a glance
Trading. Listed Canadian and US stocks and ETFs cost $0 commission on every tier, and equity and ETF options cost $0 commission and $0 per contract. An options exercise instruction costs US$45 and a phone trade $45.
Wealthsimple account fees. Opening, holding and closing an account cost $0, and Wealthsimple lists no inactivity or annual account fee. Service charges apply only on request: $20 for a paper statement, $9.95 for journaling between accounts, $30 for a manual wire and $250 for a certificate withdrawal.
USD account. The USD account costs $10 plus tax a month on Core, or $120 a year before tax, and is included on Premium ($100,000 or more) and Generation ($500,000 or more).
Managed and crypto. Managed portfolios cost 0.5% a year on Core and 0.4% on Premium and Generation, plus fund costs; Automated Investing costs 0.25% a year, capped at $250 per account. Crypto market orders cost 0.5% plus a spread, with $1 added on orders under $100.
Wealthsimple transfer fee. Transferring an account out costs $0. On transfers in of $25,000 or more, Wealthsimple covers the fee your old institution charges, up to $150 per account.
Card and banking. The credit card costs $20 a month unless you have $100,000 or more in individual assets or $4,000 or more a month in direct deposits. Chequing and savings carry $0 monthly fees; an outgoing domestic wire costs $15 (waived for Generation).
1. Wealthsimple Fees: The Master Table by Product and Tier
How to read it. The table lists every Wealthsimple fee and rate we could confirm on October 22, 2026, grouped by product. Core starts at $1 in assets, Premium at $100,000 and Generation at $500,000, measured as the higher of net deposits or total portfolio value. Where a cell repeats across the three tiers, the fee does not depend on your tier. Type a product name in the search box to filter the rows.
| Product | Fee | Core | Premium | Generation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-directed | Listed Canadian and US stocks and ETFs | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Self-directed | Fractional shares | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Self-directed | Equity and ETF options, per contract | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Self-directed | Options early exercise or do-not-exercise | US$45 | US$45 | US$45 |
| Self-directed | Phone trade | $45 ($0 for Active Traders) | $45 ($0 for Active Traders) | $45 ($0 for Active Traders) |
| Self-directed | Physical gold trade | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Self-directed | Futures, per contract | US$1 plus US$0.02 and exchange fees | US$1 plus US$0.02 and exchange fees | US$1 plus US$0.02 and exchange fees |
| Self-directed | Perpetual futures | 0.12% of notional | 0.12% of notional | 0.12% of notional |
| Self-directed | Event contracts | US$0.02 per contract | US$0.02 per contract | US$0.02 per contract |
| Self-directed | USD account | $10 plus tax a month | Included | Included |
| Managed | Management fee | 0.5% a year | 0.4% a year | 0.4% a year, falling to 0.2% at $10,000,000 |
| Managed | Classic portfolio fund costs | Up to 0.15% | Up to 0.15% | Up to 0.15% |
| Managed | Summit private markets portion | 1.00% a year | 1.00% a year | 1.00% a year |
| Managed | Automated Investing | 0.25%, capped at $250 per account | 0.25%, capped at $250 per account | 0.25%, capped at $250 per account |
| Managed | Private Market Fund | 1% plus fund fees | 1% plus fund fees | 1% plus fund fees |
| Crypto | Market order | 0.5% plus spread | 0.5% plus spread | 0.5% plus spread |
| Crypto | Limit order | 0.5%, no spread | 0.5%, no spread | 0.5%, no spread |
| Crypto | Order under $100 | Plus $1 | Plus $1 | Plus $1 |
| Crypto | Share of staking rewards | 30% | 30% | 15% |
| Crypto | Decentralized exchange trade | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.85% |
| Credit card | Monthly fee | $20, or $0 with $4,000+ a month in direct deposits | $0 | $0 |
| Credit card | Purchase interest | 20.99% | 20.99% | 20.99% |
| Chequing | Monthly fee and minimum balance | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Chequing | Outgoing domestic wire | $15 | $15 | Waived |
| Chequing | Overdraft | No fee; interest from 3.95% | No fee; interest from 3.95% | No fee; interest from 3.95% |
| Savings | Account fees | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Borrowing | CAD margin and line of credit | 4.95% | 4.45% | 3.95% |
| Borrowing | USD margin | 7.5% | 7% | 6.5% |
| Transfers | Transfer an account out | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Transfers | Old institution’s fee covered on $25,000+ | Up to $150 per account | Up to $150 per account | Up to $150 per account |
| Service | Instant withdrawal to a debit card | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Service | Paper statement | $20 | $20 | $20 |
| Service | Journaling between accounts | $9.95 | $9.95 | $9.95 |
| Service | Manual wire from a trading account | $30 | $30 | $30 |
| Service | Certificate withdrawal | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Service | Account opening and closing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Tax | Wealthsimple Tax Plus | $40 plus tax | Included | Included |
| Tax | Wealthsimple Tax Pro | $80 plus tax | $80 plus tax | Included |
What the tiers really change. Of the 38 rows above, only nine change with your tier: the USD account, the management fee, the staking share, the card fee, the domestic wire, the two margin rates and the two tax plans. Commissions, crypto trading fees and service fees are the same for every client. That is why a tier upgrade helps most when you use managed portfolios, borrow, or hold a USD account.
What is not in the table. Some US orders carry small stock exchange and regulatory pass-through fees that appear on the trade confirmation. ETFs and funds charge their own expense ratios inside the fund. Crypto network fees are set by each blockchain.
2. Trading Fees: What $0 Commission Covers
Stocks and ETFs. Wealthsimple’s fee schedule lists a $0 commission for listed US and Canadian securities on every tier, and that includes fractional shares bought from $1. There is no per-trade minimum, no account fee and no inactivity fee. For an investor buying Canadian-listed ETFs once a month, the yearly trading cost is $0.00 in our buy-and-hold profile.
Options. Since October 2025, equity and ETF options cost $0 commission and $0 per contract. The one options charge is US$45 for an early exercise or a do-not-exercise instruction. Automatic exercise and assignment cost $0.
Phone trades. A trade placed by phone costs $45, unless you are an Active Trader (50 or more manual trades in a calendar month), in which case phone trades cost $0. The same order placed in the app or on the web costs $0.
Other assets. Physical gold costs 1% to trade, and redeeming it costs 11% for a tenth of an ounce or 2.25% for one ounce. Futures cost US$1 per contract plus a US$0.02 regulatory fee and exchange fees, and perpetual futures cost 0.12% of the notional value per trade. Event contracts cost US$0.02 per contract. Stock lending is not a fee, but Wealthsimple keeps half of the lending income and you keep 50%.
Pass-through fees. Some US-listed orders carry small stock exchange, ECN or regulatory fees that Wealthsimple passes on and shows on the trade confirmation. They sit outside the commission, which is why “commission-free” does not mean every trade costs exactly $0. Our Wealthsimple Trade review covers the full trading platform.
Enter how often you trade in the broker cost calculator below to see your yearly cost at Wealthsimple and every other broker we score.
3. US Investing Costs and the USD Account Fee: $10 a Month on Core
US trades. Listed US stocks and ETFs cost $0 commission on every tier, the same as Canadian ones, and US equity and ETF options cost $0 per contract. Some US orders carry small regulatory pass-through fees, shown on the trade confirmation. US-listed stocks and ETFs can trade 24 hours a day on weekdays, with limit orders outside regular hours.
What the USD account costs. On Core, the USD account costs $10 plus tax a month after a 30-day trial, or $120 a year before sales tax. There is no pro-rated refund if you cancel part way through a month. Premium and Generation clients pay nothing extra once they opt in. Wealthsimple lists this as its only paid add-on; there is no paid membership plan.
| Tier | Assets needed | Monthly fee | One year | Two years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | $1 | $10 after a 30-day trial | $120.00 ($10 x 12) | $240.00 ($10 x 24) |
| Premium | $100,000 | Included (opt in) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Generation | $500,000 | Included (opt in) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
How to stop paying it. The fee ends when you reach Premium at $100,000, measured as the higher of net deposits or portfolio value, alone or as a household of clients who share a home address. If you will not hold US dollars, cancelling during the 30-day trial avoids the fee entirely. If you cancel later, do it near the end of a billing month, since Wealthsimple does not refund part of a month.
US dividends and withholding tax. US dividends paid to Canadian residents have 15% US tax withheld when a Form W-8BEN is on file, and 30% without one. The Canada-US tax treaty exempts accounts operated for retirement income, such as the RRSP, RRIF, LIRA and LIF, when US-listed securities are held directly and the account is documented. In a TFSA, FHSA or RESP the 15% cannot be recovered, while in a non-registered account you can claim a foreign tax credit. Our US stocks in a TFSA guide explains the rules.
What we are confirming. Wealthsimple’s help centre says a USD account can be added to a TFSA, FHSA, RRSP, spousal RRSP, LIRA, RESP or non-registered account, but not to a RRIF, spousal RRIF or LIF. Its USD savings rates differ between two pages, so we leave them out until confirmed; our editorial standards explain why. The Wealthsimple USD accounts review covers the account in depth, and our USD savings accounts page compares US-dollar rates elsewhere.
See where Wealthsimple ranks for dividend investors and how to buy US stocks from Canada.
4. Managed Investing Fees by Tier
The management fee. Wealthsimple’s managed portfolios cost 0.5% a year on Core, 0.4% on Premium and 0.4% on Generation, falling to 0.2% at $10,000,000 or more; Generation clients are asked to confirm their exact rate with the advisor team. Corporate managed accounts pay 0.5%, dropping to 0.4% at $100,000. The fee is charged on the managed balance, and the ETFs inside each portfolio charge their own fund costs on top: between 0.12% and 0.15% for Classic portfolios.
| Managed balance (total assets at the same level) | Tier | Management fee | Fund costs, at most | Total a year, at most |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | Core (0.5%) | $50.00 | $15.00 | $65.00 |
| $50,000 | Core (0.5%) | $250.00 | $75.00 | $325.00 |
| $100,000 | Premium (0.4%) | $400.00 | $150.00 | $550.00 |
| $250,000 | Premium (0.4%) | $1,000.00 | $375.00 | $1,375.00 |
| $500,000 | Generation (0.4%) | $2,000.00 | $750.00 | $2,750.00 |
Automated Investing. This lower-cost option charges 0.25% a year and stops growing once the balance reaches $100,000, so the most you pay is $250 per account per year. On $10,000 it costs $25.00, on $50,000 $125.00, and on any balance of $100,000 or more $250.00. In non-registered accounts it uses direct indexing with tax-loss harvesting.
Specialty portfolios. Summit portfolios hold 20%, 25% or 30% in private markets, and the private portion carries a 1.00% management fee while the public portion pays the normal tiered fee. The Private Market Fund charges a 1% Wealthsimple fee plus the underlying fund’s management and performance fees, with a $10,000 minimum and $50,000 of investable assets required. The Money Market Income portfolio has no management fee. A Socially Responsible portfolio with fund costs between 0.21% and 0.23% is described in Wealthsimple’s help centre.
Advice at higher balances. A dedicated advisor team is available from $1,000,000. Wealthsimple’s advisor-led Wealth Management service for households of $1,000,000 or more charges 0.8%, falling to 0.5% at $10,000,000, before fund costs.
Why a small percentage matters. A fee of 0.1% a year looks tiny, but it is charged every year on a growing balance. Our compound interest calculator shows how much more stays invested when yearly costs are lower, and our investment fee calculator adds up what your broker and funds cost each year.
Small costs that are easy to miss. Managed portfolios keep about 0.3% to 0.5% of the account in cash, and new deposits are invested within five business days, so a small slice of your money is not invested at any moment. Tax-loss harvesting, which can lower the tax you pay in non-registered accounts, is included only from Premium. Wealthsimple Managed Investing ranks first of four robo-advisors in our best robo-advisors in Canada ranking at 4.2 / 5, scored under our published rating methodology with no payment from any provider (see how WealthScale makes money); see the Wealthsimple Managed Investing review for portfolio details.
5. Wealthsimple Crypto Fees
The trading fee. Under Wealthsimple’s crypto fee schedule dated September 24, 2026, market orders cost a flat 0.5% plus a spread on every tier, and limit orders cost 0.5% with no spread. An older Wealthsimple help article shows different fees by tier, so we follow the dated fee schedule. Orders under $100 add a $1 charge, and swapping a stablecoin for the dollar it tracks carries no fee or spread.
| Order size | 0.5% fee | Small-order charge | Total fee | As a share of the order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50 | $0.25 | $1.00 | $1.25 | 2.5% |
| $99 | $0.50 | $1.00 | $1.50 | 1.51% |
| $100 | $0.50 | $0.00 | $0.50 | 0.5% |
| $1,000 | $5.00 | $0.00 | $5.00 | 0.5% |
| $10,000 | $50.00 | $0.00 | $50.00 | 0.5% |
Active Trader crypto pricing. Active Traders pay less, based on 30-day volume: 0.5% under $10,000, 0.35% from $10,000, 0.25% from $100,000, 0.15% from $500,000, 0.10% from $1,000,000, 0.05% from $10,000,000 and 0% from $15,000,000, with a 0% spread.
Staking and other fees. Wealthsimple keeps 30% of staking rewards on Core and Premium and 15% on Generation, and validator commissions are separate. On every $100 of gross rewards, a Core client keeps $70 and a Generation client $85. The decentralized exchange feature charges 0.85% per trade, with network fees currently covered. Sending crypto out carries no Wealthsimple fee, but the blockchain’s network fee applies.
How it compares. NDAX charges 0.20% flat, the lowest published flat fee among the nine authorized platforms we rank and well below Wealthsimple’s 0.5% plus spread. Wealthsimple Crypto still ranks first overall at 4.6 / 5 on its coin range, staking and regulation. See the Wealthsimple Crypto review and our best crypto platforms ranking.
6. Wealthsimple Credit Card Fees and Interest
The monthly fee. Wealthsimple’s Visa Infinite+ and Visa Infinite Privilege cards cost $20 a month, or $240 a year; Quebec cardholders are charged once a year. The fee is waived if you have $100,000 or more in individual assets at Wealthsimple or $4,000 or more a month in direct deposits. Both cards are offered in limited quantities, and Wealthsimple matches each applicant to one of them.
Does the cash back cover it? Both cards pay 2% cash back on all net purchases. At $240 a year, you need $12,000 of yearly spending, or $1,000 a month, before the cash back pays for the fee ($240 ÷ 2% = $12,000).
| Monthly spending | Yearly spending | 2% cash back | Net after the $240 fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $6,000 | $120.00 | Minus $120.00 |
| $1,000 | $12,000 | $240.00 | $0.00 |
| $2,000 | $24,000 | $480.00 | $240.00 |
| $3,000 | $36,000 | $720.00 | $480.00 |
Interest and other charges. Purchases carry 20.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%. After two missed payments, penalty rates of 25.99% and 27.99% apply. Cash-like transactions, refunds and fees do not earn cash back. The balance can be paid only from a Wealthsimple Chequing account.
A household caution. Premium and Generation clients pay $0, but the waiver is written as $100,000 in individual assets. If you reach Premium only by combining assets as a household, please confirm that the card fee is waived for you before relying on it. Read the Wealthsimple credit card review for the income rules and insurance.
7. Chequing, Savings and Wire Fees
Chequing. Wealthsimple Chequing has a $0 monthly fee, no minimum balance and $0 Interac e-Transfers, with up to $50,000 a day for eligible clients. Wealthsimple charges no ATM fee of its own and reimburses eligible ATM operator fees worldwide, with no cap stated. The Visa Platinum Prepaid card has no fee. A chequebook comes at no charge once your pay is direct deposited.
Wires and overdraft. An outgoing domestic wire from chequing costs $15, waived for Generation. Incoming wires cost $0. A manual wire from a trading account costs $30. Overdraft carries no fee, with interest from 3.95%.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Chequing monthly fee | $0 |
| Minimum balance | None |
| Interac e-Transfer | $0 |
| Wealthsimple ATM fee | $0; eligible operator fees reimbursed |
| Visa Platinum Prepaid card fee | $0 |
| Outgoing domestic wire | $15 ($0 for Generation) |
| Incoming wire | $0 |
| Overdraft | No fee; interest from 3.95% |
| Savings account fees | $0, no minimum, no withdrawal limit |
| Kids and Teens account fees | $0 |
What you earn instead. Chequing pays 1.25% on Core, 1.75% on Premium and 2.25% on Generation, and a direct deposit of $2,000 or more in 30 days adds 0.5% for Core and Premium. Savings pays 2.5% to every client and is protected by CIPF rather than CDIC; our Is Wealthsimple safe? guide explains the difference, and our CIPF vs CDIC guide compares the two plans. A registered savings option inside the Wealthsimple TFSA and FHSA exists, but its rate differs across Wealthsimple’s pages and is being confirmed.
How it ranks. Wealthsimple Chequing scores 5.0 on fees (no monthly fee) and 5.0 on ATM access (operator fees reimbursed) in our banking rubric and ranks second of 20 accounts at 4.4 / 5. See our best no-fee chequing accounts, the Wealthsimple Chequing review and Wealthsimple vs EQ Bank.
8. The Wealthsimple Transfer Fee: $0 Out, Coverage In
Transferring out. Wealthsimple charges $0 for outgoing account transfers to another institution. Most brokers we track charge $150 for a full transfer, including Questrade; our Wealthsimple vs Questrade comparison weighs that against Questrade’s other strengths. The one catch is fractional shares, which cannot be transferred, so sell them or round them up to whole shares before you move.
| Broker | Fee to transfer an account out |
|---|---|
| Wealthsimple | $0 |
| moomoo Canada | $75 full, $50 partial, charged separately on CAD and USD assets |
| Questrade | $150 |
| Qtrade Direct Investing | $150 |
| National Bank Direct Brokerage | $150 |
| TD Direct Investing | $150 |
| RBC Direct Investing | $150 |
| Scotia iTRADE | $150 |
| Desjardins Online Brokerage (Disnat) | $150 full; $25 per security partial |
| Webull Canada | $150 full, $50 partial |
| Interactive Brokers Canada | Not published for Canadian transfers |
Transferring in. On transfers of $25,000 or more, Wealthsimple covers the transfer-out fee your old institution charges, up to $150 per account, if the account stays funded for 90 days. The threshold was $15,000 before April 10, 2025. Wealthsimple’s pages differ on whether the reimbursement is automatic or needs proof, so keep the statement that shows the fee you paid.
The 1% transfer match. Wealthsimple also pays 1% of qualifying transfers of $25,000 or more made within 30 days of registering, on up to $2,000,000, for a maximum of $20,000. It arrives in 24 equal monthly payments into chequing: a $50,000 transfer earns $500.00, or $20.83 a month. The offer has run since May 4, 2026, with no end date.
Use the transfer fee tool below to see what leaving your current broker costs and which brokers cover the fee.
Move registered money the right way. Always request a direct transfer for a TFSA, RRSP, FHSA or RESP. Withdrawing cash and redepositing it can use contribution room, trigger withholding tax or lose RRSP room for good. Our guide to transferring an investment account covers each step.
9. Margin and Line of Credit Interest
Rates by tier. Canadian-dollar margin and the portfolio line of credit cost 4.95% on Core (prime plus 0.5%), 4.45% on Premium (prime) and 3.95% on Generation (prime minus 0.5%), using a CAD prime rate of 4.45% as of September 18, 2026. US-dollar margin costs 7.5%, 7% and 6.5%. Interest accrues daily and is charged monthly.
| Balance borrowed for a year | Core (4.95%) | Premium (4.45%) | Generation (3.95%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $495.00 | $445.00 | $395.00 |
| $25,000 | $1,237.50 | $1,112.50 | $987.50 |
Line of credit terms. The portfolio line of credit lends up to 35% of eligible collateral, needs at least $1,000 of collateral, runs no credit check and has no minimum payment. Up to five non-registered accounts (not margin-linked ones) and TFSAs can be pledged; FHSAs, RRSPs, RESPs, LIRAs and joint accounts cannot. A limited-time offer gives a first loan of up to $3,000 at 0% for three months.
How it compares. Wealthsimple’s Core rate ranks third of 10 brokers that publish one in our lowest margin rates in Canada list, behind Interactive Brokers Canada (3.675%) and moomoo (from 3.85%). Questrade charges about 8.70% under $100,000.
10. Wealthsimple Account Fees and Service Fees
No fees to open, hold or close. Wealthsimple charges $0 to open or close an account and lists no inactivity or annual account fee. The charges below apply only when you ask for a specific service.
| Service | Fee | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Paper statement | $20 | Electronic statements in the app |
| Journaling between accounts | $9.95 | Choose the right account before you buy |
| Manual wire from a trading account | $30 | Standard withdrawal to your bank |
| Certificate withdrawal | $250 | Keep securities in electronic form |
| Phone trade | $45 | Trade in the app or on the web, or become an Active Trader |
| Instant withdrawal to a debit card | 2.5% | Standard withdrawal |
| Options exercise instruction | US$45 | Automatic exercise and assignment |
The fee that grows with the amount. Of these, only the instant withdrawal fee is a percentage, so it rises with every dollar you take out. Taking $500 out instantly four times a year costs $50.00 ($2,000 x 2.5%). Keeping a month of spending in chequing, where cash is available at once, avoids the need.
Active Trader status. Clients who place 50 or more manual trades in a calendar month become Active Traders, with a one-month grace period. Besides $0 phone trades, they get faster support and lower crypto fees. Status is earned by activity, not bought.
11. Wealthsimple Tax Prices
Three plans for the 2025 tax year. Basic is pay what you want, including $0, for up to two returns with every income type and deduction and standard email support. Plus costs $40 plus tax for up to eight returns with priority email support, audit protection and spousal filing. Pro costs $80 plus tax and adds a 30-minute consultation with a tax expert.
| Plan | Core | Premium | Generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Pay what you want | Pay what you want | Pay what you want |
| Plus | $40 plus tax | Included | Included |
| Pro | $80 plus tax | $80 plus tax | Included |
Quebec and certification. Basic and Plus are available in Quebec and in French; Pro is not. The software is NETFILE-certified by the CRA and Revenu Quebec for the 2023 to 2025 tax years, and self-employment income on form T2125 is supported.
Which plan you need. Basic already covers every income type, so the paid plans buy support, more returns and audit protection rather than features. Wealthsimple Tax ranks first of seven products in our best tax software in Canada scores; the Wealthsimple Tax review compares the plans in detail.
12. Wealthsimple Premium Fees: What Changes at $100,000 and $500,000
How tiers are measured. Premium starts at $100,000 and Generation at $500,000, using the higher of your net deposits or your total portfolio value. A market drop alone does not demote you; you move down only if both fall and stay below the line. Withdrawals and transfers out reduce net deposits. Clients who share a home address can combine assets as a household.
| Fee | Core | Premium | Generation | Example of the yearly difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managed fee | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.4%, falling to 0.2% at $10,000,000 | $100 on $100,000, Core to Premium |
| USD account | $10 a month plus tax | Included | Included | $120 before tax, Core to Premium |
| CAD margin | 4.95% | 4.45% | 3.95% | $50 per $10,000 borrowed, each step |
| Credit card fee | $20 a month unless waived | $0 | $0 | $240 a year |
| Wealthsimple Tax | Basic | Plus included | Pro included | $40 (Plus) or $80 (Pro) |
| Staking share | 30% | 30% | 15% | $15 per $100 of gross rewards, Premium to Generation |
| Domestic wire | $15 | $15 | Waived | $15 per wire |
Enter your assets in the tier tool below to see which tier you reach and which of these fees fall away.
What Premium does not change. The $0 commissions, the 0.5% crypto trading fee and every service fee stay the same at Premium and Generation. If you hold US dollars on Core, the upgrade helps through the included USD account, worth $120 a year before tax. Our Wealthsimple Core vs Premium vs Generation guide works through whether the upgrade is worth it for different savers.
13. How to Avoid Wealthsimple Fees, One by One
One table, every fee. Most Wealthsimple fees can be avoided or reduced with a change in how you trade, bank or hold assets. The table pairs each fee with its fix and the saving in dollars.
| Fee | How to avoid or reduce it | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| USD account, $10 a month on Core | Reach Premium alone or as a household, or cancel during the 30-day trial if you will not hold US dollars | $120 a year before tax |
| Managed fee of 0.5% | Reach $100,000 for 0.4%, or compare Automated Investing’s $250 cap | $100 a year per $100,000 |
| Crypto spread | Use limit orders | The spread on every order |
| $1 crypto small-order charge | Place orders of $100 or more | $1 per order |
| Credit card, $20 a month | $4,000+ a month in direct deposits or $100,000 in individual assets | $240 a year |
| Options exercise instruction, US$45 | Let automatic exercise or expiry run | US$45 each |
| Phone trade, $45 | Trade in the app or on the web | $45 each |
| Instant withdrawal, 2.5% | Use a standard withdrawal | $25.00 on $1,000 |
| Paper statement, $20 | Use electronic statements | $20 each |
| Old broker’s transfer-out fee | Transfer $25,000 or more and keep it funded 90 days | Up to $150 per account |
| Domestic wire, $15 | Use Interac e-Transfer, up to $50,000 a day for eligible clients | $15 each |
| Margin interest | Borrow at a higher tier, or pay the balance down | $50 a year per $10,000 for each tier step |
| Wealthsimple Tax Plus or Pro | Use Basic if it fits, or reach Premium or Generation | $40 or $80 |
The two that matter most. The managed fee and margin interest are charged as a percentage of the money you have managed or borrow, so they grow as your balance grows. Most service charges are fixed or one-off and can be sidestepped. Start with those two when you plan; our Wealthsimple review explains how they fit with the rest of the platform.
What Costs Money and What Costs Nothing at Wealthsimple
Fees you may pay
- $10 plus tax a month for the USD account on Core
- 0.5% a year for managed portfolios on Core, 0.4% from $100,000
- 0.25% a year for Automated Investing, capped at $250 per account
- 0.5% plus a spread on crypto market orders, plus $1 under $100
- $20 a month for the credit card unless waived
- Margin interest from 3.95% to 4.95% in Canadian dollars, by tier
- 2.5% on instant withdrawals, $45 phone trades and US$45 options instructions
- $15 domestic wires (not for Generation) and $30 manual wires from trading accounts
Things that cost $0
- Commissions on listed Canadian and US stocks and ETFs
- Equity and ETF options, per contract
- Opening, holding and closing an account
- Transferring an account out
- Chequing and savings monthly fees and minimums
- Interac e-Transfers and Wealthsimple’s own ATM fee
- Wealthsimple Tax Basic, if you choose to pay $0
- Incoming wires to chequing
How to Audit Your Wealthsimple Fees
- Start with the USD account. If you are a Core client with a USD account, it costs $10 plus tax a month, or $120 a year before tax. Decide whether you still need to hold US dollars, or whether Premium would include it.
- Price your managed accounts. Multiply each managed balance by your tier’s fee (0.5% or 0.4%) and add up to 0.15% for fund costs in Classic portfolios.
- Check the card. Compare 2% of your yearly card spending with the $240 fee, unless your direct deposits or individual assets already waive it.
- Count the small charges. Look for instant withdrawals, phone trades, options instructions, paper statements and wires. Each has a $0 alternative.
- Check your tier. Add up the assets that count, including a household if you share an address with other clients, and see how far you are from $100,000 or $500,000.
- Check your borrowing. Multiply any margin or line of credit balance by your tier’s rate (4.95%, 4.45% or 3.95%) to see the yearly interest, and plan to pay it down where you can.
- Act on the biggest number first. In the example below, that is the credit card fee. Fix it, then repeat the audit next year.
10 Strategies to Cut Wealthsimple Fees
1. Decide on the USD account during the trial
Core clients get a 30-day trial of the USD account, then pay $10 plus tax a month with no pro-rated refund when they cancel. If you will not hold US dollars, cancelling before the trial ends saves $120 a year before tax ($10 x 12).
2. Trade in the app, not by phone
A phone trade costs $45 unless you are an Active Trader, with 50 or more manual trades in a calendar month. The same order placed in the app or on the web costs $0, so four phone trades a year cost $180.00 (4 x $45) that the app avoids.
3. Know which accounts count toward your tier
Wealthsimple names the TFSA, RESP, RRSP, GRSP, LIRA, non-registered, Crypto, Save and chequing accounts as counting. It does not name the FHSA, RRIF or LIF in that list, so please confirm those before you plan an upgrade around them.
4. Protect your net deposits
Withdrawals and transfers out lower your net deposits. If you are near a tier line, a large withdrawal can push both measures below it and cost you the lower fees.
5. Match the managed option to your balance
At $50,000 on Core, managed portfolios cost $250.00 a year in fees and Automated Investing $125.00. At $200,000 on Premium, the gap widens to $800.00 against the $250.00 cap. Compare features as well as price.
6. Consolidate with the 1% match
Bringing scattered accounts together can clear the $25,000 minimum for the 1% match, if you are eligible. For fee coverage, move each account in one transfer of $25,000 or more rather than in smaller pieces. A $100,000 transfer earns $1,000.00, paid at $41.67 a month for 24 months.
7. Keep crypto orders few and priced
Fifty-two $50 market orders a year cost $65.00 in fees plus spreads. Thirteen $200 limit orders for the same $2,600 cost $13.00 with no spread.
8. Use e-Transfers before wires
Interac e-Transfers cost $0 and allow up to $50,000 a day for eligible clients, while a domestic wire costs $15 on Core and Premium. Save wires for amounts or recipients that need them.
9. Set up direct deposit
A direct deposit of $2,000 or more in 30 days lifts Core and Premium chequing by 0.5%. At $4,000 or more a month, it also waives the $240 card fee, which together can be worth more than a tier upgrade.
10. Recheck after November 5, 2026
Wealthsimple’s product event on November 5, 2026, may change prices. Rerun the audit above afterward and compare your costs with our best commission-free trading platforms ranking.
Illustrative Example: One Year of Wealthsimple Fees, Before and After
This example is hypothetical. Daniel is a Core client with $60,000 at Wealthsimple: a self-directed non-registered account, a $20,000 managed RRSP and a crypto account. This year he keeps a USD account on his non-registered account to hold US-listed stocks, buys $2,600 of crypto as fifty-two $50 market orders, spends $800 a month on the credit card with no waiver, makes four instant withdrawals of $500, places one phone trade and files with Wealthsimple Tax Plus. We assume rates stay the same and leave out crypto spreads and sales tax.
- USD account fee on Core: ($10 x 12 = $120.00).
- Managed RRSP fee: ($20,000 x 0.5% = $100.00), plus fund costs of at most ($20,000 x 0.15% = $30.00).
- Crypto fees: 52 x ($50 x 0.5% + $1) = (52 x $1.25 = $65.00).
- Card fee ($20 x 12 = $240.00) against cash back ($800 x 12 x 2% = $192.00).
- Instant withdrawals ($2,000 x 2.5% = $50.00), the phone trade ($45.00) and Tax Plus ($40.00).
- Total before changes: ($120.00 + $100.00 + $30.00 + $65.00 + $240.00 + $50.00 + $45.00 + $40.00 = $690.00), or ($690.00 – $192.00 = $498.00) after cash back.
- After changes, he keeps the USD account ($120.00), buys crypto as thirteen $200 limit orders (13 x $200 x 0.5% = $13.00), cancels the card because his spending is below $1,000 a month, uses standard withdrawals, trades in the app and files with Basic at $0.
- Total after changes: ($120.00 + $100.00 + $30.00 + $13.00 = $263.00). Saving: ($498.00 – $263.00 = $235.00) for the year.
Two of Daniel’s remaining costs fall at a higher tier. Reaching $100,000, alone or as a household, would lower the managed fee to ($20,000 x 0.4% = $80.00) and include the USD account, saving a further ($100.00 – $80.00 + $120.00 = $140.00).
Wealthsimple Fees FAQ
What fees does Wealthsimple charge?
Listed stocks, ETFs and equity options trade at $0 commission. The main fees are $10 plus tax a month for the USD account on Core, 0.5% a year for managed portfolios on Core (0.4% from $100,000), 0.5% plus a spread on crypto market orders, and $20 a month for the credit card unless waived.
Does Wealthsimple charge for US stock trades?
No commission. Listed US stocks and ETFs cost $0 on every tier, the same as Canadian ones, and US equity options cost $0 per contract. Some US orders carry small regulatory pass-through fees shown on the trade confirmation. Holding US dollars needs a USD account, which costs $10 plus tax a month on Core and is included on Premium and Generation.
Is the Wealthsimple USD account worth $10 a month?
It depends on whether you want to hold US dollars at all. On Core the USD account costs $10 plus tax a month, or $120 a year before tax, after a 30-day trial, with no pro-rated refund when you cancel. It is included at no extra cost on Premium and Generation, so reaching $100,000, alone or as a household, removes the fee.
Does Wealthsimple charge a transfer fee?
Not to leave. Wealthsimple charges $0 to transfer an account to another institution, while most brokers we track charge $150 for a full transfer. Fractional shares cannot be transferred, so sell them or round them up first. A journaling request between your own Wealthsimple accounts costs $9.95.
Will Wealthsimple pay my old broker’s transfer fee?
Yes, on transfers of $25,000 or more. Wealthsimple covers the transfer-out fee your old institution charges, up to $150 per account, as long as the account stays funded for 90 days. Its pages differ on whether this happens automatically or needs proof, so keep the statement that shows the fee.
What are Wealthsimple Premium fees?
Premium has no membership fee; you qualify with $100,000 in assets. Compared with Core, it cuts the managed fee from 0.5% to 0.4%, includes the USD account, includes Wealthsimple Tax Plus, waives the credit card fee and lowers the CAD margin rate from 4.95% to 4.45%. The crypto trading fee stays at 0.5%.
How much does Wealthsimple Managed Investing cost?
The management fee is 0.5% a year on Core, 0.4% on Premium and 0.4% on Generation, falling to 0.2% at $10,000,000. Fund costs come on top, between 0.12% and 0.15% for Classic portfolios. On $50,000 at Core, that is $250.00 in fees plus at most $75.00 in fund costs. Automated Investing costs 0.25%, capped at $250 per account.
What does Wealthsimple charge for crypto?
Market orders cost 0.5% plus a spread, limit orders cost 0.5% with no spread, and orders under $100 add $1, under the fee schedule dated September 24, 2026. Wealthsimple keeps 30% of staking rewards on Core and Premium and 15% on Generation. Active Traders pay less, down to 0% at $15,000,000 of 30-day volume.
How do I avoid the Wealthsimple credit card fee?
The $20 monthly fee is waived with $100,000 or more in individual assets at Wealthsimple or $4,000 or more a month in direct deposits. Without a waiver, you need $12,000 of yearly spending before the 2% cash back covers the $240 fee. If you reach Premium only as a household, confirm the waiver applies to you.
Does Wealthsimple charge account or inactivity fees?
No. Opening, holding and closing an account cost $0, and Wealthsimple lists no inactivity or annual account fee. The only recurring charge on the investing side is the $10 monthly USD account fee for Core clients who choose it. Service charges, such as $20 paper statements, apply only when you request them.
Does Wealthsimple charge ATM fees?
Wealthsimple charges no ATM fee of its own on chequing withdrawals, and it reimburses eligible ATM operator fees worldwide, with no cap stated. The Visa Platinum Prepaid card has no fee. Instant withdrawals from an investing account to a debit card are different and cost 2.5%.
How much does Wealthsimple Tax cost?
For the 2025 tax year, Basic is pay what you want, including $0, for up to two returns. Plus costs $40 plus tax and is included for Premium and Generation clients. Pro costs $80 plus tax, adds a 30-minute expert consultation and is included for Generation clients. Pro is not offered in Quebec or in French.
Find out which tier you reach and which of these fees fall away.
Figures on this page were checked against each provider’s published pricing on October 22, 2026. We update this page when a figure changes.
Meet the Experts Behind WealthScale
Sharad is a CPA Ontario member (No. 61040184) and a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Washington and Montana, with more than 15 years in accounting and tax, a Diploma in Banking and Finance and a Certificate in Small Business Finance. He checks WealthScale content against primary sources. WealthScale is independent of his firm, Gondaliya CPA Professional Corporation, and provides general information only, not personal financial, investment, tax or legal advice.
- Chartered Professional Accountant, CPA Ontario
- Certified Public Accountant, Washington (No. 57629) and Montana (No. PAC-CPAP-LIC-033176)
- Writing on tax and registered accounts since 2021
- Reader’s Choice Award 2025 Winner, Best Accountant (Toronto)
Neha Gupta is a CFA charterholder based in Winnipeg who has worked in financial markets since December 2005. She has published more than 2,600 investment articles and is Head of Operations and Finance at Whiteland Real Estate. She reviews WealthScale’s investing pages for accuracy.
- CFA charter, CFA Institute (awarded 2023)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (Finance), 2008
- In financial markets since December 2005
- More than 2,600 published investment articles
General information only. Not financial, investment, tax or legal advice. WealthScale is independent and is published by WealthScale Media Inc., 55 Queen St E, Suite 1205, Toronto, ON M5C 1R6. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.