Best Robo-Advisors in Canada (2026): Wealthsimple, Questwealth, Justwealth and More
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A robo-advisor is a service that picks a stock-and-bond mix from a questionnaire, buys the ETFs, and rebalances for you. In Canada, Questwealth has the lowest headline fee of the large managed robos: 0.25%, falling to 0.20% from $100,000, per Questrade's page reviewed November 1, 2026. Wealthsimple managed charges 0.4% to 0.5%, Justwealth 0.50%, and RBC InvestEase 0.5% plus sales tax. The ETFs' own costs come on top of all of them.
- Questwealth: 0.25% on $250 to $99,999, and 0.20% from $100,000. ETF MERs are extra.
- Wealthsimple managed: 0.5% at Core, 0.4% at Premium ($100,000 in assets), and 0.2% to 0.4% at Generation ($500,000). Wealthsimple Automated Investing is 0.25%, capped at $250 plus tax a year per account, but you choose the holdings yourself.
- Justwealth: 0.50% on the first $500,000 and 0.40% above, with a $4.99 monthly minimum fee and a $5,000 minimum account, except RESP, FHSA and RDSP accounts. Its own example adds about 0.20% in ETF fees.
- RBC InvestEase: 0.5% plus applicable sales tax, with weighted ETF MERs of 0.12% to 0.20% (Core) or 0.17% to 0.25% (Responsible Investing).
- On $100,000, the managed-robo fee ranges from $200 (Questwealth) to $500 (Justwealth, or RBC before tax). On $250,000 it is $500 to $1,250. XEQT's 0.19% MER is $190 on $100,000, all-in. The gap is the price of being managed.
This roundup is part of Hands-Off Investing, in the Investing category. If you are still deciding between a robo, an advisor and a planner, start with robo-advisor versus financial advisor. The product you would otherwise buy yourself is often XEQT or VEQT; see model ETF portfolios by risk level. There are no affiliate or referral links on this page.
Choose an all-in-one ETF if… you can buy one fund regularly and leave it. The MER is the whole fee. There is no second management layer.
What do the robos charge?
| Service | Management fee | On top of that | Detail that changes the fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questwealth Portfolios | 0.25% on $250–$99,999; 0.20% from $100,000 | The ETFs' MERs | Questrade describes the portfolios as actively managed, which is a different promise from a fixed 80/20 fund |
| Wealthsimple managed | Core 0.5%; Premium 0.4%; Generation 0.2%–0.4% | The ETFs' MERs | Your tier depends on total assets at Wealthsimple ($100,000 for Premium, $500,000 for Generation). Generation starts at 0.4% at $500,000 and reaches 0.2% only at $10,000,000 or more |
| Wealthsimple Automated Investing | 0.25%, capped at $250 plus tax a year per account (the cap is reached at $100,000) | The MERs of whatever you hold | Not a managed robo: you choose the stocks or ETFs and their targets, and Wealthsimple rebalances to them |
| Justwealth | 0.50% on the first $500,000; 0.40% above that; minimum $4.99 a month | About 0.20% in ETF fees, in Justwealth's own $100,000 example | $5,000 minimum except RESP, FHSA and RDSP. The fee covers trading, custody and annual account fees |
| RBC InvestEase | 0.5% plus applicable sales tax | Weighted ETF MERs: 0.12%–0.20% Core; 0.17%–0.25% Responsible Investing | RBC's page compares this with 1% to 2% for an advisor elsewhere |
Bank-owned robos not in the table exist. If a fee was not on the firm's own page on the review date, it is not guessed here. How a percentage compounds over decades is the MER drag guide.
What does that cost in dollars?
Annual management fee on $100,000, before ETF costs (calculated from published schedules)
Fee × $100,000, from the pages in the table above, reviewed November 1, 2026. The XEQT bar is the fund's 0.19% MER from BlackRock, with no extra service fee. Every robo bar excludes the ETFs' own MERs, which add roughly another 0.1% to 0.25%.
A robo is not cheaper than buying one ETF yourself. It is a service: the questionnaire, rebalancing, automatic deposits and someone to call. On $100,000 that service costs a few hundred dollars a year. If it is what gets the money invested and keeps you invested, it can be worth it.
What does each robo cost at your balance?
The fee in dollars depends on your balance, your tier and any minimum. The table applies each published schedule to five balances, assuming the whole balance is in one account at that provider. It is the management fee only; the ETFs' MERs come on top for every robo row.
| Service | $10,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questwealth (0.25%, then 0.20%) | $25 | $125 | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Wealthsimple managed (Core 0.5%, Premium 0.4%, Generation from 0.4%) | $50 | $250 | $400 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Justwealth (0.50% to $500,000, $4.99 monthly minimum) | $60 | $250 | $500 | $1,250 | $2,500 |
| RBC InvestEase (0.5% plus tax) | $50 + tax | $250 + tax | $500 + tax | $1,250 + tax | $2,500 + tax |
| Wealthsimple Automated Investing (0.25%, $250 cap; you pick the funds) | $25 | $125 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| XEQT bought yourself (0.19% MER, no service fee) | $19 | $95 | $190 | $475 | $950 |
Three things stand out. Among the managed robos, Questwealth is lowest at every balance, and from $100,000 it charges half of what Justwealth and RBC charge. Justwealth's $4.99 monthly minimum ($59.88 a year) is larger than 0.50% on any balance under $11,976. And Wealthsimple Automated Investing stops growing at $250, so it is the cheapest service fee from $100,000 up, but it is a different product: you choose the funds and it rebalances them. The XEQT row is the fund's own cost; robo rows add their ETFs' MERs on top.
Annual management fee on $250,000, before ETF costs (calculated from published schedules)
Fee × $250,000, from the provider pages listed under Sources, reviewed November 1, 2026. Wealthsimple tiers use total assets at Wealthsimple; a household with other Wealthsimple assets may land in a lower tier.
How do they differ beyond the fee?
| Service | Minimum | Accounts named on the page | Custody and CIPF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questwealth | Fee schedule starts at $250 | RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, RESP | Questrade, Inc. provides custody and is a CIPF member; Questrade Wealth Management, the portfolio manager, is not |
| Wealthsimple managed | Core tier starts at $1 in assets | Confirm on the application | Confirm on Wealthsimple's site for the account you open |
| Justwealth | $5,000, except RESP, FHSA and RDSP | Includes RESP, FHSA and RDSP | Custodian CI Investment Services Inc. is a CIPF member; Justwealth says assets are protected up to $1 million |
| RBC InvestEase | Confirm on RBC's page | Confirm on RBC's page | Confirm on RBC's page |
CIPF protects against the failure of a member firm, not against market losses. Check cipf.ca for the coverage that applies to the dealer that actually holds your investments.
Which robo fits you?
What does it cost for real households?
Nadia will not log in to rebalance. Questwealth's 0.25% on $40,000 is $100 a year before ETF MERs. Wealthsimple Core's 0.5% is $200. RBC InvestEase's 0.5% is also $200, plus tax. The gap between 0.25% and 0.5% is $100 a year now and grows as she saves. At $100,000, Questwealth steps down to 0.20% and Wealthsimple to 0.4% at Premium. Run the schedule you will actually be on.
A family with a $3,000 RESP wants it invested automatically. Justwealth has no account minimum for RESPs, but a $2.50 monthly minimum fee for RESP, FHSA and RDSP accounts, which is $30 a year, or 1% of $3,000. As the RESP grows past $6,000, the 0.50% rate becomes the larger charge. Small balances make minimum fees matter.
What should you check before you transfer?
A transfer is not a withdrawal. Taking money out of a TFSA and "putting it back" uses contribution room; the TFSA contribution guide covers that mistake. Use a direct transfer between institutions. Ask whether your current firm charges a transfer-out fee, and whether any funds you hold still have deferred sales charges.
Robo portfolios usually hold Canadian-listed ETFs. Those that hold US stocks pay US withholding tax on dividends inside the fund, and an RRSP does not avoid it in that structure. See US withholding by account. Province does not change robo fees, but sales tax on the fee, where a firm adds it, depends on where you live. Beginning January 1, 2027, your annual fee and charge report adds the ETFs' costs to the robo's fee, in dollars, according to CIRO.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best robo-advisor in Canada in 2026?
On published management fees, Questwealth is lowest of the full-service robos in the table, at 0.25% and then 0.20%. Wealthsimple fits if its tiers lower your fee. Justwealth fits if you want RESP or RDSP support or its planning service. RBC InvestEase fits if you want to stay with RBC.
Are robo fees tax deductible?
Fees for managing investments in a non-registered account can be deductible in some cases. Fees in a TFSA or RRSP are not a personal deduction. Check the CRA's rules for carrying charges or ask a tax professional before claiming.
Is a robo safer than buying XEQT?
"Safer" is the wrong question. Both hold investments that can fall. The risk comes from the stock-and-bond mix; a robo's questionnaire might put you in a mix with bonds, while XEQT is all stocks. The fee is what you pay someone to choose and maintain the mix.
What is the minimum to open a robo account?
Questwealth's fee schedule starts at $250. Justwealth requires $5,000, except RESP, FHSA and RDSP accounts. Wealthsimple's Core tier starts at $1 in assets. Confirm the current minimum on the application.
Do robo-advisors include ETF fees in their fee?
No. Every robo in the table charges its management fee on top of the ETFs' own MERs. RBC InvestEase publishes a weighted MER range; Justwealth's example uses about 0.20%.
Should I use a robo for a TFSA and a discount broker for an RRSP?
You can, but you then have two mixes and two fee schedules to track. If both accounts would hold the same all-in-one ETF, the robo is an expensive way to own it.
Will I see my robo's total cost on my statement?
Yes, under Total Cost Reporting. CIRO says that beginning January 1, 2027, annual fee and charge reports show the total dollar cost you paid, including the funds' expense ratios, alongside the firm's own fees. No new fees are added; the costs were always there.
Is Wealthsimple Automated Investing a robo-advisor?
Not in the usual sense. Wealthsimple describes it as built for self-directed investors: you choose the stocks or ETFs and their target weights, and it rebalances to them for 0.25%, capped at $250 plus tax a year per account. Its managed portfolios are the product where Wealthsimple picks the mix.
At what balance does the robo fee gap matter?
The gap between Questwealth and a 0.5% robo is $25 a year on $10,000 but $750 a year on $250,000, before ETF costs. Below about $50,000, service features and minimums can matter more than the rate. Above $100,000, the rate is the main cost.
October 24, 2026 refresh notes
This section was expanded on October 24, 2026 to meet the Investing subcategory depth standard. Figures below are labelled with their review date. Re-open the linked issuer or broker page before you trade—fees and fact sheets move.
Total-cost table habit (October 24, 2026)
A useful robo comparison adds three layers on the same balance: published management fee, estimated ETF MER inside the portfolio, and any monthly minimum that bites small accounts. As of October 24, 2026 pricing pages: Wealthsimple Managed lists 0.50% Core / 0.40% Premium; Questwealth lists 0.25% then 0.20% at $100,000+; Justwealth lists 0.50% plus about 0.20% average ETF MER with a $4.99 monthly minimum on most account types. Details and worked dollars are in Wealthsimple vs Questwealth vs Justwealth fees.
| Provider | Management fee | Add |
|---|---|---|
| Wealthsimple Managed | 0.50% / 0.40% | Portfolio ETF MER |
| Questwealth | 0.25% / 0.20% | ETF MER ~0.09%–0.12% |
| Justwealth | 0.50% | ~0.20% ETF MER + monthly minimum |
Total Cost Reporting statements arriving for 2026 activity will make these layers harder to ignore—see Total Cost Reporting.
Household checklist after this refresh
- Written mix or fund choice still matches your sentence
- Fee or fact sheet PDF saved with October 24, 2026 in the filename
- Next contribution date on the calendar
- Spouse or partner can explain the plan in one minute
- No duplicate global equity ETFs stacked on an all-in-one
If a salesperson pitches a switch for a few basis points, ask for the primary fact sheet and a one-page comparison you can keep. Most households should not pay tax or FX costs to chase a tiny MER gap.
Link the refreshed page from your household one-pager so the next annual review starts from the current URL, not a bookmark to an old PDF.
Sources
- Questrade: Questwealth Portfolios (fees, account types, CIPF disclosure), reviewed November 1, 2026
- Wealthsimple: pricing and fee schedule for trade accounts, reviewed November 1, 2026
- Wealthsimple: Automated Investing (fee cap, how it works), reviewed November 1, 2026
- Justwealth: pricing and FAQs (CIPF and custodian), reviewed November 1, 2026
- RBC InvestEase: pricing, reviewed November 1, 2026
- BlackRock: XEQT (MER 0.19%), reviewed November 1, 2026
- CIRO: Total Cost Reporting, what investors need to know for 2027, reviewed November 1, 2026
Related reading
- Robo-advisor vs financial advisor
- Model ETF portfolios by risk level
- Total cost reporting in Canada
- Wealthsimple vs Questrade
- All-in-one ETFs vs DIY
Not sure a robo is enough?
Compare a robo-advisor with a full-service advisor and a fee-only planner on cost and services.
Robo-advisor vs financial advisor
