Top 8 best robo advisors for beginners Canada in 2025

Robo advisors use automation to manage your money for you. This guide picks out the best robo advisor and micro investing platforms in Canada.
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Updated on Jul 18, 2024
Reading time 11 minutes

Robo advisors are perfect for Canadian investors who don’t have the time or the desire to create their own investment portfolio.

You can set up a robo advisor that’s designed to meet your goals and preferences in just a few minutes. Even with a small amount of money and without much effort, you can create a diverse portfolio, invest regularly, and save for the future.

Our team of investing experts have compared the best robo advisors in Canada, to allow you to make the best choice for your specific needs. Between them, our panel has more than six decades of experience in finance and they judge each Canadian robo investor according to 160+ data points, with a particular focus on cost, convenience, and security. Find out more about our panel, their experience, and how we test in our review process.

Read on to find the best robo advisors in Canada and compare their performance.

Our picks: best robo-advisors in Canada for 2025

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  1. IG Markets: Best for trusted and transparent trading
  2. AvaTrade: Best regulated broker for secure trading
  3. XTB: Best for offering global CFD markets to retail traders
  4. Pacific Union: Best for social trading & customer support

What is the best robo advisor in Canada?

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These are the best robo investors in Canada right now. They offer a variety of different investment products to suit different budgets and different risk profiles. Use the links in the table to get started, or read on to compare those Canadian micro investing platforms in detail.

IG review
4.4
IG Markets
Min. Deposit n/a
Fees Spread only
No. assets 17000+
Demo account Yes

IG review

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

AvaTrade review
4.3
AvaTrade
Min. Deposit $100
Fees From 0.13%
No. assets 1250+
Demo account Yes

AvaTrade review

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
XTB review
3.8
XTB Online Investing
Min. Deposit n/a
Fees 8.1 pips
No. assets 2200+
Demo account Yes

XTB review

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69-83% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Top 8 robo advisors & micro investing platforms in Canada, reviewed

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We found 14 online brokers for users based in

1. IG Markets: Best for trusted and transparent trading

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4
Ratings

$-

Min. deposit

From 0.5%

Fees

17,000

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love IG because it’s one of the most established and reputable names in the online trading industry, known for its reliability, comprehensive market offerings, and strong regulatory compliance. IG offers CFD trading in stocks, forex, commodities, indices, ETFs and more, with plenty of useful plugins and integrations to improve the trading experience.

One of the key strengths of IG Markets is its seamless integration with MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a popular third-party trading platform favored by many traders for its advanced charting tools, automated trading capabilities, and custom indicators. This integration allows users to leverage MT4’s sophisticated features while benefiting from IG Markets’ competitive pricing, reliable execution, and extensive market access.

Beyond its product range and platform integrations, IG Markets stands out for its commitment to education and customer support. The company offers a wealth of educational resources, such as webinars, tutorials, and market analysis, which help traders of all levels improve their knowledge and skills.

The fees: For most assets, you don’t pay a trading fee but will be charged through the spread instead. That’s the difference between the buy and sell price of an asset. IG’s spreads are competitive but variable: you’ll pay a smaller spread on popular assets compared to less popular ones. Share trading works differently, and you’ll be charged a minimum fee on each trade of at least $15.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2. AvaTrade. Best regulated broker for secure trading

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Avatrade_logo
4
Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 0.13%

Fees

1,300

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love AvaTrade because it is a reliable CFD broker, that gives users access to a wide range of markets. As a CFD broker, AvaTrade lets you speculate on the price movements of various financial instruments without owning the underlying assets. AvaTrade is a multi-asset brokerage firm and includes CFDs for forex, commodities, stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, and bonds.

AvaTrade is also highly regarded for its strong regulatory framework and commitment to security. AvaTrade is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, including Europe, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and the British Virgin Islands, which means it must adhere to stringent regulatory standards across the world. 

AvaTrade isn’t just well-regulated, it also employs advanced security measures to protect client funds and personal information, including segregated accounts and robust encryption technology. 

The fees: There is no commission on any trading. AvaTrade makes money from the Bid/Ask spread instead. Stock spreads start from 0.13 and forex spreads start at 0.7 pips. Positions left overnight are charged a swap fee that varies depending on size. An inactivity fee of £/€/$50 per month is applicable if you don’t log in to your account for three consecutive months.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

3. XTB: Best for offering global CFD markets to retail traders

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3.5
Ratings

$-

Min. deposit

0.2 pips

Fees

2,200

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love XTB because of its extensive range of international CFD markets, allowing retail traders to buy and sell popular financial assets at competitive prices. XTB offers over 5,900 instruments, including 3,000 stocks, 400 ETFs, and 2,300 CFDs across forex, commodities, and indices. 

This broad selection allows you to diversify your portfolio and explore several trading opportunities across different asset classes. Whether you are interested in forex, commodities, indices, or cryptocurrencies, XTB’s comprehensive offering means you have the tools and resources needed to trade effectively.

XTB combines beginner-friendly, introductory tools and resources with a scaling system of accounts that allow experienced traders to access high rates of leverage and advanced analytical tools. 

With more than 180 pre-installed indicators and chart types, its bespoke xStation platform allows for intricate analysis, while beginners can access its Trading Central service, where trade ideas, forecasts, and risk analyses are available for anyone to look through.

The fees: XTB’s fees start from 0.02 pips on forex pairs and 0.2 pips on stocks and indices CFDs. Commodities come with larger spreads, starting from 2 pips, while cryptocurrency spreads are significantly higher and start from 8.1 pips.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69-83% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

4. Pacific Union. Best for social trading & customer support

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pacific union logo
4
Ratings

$-

Min. deposit

...

Fees

-

No. assets

No

Demo account

Overview

We love Pacific Union because its beginner friendly platform comes loaded with lots of educational content, including how-to guides and video learning. Pacific Union offers over 200 assets across global markets and includes forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

It’s an award-winning broker with a proprietary social trading application that makes it easy for beginners to follow the strategies and positions of the platform’s top traders. Pacific Union uses the popular Metatrader 4 software alongside its mobile and web based apps. Traders can choose the amount of leverage they want to use, all the way up to 500:1.

The fees: There are fees with Pacific Union, but it depends on your account type. Its standard account is commission free, but Bid/Ask spreads start at 1.3 pips. Pro accounts are charged a $3.5 RT per lot commission and have spreads starting from 0 pips. Swap charges for holding a trade overnight vary depending on size.  

Highlights

Pros & Cons

Contracts for Difference (CFDs) trading carries a high level of risk to your capital and can result in losses, you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. CFDs trading may not be suitable for all investors, please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and take appropriate measures to manage it.

What is a robo advisor?

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A robo-advisor is an automated, digital platform that provides financial planning and investment management services with minimal human intervention. Utilizing advanced algorithms and sometimes incorporating artificial intelligence, robo-advisors analyze your financial situation and goals to offer personalized investment advice and portfolio management.

These platforms are designed to make investing accessible and straightforward for everyone, regardless of their investment knowledge or experience level.

How does a robo advisor work?

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When you sign up for a robo-advisor, you’ll typically complete a questionnaire about your financial situation, investment goals, risk tolerance, and investment timeline. This helps the robo-advisor understand what you’re looking for in your investment strategy.

Based on your responses, the Canadian robo-advisor uses its algorithms to suggest a diversified investment portfolio typically consisting of a mix of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and sometimes bonds or other assets. The allocation is designed to match your risk tolerance and investment objectives.

Robo-advisors then automatically manage your investment portfolio, conducting tasks like rebalancing to maintain your chosen asset allocation, tax-loss harvesting to optimize for taxes, and adjusting your investment strategy as your financial situation or goals change.

One of the key benefits of robo-advisors is their low cost relative to traditional financial advisors, as the automated nature of the service reduces the need for costly human management.

How should I choose a robo investor?

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Here are some features to look out for when you choose your favourite robo advisor in Canada.

  • Investment goals. Consider what you’re looking to achieve with your investments. Different robo-advisors offer varying features, such as retirement planning, tax optimization, or educational savings plans.
  • Reputation and regulation. You want to be sure that you pick a robo advisor platform with a good reputation so that your money is always safe. All robo advisors in Canada should be regulated by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC).
  • Fees and costs. Evaluate the fee structure of each robo-advisor. Look for transparent pricing without hidden fees. Common charges include management fees, typically a percentage of your assets under management, and fund fees for the ETFs in your portfolio.
  • Minimum investment requirement. Some robo-advisors have a minimum investment requirement. Choose one that matches your investment capacity.
  • Investment options and strategies. Review the investment options available, including types of assets and any specialized investment strategies such as socially responsible investing.
  • Ease of use. The platform should be user-friendly and accessible, with supportive customer service and educational resources for investors.
  • Reputation and security. Choose a robo-advisor with a strong reputation for reliability and security. Ensure they have robust measures in place to protect your personal and financial information.
  • Additional services. Some robo-advisors offer additional services like access to human financial advisors, budgeting and saving tools, or automatic contributions. Consider whether these additional features are valuable to you.

Quick answers to key questions

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How much does a robo advisor cost to use?

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Robo advisors charge an annual management fee, which is usually no more than 0.75% per year. The fee is often lower if you invest a significant amount in the platform, so it’s possible to get very low fees if you have a lump sum to invest with.

There may be a couple of extra additional fees, in the form of a maintenance fee/account fee, and a spread fee. These are usually small, and may be about 0.2% and 0.09% per year, respectively. Overall, the fees are significantly lower than those you would pay with a traditional financial advisor. Human financial advisors cost money in man hours and experience, whereas robo advisors tend to automate a lot of the process.

Something else to consider is the minimum investment that you need to get started. Even if a robo advisor charges lower fees, it might be out of your immediate price range if it requires an initial deposit of a few hundred Canadian dollars.

Do I have to verify my identity?

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Yes, you will have to provide your contact details and usually the service requires bank details and a form of ID as well. This is because these platforms have to abide with anti-money laundering regulations in Canada and it’s how you are entitled to protection from financial authorities, like the FCAC or local state regulators under the oversight of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) in case anything nefarious were to happen to your money.

Are robo advisors safe to use?

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They are as safe as any other investment as they’re provided by regulated platforms that invest in assets that are also governed by strict rules laid down by the stock market. Just remember that there’s no guarantee you will make money as the value of any investment can go down as well as up.

Do I need any extra software to use a robo advisor?

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No, one of the benefits of using a service like this is that someone else takes care of the investing for you. All you need to do is sign up, answer a few questions, and fund the account. After that it can be left to its own devices.

Should I invest with a robo advisor?

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It’s a great tool for beginners in particular and for anyone who wants a low-cost, low-maintenance way to invest. The best ones let you set the guidelines so that you can decide the direction your money goes in. If you want to have a more hands-on role in your wealth management then you might want to create your own investment strategy instead.

Benefits of using a robo advisor

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The benefits of a robo advisor revolve around the way it appeals to even the newest investors, as you don’t need much experience at all to get started. It’s a great first step on your investing journey.

Here are some of the positives of using a robo investor.

  • The best robo advisors let you invest at low cost and with professional help. It doesn’t cost much to use a robo advisor, and they combined advanced software algorithms with a track record of investing experience.
  • They offer a hands-off investing option that doesn’t require a lot of time or effort. Robo advisors are ideal for people with no investing experience or no time to choose their own investments, but who still want to build their wealth over time.
  • You can create your own personalised financial plan to save for the future. By answering the questions on your robo advisor account when you start, you can create an investment plan that’s geared towards your needs and goals.
  • Robo investors often earn higher returns than people managed funds. Passive investments such as ETFs that simply track the performance of a group of stocks can often generate better returns than a person who tries to pick and choose which stocks are going to be successful.

Risks of using a robo advisor

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Like any form of investment, robo advisors have their drawbacks. There is no guarantee of success, and the value of your investments can go down as well as up.

Here are some more of the risks of using a robo financial advisor.

  • There are limited ways to invest. A robo advisor only has a small number of predetermined investment strategies. You can’t pick your own stocks, nor can you pick and choose which assets to invest in.
  • Your returns are more limited compared to investing in individual stocks. Pooled investments like funds and ETFs limit your downside by investing in lots of different stocks and sectors. However, this also serves to limit your upside, as an individual company only makes up a small part of each portfolio.
  • They aren’t good at meeting complex investing goals. Robo advisors are great for long term investing, such as saving for retirement, or regular monthly investing. They are less good if you have more complicated goals, or a timeline which requires results very quickly.
  • Your investments can fall in value. There is no guarantee that your portfolio will increase in value. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and even a portfolio based around advanced algorithms and careful risk management can perform poorly.

How to open an account with a robo advisor

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Follow these simple steps to start using a robo financial advisor today.

Create an account and add a payment method

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To start using a robo advisor, you need to create an account and add a means of sending money to it. Most people simply connect their robo advisor to their Canadian bank account, and doing it this way means you can round up any purchases and deposit the extra money directly into your account on a regular basis.

Take the onboarding quiz

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Once you’ve created an account, you must fill out a short quiz. This quiz is designed to assess your investment preferences, your goals, and your risk profile. Think about your answers carefully, as these dictate how the robo advisor invests your money.

Confirm your investment portfolio

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From the results of the quiz, the robot investor provides a recommended portfolio based on your investment profile. You can tweak this, or choose an alternative option, but if you’re going to use a robo advisor then it makes sense to use its recommendation.

Start investing automatically

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Now, you’re all set to start investing. The final step is to decide how often you want to add money to your portfolio, which can be set to a regular automatic deposit, or a manual deposit which you manage yourself.

A regular automatic deposit is a good option to drip-feed money into your portfolio, an investment strategy that’s known as ‘dollar-cost averaging’ (DCA). With DCA, you invest at regular intervals, regardless of how the market is performing. In this way, you naturally buy more when prices are lower and less when prices are higher.

Bottom line

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Choosing the right robo-advisor is a pivotal step in your investing journey. It’s important to compare leading services before you invest any money, taking care to understand the nuances of each, and evaluate the risks and rewards. Remember that your individual financial goals and circumstances are key.

Investing, by its nature, involves risk, and robo-advisors offer a streamlined, often cost-effective way to manage these risks through diversified portfolios and automated strategies. However, it’s crucial to weigh factors such as fees, investment options, and the level of personalization against your investment objectives.

Methodology: How we choose the best robo advisors in Canada

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Helping people make better financial decisions is at the heart of our mission at Invezz. 

We periodically test more than 63 robo advisors to provide our users with clear, accessible guidance on the investing options available. All testing is carried out by our panel of stock market experts, analysts, and active traders who sign up to each advisor, conduct research, and score each service.

Our tests are designed to find robo investors that offer a beginner-friendly, secure investing experience at a fair price. To supplement our practical testing and experience, we research each robo advisor to gather any further relevant information. We read online customer reviews, app reviews on the Play Store and App Store, and conduct user surveys to get feedback from real people about what works, and what doesn’t.

Each advisor is awarded a final score based on 130+ data points across 8 ranking categories: cost, reliability, user experience, deposit & withdrawals, investing options, range of products/markets, research & analysis tools, and the availability of educational & learning resources.

We work closely with individual brands to ensure all factual information displayed here is accurate. All data is then fact-checked by an independent reviewer. You can learn more about our expert panel and how we test, rate, and review platforms in our review process.

FAQs

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01

Can a robo advisor beat the market?

02

How do robo-advisors get paid?

03

Is a robo advisor better than a human financial advisor?

04

Are there free robo advisors?

05

Do robo investors beat the market?


Fact-checking & references

James Knight

James Knight

Editor of Education

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James is the lead editor of education for Invezz. He's an avid trader and golfer, who spends an inordinate amount of time watching Leicester City and the Jacksonville Jaguars. His biggest claim to fame is that he once fed, rode, and ate an ostrich all on the same day....