If you are looking for the best options trading platforms in Canada, this article offers suggestions to get you started.
Choosing between brokerage platforms can be challenging as their strengths vary when considering core features, including trading commissions, order types, research tools, market data, and customer support.
For options trading, in particular, you also want to ensure the platform is easy to navigate, especially if you are new to options investing.
For advanced traders, check that it supports the complex strategies you want to execute.
Best Online Brokerages For Options Trading in Canada
Below, I cover 9 of the best options trading platforms in Canada.
1. Questrade
Questrade is one of the best trading platforms in Canada for options, stocks, ETFs, and other financial securities.
As of this writing, Questrade has over $30 billion in assets under management and opens 200,000+ new accounts every year.
Beginners and experienced investors can choose from several Questrade trading platforms, including:
- Web-based platform (Questrade Trading)
- Questrade Edge
- Questrade Global
- Questrade App
Advanced traders looking to deploy multi-leg option strategies can use Questrade Edge. The standard trading commission for options trades is $9.95, plus a $1 fee per contract. Active options traders get a discount and can choose between fixed or variable fee schedules:
- Fixed fee: $4.95 + $0.75/contract
- Variable fee: $6.95 + $0.75/contract
There is also an $89.95 monthly fee for advanced live-streaming market data that is rebated partially or fully depending on how much you pay in commissions each month.
Note that U.S. and Canadian data packages are offered separately ($89.95 USD or CAD).
- Account minimum: $1,000
- Inactivity fee: $0
- Ranking: Best options trading platform for beginners in Canada
- Promotion: Get a $50 trade credit
For you to trade any assets on Questrade, you need to deposit at least $1,000 in your new account. For options trading, it has four approval levels with different minimum balance requirements.
Questrade’s options levels and the minimum balances needed are:
Level 1: No minimum. You can use long calls and puts, long straddle/long strangle, short covered calls, and long married put strategies.
Level 2: No minimum. Strategies available include long covered call, short married put, long collar, and short collar (in addition to the ones available in level 1).
Level 3: $5,000 CAD minimum. Additional strategies available at this level include long/short vertical call/put, long butterfly, long condor, short butterfly, short condor, short iron butterfly, short iron condor, long iron butterfly, and condor.
Level 4: $25,000 CAD minimum. Also includes short calendar call/put, short diagonal call/put, long/short calendar call/put with European options, long/short diagonal call/put with European options, short straddle, short strangle, and short option.
Learn more about Questrade in this review.
2. TD Direct Investing
TD Direct Investing is a division of TD Waterhouse Canada which is owned by The Toronto-Dominion Bank. It is one of the best options trading brokerages owned by a big bank.
TD Direct Investing supports a variety of investment products, including options, mutual funds, stocks, GICs, ETFs, and bonds.
Depending on your experience with online trading, you can choose from one of its three trading platforms: WebBroker, TD app, and the Advanced Dashboard.
All three platforms offer multi-leg options strategies (up to 2 legs); however, the Advanced Dashboard also supports streaming market data, advanced option analytics, charting, and order types (26 pre-defined option strategies).
The base trading commission for options is $9.99 plus $1.25 per contract.
Active traders who place at least 150 trades per quarter pay $7.00 + $1.25 per contract.
The fee for real-time streaming level 1 and 2 data varies from free to as high as $229/month, depending on your trading activity, asset size, and data package.
- Account minimum: $0
- Inactivity fee: $25 per quarter if your total balance is less than $15,000
- Ranking: Best big-bank options broker
- Promotions: N/A
Learn more in this review of TD Direct Investing.
3. Interactive Brokers Canada
Interactive Brokers, aka IBKR, is a global securities firm with operations in 33 countries and more than 135 markets.
For the purposes of this article, it is the best online brokerage for options trading if you are an advanced trader.
IBKR’s trading platforms include a standard web application, Trader Workstation, IBKR mobile, and various API solutions.
While all these platforms can be used to place option trades, Trader Workstation is your go-to for advanced options orders, algorithmic trading, and analysis.
Some of the options trading tools on Trader Workstation include write/rollover options tool, OptionsTrader, Option Portfolio, Options Strategy Builder, Options Strategy Lab, Volatility Lab, and more.
The mobile app is also very versatile, offering level II market data, technical analytical tools, streaming news services, alerts, and access to third-party research.
Trading commissions on IBKR for options in US and Canadian markets vary based on volume:
| Volume | Canada | U.S. |
| <=10,000 | $1.25 per contract | $0.25-$0.65 per contract |
| 10,001-50,000 | $1.15 per contract | $0.25-$0.50 per contract |
| 50,001-100,000 | $1.05 per contract | $0.25 per contract |
| =>100,001 | $1 per contract | $0.15 per contract |
The minimum fee per order in Canada is $1.50 CAD, while for U.S. trades, the minimum is $1.00 USD.
Note that the tiered pricing for U.S. trades also varies based on the premium.
In addition to trading commissions, other regulatory and exchange fees may apply.
While commission-free options trading is not available in Canada, these are some of the lowest fees you will pay when trading options.
Advanced market data package fees vary from free to as high as $120.75 USD per month.
- Account minimum: $0
- Inactivity fee: $0
- Ranking: Best options trading platform for advanced traders
- Promotion: N/A
Read more about this platform in our detailed Interactive Brokers review.
4. Qtrade
Qtrade Direct Investing is owned by Aviso Wealth and is the main brokerage platform used by credit unions in Canada.
It offers multiple investment securities, including options, GICs, ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, and new issues.
Qtrade investors can place trades using the website or mobile app (Android and iOS devices). Also, a trial account is available for 30 days if you want to get a feel for how the platform works.
The base fee for options trades on Qtrade is $8.75, plus a $1.25 fee per contract.
Active traders who place 150 or more trades per quarter or have $500,000+ in assets qualify for Investor Plus pricing, which is $6.95 + $1.25 per contract.
- Account minimum: $0
- Inactivity fee: $25 per quarter (waived in some situations, e.g. if assets are up to $25,000 or you contribute at least $100 monthly)
- Ranking: Best options brokerage platform for customer support
- Promotion: Cashback bonus when you join
Learn more in this Qtrade review.
5. National Bank Direct Brokerage
Owned by the National Bank of Canada, National Bank Direct Brokerage offers some of the cheapest ways to trade options in Canada.
Its main trading platform offers various trading tools, including Trading Central, Market-Q, Options Play, Decision-Plus, alerts, watchlists, and more.
The standard commission for options trades is $0 plus $1.25 per contract, with a minimum of $6.25 per transaction.
- Account minimum: $0
- Inactivity fee: $100 per year if asset balance is less than $20,000 as of May 31 each year
- Ranking: Cheapest bank-owned options trading platform
- Promotion: N/A
Get more details in our National Bank Direct Brokerage review.
6. CIBC Investor’s Edge
CIBC Investor’s Edge is another bank-owned brokerage platform for options trading in Canada.
Compared to TD Direct Investing, it has lower standard trading fees. You can use the CIBC Investor’s Edge trading platform to screen and filter assets, access research reports, and advanced charting tools.
The trading commission for options is $6.95 plus $1.25 per contract.
If you qualify for active trader pricing (make more than 150 trades/quarter), you pay $4.95 + $1.25 per contract.
- Account minimum: $0
- Inactivity fee: $100 per year if your account balance is $25,000 or less
Learn more in this review of the CIBC Investor’s Edge platform.
Some other options trading platforms to consider in Canada include:
7. RBC Direct Investing
8. Scotia iTrade
9. BMO InvestorLine
What are Options?
An option is a derivative, a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying asset by a certain date (expiration date) at a specified price (strike price).
Corporate Finance Institute.
The two main types of options are calls and puts.
A call option gives you the right to buy the underlying asset (e.g. a stock) at a specific price on or before a specific date.
A put option gives you the right to sell the underlying asset.
Depending on how your options perform relative to the price of the underlying asset (stock) and the cost of the options contract (i.e. premium), you can choose to:
- Buy or sell the stock at the strike price, i.e. exercise the option
- Sell the option to another investor before expiration
- Allow the option to expire worthless
How Do Options Work?
Options contracts are generally priced per 100 shares or units of the underlying asset.
Call Options:
Assuming that your favourite company’s stock (stock A) is currently selling at $70 per share and you expect it to rise in the coming months.
You decide to buy one “call option” at a strike price of $70 for $5 per share. Since the option contract comprises 100 shares, you pay $500 ($5 x 100 shares) for the contract (i.e. the premium).
Your bet pays off, and stock A’s price rises to $85 before the expiration of your contract.
Since you have the right to buy 100 shares of stock A at $70, you exercise this right, buy 100 shares at $70 and sell them for $85 each.
Theoretically, your profit per share is $10 (i.e. $15 minus the $5 premium you paid initially), and $1,000 total, for a 200% return.
In this scenario, you only make a profit if the stock rises above $75.
If the stock does not budge in price until expiration or falls, your losses are limited to the $500 premium.
Put Option:
You can also play this in the reverse by buying a “put option” if you believe the company’s stock is set to decline.
Let’s say you buy one put contract at the $70 strike price for $500.
If the price falls to $55 on or before expiration, you can exercise the right to sell 100 shares of stock A at $70 by buying it at $55 and selling for $70 each. This makes for a $1,000 profit ($1,500 minus the $500 premium).
Your breakeven price is $65.
Should I Invest in Options?
The two examples described above are the most basic options strategies available. It gets increasingly complex, with some strategies exposing you to unlimited downsides (losses).
Unless you know what you are doing, my advice is to stay away from options trading until you have learned the basics.
One other thing to consider is leverage. Some brokerages require you to use a margin account for complex options trades.
While borrowing using a margin account can amplify your profits, it also does the same to your losses.
In addition, you could have a margin call and be forced to close out your positions.
Best Options Brokers in Canada FAQs
Wealthsimple Trade does not offer options trading. You can only use the platform to buy and sell stocks and ETFs using a cash account. Margin is not currently available.
The best stock trading platform in Canada is Questrade. For beginners, the best stock trading app for no trading commissions is Wealthsimple Trade.
Questrade is one of the best options trading platforms in Canada. You can use it to trade advanced options strategies.
If your RBC Direct Investing account is approved for options trading, you can place options orders and use margin.
Yes, you can use paper trading for options on brokerage platforms that allow you to open a demo trading account.
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