Wealthsimple vs. Nest Wealth
Compare Wealthsimple and Nest Wealth for Canadian investors in 2026. See fees, features, safety, pros & cons, and which is best for you.
About
About Wealthsimple
I'm with Wealthsimple partly because of its robo-advisor — I set up a managed RRSP, chose my risk level, and it handles everything automatically. The fact that I can also do self-directed trading, keep a Cash account, and file my taxes in the same app is what really sealed it for me.
About Nest Wealth
Nest Wealth is a Canadian robo-advisor I came across in my research. It uses a flat monthly fee rather than a percentage of assets, which is interesting and can work out cheaper if you have a large balance. From what I found, it's a pure robo-advisor — no self-directed trading option. Always verify current pricing and offerings at nestwealth.com.
| Feature | Wealthsimple | Nest Wealth |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | $0 on stocks/ETFs | N/A (Robo-advisor only) |
| Options Fees | $0.75–$2 USD/contract | N/A |
| FX Fees | 1.5% (waived with USD account) | Included in ETF MERs |
| Account Types | Personal, TFSA, RRSP, RESP, USD, more | Personal, TFSA, RRSP, RESP, more |
| Platforms | Mobile, Web | Web, Mobile |
| Fractional Shares | Yes (500+ stocks/ETFs) | No |
| Research Tools | Basic charts, watchlists | N/A (managed portfolios) |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Safety | CIRO regulated, CIPF up to $1M | CIRO regulated, CIPF up to $1M |
| Support | Chat, email, phone (priority for Premium) | Email, phone |
| Unique Features | Robo-advisor, Cash account, Tax, Fractional shares | Flat-fee pricing, personalized portfolios |
Pros & Cons
WS
Wealthsimple Pros
- $0 commissions, no minimums
- Fractional shares
- Beginner-friendly app
- Unified ecosystem (robo, cash, tax)
- Great for new investors
NE Nest Wealth Pros
- Flat monthly fee (can be cheaper for large balances — verify rates at nestwealth.com)
- Personalized ETF portfolios
- Automatic rebalancing
- Regulated by CIRO, CIPF insurance
WS
Wealthsimple Cons
- Limited advanced trading tools
- 15-min delayed quotes (free tier)
- No direct USD RRSP/TFSA (as of 2026)
NE Nest Wealth Cons
- Flat fee can be expensive for small balances
- No self-directed DIY trading option
- No fractional shares (as far as I could find)
- Fewer integrations than Wealthsimple
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Wealthsimple if…
- I'd choose Wealthsimple if you want robo-advisor investing but also want the flexibility to do self-directed trades when you feel like it — without switching apps.
Choose Nest Wealth if…
- From my research, Nest Wealth might make sense if you have a larger balance (say $100k+) where the flat fee beats a percentage-based model, and you're happy with pure robo-advisor management.
- Always verify current pricing at nestwealth.com — the fee tiers may have changed.
Ready to Start Investing?
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