Best CFD Brokers in Canada (2026)
By ForexCanada Editorial Team · Updated
A contract for difference (CFD) lets you speculate on an index, commodity or share without owning it. In Canada, CFDs are regulated as derivatives — and in several provinces also as securities — so only registered dealers can offer them to residents. The providers below are all CIRO members.
Two provinces deserve special mention. In Alberta, CFDs are distributed under prospectus exemptions, so several dealers only accept Albertans who qualify as accredited investors. In Québec, derivatives dealers also need authorization from the AMF, and some brokers (Plus500, for example) don't serve Québec at all.
How we picked
- CIRO dealer member offering CFDs to retail clients
- Breadth of CFD markets and platform quality
- Clear disclosure of province restrictions
Full details in our methodology. We may earn a commission from some brokers; it never affects the order. Disclosure.
The ranking (7)
- #1
Questrade
CIRO-registeredBest for: Canadians who want TFSA/RRSP investing and forex/CFD trading with one Canadian firm
Questrade is Canada's best-known independent discount brokerage and, since dropping stock and ETF commissions, one of the cheapest places to invest in a TFSA, RRSP or FHSA. It is also one of the few Canadian firms that offers both long-term investing and leveraged trading: forex and CFDs run on the separate Questrade Global platform. Having everything under a Canadian-owned CIRO member is convenient — funding is straightforward from any Canadian bank, and support works on Canadian hours. FX/CFD spreads are not the tightest in the market, and Questrade Global doesn't support MetaTrader or TradingView trading.
- Platforms
- Proprietary
- FX pairs
- 100+
- Min. deposit
- $0
- CIPF
- Yes
9.4/ 10 - #2
CMC Markets Canada
CIRO-registeredBest for: Traders who want the widest CFD and currency-pair range from a Canadian dealer
CMC Markets is a London-listed firm founded in 1989, and CMC Markets Canada Inc. is its CIRO-registered Canadian dealer. Its standout feature is breadth: a very large list of currency pairs (including many crosses and emerging-market currencies) plus thousands of CFDs on indices, commodities, shares and bonds. The in-house Next Generation platform is excellent for charting and pattern recognition, and MT4 is available for those who prefer it. Pricing is spread-based with no minimum deposit. As with other Canadian CFD dealers, Alberta residents face additional eligibility requirements.
- Platforms
- MT4, TradingView
- FX pairs
- 150+
- Min. deposit
- $0
- CIPF
- Yes
⚠ Alberta residents generally must qualify as accredited investors to trade CFDs.
8.9/ 10 - #3
Plus500 Canada
CIRO-registeredBest for: Casual CFD traders who want a very simple app from a listed company
Plus500 is one of the largest CFD providers in the world and one of the newest CIRO dealer members: its Canadian entity, Plus500CA Ltd., was approved in June 2025. That makes it a legitimate, CIPF-eligible option for the first time — something that was not true when many older Canadian comparison sites listed it. The platform is deliberately simple, with a clean app, guaranteed stop-loss orders and free demo trading, but there is no MetaTrader, TradingView trading or commission-based pricing. Québec residents cannot open accounts.
- Platforms
- Proprietary
- FX pairs
- 60+
- Min. deposit
- C$100
- CIPF
- Yes
⚠ Not available in Québec. Alberta residents may face additional eligibility requirements.
8.2/ 10 - #4
FOREX.com Canada
CIRO-registeredBest for: Active forex traders who want MT5, TradingView and commission-based pricing
FOREX.com is owned by StoneX Group, a NASDAQ-listed financial services firm, and serves Canadians through GAIN Capital - FOREX.com Canada Ltd., a CIRO dealer member. It is one of the most complete Canadian forex offers: a large pair list, MT4 and MT5, its own web and mobile platforms, and TradingView connectivity. Active traders can choose commission-based pricing instead of wider spread-only quotes, which is rare among Canadian dealers. The low minimum deposit makes it accessible, but Albertans should expect extra eligibility steps for CFDs because of provincial rules.
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingView
- FX pairs
- 80+
- Min. deposit
- $100
- CIPF
- Yes
⚠ Alberta residents generally must qualify under a prospectus exemption (e.g. accredited investor) to trade CFDs.
8.7/ 10 - #5
AvaTrade Canada (Friedberg Direct)
CIRO-registeredBest for: Beginners who want MetaTrader 4/5 with a Canadian-regulated dealer
AvaTrade is one of the largest global CFD brands, and in Canada it operates through Friedberg Direct, the same CIRO-registered dealer that carries FXCM. The practical upshot is that Canadians can use AvaTrade's popular MT4 and MT5 set-ups, its web platform and mobile app while their account is held with a Canadian dealer member and covered by CIPF within its limits. AvaTrade's education library and demo accounts are among the better options for newcomers. Be aware that the Canadian product list and leverage are narrower than what AvaTrade advertises internationally, and certain global features may not be available here.
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5
- FX pairs
- 50+
- Min. deposit
- About C$300 / US$250 (check current terms)
- CIPF
- Yes
8.4/ 10 - #6
OANDA Canada
CIRO-registeredBest for: Canadians who want a pure-play forex specialist with TradingView and MT4
OANDA has deep Canadian roots — its Canadian dealer is based in Toronto and has served retail currency traders here for more than two decades. It is one of the few CIRO members that is primarily a forex specialist rather than a bank or multi-asset brokerage, which shows in the product: dozens of currency pairs, a clean web platform, MT4 and direct TradingView trading. Pricing is transparent, with no minimum deposit, and the firm publishes historical spread data so you can see what you actually paid. The main limitation is geography: OANDA does not open accounts for Alberta residents, and like every Canadian dealer its leverage is capped by CIRO margin rates rather than the 500:1 offshore brokers advertise.
- Platforms
- MT4, TradingView
- FX pairs
- 60+
- Min. deposit
- $0
- CIPF
- Yes
⚠ Does not currently accept residents of Alberta.
8.5/ 10 - #7
FXCM Canada (Friedberg Direct)
CIRO-registeredBest for: Algorithmic and API traders who want a Canadian-regulated account
FXCM reaches Canadians through Friedberg Direct, the retail division of Toronto's Friedberg Mercantile Group — a firm with roots in Canadian commodity markets going back to the 1970s. That arrangement matters: your account sits with a CIRO dealer member, while you use FXCM's Trading Station platform, MT4, TradingView integration and well-documented APIs. FXCM has long been popular with systematic traders because of its API access and historical data, and that remains its niche in Canada. Pricing is spread-based on standard accounts; check the current Friedberg Direct schedule for your base currency and pairs.
- Platforms
- MT4, TradingView
- FX pairs
- 40+
- Min. deposit
- See site
- CIPF
- Yes
8.3/ 10
Frequently asked questions
Are CFDs legal in Canada?
Yes, when offered by a registered dealer. CFDs are not available to U.S. residents, which sometimes causes confusion, but Canadians can trade them through CIRO dealer members.
Can I hold CFDs in a TFSA or RRSP?
No. CFDs and leveraged forex are not qualified investments for registered accounts. They must be traded in a non-registered margin account.
Why can't I open a CFD account in Alberta?
In Alberta, CFDs are treated as securities and are generally distributed under a prospectus exemption such as the accredited investor exemption. Some dealers only accept Albertans who qualify; OANDA does not accept Alberta residents at all.
Read next
CFD Trading in Canada: How Contracts for Difference Work and Who Offers Them
What CFDs are, how Canadian dealers price them (spread, commission, financing), why they're banned in the U.S. but legal in Canada, provincial restrictions in Alberta and Québec, and the risks.
Forex Leverage and Margin Rules in Canada (2026)
What's the maximum forex leverage in Canada? How CIRO margin rates work, why they differ by currency and account currency, how margin closeouts work, and why high leverage hurts most traders.
Trading in a TFSA or RRSP: What's Allowed, What Isn't, and the Day-Trading Trap
What you can hold and trade in a TFSA, RRSP or FHSA; why forex, CFDs and crypto are excluded; options rules; USD registered accounts; and how frequent trading can make TFSA gains taxable.