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Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) vs Wealthsimple
A side-by-side comparison of ratings, customer experience, products, fees, and pros & cons to help you choose the right bank.
VS
Wealthsimple edges ahead on our overall rating (4.3 vs 4.1), but the right pick depends on which products and fees matter most to you.
Overview
As one of the largest and most established financial institutions in Canada, RBC stands out for its size and lineup of products. Its full-service approach allows customers to manage their everyday banking in the same place where they have their credit cards, mortgages, investments, and insurance.
RBC provides a large selection of products for everyday banking needs. It offers chequing accounts for specific groups like students, seniors, and newcomers. Premium banking options are also available. While its savings account lineup is less competitive, especially compared to fintechs, the firm periodically has valuable promotions. Long-term rates tend to lag behind other digital providers, though.
Not only does RBC have a wide range of bank account options, it also has one of the largest credit card lineups in Canada. Options range from cashback and rewards to travel and business. FinlyWealth recently ranked the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card amongst the best travel credit cards in Canada.
In terms of mortgage and lending products, the bank provides many options. But posted rates at RBC are not always the lowest in comparison to other banks and fintechs. While rates may be less competitive, the bank benefits from its widespread product offering as well as strong brand trust and broad advisor access.
Launching in 2014, Wealthsimple’s goal was “to use technology to give powerful financial tools to many.” Since then, the company has grown to have $124.8 billion in assets under administration and 3.4 million customers as of the end of Q1 2026.
While Wealthsimple began as a digital investment platform, it quickly expanded into banking, offering no-fee chequing accounts that pay interest on every dollar. It is uncommon to find a Canadian chequing account that pays interest, which is part of the reason why FinlyWealth rated the account highly at 4.8 out of 5. Though the institution does not have its own ATMs or branches, you can still deposit cash for your Wealthsimple account at Canada Post and receive reimbursement of any amount covering unlimited ATM fees worldwide. Banking and credit card customers also have access to the company’s spend insights tool, which tracks transactions and category spending.
Wealthsimple’s rewards support its strong rating. It has a competitive credit card offering with 2% in cashback rewards with a simple structure of flat earn rates across all categories. This differs from many institutions, which instead offer cashback on certain categories of spending only. While its credit cards are well-ranked, though few in number, its options for borrowing are limited. The institution has lines of credit, which you can take out against your portfolio, and they also provide mortgages through outside brokers.
Beyond traditional banking, Wealthsimple’s claim to fame is its investing platform, where it offers both managed portfolios and self-directed investments. The firm differentiates itself from the biggest banks in Canada by charging no commissions on DIY trading. Even its options platform has $0 commission on trades.
Today, the institution remains on the cutting edge, having become “Canada’s first regulated crypto platform” and making a recent announcement about soon providing access to the prediction markets through a mobile app called Wealthsimple Predict. Both of these initiatives are unique offerings for a financial institution in Canada.
Overall rating
4.1
4.3
Customer experience
2.8
3.5
Best for
Those who want full-service banking with access to both physical branches and a wide range of financial products. The bank also boasts strong digital banking tools and one of the largest ATM and branch networks in Canada, making it ideal for Canadians who value integrated banking as well as established customer support.
Canadians who want a digital-first financial platform that combines no-monthly-fee banking with $0 commission stock and ETF trading.
Pros & cons
Pros
In-person service available through one of the largest branch networks in Canada
More than 4,000 ATMs across the country
Strong integration between banking, lending, and investing
Robust product offering for savings and chequing accounts
Numerous credit card options with varying rewards
Established brand with broad access to customer support
Mobile app quality ranks well amongst the Big Six Canadian banks
Cons
Fees are typically higher than competitors
Monthly fees on many chequing accounts
Savings products pay a lower interest rate
Higher mortgage and loan rates comparatively
Some premium banking benefits require high balances or bundled products
Pros
No-fee chequing account with unlimited transactions
Chequing account earns interest on every dollar
Strong digital investing platform
No minimum balance requirements (interest rates instead increase for those with a higher relationship balance)
Offers both self-directed trading and managed portfolios
$0 commission on stocks and ETF trades, making it more affordable than traditional banks
Cash deposits available through Canada Post
Unlimited reimbursements on ATM fees worldwide which improves access for banking customers
No foreign transaction fee on its credit card
Continuous innovation and rollout of new services
Ability to buy, sell and earn cryptocurrencies on its platform
Cashback earnings can go to any eligible Wealthsimple account
Cons
Overdraft protection is only available if you link it to your portfolio and is unavailable for joint chequing and USD accounts
No dedicated ATMs
Mortgages available through partners only, not in-house
No broad insurance offering, unlike some full-service institutions
No branches available for in-person service
Trend of customer service complaints
Customer criticism regarding locked or frozen accounts
Reports of intermittent outages
Top chequing accounts
RBC VIP Banking Account
RBC VIP Banking Account
4.5 Our rating
OPEN ACCOUNT
on RBC's website
Welcome Bonus
Open an eligible RBC Chequing Account and get the new iPad(1)
Monthly Fee
$30 (rebates available)
Account Type
Chequing • Personal
- Open an eligible RBC Chequing Account and get the new iPad(1)
- Offer ends November 2 , 2026
- Qualifying Criteria and other Conditions Apply
How to Get Your RBC iPad Offer
Once you’ve opened your the RBC Signature No Limit Banking account or the RBC VIP Banking account by November 2, 2026, complete at least two of the following within 90 days:
- Set up your full payroll or pension as a direct deposit (no splitting)
- Set up two pre-authorized monthly payments
Make two eligible bill payments using RBC Online Banking, the RBC Mobile app, an ATM or telephone banking. Other terms and conditions apply.
- Unlimited tap, swipe and debit transactions Worldwide(6)
- $30/month(2), as low as $17.05/month with the Value Program Rebate(14), or $22.50/month after the Seniors(13) Rebate
- No minimum balance requirement
- No monthly fee for up to two additional CAD accounts and one USD account(7)
- Save up to $120 on eligible credit card annual fee(10,38)
- Free Interac e-Transfer transactions(4,5)
- Earn Avion points(15) on everyday purchases
- Save 3c/L on gas at Petro-Canada(6)
- If you're not satisfied within the first 4 months, we'll refund up to 3 months of monthly fees(11)
- Free cross-border debits(9,19,20)
Pros
- Unlimited transactions + e-Transfers
- Global ATM fee waivers (RBC side)
- High credit card rebate ($120)
- Strong bundle of premium perks
- Great for frequent travellers
Cons
- Very high $30 monthly fee
- No full fee waiver option
- FX fee still applies (2.5%)
- Overkill if you don’t use premium perks
- Not competitive vs free / low-cost banks
Account Fees
Monthly Fee
$30
Fee Rebate: Eligible Personal Credit Card, Personal Investment and Small Business Account
Save $12.95/mo
As low as $17.05/month with the Value Program Rebate(14)
Fee Rebate: Eligible Personal Credit Card, Personal Investment and Residential Mortgage
Save $12.95/mo
As low as $17.05/month with the Value Program Rebate(14)
Credit Card Rebate
Up to $120
eStatement
Included
Transactions
Transactions
Unlimited free
Interac e-Transfers
Unlimited free
ATM Fees
Own Network
$0
Canadian ATMs
$2
USA
$3
International
$5
International & Currency
Foreign Currency Conversion
2.5%
Cross-Border Debit Fee
$0
Other Fees
NSF (Non-sufficient Funds)
$10
Overdraft Protection
$0/month
Overdraft Interest
22% annually (if used)
Bank Draft
$0
Best for: Full time students
OPEN ACCOUNT
on RBC's website
Welcome Bonus
Open a No Monthly Fee RBC Advantage Banking Account for Students and Get AirPods 4.(1)
Monthly Fee
$0
Account Type
Chequing • Personal
- Open a No Monthly Fee RBC Advantage Banking Account for Students and Get AirPods 41
- Bonus! Get 3 months of Apple Music with your new AirPods.
- New subscribers only. After 3 months, subscription automatically renews until cancelled.
- Conditions apply. Offer ends November 2, 2026. Complete offer qualifying criteria by January 15, 2027.
- $0 Monthly Fee(2) for full-time students(3)
- Unlimited Debit Transactions
- Free Interac e-Transfer Transactions(4,5)in Canada
- One of the Largest Combined ATM and Branch Networks in Canada
- Up to $48 rebate on the annual fee of an eligible credit card(1)
- Earn Avion Points on debit purchases, even with your Virtual Visa Debit
- International Money Transfers - Pay no fee for U.S. and international money transfers for this offer/account
Pros
- No monthly fee for full-time students
- Unlimited Debit Transactions + Free Interac e-Transfers
- Up to $48 rebate on the annual fee of an eligible credit card
- Avion Points on debit purchases
- Large branch + ATM network
- No minimum balance required
- No RBC fee at other-bank ATMs in Canada
Cons
- Only for full-time students
- Fees kick in after graduation
- No interest on your balance
- Rewards system is limited
- Best perks require multiple RBC products
Account Fees
Monthly Fee
$0
Fee Waiver: Students Rebate
Full waiver
No monthly fee for full-time students or anyone 24 and younger(2,3)
eStatement
Included
Transactions
Transactions
Unlimited free
Interac e-Transfers
Unlimited free
ATM Fees
Own Network
$0
Canadian ATMs
$0
USA
$3
International
$5
International & Currency
International Transaction Fee
$0
Foreign Currency Conversion
2.5%
Other Fees
NSF (Non-sufficient Funds)
$10
Overdraft Interest
22% annually (if used)
Bank Draft
$9.95
Wealthsimple Chequing
Wealthsimple Chequing
4.8 Our rating
OPEN ACCOUNT
on Wealthsimple's website
Welcome Bonus
$25 bonus when you sign up and fund at least $1*
Regular Interest
Up to 2.25%
Monthly Fee
$0
Account Type
Chequing • Personal
New to Wealthsimple? We'll give you a $25 cash bonus when you open your first Wealthsimple account through this page and fund at least $1 within 30 days*
CHEQUING & SAVINGS:
For everyday spending and saving
Some accounts are good for parking and growing your money, while others are good for avoiding fees and restrictions. Wealthsimple chequing accounts are great for all of those things.
- Interest rates starting at 1.25% (up to 2.25%)2
- No minimums, monthly fees, or overdraft penalties
- No ATM fees or Foreign Transaction (FX) fees4,5
- Access to 60,000 ATMs across the country
- Third-party ATM fee reimbursements without limits4
- Unlimited free Interac e-Transfers®, bill payments, and debit transaction
- 0.5% interest boost (up to 2.25% total) when you set up eligible direct deposits6
- Up to $1 million in CDIC deposit insurance coverage on eligible CAD deposits7
- Up to eight individual and eight joint accounts to help organize your money for different goals like vacations, emergency fund, etc.
Account Fees
Monthly Fee
$0
eStatement
Included
Transactions
Transactions
Unlimited free
Interac e-Transfers
Unlimited free
ATM Fees
Own Network
$0
Canadian ATMs
$0
USA
$0
International
$0
International & Currency
Foreign Currency Conversion
0%
Other Fees
NSF (Non-sufficient Funds)
$0
Overdraft Interest
0% annually (if used)
Bank Draft
$10
Top savings account
RBC High Interest eSavings
RBC High Interest eSavings
2.7 Our rating
OPEN ACCOUNT
on RBC's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn 4.60% for 3 months for new High Interest eSavings account holders
Monthly Fee
$0
If this is your first RBC High Interest eSavings account, you can earn up to 4.60% in interest for 3 months. Offer expires 3pm EST on June 9, 2026.
Interest rates
All balances 0.55%
Promotional rate of 4.60%13 on your first three months12
Account fees
Monthly Fee $0
eStatement Included
Earn interest of up to 4.60%12,13
- Earn a rate of 0.55% or a promotional 4.60%13 on your first three months12
- No monthly fee with no minimum balance requirement
- No cost transfers to any of your personal RBC deposit accounts making it a practical choice for existing RBC customers
- 1 no charge ATM withdrawal per month with an additional $5 charge thereafter
- Access to your savings at any time
Wealthsimple Savings
Wealthsimple Savings
4.6 Our rating
OPEN ACCOUNT
on Wealthsimple's website
Welcome Bonus
$25 bonus when you sign up and fund at least $1*
Regular Interest
Up to 2.25%
Monthly Fee
$0
New to Wealthsimple? We'll give you a $25 cash bonus when you open your first Wealthsimple account through this page and fund at least $1 within 30 days*
CHEQUING & SAVINGS:
For everyday spending and saving
Some accounts are good for parking and growing your money, while others are good for avoiding fees and restrictions. Wealthsimple chequing accounts are great for all of those things.
- Interest rates starting at 1.25% (up to 2.25%)2
- No minimums, monthly fees, or overdraft penalties
- No ATM fees or Foreign Transaction (FX) fees4,5
- Access to 60,000 ATMs across the country
- Third-party ATM fee reimbursements without limits4
- Unlimited free Interac e-Transfers®, bill payments, and debit transaction
- 0.5% interest boost (up to 2.25% total) when you set up eligible direct deposits6
- Up to $1 million in CDIC deposit insurance coverage on eligible CAD deposits7
- Up to eight individual and eight joint accounts to help organize your money for different goals like vacations, emergency fund, etc.
Top credit card
APPLY NOW
on RBC's website
Welcome Bonus
Enjoy a 0.99% introductory interest rate for the first 10 months on balance transfers^ and no annual fee for the first year*. Apply by September 30, 2026.
Rewards Rate
N/A
Annual Fee
$20 $0
Interest Rates
12.99% / 12.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
300Poor
560Fair
660⁎Good
725⁎Very Good
760⁎Excellent
4.8/5
A low-interest credit card in case you want to carry a balance every month. This card provides no rewards on purchases, however comes with a relatively lower interest rate compared to many other credit cards, so if you're unable to pay your balance in full every month, this card will save you a lot of money in interest payments.
Awards & Recognition
Best Low Interest Credit Card
2026
Pros
- Low annual fee
- Lower interest rates
- Low interest welcome bonus
- first-year fee rebate
Cons
- No rewards
Rewards
- Get a low, fixed annual interest rate of 12.99% on purchases, cash advances including balance transfers.1 No surprises.
- Your RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option card includes purchase security and extended warranty insurance coverage4.
- Get special partner offers from brands like Petro Canada, Rexall and DoorDash.
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Doubled Up to 1 year
Benefits
Details
Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall.svg?dpl=dpl_ArEs4a8KgL4V8BKiacaWYdjSZMcU)
Gas Discount
save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada and 20% more Avion points at Petro-Canada
Discount
Get a 6-month complimentary DashPass subscription — a value of almost $60. Plus, enjoy unlimited deliveries when $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card.
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
APPLY NOW
on Wealthsimple's website
Welcome Bonus
$25 Exclusive bonus for new Wealthsimple clients*
Annual Fee
See Rates
Interest Rates
20.99%* / 22.99%*
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
300Poor
560Fair
660⁎Good
725⁎Very Good
760⁎Excellent
4.4/5
The Wealthsimple Cash Back Visa Infinite Privilege offers a conditional no-fee, no-FX-fee spending solution that earns 2% cash back on all purchases without any limits! It's currently the ONLY Visa Infinite Privilege card with an annual fee that can be completely waived. It also lets you grow your rewards—as you can deposit your cashback whenever you want in a high-interest chequing account. Its simplicity and flexibility make it ideal for many Canadians.
Pros
- Decent cashback
- No premium client annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Solid insurance
- Airport lounge access
Cons
- High annual fee
- High income requirements
Rewards
- 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, no limits.
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)*
14 days up to $2M (under age 65)
Trip Cancellation*
$1,500/person ($5,000 per trip)
Trip Interruption*
$1,500/person ($5,000 per trip)
Baggage Delay*
$1,000 ($1,250 combined with Lost or Stolen Baggage coverage)*
Lost or Stolen Baggage*
$1,000 ($1,250 combined with Baggage Delay coverage).svg?dpl=dpl_ArEs4a8KgL4V8BKiacaWYdjSZMcU)
Car Rental Damage & Theft*
31 days, $65K car MSRP
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees*
Avoid FX fees when you travel abroad
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits*
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass*
6 complimentary visits
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$150,000 personal or $200,000 household
All products offered
28 products
Chequing
RBC Advantage Banking Account
RBC Advantage Banking Account for Students
RBC Day to Day Banking Account
RBC Signature No Limit Banking account
RBC VIP Banking Account
Credit cards
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
More Rewards RBC Visa
moi RBC® Visa‡
More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite
RBC Avion Visa Platinum
RBC Cash Back Mastercard
RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard
RBC ION Visa
RBC ION+ Visa
RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold
RBC RateAdvantage Visa
RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option
RBC Visa Platinum
RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite‡
WestJet RBC Mastercard
WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard®
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card
RBC® Business Cash Back Mastercard‡
WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard® for Business