Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Questrade vs BDSwiss, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Questrade, established in 2000, and BDSwiss, founded in 2012, are two well-known online brokers, though neither is publicly traded or operates as a bank. In terms of regulatory strength, Questrade holds two Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a recognized level of high trust, while BDSwiss holds one Tier-1 license, signifying a similar commitment to security at a slightly lesser tier. Unfortunately, neither broker holds any Tier-2 licenses.
Considering their Trust Scores from ForexBrokers.com, Questrade scores an 86 out of 99, marking it as a trusted brokerage service. On the other hand, BDSwiss scores a 73, which categorizes it as having an average risk. These ratings suggest that while both brokers offer reputable services, Questrade may provide a slightly more trusted option for investors prioritizing regulatory trust and licensing.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Questrade’s target spread of 1.9 pips on EUR/USD is steep versus the industry average. BDSwiss offers several pricing choices: the Classic account has a 1.5-pip spread (still on the pricey side), the Raw account runs 0.3 pips plus a $5 commission per side for a total effective spread of 1.3 pips, and the VIP account is 1.2 pips. BDSwiss also shows good order execution stats, though its spreads remain higher than the very cheapest competitors.
Overall, BDSwiss tends to be more cost-friendly than Questrade on EUR/USD, especially with its Raw or VIP tiers. For commissions and fees, Questrade is rated 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #59 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #31 out of 63.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $10-$5000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing Questrade vs BDSwiss for range of investments: both support forex trading as CFDs or spot and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs (neither lets you buy actual crypto). BDSwiss lists more total tradeable symbols overall (1081 vs Questrade’s 641), while Questrade offers more forex pairs (110 vs BDSwiss’s 53). In short, BDSwiss covers more CFD markets, but Questrade gives currency traders more pair choices.
Questrade also stands out for access to real exchange-traded shares: you can buy U.S. stocks like Apple and international listings such as Vodafone—options BDSwiss doesn’t provide. BDSwiss does offer copy trading, which Questrade lacks. Reflecting these differences, ForexBrokers.com rates Questrade 5 stars and ranks it #12 out of 63 for Range of Investments, while BDSwiss earns 4 stars and ranks #35. Choose Questrade if you want actual shares plus many forex pairs; pick BDSwiss if you prefer more CFD symbols and built-in copy trading.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 53 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Questrade and BDSwiss both make it easy to get started with a free demo account for paper trading. Each broker offers its own proprietary platform, plus a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform, and both let you place trades directly from charts. Details on the exact number of chart indicators and watchlist fields weren’t provided, but the core tools you’d expect—watchlists, charting, and order entry—are available on both.
The main differences come down to third‑party platforms and social features. BDSwiss supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Questrade does not. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, yet BDSwiss ranks higher in the category (#24 of 63) than Questrade (#35 of 63) according to ForexBrokers.com. If you want MT4/MT5 and copy trading, BDSwiss fits the bill; if you prefer a proprietary platform with a free demo and straightforward web and desktop access, Questrade is a solid pick.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Questrade and BDSwiss both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, including price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and auto-saving your chart annotations. The key difference is watchlists: Questrade syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while BDSwiss does not. For charting, Questrade offers 64 technical studies compared with 30 on BDSwiss, which may matter if you like to analyze markets with more indicators.
Both apps earned 4 out of 5 stars, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks BDSwiss higher (#24 of 63) than Questrade (#35 of 63) for Mobile Trading Apps. If cross-device watchlist syncing and a larger set of technical indicators are important, Questrade is the better fit. If overall app standing and simplicity are your priorities, BDSwiss has the edge in rankings.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at Questrade vs BDSwiss: BDSwiss delivers daily market commentary, while Questrade does not. Both brokers include popular technical tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, and each offers an economic calendar to track key events. A sentiment tool isn’t available at either broker, and neither provides research from Acuity Trading. Access to Bloomberg/Reuters-style forex news isn’t specified for Questrade, and BDSwiss does not include this type of feed.
For unique extras, Questrade stands out with TipRanks research, which BDSwiss lacks. Overall scores reflect the gap: Questrade earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks #52 out of 63 for Research, while BDSwiss scores 4/5 stars and ranks #24. Choose BDSwiss if you want daily commentary and strong technical tool coverage, or pick Questrade if TipRanks-driven ideas matter more to you.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Questrade vs BDSwiss for beginner trading education: both brokers supply at least 10 beginner-friendly video lessons that cover core trading topics, helping new traders get started with forex and CFDs. BDSwiss adds live learning with online educational webinars held at least once a month, while Questrade does not offer recurring client webinars. If you plan to grow your skills over time, BDSwiss also provides 10+ advanced videos for experienced traders, whereas Questrade’s advanced video library falls short of that mark.
Independent ratings reflect the gap: Questrade earns 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #36 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss scores 4 stars and ranks #22. In short, both are beginner-friendly, but BDSwiss is the better pick if you value ongoing webinars and a deeper video lineup as you progress.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Questrade is better than BDSwiss. Questrade finished with an overall rank of #32, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
Regulated in both the U.S. and Canada, Questrade is a trusted full-service multi-asset broker now offering forex and CFDs alongside its stock trading services for active and passive investors. While its scope of educational resources and in-house research is limited, Questrade has an impressive platform lineup.
| Feature |
Questrade
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BDSwiss
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 |
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In the Questrade vs BDSwiss comparison, neither broker offers actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs for traders seeking crypto price exposure without owning the underlying coins.
In the Questrade vs BDSwiss comparison, BDSwiss supports ACH/SEPA transfers, whereas Questrade does not and also does not offer PayPal or Skrill, though Questrade supports bank wire deposits and withdrawals; details for BDSwiss on PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires were not provided.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
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| Regulation | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | No |
| Funding | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Questrade Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | Questrade | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review | BDSwiss Review |
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