Guide · Updated October 26, 2026
What does buying $1,000 of bitcoin in Quebec really cost?
Every figure comes from the platform’s official page (link and date below).
You want to buy $1,000 of bitcoin. On some platforms the commission is $2. On others it shows as “$0”… but an unpublished spread is built into the price. Result: comparing listed fees is not enough.
In this guide, we calculate what each AMF-registered platform publishes for a $1,000 purchase, then we look at the two fees people often forget: the spread and the withdrawal.
In short
- Lowest published commission for a $1,000 purchase: NDAX, 0.20% flat = $2.00 (ndax.io/fees). Visit NDAX ↗referral
- Several platforms show “no commission” but earn money through a spread whose rate is not published: so we cannot put a number on their total cost.
- Getting your dollars back via Interac ranges from $0 to $10 depending on the platform.
The 3 fees that make up the real cost
- The commission: a clearly listed percentage (e.g. 0.20%).
- The spread: the gap between the market price and the price you are offered. Often built into the price, so invisible.
- Deposit and withdrawal fees: Interac, EFT (electronic funds transfer) or withdrawing crypto to your own wallet.
Total cost is the sum of all three. A 0% commission with a 1% spread costs more than a 0.20% commission with no hidden spread.
Table: published commission on a $1,000 purchase
Simple math: $1,000 × the published rate. When a spread exists and is not published, it is not included (we never guess).
| Platform (AMF-registered) | What the platform publishes | Commission on $1,000 | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDAX Visit NDAX ↗referral | 0.20% flat | $2.00 | “No hidden spreads” per NDAX (order book) |
| Kraken Pro Visit Kraken Pro ↗ | Maker 0.40% / taker 0.80% (tier 1) | $4.00 to $8.00 | Order book |
| Wealthsimple Visit Wealthsimple ↗referral (without Active Trader status) | 0.5% (+ $1 if the order is under $100) | $5.00 | Variable on market orders (shown before the order); 0% on limit orders |
| Coinsquare Pro | 0.50% | $5.00 | — |
| Kraken Visit Kraken ↗referral (instant buy) | 1% (1.5% custom orders) | $10.00 | Built into the price, variable |
| Newton (BTC, tier 1) | 1.00% to 1.15% | $10.00 to $11.50 | Not mentioned |
| Shakepay Visit Shakepay ↗referral | No commission | $0 | Yes, rate not published |
| Netcoins Visit Netcoins ↗referral | No separate fee | $0 | Built into the price, rate not published |
| Coinsquare Trade | 0% | $0 | Yes, rate not published |
| Coinbase Visit Coinbase ↗referral | Fees calculated at order time, shown in the preview | Not published for a simple purchase | Built into the price, visible in the preview |
| Crypto.com | Not found on the page consulted | Not published | Not published |
Sources: ndax.io/fees; kraken.com/ca/features/fee-schedule; wealthsimple.com/en-ca/legal/fees/crypto (schedule dated September 24, 2026); coinsquare.com/fees (updated July 22, 2026); help.newton.co (“What are Newton’s Fees?”); shakepay.com/fees; netcoins.com/fees; help.coinbase.com (Pricing and fees disclosures). Recorded 2026-10-20, rechecked 2026-10-26.
Bitbuy? Bitbuy does not appear on the AMF crypto trading platform registry, but says it is registered in Quebec; it is operated by Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. (registered). Eligible accounts are being moved in phases to Robinhood Canada (WonderFi acquisition closed June 1, 2026, per Robinhood). Its fees (Express: spread; Pro: 0.50%) are on its profile.
Coinbase, note: its official page states that fees vary by payment method, order size and region, and that they appear on the preview screen. For simple limit orders, it mentions 1% execution fees and a possible Coinbase fee of 1.875% depending on payment method, while noting these fees do not apply in every region. Check the preview before you confirm.
The “zero commission” trap
“No commission” does not mean “free”. Shakepay states on its fees page that it earns money through a spread rather than a commission (shakepay.com/fees). Netcoins also says its spread is built into the displayed price (netcoins.com/fees).
That is neither good nor bad. But because the rate is not published, nobody can tell you in advance how much you will pay. The only way: compare the offered price with the market price at the time of purchase.
The tip: Wealthsimple states that a limit order never has a spread. On $1,000, you then pay only the 0.5% commission, or $5 (wealthsimple.com, schedule dated September 24, 2026). Trade-off: the order fills only if the price reaches your limit. Visit Wealthsimple ↗referral
Getting your money out: withdrawals
People think about buying, rarely about exiting. Here is what platforms publish for a Canadian-dollar withdrawal:
| Platform | Published CAD withdrawal |
|---|---|
| Shakepay Visit Shakepay ↗referral | Free Interac |
| Netcoins Visit Netcoins ↗referral | Free Interac · wire $50 if under $25,000 |
| Newton | Free Interac and EFT |
| Coinsquare | Interac 0% ($20 to $2,000, 1 per 24h) · EFT 1.5% · wire 1.5% |
| NDAX Visit NDAX ↗referral | Interac $1.50 · EFT $4.99 |
| Crypto.com | $1.99 per withdrawal (min. $100) |
| Kraken Visit Kraken ↗referral / Kraken Pro | Interac $10 · EFT 0.35% |
| Coinbase Visit Coinbase ↗referral | Fee shown in the preview (amount not published) |
| Wealthsimple Visit Wealthsimple ↗referral | Not published on the page consulted |
Sources: each platform’s official pages, recorded 2026-10-20, rechecked 2026-10-26.
And if you send your bitcoin to your own wallet: NDAX charges 0.00005 BTC flat; Shakepay is free at normal speed (about 12h); Newton offers a free overnight path; Kraken, Coinbase and Wealthsimple show the fee at withdrawal time.
Before you choose
- Check registration of the platform on the AMF registry. AMF reminder: crypto transactions are not covered by deposit insurance.
- The cheapest option depends on how you use it: one-off or recurring purchase, small or large amount, frequent withdrawals or not. Our calculator runs the numbers with your amount.
- Fees change. We recheck every week, but the official page is authoritative.
Frequently asked questions
Which platform has the lowest published commission in Quebec?
On a $1,000 purchase, the lowest published commission is NDAX: 0.20% flat, or $2.00 (ndax.io/fees, rechecked 2026-10-26). That does not include withdrawal fees.
Is Shakepay really free?
Shakepay charges no commission, but earns money through a spread whose rate is not published on its fees page.
Does a limit order cost less?
At Wealthsimple, yes: 0% spread on limit orders. At Coinbase, the official page instead mentions 1% execution fees on simple limit orders. Each platform has its own rules.
Educational content only, not financial advice. Crypto is volatile: you can lose your money.
Disclosure: some links on cryptoclair.ca are affiliate links (labelled “referral”). They do not change the order or the data. Any opinions expressed in this content are solely my own and not the views or opinions of Wealthsimple. If you click on referral links in this piece and sign up for a Wealthsimple account I may receive a commission. See the disclosure.