45 Best ETFs in Canada – April 2023

I remember nearly two decades ago when I started writing about the best ETFs in Canada, and the list was pretty darn short! There was no such thing as a Canadian Dividend ETF or a Canadian all-in-one ETF.  

Today, I recommend the vast majority of Canadians use ETFs because of how low their annual fees have gotten, that they can be traded for free with my favourite brokerage, and just how easy they have made investing.

The only issue is that investment companies have realized just how popular the term ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) has gotten – and so they have done what they always do and tried to muddy the waters in the hopes that they can call any expensive new product “an ETF” and get you to buy it. 

The truth is that the best Canadian ETFs are all very simple, very cheap, and very passively managed. Take a look at our extensive ETF list below for a look at the best options in each category.

How I Choose Which ETFs to Include in My Portfolio

Due to the different goals and risk tolerances of various types of investors, what we decided to do was “compare apples to apples” and choose the top Canadian ETFs across multiple categories, focusing on three measurable areas.

1) MER fees

2) Breadth of diversification (how many stocks and bonds are included)

3) Tax efficiency (much more important to Canadians investing outside of their RRSP and TFSA)

My Top 9 Favourite BEST ETFs in Canada for 2023

• iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio (XEQT) – The easiest possible ETF solution. Full XEQT review.
• Horizons S&P/TSX 60 ETF (HXT) – Best TSX ETF
• BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG)- Best Canada bond ETF
• Horizons S&P 500 Index ETF (HXS)- Best U.S stocks ETF for Canadians
• Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap ex Canada Index ETF (VXC) – Best international ETF for Canadians
• Vanguard All-Equity ETF Portfolio (VEQT) – Best all-in-one ETF. Full VEQT review.
• FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY) – Best dividend ETF
• Vanguard FTSE Canada Capped REIT Index ETF (VRE) – Best Canadian REIT ETF
• iShares Canadian Growth ETF (XCG) – Best Canada growth ETF

We have dozens more choices for ETFs to invest in for Canadians, in Canada and internationally. Just keep on scrolling and reading our what are our authors and editors think of the best investing opportunities and specifically ETFs. You can hop over to the list of Canada’s best ETFs [45 options to choose from].

How To Buy ETFs in Canada for Cheap

The basic idea is that if stocks or bonds are individual bananas, then you first need to pick a store that you like to go to, and then decide which bunch of bananas you want.

1. Pick a Canadian online broker and sign up. Read our Qtrade review to see why we think it’s the best, view our Canadian broker comparison here.

2. While you’re in the sign up stage, do yourself a favour and sign up for a TFSA, and RRSP, and a non-registered account.  You might never use one or two of them, but it’s easier to just do it all at once while you’re doing the initial setup.

3. Dedicate 30 minutes to understanding how “shopping at this store” works. Each broker will have a little tutorial that shows you how to type in your ETF ticker symbol, and then how many units of the ETF you want to buy. Our how to buy stocks guide also illustrates this.

4. Decide which “bunch of bananas” looks best, by reading our best ETFs in Canada guide above.

5. Once you have chosen your bunch of bananas, you pay for them by deciding how much money you want to invest at that time, and then dividing that number by the cost of the ETF.

For example, let’s say I have $1,000 to invest this month, and I want to use VEQT.  I would enter the initials VEQT into my stock purchase screen, and see that one unit of VEQT costs $37.07.  So I would divide $1,000 by $37.07 to get 26.97.

While I have close to enough money to purchase 27 units of VEQT, I can’t quite make it, so instead I enter “26” into my purchase screen, then click “market order” (you can also use limit order, it just adds a little complexity), and you will see a confirmation message pop up that says something like:

“Would you like to purchase 26 units of VEQT for $963.82?” .

 Then you hit “Buy” – and boom – you just bought a batch of 10,000+ stock bananas from all over the world!

Our Exclusive Best ETFs in Canada List (45 Options)

Scroll down below the the comparison chart for full descriptions for each ETF, but without further ado, here’s the MDJ editorial team’s Best in Canada ETF List.

This is the short list of best Canadian ETFs taken from the 37 ETF providers in Canada, including BMO Asset Management, Vanguard Investments Canada Inc., BlackRock Canada, and Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc.

If you want the easiest possible way to diversify your money, then buying an all-in-one ETF is your best bet. If you open a Qtrade discount brokerage account, you can buy and sell the VEQT ETF for free. It’s the best deal going in Canada. Robb Engen over at Boomer and Echo has written extensively about how he uses VEQT for the entirety of his investment portfolio.

If you want the lowest cost indexed portfolio – along with the ability to do your own portfolio math and overweight Canadian stocks – go with the combination of HXT, VXC, and ZAG.

If the goal for your portfolio is to generate income (as opposed to maximizing growth opportunities while cutting costs) then looking at VRIF, VRE, and VDY are great places to start.

See below for a more detailed explanation on our best in class.

Check out our article on how to buy stocks in Canada and our Canadian online brokers comparison for a detailed look on how to buy ETFs in Canada.  

Best Canadian Stock Market ETF

It is amazing how much easier and cheaper it is to invest in a Canadian stock market ETF today than it was when I started investing roughly 15 years ago.

Competition has worked its magic and fees have come down substantially across the asset class. You can’t go wrong with any of our top 4 options: HXT, VCN, XIC, or ZCN.

Best In Class: Horizons Horizons S&P/TSX 60 ETF (HXT)

• Lowest Fee (after rebate) of 0.04%
• Top 60 Stocks in Canada
• Swap-based ETF means low tracking error
• Perfect for tax-efficient investing

I personally love HXT not only for its slight cost advantage, but also for its tax advantages in non-registered accounts.  If you’re investing in a non-registered account or a corporate account, turning those Canadian dividends into tax-deferred capital gains can make a big difference.

Honourable Mentions:

1. Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF (VCN)
2. iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (XIC)
3. BMO S&P TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (ZCN)

• All have identical low MERs of 0.06%
• All give access to some smaller-cap Canadian stocks
• Excellent value – especially in an RRSP or TFSA

Best Canada Bond ETFs

Sure, there isn’t a lot of love out there for bonds these days. That said, they can still perform a valuable stabilizing function for your portfolio. When it comes to Bond ETFs, we’re all about getting low fee access to super-stable government and blue-chip corporate bonds.

Best In Class: BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG)

• Ultra Low MER 0.08%
• Access to broadest diversification of bonds
• Safe and stable – perfect for rebalancing

Honourable Mentions:

1. Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB)
2. BMO Discount Bond Index ETF (ZDB)
3. Vanguard Canadian Short-term Bond Index ETF (VSB)

• VAB almost identical to ZAG
• ZDB has some interesting tax efficiency features for non-registered accounts
• VSB uses only short-term bonds to protect against rising inflation rates

Best USA Stocks ETF for Canadians

If this is the type of ETF you are most interested in, i suggest you also read our more detailed breakdown and comparison in this best Canadian dollar ETFs for U.S equity article.

Best in Class: Horizons S&P 500 Index ETF (HXS)

• Slightly higher MER than competitors
• Valuable tax-efficient structure can save investors $$$ on dividend taxation
• Almost zero tracking error due to swap-based structure

Honourable Mentions:

1. iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF (XUU)
2. Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV)
3. BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (ZSP)

• XUU has the lowest MER fee at 0.07% 
• XUU has the broadest exposure to smaller American stocks
• VFV and ZSP are nearly identical in terms of holdings and fees

Best International ETFs for Canadians

Best In Class: Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap ex Canada Index ETF (VXC)

• Super easy access to the entire world of stocks outside of Canada
• Widest possible exposure (wider than XAW)
• Perfect for the “Two ETF Portfolio”

Honourable Mentions:

1. iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF (XAW)
2. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF (VEE)
3. Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index ETF (VIU)

• XAW is a close second to VXC offering a slightly lower MER for less overall diversification
• VEE is perfect for targeted investors who want instant access to emerging markets
• VIU is perfect for targeted investors who want instant access to developed markets outside of the USA and Canada

Best Canadian All-in-One Portfolio ETFs

We’ve got a detailed breakdown on Canadian all-in-one ETFs that we have updated every couple of years since the very first portfolio ETF by Vanguard came out a few years ago.

Long story short, these instant diversifiers have been a game changer for the entire industry.  With shrinking fees and the value of simplicity on their side, it is an excellent solution for the “set it and forget it” investor.

Best Canadian Dividend ETFs

Choosing the Best Dividend ETF in Canada has been our jam at MDJ since they first came to Canada.  While many readers now prefer to pick their own specific Canadian Dividend Stocks, there is no denying the straightforward, simple value of instantly diversifying your Canadian dividend income with one ETF purchase.

As more of the original readers who have stuck with MDJ for over a decade entered into retirement (at a wide variety of ages) the focus on generating income as opposed to risk-embracing growth, has pulled to the forefront.  Fortunately, the Canadian market offers some of the most consistent dividend payers around!

Best Canadian REIT ETFs

Similar to Canadian Dividend ETFs, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) hold a special place in the income-investors heart. While the asset class has had a bit of a rough go of it lately, in an income-starved world they offer a simple way to invest in real estate.  (Something many Canadians are after in their portfolios.)

You can also read my guide to investing in Canadian REITs and our comparison between holding a Canadian REIT ETFs and an individual REIT.

Best In Class: Vanguard FTSE Canada Capped REIT Index ETF (VRE)

• By far the lowest MER 0.38%
• Solid exposure to a wide variety of real estate sectors
• Similarly, excellent geographical diversity

Honourable Mentions:

1. BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF (ZRE)
2. IShares S&P TSX Capped REIT INDEX ETF (XRE)

• Slightly more holdings than VRE
• Significantly higher cost – important for an income-specific product

Best Canada Growth ETF: iShares Canadian Growth ETF (XCG)

While many MDJ investors gravitate toward mature companies with a steady record of dividend increases, there are always investors out there with an appetite for risk, and who want growth at all potential costs.  For them. XCG rules the roost.

• Relatively high MER at 0.55% that I hope to see decrease with more competition
• Quick access to Canada’s fastest growing tech companies
• Has performed quite well over the last couple of years

Best Specialty Canadian ETFs

This was our catch-all category for the best Canadian ETFs that didn’t really fit neatly into any category.  Each of these does something completely different:

Best Retirement Income ETF: Vanguard Retirement Income Fund (VRIF)

• Invested in a wide variety of investment grade bonds from around the world, as well as a sprinkling of stock indexes
• Great option for a retiree who doesn’t want the risk of a pure-stock portfolio
• Stated goal is a consistent 4% return each year (after fees)
• MER of 0.32%

Best Bitcoin ETF: Purpose Bitcoin ETF (BTCC.B) 

• Canada’s most popular and liquid Bitcoin ETF
• Easy exposure
• Bitcoin isn’t really my thing personally… but if you want an easy way to get in on it…
• MER of 1.00% is indicative of the fees in this space

Best Technology ETF: Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQC-F)

• If you think the tech sector is going to experience explosive growth going forward, the easiest way to invest using Canadian Dollars is QQQ
• Tracks the Nasdaq-100 index (100 biggest tech companies in the USA)
• A very reasonable MER of 0.25%

Best Value ETF: Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV)

• Full credit to Ben Felix for this recommendation and for his push to explain factor investing to Canadians
• Main idea here is that over the long-term small-cap value stocks tend to outperform the larger market-cap indexes (such as the S&P 500 or the TSX 60) 
• 0.36% MER

Best ESG ETF: BMO Balanced ESG ETF (ZESG)

• Created for investors looking to invest alongside their socially responsible values
• 60% Equity, 40% Fixed Income
• 50% Canada, 35% USA, 15% Other
• A  competitive 0.20% MER

Best Canadian ETFs for RRSP and TFSA

For the vast majority of Canadians with investments in the stock market, their entire portfolio consists of their RRSP and TFSA.

Hey, if you can consistently max out those registered accounts each year, you’re doing pretty darn well!

When it comes to choosing the exact best ETFs for your RRSP and TFSA it boils down to the following questions:

1) How much do you value simplicity?

2) Are you comfortable doing a little math a few times a year in order to rebalance your portfolio and cut MER fees to the absolute bone?

3) Do you want a specific tilt toward Canadian stocks, income-producing investments, or another niche?

Depending on your answers to these questions, the best ETF in Canada will vary from person to person.

When making a recommendation to a broad audience I absolutely love VEQT for young investors, and then the rest of the all-in-one ETF family.  There is just too much value to keeping it simple, and getting people to take action by logging into their online broker account one a month and buying the same ETF over and over again.

If we want to re-balance our portfolios in the old-school way, we can shave a few MER points off by using HXT, ZAG, and XUU for our Canadian equity, Canadian bond, and American equity portions respectively.

Finally, if you’re just looking for a very safe and stable pure income play, I really think that VRIF is worth a close look.

Which Canadian ETF has had the best returns in 2022?

One of the most popular questions that we get about ETFs is asking which Canadian ETF has had the best returns recently.  To be honest, it’s a question that deserves a more nuanced answer than the person asking it is likely to want to read. 

Here’s the short version for best ETF returns in 2022:

• Ninepoint Energy Fund (NNRG) 
• Ishares S&P 500 TSX Capped Energy Index ETF (XEG)
• BMO S&P TSX Eql Weight Oil Gas Index ETF (ZEO)
• Ishares Global Agri Index ETF (COW)
• Horizons US Dollar Currency ETF (DLR)

These top 5 Canadian total return ETFs for 2022 are a perfect illustration of why the ETF that has gained the most in a given year is not a great way to identify the overall best ETF. It should come as no surprise that Canadian energy stocks and ETFs were outperformers this year – but that actually isn’t a good way to predict what the future holds. 

If you put a large part of your portfolio into these companies right now at all-time highs, the chances that they will continue to outperform going forward aren’t great. Instead, stick to diversifying your portfolio as we detailed above.

As an aside, the next few best performers were more energy ETFs and then a whole bunch of high interest savings account ETFs.  You know when you have basic high interest account ETFs leading the pack, it has been a pretty rough year for almost every sector of the stock market!

Top Canadian ETFs: FAQ

ETFs vs Mutual Funds – Why MER Can Make a Huge Difference

When looking at ETFs vs mutual funds in Canada the real key to understand is the amount of money that you will be paying each year in fees. 

There are some other benefits, but by far the most important factor when comparing ETFs and mutual funds in Canada is the Management Expense Ratio – or MER fee. This fee is expressed as a percentage of your total assets, and it gets charged to you each year whether your investments make money or lose money!

Over time, even a very small difference in MER can make a massive difference in just how quickly your investments compound.  We’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars for the average Canadian!

The average equity mutual fund in Canada has somewhere around 10x-40x the annual fees that Canadian ETFs have.  Once you understand that key fact, it’s easy to see why new investors now vastly prefer ETFs to the traditional mutual funds that our parents and grandparents invested in years ago!

Those fees can add up in a hurry!  If we ignore the fact that most actively managed mutual funds do not reward their investors with returns that are as good as a passively managed ETF – and we just focus on fees – mutual fund costs can make a huge difference.

For example, if we look at two portfolios that are investing in Canadian and world stocks for the multiple decades leading up to retirement, we see the difference in MER would lead to a 6-figure difference in final nest egg size.

Here’s a few other minor considerations when it comes to deciding between Canadian ETFs and mutual funds:

• Buying and selling an ETF is pretty simple – just open an online broker account and follow our how to buy ETFs steps above.  Mutual funds usually involve calling customer services, filling out paperwork with an advisor, etc.

• In general, most ETFs are substantially more tax efficient than their closest comparable mutual funds.

• ETFs allow you a greater degree of control in your overall investment portfolio, as you are free to buy and sell, or rebalance in whatever fashion you wish.

Which Canadian ETF Should You Buy?

Our investment portfolios should be as unique as our investment wants and needs.

Given that each of us will prize stability and risk vs reward a little bit differently, it’s impossible to say which Canadian ETF is best for your particular situation without knowing you and your full financial plan.

It’s also important to always keep in mind that no matter what anyone tells you, it’s impossible to know ahead of time which ETF will produce the best returns over a given short period such as a month – or even a year.

Instead, what you need to focus on is defining your investment goals, determining your risk tolerance, and then selecting the right ETFs for that personal investing profile. 

The Best Canadian ETFs balance out the need for easy diversification, alongside rock-bottom costs, to offer value to Canadians that is unparalleled compared to a decade ago.

The key takeaway from our Ultimate Guide to the Best ETFs in Canada for 2023 is that there are now so many great options out there in the main categories, that it’s important not to get overwhelmed.  Competition has ensured that any of the ETFs that appear on this list offer fantastic value at a great price.