How to buy Shopify (SHOP) stock from Canada

Nikita Sheth avatar
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Andrew Boyd avatar
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Updated 17 Oct 2023

Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) is one of the world's leading e-commerce platforms. The company offers a business-in-a-box for sellers and an exciting shopping venue for consumers. Its proprietary e-commerce platform provides a unique experience for both sellers and buyers.

If you're looking to invest in Shopify, this guide has everything you need to know about where and how you can buy Shopify stock from Canada.

Want to buy stocks in other US companies? Read our guide.

About the company

Shopify overview

Shopify is a Canadian firm with headquarters in Ontario. Founded in 2006 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake, The company netted over US$2.9 billion in revenues for 2020, up 96% compared to the year prior. Competitors include Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) — who bought Shopify competitor, Selz, in a defensive move — as well as marketplaces like eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), Poshmark (NASDAQ: POSH), Coupang (NYSE: CPNG), Mercado Libre (NASDAQ: MELI), Ozon (NASDAQ: OZON), and Jumia (NYSE: JMIA).

Unsure about what trading platform to use?

Where to buy Shopify stock

CIBC Investor's Edge

On website

CIBC Investor's Edge

Highlights

  • Trade Canadian and U.S. stocks online for a flat $6.95 per trade — with no account minimums.
  • Students benefit from a reduced $5.95 flat fee and no annual account fees.
  • Access both registered (RRSP, TFSA) and non-registered accounts in one place.
  • Research tools include analyst ratings, stock screeners, and market news powered by Thomson Reuters.

Pros

  • Backed by one of Canada’s Big Five banks, with integrated banking and investing through your CIBC account.
  • Easy-to-use platform suitable for long-term investors who want a simple, self-directed option.
  • Joint accounts, spousal RRSPs, and RESP accounts are available, giving flexibility for families.
  • Dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) are supported with no extra charge.
  • CIBC Mobile Wealth app makes it easy to monitor your portfolio on the go.
  • No inactivity fees, which is rare among bank-owned brokerages.

Cons

  • No access to commission-free ETFs, which some other platforms now offer.
  • Trading platform lacks advanced charting and technical tools for active traders.
  • U.S. dollar accounts are not available for all account types, so currency conversion fees can add up.
Qtrade Direct Investing™

On website

Apply by October 31, 2025

Qtrade Direct Investing™

Highlights

  • Low trading fees with no hidden costs and consistently competitive pricing across Canadian markets.
  • Clean and intuitive platform with robust tools for stock screening, charting, and portfolio tracking.
  • Trade on the go with the new Qtrade app, featuring options trading, portfolio insights, alerts, and a sleeker design.
  • Options Lab simplifies complex strategies into step-by-step guided selections.
  • Stay informed with a personalized AI-powered newsfeed through Qtrade’s integration with PersonaFin.
  • Known for award-winning customer service that follows through when you need help.

Pros

  • Consistently low trading commissions make it a smart choice for long-term investors and active traders alike.
  • Well-designed desktop and mobile platforms offer both simplicity for beginners and depth for experienced investors.
  • The Options Lab tool demystifies options trading with tailored strategy recommendations.
  • Access to a wide selection of ETFs, stocks, mutual funds, and fixed income products in one place.
  • Strong research tools including screeners, watchlists, and analyst ratings help users make more confident decisions.
  • Responsive and knowledgeable client service, often ranked among the best in Canada.

Cons

  • $25 quarterly fee applies if you don’t maintain a minimum balance or meet trading activity — but this can be waived easily with regular use.
  • No commission-free ETF trading unlike some competitors.
  • While robust, the mobile app may still lack some advanced features.
Questrade

On website

Highlights

  • Trade stocks, ETFs, options, and more with low commissions starting at 1¢ per share (min. $4.95, max. $9.95).
  • No annual RRSP or TFSA account fees.
  • Wide range of account types, including registered, non-registered, corporate, and margin accounts.
  • Buy ETFs commission-free, which helps reduce costs for passive investors.
  • Robust research tools, market data packages, and customizable trading platforms.
  • Fund your account easily with Interac e-Transfer, bank transfer, or pre-authorized deposit.

Pros

  • One of the most cost-effective platforms in Canada for self-directed investors.
  • Buying ETFs for free makes it highly appealing for those following long-term, passive strategies.
  • Flexible platform options. From easy-to-use Questrade Trading to the more advanced Questrade Edge.
  • Offers both USD and CAD accounts, so you can avoid currency conversion fees when trading U.S. stocks.
  • Access to IPOs and international equities gives investors more diversification opportunities.
  • Educational resources and real-time market data packages help users trade with more confidence.
  • Registered with IIROC and CIPF, ensuring regulation and investor protection.

Cons

  • Charges apply when selling ETFs.
  • Currency conversion fees can still apply if you're not using a dual-currency setup.
  • Some of the more advanced data packages cost extra, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.

Looking for a stock broker to buy Shopify stocks? Use our online broker comparison to compare brokerage fees and much more.

First time buying?

How to buy Shopify stock

Step 1: Selecting a broker

To trade Shopify stock, you need a brokerage account. The broker forms the conduit between you and the market. Here is what you need to look for when comparing brokers’ offerings.

Commission-free trading

With Wealthsimple Trade attracting millennial and Gen Z traders with zero commissions, many large brokerage firms followed suit and are now offering zero-commission trades. Since commissions are the biggest trading expense, choosing a no-commission broker helps you build a small account faster.

Fractional stock trading

Shopify stock is expensive. To access price action in the stock, you'll need to find a broker that offers fractional stock trading. Fractional stocks reduce your risk in the market by allowing you to invest in as little as a tenth of a stock so you can diversify your risk across multiple companies rather than concentrating your account in one company.

Low account fees

Compare the fee schedule between brokers and look for the difference in transaction costs, monthly account fees, and inactivity fees. Fees eat into trading profits, so save wherever you can.

Margin trading

Your broker may offer margin trading facilities. For example, with a margin of 6:1 on a $300 account, you can trade up to $1,800 worth of stock. However, be aware that margin trading can result in losses greater than your account balance if the market turns against you, requiring you to deposit more funds.

Real-time data and charts

Broker trading platforms come with charts, but the data feed can be delayed by up to 15 minutes. To get live market data, you'll have to subscribe to the service for an additional fee.

Step 2: Fund your trading account

Brokers let traders fund accounts using bank wire transfers and debit cards; many brokers will not accept credit card deposits. When funding your account, it may take the broker several working days to process your application, verify your identity, and approve your trading account.

Step 3: Decide how much you want to invest

When trading, you'll need to understand the basics of risk management. For instance, putting all your money into a single trade is a very risky move. Unless you have a crystal ball predicting market moves, this kind of risk could end up with you losing a lot of money if the price moves against you.

Traders, especially new traders, should never risk more than 5% of their total account balance on any single trade.

Step 4: Choose between shares of stock or ETFs

When you're ready to commit to trade, you'll need to decide if you want to buy Shopify stock directly or purchase an ETF.

ETFs (exchange-traded funds) are investments in a weighted basket of stocks using a sector or geographic strategy.

With an ETF, you get exposure to price action in Shopify. However, you spread your risk across several other companies, reducing the chances of taking a loss that wipes out your account balance. A great example of an ETF offering you exposure to Shopify stock is the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW). Others include Franklin Disruptive Commerce ETF (BUYZ), and Simplify Volt Fintech Disruption ETF (VFIN).

Step 5: Set up your order

After settling on your risk management strategy and funding your account, you'll use the following order types to manage your trade.

Market order

The market order lets you buy at the next available market price. However, there is no guarantee that you'll get the price you want when you click the buy button. The broker could fill you at a higher price than you had planned.

Limit order

The limit order is the preferred choice of day traders for entering any stock. With a limit order, you set the price you're willing to pay for the stock, and the broker will only fill you at this level without any slippage. However, if the price action surges, your order might not fill, or you might end up with a partial fill.

Stop limit

The stop-limit lets you sell your stock after achieving your price target. If you enter at US$1,000, and you want to sell at US$1,100, you'll set your stop limit to that price, and the broker automatically cashes you out of the stock when it reaches your price target.

Stop loss

The stop loss is a risk management tool for new traders. This order type mitigates the risk of blowing up your account on a single trade. If you enter at US$1,000, you'll set your stop loss at US$950. If the price drops below this level, the broker automatically liquidates your position, preventing catastrophic loss.

Step 6: Place the order

After reviewing the different order types and settling on your risk management strategy, it's time to place your order. Open the trading platform, enter the ticker symbol, and fill out the fields asking for your stock size, order type, and limit price. When you're ready to place a trade, click the buy button.

After you buy

What moves Shopify's stock price?

Shopify stock moves on earnings and other industry-related news involving the retail sector. The company might not have the depth of Amazon, but it offers a productive swing or long-term trade, showing steady growth since its IPO.

Keep your eye on newsletters for the e-commerce sector as well as earnings reports and press releases that offer traders exciting announcements that make the price of Shopify move.

Disclaimer: We put our customer’s needs first. The views expressed in this article are those of the writer’s alone and do not constitute financial advice. Advertisers cannot influence editorial content. However, Finty and/or the writer may have a financial interest in the companies mentioned. Finty is committed to providing factual, honest, and accurate information that is compliant with governing laws and regulations. Do your own due diligence and seek professional advice before deciding to invest in one of the products mentioned. For more information, see Finty’s editorial guidelines and terms and conditions.

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