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CI Direct Investing review

Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

CI Direct Investing fits Canadian savers who want a managed portfolio run for them instead of picking shares themselves. The starting point is CAD 100, the mix is set for you, and the account runs on a mobile app for checking it on the move.

Key facts

Best for
Canadian savers starting a managed portfolio with free deposits and withdrawals and a CAD 100 entry point.
Management fee
0.35% to 0.6%↗
Minimum investment
CA$100↗
Portfolio types
ETF, ESG↗
Legal entity
CI Investment Services Inc.↗
Headquarters
Canada↗
Support channels
Email, Help-centre↗
Official website
cidirectinvesting.com

Brokers

Minimum deposit
CA$100↗
Markets
Stocks, ETFs↗
Deposit and withdrawal fees
free deposits and withdrawals↗
Platforms
Mobile app↗
Features
Mobile app
Pricing model
Low fees

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 7 sources

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store
Elsewhere
LinkedInX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • free deposits and withdrawals, so money can move in and out without a charge
  • Portfolios cover etf and esg while the account holds stocks and etfs, keeping the product set focused
  • The account is provided by CI Investment Services Inc. in Canada, so the provider is a named Canadian entity

Cons

  • Support runs through email and help centre, so there is no phone line or live chat
  • A management fee of 0.35% to 0.6% applies where eToro lists 0% and Empower Personal Dashboard lists 0%
  • The account buys stocks and etfs in a set mix, so there is no say in the individual holdings
CI Direct Investing

Ready to try CI Direct Investing?

Scored 8.8 / 10 by SumCue.

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Who it suits

  • Canadian savers who want their portfolio picked for them and can start at CAD 100
  • Investors who expect to move money regularly, given free deposits and withdrawals
  • People who prefer a short product list, with stocks and etfs and etf and esg to choose from

Who should look elsewhere

  • eToro, where the listed management fee is 0% and you pick the trades yourself
  • Empower Personal Dashboard, whose listed management fee of 0% leaves no ongoing charge
  • Axos Invest, with a minimum investment of $100, if you want a different currency and provider

How CI Direct Investing compares

Where CI Direct Investing is available

Available
Canada

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

How much does CI Direct Investing charge to manage my money?+

The management fee runs 0.35% to 0.6%, a charge on the portfolio rather than a per-trade fee. The provider lists low fees as the model. Compare that with eToro at 0% and Empower Personal Dashboard at 0%, where no management fee is listed.

What is the minimum I need to start investing?+

You need CAD 100 to start investing, and the account minimum deposit is CAD 100. On the site, CI Direct Investing ranks on minimum investment at position 42 of 82. For context, the upper quartile of robo-advisor minimums is €438.48.

Are deposits and withdrawals free?+

Deposits and withdrawals are free deposits and withdrawals, so moving money in or out adds no charge to the portfolio. The provider treats transfers as part of its low fees model rather than billing for each one, which matters if you expect to rebalance regularly.

What can I hold in the account?+

You can hold stocks and etfs through this account, so the range is narrow rather than global. Portfolio options cover etf and esg, and the provider sets the mix rather than you picking individual positions, which suits a hands-off approach.

Which app and platforms are available?+

The account is built around a mobile app, and a mobile app is listed among its features. The emphasis is on checking and adjusting a managed portfolio on a phone rather than on a wide set of self-directed trading tools.

How do I get help with the account?+

Help comes through email and help centre. That means written answers by email plus a help centre, which suits quick questions about fees or the portfolio. Anyone who needs to speak to someone by phone would be better served by a provider with wider support.

Who runs the platform?+

The account is provided by CI Investment Services Inc., and the business is based in Canada. Amounts are quoted in Canadian dollars, with a CAD 100 minimum deposit, so the platform is built for investors holding Canadian currency.

Do most retail investors lose money?+

Investing in the stocks and etfs on offer carries market risk whatever the provider does. Across the brands compared on the site, the median share of retail accounts that lose money is 70.15%, and the range runs 65.75% to 74.5%. A managed mix does not change that spread.

Sources

Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Regulators, Investor protection.

CI Direct Investing

CI Direct Investing

Canadian savers starting a managed portfolio with free deposits and withdrawals and a CAD 100 entry point.

8.8/10See alternatives