Financial Product Reviews
If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward bank account that happens to earn you PC Optimum points, look no further than the PC Money Account. It shares some similarities with a chequing account, but avoids all monthly fees and includes unlimited transactions.
- No fees for transactions or e-Transfers
- Unlimited transactions
- Works like a prepaid Mastercard
- Optional savings feature with interest
- No option to use cheques
- Can't deposit cash or cheques at ATMs
- Annoying $20 inactivity fee
- Resident of Canada
- At least 16 years old
- Earns at least 5 PC Optimum points per $1 spent
- Access to PC Financial ATMs
- Earn up to 5,000 monthly bonus points when you deposit your payroll
- Earn up to 5,000 bonus points for making monthly bill payments
The National Bank Direct Brokerage is one of the top-rated online brokers in Canada, thanks to its competitive fee structure, library of training sessions and tips, and the security offered by a major financial institution. This was the first online trading platform to offer commission-free for stocks and ETF trades in Canada, and its recently launched mobile app makes National Bank Direct Brokerage even more convenient for trading on the go.
- No trading fees to worry about
- Webinars, training sessions, and analysis tools
- Backed by a solid financial institution
- Surprisingly large administration fee
- Be a Canadian resident
- Market-Q, Options Play, Decisions-Plus and more tools available
- Several types of accounts and products to choose from
- Access to a range of tools, webinars, and tutorials on investing
- RRSP
- TFSA
- Cash
- Margin
- Short-selling
- RESP
- Spousal RRSP
- RRIF
- Spousal RRIF
- RESP
- FHSA
- Equities
- ETFs
- Options
- Mutual funds
- Bonds
- Exchange-traded debentures
- GICs
- Linked notes
An RBC personal loan is one offered by the Royal Bank of Canada, which is the largest bank in the country. Applying for a personal loan can be a way to achieve the funds you need for things like home renovations, buying a car, consolidating your debt, etc. And since RBC is such a Canadian powerhouse, it can be a good choice for those looking for a financial institution that'll provide peace of mind along with a personal loan.
- Flexible loan terms
- Several options for payment frequency
- Can easily make changes online
- Very little information online
- No help options via email or instant chat
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Age of majority in your province
- Valid bank account
- Meet income and credit score requirements
Ever wondered what an online will service look like if it were designed by actual estate planning lawyers? Epilogue Wills is the brainchild of Daniel Goldgut and Arin Klug, a couple of lawyers who saw a niche market opportunity and decided to go for it.
- Get a $40 GeniusCash bonus when you create your Will
- More affordable than traditional methods
- Saves time and is easy to use
- Created by experts in the industry
- Create a social media Will
- First Will platform to let you name a professional trust company as executor
- Not appropriate for those with complicated finances
- Information centre isn't all that helpful
- Unavailable in certain provinces
- Age of majority
- Canadian resident (except in Quebec or territories)
- Convenient and legally binding service
- Update for free whenever you like
- Option to create Incapacity Documents alongside your Will
- Partnership with RBC
- 2 year: 6.91%
- 3 year: 4.05%
- 4 year: 4.47%
- 5 year: 3.89%
- 7 year: 5.94%
- 10 year: 6.14%
Since we do just about everything online these days, the brains behind nesto figured we should be able to get mortgages online too, so they created a convenient platform for doing just that. Whether you're looking for a new mortgage, or even to refinance, nesto can help.
- Super quick and easy application process
- You're guaranteed to get the lowest rate available
- Get up to $13,754 cash back on your mortgage
- Limited time product – Prime Time Mortgage
- Speaking to a human, in person, isn't an option
- Doesn't yet have a well-established reputation
- Age of majority in your province
- Canadian citizen or resident
- Canada's first digital mortgage lender
- Mortgage advisors are salaried instead of commission-based
- Rates are locked for 150 days, the longest of any lender in Canada
- Earn 1% of your total mortgage value as cash back when you fund your mortgage through nesto
With Willful, you can create a legally valid will online starting at just $99. It's not only cheaper than going to see a lawyer, it's much more convenient.
- Low cost
- Two plans to choose from
- Save on wills when you get 2
- Not available in the territories
- Missing some extras provided by competitors
- Update documents for free at any time
- Offers gift cards to give to loved ones
- Create your will for as low as $99
Sportsnet+ is Rogers Media’s live sports streaming service, launched in 2016 as an extension of the Sportsnet brand that’s been a staple in Canadian sports broadcasting since 1998. Designed for fans who want to cut the cord, Sportsnet+ gives subscribers access to live NHL, MLB, NBA, and other major league games, plus an impressive lineup of women’s sports including the WNBA, FA Women’s Super League, and FIBA competitions.
- Several packages and pricing options available
- Impressive coverage of women's sports
- Wide variety of devices you can watch on
- Content that isn't just games
- Lack of NFL coverage
- There's no Sportsnet+ free trial
- Watch out for blackouts
- Available for free through some cable providers
- Replay and restart options in case you miss something
- Additional on-demand content
Apple TV+ is a top-notch streaming service. Until recently, every TV show, every movie, every documentary, and every single program was an original, made by Apple exclusively for this platform. Recent licensing deals have added new movies from Universal Studios, Sony, and others, and users can stream MLB game streams too.
- Very reasonable pricing
- Lengthy trial with new Apple device purchases
- Excellent exclusive programming
- Live MLB streaming
- Lack of subscription term options
- Comparatively small content collection
- Tricky to stream to Chromecast
- Extensive original programming
- Live MLB game coverage
- 3 months free service with purchase of a new Apple device
- Can be bundled with other Apple subscription services for a lower price
Earning gift cards and extra cash is pretty simple with Swagbucks. In fact, it's one of the most popular cash back sites out there. By completing tasks and doing everyday things – like surfing the net, playing games, shopping online, etc. – you can earn gift cards, PayPal cash, and other sweet prizes.
- A surprisingly long list of ways to earn
- Opportunities for bonuses
- Impressive list of gift card options
- Handy browser extension
- No Interac e-Transfer options for cash-out
- Harder, longer tasks sometimes have small payouts
- Age 13+
Crunchyroll is made for anime lovers. Although it is an independently run company, the organization is a partnership between Sony Pictures in the U.S. and Aniplex in Japan. This streaming platform claims to be the service with the largest collection of anime, but it also offers much more than just videos – you'll also find a blog, chat forums, digital manga, and more.
- The biggest anime library available
- New episodes available very soon
- Compatible with a wide range of devices
- Video games and digital manga
- No more free, ad-inclusive viewing
- Choose from over 1,000 anime series and movies
- Access to digital manga
- Play exclusive video games for mobile
- Blog and chat forums available for communicating with other fans
- Shop at the Crunchyroll store for anime merch










