Best cash-alternative ETFs for Canadian investors 2026 + MORE May 2nd

If the only investment account you have is a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), you probably don’t need to concern yourself with cash or cash-equivalent holdings. But let’s say you’re in the market for your first home and you’re saving up a down payment. You can’t afford to lose money and you could need to cash it in at any time, but you still want to earn enough interest to keep pace with inflation.

This and other short-term purposes are where cash alternative ETFs can come in handy. They are considered safe (though not covered by deposit insurance), yet liquid. Unlike a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC), you can sell them at any time—but they’ll still give you GIC-like returns and will hold their value if interest rates rise.

Featured accounts

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Savings account

Get up to 3.00% interest on your savings without any fees.

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1-year GIC

Lock in your deposit and earn a guaranteed interest rate of 3…

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Featured RRSP Accounts

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EQ Bank

Build your retirement savings with 1.50% interest, tax-deferred contributions and zero fees.

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Registered GIC rate

Earn a guaranteed 2.75% in your RRSP when you lock in for 1 year.

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Best RRSP rates

See our ranking of the best RRSP accounts and rates available in Canada.

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