How ActiveACB Compares
Every Canadian ACB tool has a different design philosophy. This page focuses on workflow fit and Canadian tax-calculation coverage, not an exhaustive feature audit.
| Feature | ActiveACB | AdjustedCostBase.ca | MyACB | Sharesight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broker import workflow | IBKR and Questrade files parsed directly | Manual: entry, CSV, or spreadsheet import | Partial: spreadsheet/CSV-based workflow | Yes: broad broker connectivity for portfolio tracking |
| Canadian ACB focus | Yes: built specifically for CRA capital-gains reporting | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Superficial loss handling | Yes: full CRA three-limiter formula | Manual: supported with more manual workflow | Partial: workflow varies by data source | No: not the core focus |
| FX cash pool ACB | Yes | Manual: possible with user-managed entries | Partial: depends on import quality and setup | No: no dedicated CRA cash-pool workflow |
| Options exercise and assignment | Full: all four CRA cases | Manual: can be recorded, but more manually | Partial: more limited workflow | No: not a primary tax use case |
| Corporate actions | Yes: split, spinoff, merger, ROC | Manual: often user-entered or adjusted manually | Partial: some support, depends on workflow | Partial: primarily portfolio-reporting oriented |
| Cross-account tax view | Yes: multi-account upload in one calculation | Partial: possible, but more ledger-style | Partial: possible with consolidated data prep | Partial: good account aggregation, weaker CRA-specific logic |
| Manual correction path | Raw Trades XLSX re-import | Yes: manual editing is the default workflow | Yes: spreadsheet/CSV cleanup workflow | Yes: portfolio transaction editing |
| Test transparency | 1,200+ automated cases | No: not published publicly | No: not published publicly | No: not published publicly |
| Best fit | Canadian investors who want direct-file tax calculation | Yes: investors comfortable maintaining a manual ACB ledger | Yes: users who need a spreadsheet-first ACB workflow | Yes: users who want broader portfolio tracking and reporting |
When to use a different tool
AdjustedCostBase.ca
Best choice if you want a mature manual ACB ledger with excellent educational content and you are comfortable maintaining entries yourself. It is especially strong as a learning resource. We built ActiveACB for the point where manual maintenance becomes the bottleneck.
MyACB
Best if your workflow is already spreadsheet-centric or you need to prepare and map transaction data yourself. If your broker is not yet parsed directly by ActiveACB, that style of workflow can be a better fit today.
Sharesight
Best if you want portfolio performance analytics, dividend reporting, and broad broker connectivity in one product. Sharesight is a broader investment-tracking platform. ActiveACB is narrower and more specialized around Canadian tax-calculation correctness.
Your broker’s T5008
Fine if you buy and hold with no re-trades, no options, no U.S. securities, and no superficial losses. The CRA’s own T5008 instructions say Box 20 “may or may not reflect your adjusted cost base.” For any complexity beyond simple buy-and-hold, that number is often not enough.