Stock Broker Reviews

What the major brokers charge

Updated 15 Aug 2026 · Broker published tariff sheets, August 2026

Brokerage is only part of the cost. STT, exchange transaction charges, SEBI turnover fees, stamp duty, GST and DP charges apply on top and are identical across brokers, because they are statutory. For a long-term investor placing a few delivery trades a year, the AMC and the DP charge matter more than the brokerage; for an active F&O trader, the flat ₹20 is what counts.

What are the charges for stock brokers in India?

Brokerage charges change a lot between full-service and discount brokers. Discount brokers like Zerodha and Dhan offer free equity delivery trades. This is per their tariff sheets from August 2026. For intraday and Futures & Options (F&O) trades, most discount brokers charge a flat fee of ₹20 per order. Or they charge a percentage of the trade value, whichever is less. Zerodha charges ₹20 or 0.03% for intraday and F&O, as per its published rates. Groww also charges ₹20 per order for F&O. Its delivery brokerage is ₹20 or 0.1%, which is lower, as of August 2026.

Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) also differ. Groww and Dhan offer free AMC. This benefits long-term investors, as their August 2026 tariff sheets state. Zerodha charges ₹300 per year for AMC; the first year is free. Upstox also has a ₹300 per year AMC. Full-service brokers like ICICI Direct have delivery charges that start from 0.05% and depend on the plan. Their AMCs range from ₹300 to ₹700 per year. This can cost much more than discount brokers. The wider investing section sets out where those costs fit against the return you are chasing.

How do SEBI SCORES complaint data compare across brokers?

SEBI SCORES data shows investor complaints against brokers. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) keeps a public list of registered stock brokers. This list was updated on August 30, 2026. Users can check a broker’s registration and contact details there. Checking a broker’s SEBI registration is an important step for investors. It confirms the broker’s legitimacy — the same first check that separates a regulated lender from an instant personal loan app operating outside the rules. The SEBI portal lists nearly 5,000 registered entities.

Investors can use the SEBI portal to search for any registered intermediary, including stock brokers. This resource gives information like registration number, email, and phone number. It also provides the address, as of August 30, 2026. This openness helps investors make smart choices. The portal also shows which exchanges a broker is registered with. An example is the National Stock Exchange of India Limited.

What are the key features of popular brokerage platforms?

Zerodha’s Kite platform is known for its stability and advanced charting tools. Their website highlights this. It also offers learning content through ‘Varsity’. What a broker cannot help with is the part of a portfolio that sits outside equities — government securities and RBI floating rate bonds are bought differently and priced differently. Groww focuses on a simple user interface. It puts mutual funds and stocks in one app. This makes it good for beginners ‘s August 2025 analysis. Groww has India’s largest active user base, with 129.39 lakh active clients as of June 2025.

Dhan’s platform offers strong options tools and TradingView integration. This appeals to active traders, according to its tariff sheets from August 2026. Upstox is known for fast order execution and a wide range of products. Angel One gives research and advisory services. It also has a large network of branches. This can help investors who want guidance. Zerodha’s system also includes ‘Nudge’ and ‘Kill Switch’ features. These help users manage their money better.