Top Stock Brokers in India: Full Comparison

If you’re thinking of investing in the stock market, the first step is picking the right stockbroker. The right broker makes your trading smooth, just like a good cricket bat helps you hit better. In this blog, we’ll do a full comparison of the top stock brokers in India based on charges, features, apps, support, and more.

Types of Stock Brokers in India

There are two main types of brokers:

• Discount brokers: They give you a platform to trade at low cost but don’t offer advice. For example, Zerodha, Upstox, Angel One (discount plan)
• Full-service brokers: They charge more but provide tips, research, and personal support. For example, ICICI Direct, HDFC Securities.

Top 10 Stock Brokers in India

Rank	Broker	Best For
1	Zerodha	Beginners and experienced traders
2	Upstox	Mobile trading fans
3	Angel One	All types of traders
4	ICICI Direct	Investors wanting advice
5	HDFC Securities	Bank-linked services
6	Kotak Securities	Full-service with good research
7	Groww	Beginners
8	5paisa	Budget traders
9	Motilal Oswal	Full-service and research
10	Sharekhan	Full-service with branch support

Brokerage Charges

Broker	Equity Delivery	Intraday
Zerodha	₹0	₹20 per trade
Upstox	₹0	₹20 per trade
Angel One	₹0	₹20 per trade
5paisa	₹20 per trade	₹20 per trade
ICICI Direct	0.55% of trade value	High charges

Zerodha, Upstox, and Angel One are the cheapest for most traders.

Account Opening & AMC Charges

Broker	Opening Fee	AMC (Annual Fee)
Zerodha	₹200	₹300
Upstox	₹249	₹300
Angel One	₹0	₹0 (1st year)
ICICI Direct	₹0 (with bank)	₹700+
5paisa	₹0	₹300

Angel One and 5paisa are easy on the pocket to start with.

Quick Look at Popular Brokers

Here are some popular brokers that you need to know about:

Zerodha

Zerodha is India’s largest broker with lakhs of active users. It charges ₹0 for equity delivery (when you buy and hold stocks) and ₹20 per trade for intraday and F&O (Futures & Options). Its app, Kite, is popular for clean design and advanced charts. Best for people who want to trade on their own without advice.

Pros

• Simple app
• Very low cost
• Great charting tools

Cons

• No advisory services

Upstox

Upstox is a low-cost broker that focuses on technology. It charges ₹20 per trade for intraday, F&O, and delivery. The app is fast and good for mobile trading. Good for tech-savvy traders who want to save on charges.

Pros

• Fast mobile app
• Quick account opening

Cons

• Sometimes the app has downtime

Groww

Groww is famous for its easy-to-use app, especially popular among beginners and mutual fund investors. It charges ₹20 per trade for intraday and delivery. Great for beginners who want a simple platform.

Pros

• Very easy interface
• Good for mutual funds + stocks

Cons

• Basic charting, fewer tools

Angel One

Angel One is a full-service broker that gives research reports, advisory tips, and real-time data. It charges ₹0 for delivery and ₹20 per intraday trade. Suitable for beginners and experienced traders who want both low cost and guidance.

Pros

• Free advisory and research
• No AMC on Demat (first year)

Cons

• The app can feel complex to some beginners

ICICI Direct

ICICI Direct is a trusted full-service broker. It offers a 3-in-1 account (bank + Demat + trading). Charges are higher unless you take a plan, but you get a reliable platform and strong research. Best for ICICI Bank customers and those wanting everything in one place.

Pros

• Trusted brand
• All-in-one account with a bank

Cons

• High brokerage if no plan

5paisa

5paisa is a budget-friendly discount broker. It charges a flat ₹20 per trade and gives basic trading plus add-ons like insurance and loans. Good for investors looking for low-cost trading with extra services.

Pros

• Robo-advisory available
• Extra products like loans and insurance

Cons

• The app can lag sometimes

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you want cheap and easy trading, go for Zerodha, Upstox, or Angel One. If you want advice and full service, ICICI Direct or Angel One are better (but costlier). Pick the broker that matches your style and budget.