Lowest brokerage in India 2026

If your priority is the **absolute lowest brokerage** in India in 2026, these are the main brokers people are comparing right now: | Broker | Equity Delivery | Intraday / F&O | AMC | Best For | |---|---|---|---|---| | Shoonya | ₹0 | ₹0–₹5 | ₹0 | Lowest overall charges | | m.Stock | ₹0 | ₹5/order | One-time plan available | Heavy F&O traders | | Zerodha | ₹0 | ₹20/order | ~₹300/year | Reliability + ecosystem | | Dhan | ₹0 | ₹20/order | ₹0 | Active traders + charting | | Groww | ₹0–₹20 | ₹20/order | Often ₹0 | Beginners | | Upstox | ₹0 | ₹20/order | Low/offer-based | Fast app + traders | Sources consistently show that most major discount brokers charge ₹20/order for intraday & F&O, while Shoonya and m.Stock are the cheapest for high-frequency traders. ### Best picks by use case - **Cheapest overall:** Shoonya — near-zero brokerage across segments, zero AMC in many plans. - **Best for serious F&O traders:** m.Stock — ₹5/order is among the lowest in India. - **Best balance of low cost + stability:** Zerodha — not the cheapest, but strongest platform reputation and largest active client base. - **Best UI for beginners:** Groww — simple app, though not always the cheapest after DP charges. ### Important hidden charges most people miss Even “zero brokerage” brokers still charge: - STT - Exchange transaction charges - GST - Stamp duty - DP charges when selling delivery shares These government/exchange charges apply almost everywhere. Reddit users repeatedly point out that DP charges matter more than headline brokerage for long-term investors. ### Simple recommendation - **Investor only (long term):** Zerodha or Dhan - **Daily options trader:** m.Stock or Shoonya - **Absolute lowest cost:** Shoonya - **Best beginner experience:** Groww - **Best all-rounder:** Zerodha Official websites: - - - - - -

When evaluating the lowest brokerage in India, the market is divided between **traditional flat-fee discount brokers** and **true zero-brokerage/subscription-based platforms**. While many popular platforms claim "zero brokerage," it's crucial to look closely at the fine print—specifically for intraday, futures and options (F&O), and Demat account maintenance charges (AMC). The breakdown below highlights the lowest brokerage options in India, categorized by what they do best. --- ## 1. Absolute Zero-Brokerage & Flat-Fee Disrupters These platforms target high-frequency traders by completely removing or significantly cutting down the standard flat fee. ### m.Stock (by Mirae Asset) * **Delivery & Intraday:** **₹0** (Zero) for life if you opt for a one-time onboarding fee of ₹999. Alternatively, they offer a basic plan charging a flat **₹10 per order** across all segments. * **F&O:** ₹0 (with the ₹999 plan) or ₹10 per order. * **Account Maintenance (AMC):** Free for life if you pay an additional one-time fee of ₹999, or ₹120 per quarter. * **Best For:** High-volume traders who want to completely eliminate brokerage fees via a one-time payment. ### Sahi / Dhan * **Delivery:** **₹0** * **Intraday & F&O:** Flat **₹20** per executed order (Dhan offers a **50% discount for women investors**, bringing it down to ₹10 per order for intraday and F&O). Special boutique platforms or niche API brokers like *Sahi* also offer aggressive options pricing (down to flat **₹10 per order** for options). * **Best For:** Options traders and algorithmic/API traders looking for discount pricing. --- ## 2. Mainstream Market Leaders (Flat ₹20 Model) These are the industry heavyweights. While they aren't the absolute cheapest for intraday/F&O, they dominate the market due to platform stability, advanced tooling, and zero-brokerage on long-term equity deliveries. | Broker | Equity Delivery | Intraday | F&O (Futures & Options) | Direct Mutual Funds | |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- | | **Groww** | ₹0 | Lower of 0.1% or ₹20 | Flat ₹20 per order | ₹0 Commission | | **Zerodha** | ₹0 | Lower of 0.03% or ₹20 | Flat ₹20 per order | ₹0 Commission | | **Angel One** | ₹0 | Lower of 0.1% or ₹20 | Flat ₹20 per order | ₹0 Commission | | **Upstox** | ₹0 | Lower of 0.05% or ₹20 | Flat ₹20 per order | ₹0 Commission | *Note: Angel One frequently runs promotions offering ₹0 brokerage across all segments for the first 30 days for new users.* --- ## 3. The Traditional Transition: Kotak Securities (Trade FREE Plan) * **Delivery:** 0.25% of transaction value. * **Intraday:** **₹0** (Completely free under their Trade FREE plan). * **F&O:** Flat ₹20 per order. * **Special Youth Plan:** For investors under 30, they offer a "Youth Plan" where **everything** (Delivery, Intraday, and F&O) is ₹0 for the first year against a nominal annual subscription fee. * **Best For:** Intraday traders and investors under 30 who want the backing of a large institutional banking broker. --- ### ⚠️ A Quick Heads-Up on "Hidden" Non-Brokerage Charges Even if a broker charges ₹0 in brokerage, you cannot trade entirely for free in India. Every single transaction attracts mandatory government and exchange taxes. When calculating your net profits, keep these in mind: * **Securities Transaction Tax (STT):** Charged primarily on the sell side for intraday/F&O and both sides for delivery. This is usually the largest chunk of your trading fees. * **DP (Depository Participant) Charges:** Charged by CDSL/NSDL and your broker whenever you **sell** shares from your Demat account (usually ranges between ₹13.50 to ₹20 + GST per stock per day, regardless of quantity). * **Exchange Turnover Charges & GST (18%):** Applied to the brokerage and transaction fees. > **Recommendation:** If you are a long-term investor who buys and holds, **Groww** or **Zerodha** offer the cleanest, lowest-cost experience. If you are an aggressive day trader or F&O player looking to shave every rupee off your expenses, look into **m.Stock's** lifetime free plan or **Dhan**. Are you looking to trade primarily in equity delivery for the long term, or are you looking for a platform geared toward active intraday/F&O trading?

In India's 2026 stock broking landscape, **Shoonya by Finvasia and offer the absolute lowest brokerage** by charging **₹0 across all segments**, including Equity Delivery, Intraday, and Futures & Options (F&O). Other discount platforms like **** offer complete lifetime zero brokerage after a one-time onboarding fee. Market leaders like ** and Groww** continue to offer ₹0 equity delivery, capping intraday and F&O trades at a low, flat fee of ₹20 per order. Compare Lowest Brokerage Plans The table below breaks down the pricing models of India's leading low-cost stockbrokers for 2026: | Broker | Equity Delivery | Intraday Trading | F&O Trading | Key Dynamic | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Shoonya by Finvasia** | ₹0 | ₹0 | ₹0 | Completely free across segments. | | **Flattrade** | ₹0 | ₹0 | ₹0 | Lifetime zero brokerage and zero AMC. | | **m.Stock by Mirae Asset** | ₹0 | ₹0 | ₹0 | Free for life after a one-time setup fee. | | **** | ₹0 | ₹9 / order | ₹9 / order | Competitive per-order option for active traders. | | **Zerodha** | ₹0 | Flat ₹20 or 0.03% | Flat ₹20 per order | Best overall platform for stability & active tools. | | **Groww** | ₹0 | Flat ₹20 or 0.05% | Flat ₹20 per order | Highly beginner-friendly with ₹0 AMC. | | **Upstox** | ₹0 | Flat ₹20 or 0.05% | Flat ₹20 per order | Fast execution suitable for high-volume traders. | Avoid Hidden Charges While brokerage can be ₹0, you must account for government-mandated taxes and operational fees: - **Mandatory Statutory Charges**: All brokers levy Securities Transaction Tax (STT), SEBI turnover fees, Stamp Duty, and Goods and Services Tax (GST). These are uniform across the industry and cannot be waived. - **Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC)**: Platforms like Flattrade and Groww feature ₹0 lifetime AMC. However, Zerodha charges around ₹300 per year, and others may bill quarterly. - **Call and Trade Fees**: Placing an order via phone instead of the app typically incurs an extra charge of ₹20 to ₹50 per order. - **Auto-Square Off Charges**: If you do not close your intraday positions before the market cuts off, the broker's system closes them automatically and charges a penalty fee. Implement Strategies to Reduce Costs 1. **Match Your Broker to Your Style**: Choose a flat-fee or 100% free broker if you trade frequently. Choose an established ecosystem if you only buy delivery stocks. 2. **Utilize Free APIs**: If you use automated or algorithmic systems, utilize platforms like Flattrade that offer zero-cost API integrations. 3. **Monitor Demat DP Charges**: Every time you sell a stock from your delivery holdings, a depository participant (DP) fee is charged. Avoid selling small fractions of shares frequently to limit this recurring fee. To help select the ideal platform, please share your primary **trading style** (long-term investing or intraday trading) and if you intend to trade **Futures & Options**.