Lowest brokerage in India 2026

If your goal is **the lowest brokerage for active trading in India (2026)**, these are among the most competitive options: | Broker | Equity Delivery | Intraday | F&O | |--------|----------------:|----------:|-----:| | **Wisdom Capital** | ₹0 | ₹9/order (or unlimited plans) | ₹9/order or unlimited plans | | **5paisa** | ₹20/order | ₹10–20/order (plan-dependent) | ₹10–20/order | | **Zerodha** | ₹0 | ₹20/order | ₹20/order | | **Groww** | ₹0 | ₹20/order | ₹20/order | | **Upstox** | ₹0 | ₹20/order | ₹20/order | | **Angel One** | ₹0 | Up to ₹20/order | Up to ₹20/order | ### Best choices by use case - **Lowest overall brokerage:** Wisdom Capital (₹9 per trade or unlimited brokerage plans). - **Best for most traders:** Zerodha (₹0 delivery, ₹20 for intraday/F&O, excellent platform). - **Best value with research/features:** Angel One or Upstox. - **Lowest cost for long-term investing:** Zerodha, Groww, Upstox, and several other discount brokers offer **₹0 brokerage on equity delivery**. Keep in mind that **brokerage isn't the only cost**. You'll still pay statutory charges such as exchange transaction fees, SEBI fees, GST, stamp duty, and STT, regardless of the broker. If you mainly trade **options**, I can also compare the **total cost per lot** (brokerage + exchange charges + taxes) across Zerodha, Dhan, Upstox, Groww, Angel One, and others, which is often more useful than comparing brokerage alone.

In 2026, the retail broking landscape in India is highly competitive, resulting in rock-bottom trading costs for investors and traders. Stockbrokers are primarily classified into **True Zero-Brokerage Brokers** (who charge absolutely no brokerage across all segments) and **Standard Discount Brokers** (who charge zero for long-term investments and a flat ₹20 fee for active trading). A breakdown of the lowest brokerage options in India reveals the leading platforms for 2026. --- ## 1. True "Zero Brokerage" Platforms (Cheapest Overall) These brokers have completely eliminated the standard execution fees across all trading segments, including Intraday and Futures & Options (F&O). ### Flattrade * **Equity Delivery:** ₹0 * **Intraday & F&O:** ₹0 * **Account Maintenance Charge (AMC):** ₹0 (Lifetime Free) * **Best For:** High-volume scalpers and active F&O traders looking to entirely eliminate brokerage. ### Navia * **Equity Delivery:** ₹0 * **Intraday & F&O:** ₹0 * **AMC:** ₹0 * **Best For:** Budget-conscious traders looking for zero-brokerage trading ecosystem across equities and derivatives. ### Kotak Neo (Youth / Neo Plan) * **Equity Delivery:** ₹0 * **Intraday & F&O:** ₹0 (Free for under-30 individuals under specific plans, or a flat fee for others). * **Best For:** Young traders who want the safety and backing of a major institutional bank without the steep full-service fees. --- ## 2. Industry-Leading Discount Brokers (Flat ₹20/Trade) These market leaders charge zero for holding long-term investments, but apply a highly predictable flat fee for trading. They are widely preferred due to platform stability, advanced charting tools, and strong execution speeds. | Broker | Equity Delivery | Intraday / F&O | Annual Maintenance (AMC) | Best For | |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- | | **Groww** | ₹0 | Lower of ₹20 or 0.1% | ₹0 | Beginners & Mutual Fund investors | | **Dhan** | ₹0 | ₹20 flat (50% off for women) | ₹0 | Options traders (TradingView integration) | | **Zerodha** | ₹0 | ₹20 flat | ₹300 / year | Advanced traders, stability, and tools | | **Angel One** | ₹0 | ₹20 flat | ₹240 / year (1st year free) | Investors seeking research + discount pricing | | **Upstox** | ₹0 | ₹20 flat | ₹150 / year | Active traders needing modern UI | --- ## ⚠️ Important: The "Hidden" Non-Brokerage Charges Even if a broker advertises **₹0 Brokerage**, they cannot waive statutory and government-mandated taxes. When calculating your total cost of trading, always factor in these unavoidable charges: * **Securities Transaction Tax (STT):** Charged by the government (0.1% on delivery buy/sell; 0.025% on intraday sell). * **DP (Depository Participant) Charges:** Levied every time you **sell** shares from your Demat account (usually ranges between ₹13.50 to ₹20 per company/ISIN per day, regardless of the broker). * **Exchange Transaction Charges:** Charged by NSE/BSE (approx. 0.003% to 0.004%). * **GST:** 18% applied on the total accumulated brokerage, DP charges, and transaction fees. * **Slippage Cost:** If a "free" broker has buggy software or delayed execution, a fractional price delay can cost you far more than a ₹20 brokerage fee. ### Summary Recommendation * If your primary goal is **absolute lowest cost** for active trading: Go with **Flattrade** or **Kotak Neo**. * If your primary goal is **reliability, premium UI, and charting features**: **Groww** (for ease of use), **Dhan** (for features), or **Zerodha** (for stability) remain the safest bets.

The **lowest brokerage structures in India** are offered by 100% "true zero-brokerage" platforms like **** and ****, which completely waive transaction commissions across all segments. Following closely are market leaders like **Zerodha** and **Groww**, which levy zero fees for long-term equity deliveries but implement a flat, industry-standard cap of **₹20 per trade** for intraday and derivatives. Lowest Brokerage Comparison (Top Discount Brokers) | Stock Broker | Equity Delivery Brokerage | Intraday / F&O Brokerage | Account Maintenance (AMC) | |---|---|---|---| | **m.Stock** | **₹0** | **₹0** (with ₹999 paid plan) | **₹0** (with upfront fee) | | **Flattrade** | **₹0** | **₹0** (no hidden conditions) | **₹0** (Lifetime Free) | | **Zerodha** | **₹0** | Flat ₹20 or 0.03% (lower) | ~₹300 / year | | **Groww** | ₹20 or 0.05% (lower) | Flat ₹20 or 0.05% (lower) | **₹0** (Lifetime Free) | | **** | **₹0** | Flat ₹20 | **₹0** (Lifetime Free) | | **Angel One** | **₹0** (after first 30 days) | Flat ₹20 or 0.03% (lower) | ~₹240 / year | | **Upstox** | Flat ₹20 or 2.5% | Flat ₹20 or 0.05% (lower) | Small plan-based fee | Key Categories Breakdown 1. True Absolute Zero Brokers - **Flattrade**: Charges **zero brokerage** across all segments including Options, Futures, and Intraday forever, without requiring a massive one-time activation premium. - **m.Stock by Mirae Asset**: Requires a one-time onboarding payment of ₹999 to unlock **free lifetime trading** on all intraday, delivery, and F&O positions. 2. Free Delivery Giants (Best for Long-Term Investors) - **Zerodha**: Zero brokerage on equity investments. Best for users demanding high-reliability charting architecture via their Kite application. - **Dhan**: Free equity delivery execution combined with premium access to TradingView features at zero extra charge. 3. Low-Cost Beginner Platforms - **Groww**: Though it charges a micro-percentage for deliveries (up to ₹20), it remains highly popular for its minimalist user interface and **zero annual maintenance fees**. Critical Warnings Regarding Hidden Charges Even with a "Zero Brokerage" tag, every trade is subject to mandatory **statutory government taxes** that no broker can waive: - **Securities Transaction Tax (STT)**: 0.1% on equity delivery trades (both buy and sell side). - **DP Charges**: Charged when selling shares from your Demat account (typically ranges between ₹13.5 to ₹20 + GST per company per day). - **Other Levies**: 18% GST on the accrued brokerage/exchange fees, SEBI turnover charges, and state stamp duties. To pick the exact right platform, tell me about your typical trading habits: - Are you a **long-term investor** or an **active intraday/F&O trader**? - Do you prefer a **completely free app** or are you willing to pay a **one-time subscription fee** for zero commissions?