Lowest brokerage in India 2026

If your goal is **the lowest brokerage cost** in India in 2026, these are among the most competitive brokers: | Broker | Equity Delivery | Intraday | F&O | |--------|----------------:|----------:|-----:| | Zerodha | ₹0 | ₹20/order or 0.03% (lower of the two) | ₹20/order | | Groww | ₹0 | ₹20/order or 0.1% (whichever is lower) | ₹20/order | | Upstox | ₹0 | ₹20/order | ₹20/order | | Angel One | ₹0 | ₹20/order | ₹20/order | | Dhan | ₹0 | ₹20/order | ₹20/order | | m.Stock | Offers zero/very low brokerage plans depending on the plan chosen | Plan-dependent | Plan-dependent | ### If you want the absolute lowest Some brokers, such as Wisdom Capital, advertise plans with **₹9 per order** or even subscription-based zero-brokerage plans for certain segments. However, these plans often involve one-time or subscription fees, so they are best suited for very active traders. ### Best choice by investor type - **Long-term investors:** Zerodha, Groww, Upstox (₹0 equity delivery). - **Active intraday/F&O traders:** Dhan or Zerodha are popular for their platforms; Wisdom Capital may reduce brokerage further if you trade heavily. Keep in mind that **brokerage isn't the only cost**. You'll also pay statutory charges such as STT, exchange transaction fees, GST, SEBI charges, and stamp duty regardless of the broker. If your priority is **lowest total trading cost for F&O**, I can also compare the top 5 brokers based on brokerage **plus** all other charges.

When looking for the lowest brokerage in India, the right choice depends heavily on your trading frequency and style. The stockbroking landscape is broadly divided into **Absolutely Zero-Brokerage Platforms** (best for ultra-active traders) and **Standard Discount Brokers** (industry leaders charging flat fees). --- ## 1. 100% Zero-Brokerage Brokers (True Free Trading) These platforms have disrupted the market by charging **₹0 brokerage** across all segments, including Intraday and F&O. They are highly popular among high-frequency scalpers and intraday traders looking to maximize margins. | Broker | Equity Delivery | Equity Intraday | Futures & Options (F&O) | Demat AMC | |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- | | **Flattrade** | Free (₹0) | Free (₹0) | Free (₹0) | Lifetime Free (₹0) | | **Navia** | Free (₹0) | Free (₹0) | Free (₹0) | Free (₹0) | | **Kotak Neo** | Free (₹0) | Free (₹0) | ₹20 / order *(Free intraday on Neo Plan)* | Depends on chosen plan | --- ## 2. Standard Discount Brokers (Flat ₹20 / Trade) These are the industry leaders. While they charge a flat fee for Intraday and Derivatives, they are highly favored for their premium user interfaces, robust servers, advanced charting tools, and zero-slippage execution. | Broker | Equity Delivery | Equity Intraday | Futures & Options (F&O) | Highlights | |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- | | **Groww** | Lower of 0.1% or ₹20 | Lower of 0.1% or ₹20 | Flat ₹20 per order | India's largest broker by active users; incredibly simple UI. | | **Zerodha** | Free (₹0) | Lower of 0.03% or ₹20 | Flat ₹20 per order | Pioneer of discount broking; highly stable platform (Kite). | | **Angel One** | Free (₹0)* | Lower of 0.1% or ₹20 | Flat ₹20 per order | Offers automated advisory and advanced API integration for algo trading. | | **Dhan** | Free (₹0) | Flat ₹20 (₹10 for women) | Flat ₹20 (₹10 for women) | Highly rated interface for dedicated option traders. | > ***Note:** Some brokers like Angel One may waive delivery charges only for an introductory period (e.g., first 30 days) or charge minor platform fees. Check their latest account terms. --- ## ⚠️ Important: The "Hidden" Costs Even if a broker advertises "₹0 Brokerage," **trading is never entirely free.** No broker can waive government and exchange-mandated statutory levies. Always calculate your final costs keeping these in mind: * **STT (Securities Transaction Tax):** The largest component of your tax bill, charged by the government on equity and F&O trades. * **DP (Depository Participant) Charges:** Charged by CDSL/NSDL (usually ₹13.5 to ₹20 + GST) **only when you sell** shares from your Demat account. * **Exchange Transaction Charges & SEBI Turnover Fees:** Nominal fees charged on trade value by NSE/BSE. * **GST:** 18% applied on the total brokerage + transaction charges + DP charges. ### Which one should you choose? * **Go for Zerodha, Groww, or Dhan** if you value top-tier app stability, zero technical glitches during peak market hours, and advanced charting tools. * **Go for Flattrade or Kotak Neo** if you are a heavy F&O or intraday volume trader where a flat ₹20 fee would otherwise bleed thousands from your monthly profits. Are you primarily looking to invest for the long term (delivery), or are you looking to do active daily trading (intraday/F&O)?

In **2026**, the stockbroking landscape in India is divided between **True Zero-Brokerage Brokers** (who charge absolute zero across all or most segments) and **Flat-Fee Discount Brokers** (who charge a maximum of ₹20 per trade). If your goal is to find the absolute lowest cost, apps like ****, **Shoonya**, and **m.Stock** lead the market with zero-brokerage models, while mainstream platforms like **Groww** and **Zerodha** offer standard flat discount structures. 1. Absolute Zero Brokerage Platforms These stockbrokers do not charge commissions on trades. However, some may require a one-time onboarding fee to unlock lifetime free trading. - **Flattrade**: Offers absolute **₹0 brokerage** across all major segments including Equity Delivery, Intraday, Futures, and Options without any recurring monthly charges. - **Shoonya (by Finvasia)**: A long-standing **100% zero-brokerage platform** with no clearing fees, no brokerage, and no account maintenance fees (AMC) across all segments. - **m.Stock (by Mirae Asset)**: Provides a **Lifetime Zero Brokerage plan** for a one-time onboarding fee of ₹999. If you do not opt for this upfront plan, it charges a low flat fee of ₹20 per trade. 2. Standard Flat-Fee Discount Brokers (Market Leaders) These platforms dominate the industry by active user base. They charge a maximum of ₹20 per executed order, and most offer completely free Equity Delivery. | Stock Broker | Equity Delivery | Equity Intraday | Futures & Options (F&O) | |---|---|---|---| | **** | **₹0 (Free)** | Lower of ₹20 or 0.03% | Flat ₹20 per order | | **** | Lower of ₹20 or 0.05% | Lower of ₹20 or 0.05% | Flat ₹20 per order | | **** | Flat ₹20 or 0.1% | Lower of ₹20 or 0.03% | Flat ₹20 per order | | **** | **₹0 (Free)** | Lower of ₹20 or 0.05% | Flat ₹20 per order | | **** | **₹0 (Free)** | Lower of ₹20 or 0.03% | Flat ₹20 per order | Important Cost Considerations Beyond Brokerage When looking for the cheapest option, remember that "zero brokerage" does not mean entirely free trading. You are still legally required to pay government and regulatory statutory taxes across all brokers: - **Securities Transaction Tax (STT):** Charged on both buy and sell sides for delivery, and only on the sell side for intraday. - **DP (Depository Participant) Charges:** Levied per debit transaction from your Demat account on Equity Delivery days (usually around ₹13.5 to ₹20 + GST). - **Other Regulatory Fees:** Standard charges include SEBI turnover fees, exchange transaction charges, Stamp Duty, and 18% GST on the cumulative total of your transaction fees. If you would like to narrow this down, please let me know: - Your primary trading style (**long-term investing** or **frequent intraday/F&O trading**)? - Your preference between a **completely free interface** or paying a **one-time fee** for advanced platform tools?