Answered 16 July 2026
The definition of "zero brokerage" in the Indian stock market has evolved. While several apps market themselves as zero brokerage, you need to differentiate between **true zero brokerage** (zero across all segments) and **discount brokerage** (zero on delivery, but flat fees on intraday/F&O).
The best zero brokerage apps in India for 2026 are categorized below by what they actually offer for free.
---
## 1. True "100% Zero Brokerage" Apps (No Fees on Any Segment)
These apps charge **₹0 brokerage** across Equity Delivery, Intraday, Futures & Options (F&O), Commodities, and Currency.
### Shoonya by Finvasia
* **The Deal:** Completely free. Zero brokerage across all segments, zero Account Maintenance Charges (AMC), and zero upfront subscription fees.
* **Pros:** Truly lifetime free; advanced TradingView integration and analytical tools.
* **Cons:** UI is practical but feels a bit dated compared to premium apps.
### mStock (by Mirae Asset)
* **The Deal:** Zero brokerage across all segments, but it requires a **one-time upfront fee** of ₹999 (+ GST). You can pay another ₹999 to make the AMC free for life.
* **Pros:** Highly stable platform backed by a global financial giant; great for high-volume F&O or intraday traders looking to eliminate the standard ₹20 per trade fee.
* **Cons:** Upfront cost barrier; charges standard fees if you choose their free-account-opening variant.
### Flattrade
* **The Deal:** A rapidly growing platform offering zero brokerage across all segments (Delivery, Intraday, F&O) with lifetime zero AMC.
* **Pros:** Completely free to operate; simple interface ideal for beginners.
* **Cons:** Lacks the highly advanced algorithmic tools found in larger ecosystems.
---
## 2. "Zero Delivery" Apps (Free Investing, Paid Trading)
These are the market leaders. They charge **₹0 for Equity Delivery** (holding stocks for the long term), but they charge a flat fee—usually **₹20 per executed order**—for Intraday and F&O.
### Groww
* **The Deal:** ₹0 for Equity Delivery. ₹20 or 0.05% (whichever is lower) for Intraday and F&O.
* **Pros:** The most intuitive, clean, and user-friendly UI in India. Ideal for long-term investors, mutual fund buyers, and beginners.
* **Cons:** Basic charting tools; lacks highly advanced features for hardcore intraday traders.
### Zerodha (Kite)
* **The Deal:** ₹0 for Equity Delivery. Flat ₹20 per trade for Intraday and F&O. Account opening costs ₹200.
* **Pros:** The gold standard for charting (Kite), technical analysis, data transparency, and ecosystem tools (Console, Varsity, Coin).
* **Cons:** Not *completely* zero brokerage (intraday/F&O cost money); occasional technical glitches during massive market volatility.
### Dhan
* **The Deal:** ₹0 for Equity Delivery. ₹20 for Intraday and F&O (50% discount on brokerage for women entrepreneurs/investors).
* **Pros:** Built specifically for modern traders. Offers direct trading from TradingView charts, lightning-fast execution, and zero AMC.
* **Cons:** The UI can feel overwhelming for complete beginners due to the density of features.
---
## Summary Comparison Table
| App | Brokerage Structure | Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) | Best Suited For |
|:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |
| **Shoonya** | ₹0 All Segments | **Free** | Cost-conscious F&O & Intraday traders |
| **mStock** | ₹0 All Segments (via upfront ₹999 fee) | **Free** (if you pay an extra ₹999 upfront) | High-volume traders wanting institutional backing |
| **Flattrade** | ₹0 All Segments | **Free** | Beginners looking for a 100% free app |
| **Groww** | ₹0 Delivery / ₹20 Trading | **Free** | Long-term investors & complete beginners |
| **Zerodha** | ₹0 Delivery / ₹20 Trading | **₹300/year** | Serious technical analysts & active traders |
| **Dhan** | ₹0 Delivery / ₹20 Trading | **Free** | Traders who use TradingView extensively |
> ⚠️ **A Quick Reality Check:** No app is completely "free." Even with a true zero-brokerage app, you will still have to pay Government and Regulatory charges mandated by SEBI and the exchanges (such as STT/CTT, Stamp Duty, GST, and SEBI turnover fees).
Are you looking to do long-term investing, or are you looking to do active intraday/options trading?