Upstox Demat & Trading Account vs Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account— Detailed Comparison 2026
Choosing between Upstox Demat & Trading Account and Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account? Both are popular options in the demat account space in India, but they differ in pricing, features, and target audience. In this 2026 comparison, we break down every detail side by side — from fees and benefits to user ratings — so you can make an informed decision.
Upstox Demat & Trading Account
Upstox
Budget traders who want advanced charts without extra cost
Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account
Kotak Securities
Kotak Bank customers who want both bank integration and competitive brokerage
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Upstox Demat & Trading Account | Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account Opening Charge | Free | Free | Tie |
| Annual Maintenance (AMC) | Free | ₹600 | Upstox |
| Equity Delivery Brokerage | Zero (free) | Zero (Trade Free Plan, Rs 999/year) or 0.49% (Regular) | Tie |
| Equity Intraday Brokerage | Rs 20 per order or 0.05%, whichever is lower | Rs 20/order (Trade Free) or 0.05% (Regular) | Tie |
| Futures Brokerage | Rs 20 per order or 0.05%, whichever is lower | Rs 20/order (Trade Free) or 0.05% (Regular) | Tie |
| Options Brokerage | Rs 20 per order (flat) | Rs 20/order (Trade Free) or Rs 50/lot (Regular) | Tie |
| Mutual Fund Commission | Zero — direct mutual funds | Zero on direct mutual funds | Tie |
| Research Reports | ✘ | ✔ | Kotak Securities |
| Margin Trading | ✔ | ✔ | Tie |
| IPO Access | ✔ | ✔ | Tie |
| Mutual Funds | ✔ | ✔ | Tie |
| NFO Access | ✔ | ✔ | Tie |
| Best For | Budget traders who want advanced charts without extra cost | Kotak Bank customers who want both bank integration and competitive brokerage | Tie |
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★4.2 | ★★★★★4.0 | Upstox |
Pros & Cons
Upstox Demat & Trading Account
+Advantages
- ✔Zero brokerage on equity delivery
- ✔Free account opening
- ✔Backed by Ratan Tata (investor)
- ✔Good charting tools and TradingView integration
- ✔Competitive F&O brokerage
−Disadvantages
- ✘App stability issues reported during volatility
- ✘Customer support can be slow
- ✘Limited research and advisory content
- ✘Platform not as polished as Zerodha Kite
Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account
+Advantages
- ✔3-in-1 account with Kotak Mahindra Bank
- ✔Zero brokerage on equity delivery (free plan)
- ✔Trade Free Plan available for discount brokerage
- ✔Good research and advisory
- ✔Multi-platform support
−Disadvantages
- ✘Free plan requires Rs 999 annual subscription
- ✘Regular plan has high brokerage (0.49%)
- ✘AMC of Rs 600/year for demat
- ✘F&O brokerage higher than pure discount brokers
Our Verdict: Upstox Demat & Trading Account vs Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account
Based on our analysis, Upstox Demat & Trading Account edges ahead with a rating of 4.2/5 compared to Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account's 4/5. With a difference of 0.2 points, Upstox Demat & Trading Account offers a stronger overall package. However, Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account may be better suited for specific use cases — review the feature-by-feature comparison above to decide what works best for your needs.