Best Demat Accounts in India 2026
Compare India's top demat and trading accounts side by side. We review brokerage charges, trading platforms, features, and customer support to help you pick the best broker for your investment journey.
8
Brokers Compared
Free
Account Opening
Zero
Delivery Brokerage
2026
Updated Data
All Demat Accounts
Featured
Zerodha Demat & Trading Account
Zerodha
★★★★★★4.7
- ✓India's largest broker by active clients
- ✓Award-winning Kite platform with advanced charting
- ✓Coin for direct mutual fund investments (zero commission)
Featured
Groww Demat & Trading Account
Groww
★★★★★★4.5
- ✓Zero account opening and AMC charges
- ✓Simplest app interface — ideal for beginners
- ✓Stocks, mutual funds, IPOs, FDs, gold in one app
Upstox Demat & Trading Account
Upstox
★★★★★4.2
- ✓Zero account opening and AMC
- ✓TradingView advanced charting built-in
- ✓Stocks, F&O, MF, IPO, and commodities
ICICI Direct Demat & Trading Account
ICICI Direct
★★★★★4.2
- ✓Seamless 3-in-1 account integration with ICICI Bank
- ✓Expert research reports and stock recommendations
- ✓Stocks, MF, IPO, bonds, FDs, insurance, NPS
Angel One Demat & Trading Account
Angel One
★★★★★4.1
- ✓ARQ Prime — AI-powered investment engine
- ✓SmartAPI for algorithmic trading
- ✓Free research reports and stock tips
HDFC Securities Demat & Trading Account
HDFC Securities
★★★★★4.1
- ✓3-in-1 seamless HDFC Bank account integration
- ✓Detailed research reports and stock picks
- ✓Portfolio Health Check and Wealth Builder tools
Kotak Securities Demat & Trading Account
Kotak Securities
★★★★★4.0
- ✓3-in-1 account with Kotak Mahindra Bank
- ✓Trade Free Plan — zero delivery brokerage for Rs 999/year
- ✓Kotak Neo — modern trading platform
5Paisa Demat & Trading Account
5Paisa
★★★★★3.8
- ✓Flat Rs 20 per order across all segments
- ✓Auto Investor — robo advisory for automated portfolios
- ✓Baskets — pre-built thematic portfolios
Demat Account Comparison Table
| Feature | Top Rated Zerodha Demat & Trading AccountZerodha ★★★★★★ | Groww Demat & Trading AccountGroww ★★★★★★ | Upstox Demat & Trading AccountUpstox ★★★★★ | ICICI Direct Demat & Trading AccountICICI Direct ★★★★★ | Angel One Demat & Trading AccountAngel One ★★★★★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account Opening Charge | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Annual Maintenance (AMC) | 300 | 0 | 0 | 750 | 240 |
| Equity Delivery Brokerage | Zero (free) | Zero (free) | Zero (free) | 0.55% of trade value | Zero (free) |
| Equity Intraday Brokerage | Rs 20 per order or 0.03%, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per order or 0.05%, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per order or 0.05%, whichever is lower | 0.275% of trade value | Rs 20 per order or 0.25%, whichever is lower |
| Options Brokerage | Rs 20 per order (flat) | Rs 20 per order (flat) | Rs 20 per order (flat) | Rs 95 per lot | Rs 20 per order (flat) |
| Mutual Fund Commission | Zero — direct mutual funds only | Zero — direct mutual funds | Zero — direct mutual funds | Zero on direct funds; regular funds available | Zero commission on direct funds |
| Research Reports | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Margin Trading | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| IPO Access | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apply Now | Apply Now | Apply Now | Apply Now | Apply Now |
How to Choose the Right Demat Account
Choosing the right demat account depends on your trading style, investment goals, and budget. Here are the key factors to consider:
- Brokerage charges: If you trade frequently, look for flat-fee discount brokers like Zerodha or Groww that charge Rs 20 or zero per trade.
- Platform quality: Active traders need advanced charting and fast execution. Zerodha Kite and Upstox Pro are top choices here.
- Research and advisory: If you want stock recommendations, choose full-service brokers like ICICI Direct or HDFC Securities.
- Ease of use: Beginners should prioritize simple interfaces. Groww leads in this category.
- Annual charges: Compare AMC fees carefully. Some brokers offer zero AMC while others charge Rs 200 to Rs 750 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
A demat (dematerialized) account holds your shares and securities in electronic format, similar to how a bank account holds your money. In India, you need a demat account to buy and sell stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, and IPOs on stock exchanges like BSE and NSE. It is mandatory for trading in the Indian stock market.
For beginners, Groww and Zerodha are the top choices. Groww offers the simplest app interface with zero account opening charges and is ideal for first-time investors. Zerodha is best for those who want to learn trading with their free Varsity education platform and the powerful Kite trading tool.
Most discount brokers like Groww, Upstox, Angel One, and 5Paisa offer free account opening. Zerodha charges Rs 200 for account opening. Full-service brokers like ICICI Direct and HDFC Securities also offer free account opening but charge higher AMC fees ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 750 per year.
Discount brokers (Zerodha, Groww, Upstox) charge flat low brokerage (Rs 20 per trade or zero) but offer limited research and advisory. Full-service brokers (ICICI Direct, HDFC Securities) charge percentage-based brokerage (0.5% or more) but provide research reports, stock recommendations, 3-in-1 bank integration, and dedicated relationship managers.
Yes, you can open multiple demat accounts with different brokers in India. Many investors maintain one account with a discount broker for active trading and another with a full-service broker for long-term investments and research. However, each account may have its own AMC charges.