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Best Discount Brokers in India

Flat-fee brokers compared on delivery, intraday and F&O charges, AMC and DP fees — using each broker's official pricing.

Fees checked on against each broker's official pricing page.

Our lists are editorially independent. Some links may be sponsored — how we make money.

Our shortlist

#1

Zerodha

Discount broker · ₹0 delivery

₹0 delivery; 0.03% or ₹20 intraday/futures; ₹20 options.

Delivery
₹0
Intraday
0.03% or ₹20
F&O
₹20/order
AMC
Free yr 1; ₹300/yr + GST
#3

Groww

Discount broker · ₹0 AMC

0.1% or ₹20 equity; ₹20 F&O; ₹0 AMC.

Delivery
0.1% or ₹20
Intraday
0.1% or ₹20
F&O
₹20/order
AMC
₹0
#4

Angel One

Discount broker with research · With research

0.1% or ₹20 equity; ₹20 F&O; research arm.

Delivery
0.1% or ₹20
Intraday
0.1% or ₹20
F&O
₹20/order
AMC
Free yr 1; ₹60/qtr + GST
#5

Upstox

Discount broker · Free API

₹20 delivery; ₹20 caps on trading; free API.

Delivery
₹20/order
Intraday
0.1% or ₹20
F&O
₹20/order
AMC
Free yr 1; ₹300/yr + GST
#6

5paisa

Discount broker · One flat fee

₹20 on every order across segments.

Delivery
₹20/order
Intraday
₹20/order
F&O
₹20/order
AMC
Free yr 1; ₹25/month + GST

What is a discount broker?

A discount broker executes your trades for a low flat fee (typically ₹20 per executed order, sometimes ₹0 for delivery) instead of a percentage of trade value. In return, you usually get no personal advice or relationship manager. Discount brokers are SEBI-registered stock brokers just like full-service firms; the difference is the service model, not the regulation.

How the flat fees compare

Broker Delivery Intraday F&O
Zerodha ₹0 0.03% or ₹20 ₹20 (options), 0.03% or ₹20 (futures)
Kotak Neo (Trade Free) 0.20% 0.05% or ₹10 ₹10
Groww 0.1% or ₹20 0.1% or ₹20 ₹20
Angel One 0.1% or ₹20 0.1% or ₹20 ₹20
Upstox ₹20 0.1% or ₹20 ₹20 (options), 0.05% or ₹20 (futures)
5paisa ₹20 ₹20 ₹20

"0.1% or ₹20" means you pay whichever is lower. On an order of ₹20,000 or more, you pay the ₹20 cap; on a ₹5,000 order you pay ₹5.

What discount brokers don't give you

Most discount brokers do not provide stock recommendations, portfolio advice or a dedicated relationship manager. Some charge extra for services that full-service brokers bundle, such as call & trade (₹20–₹75 per order depending on the broker) and auto square-off of intraday positions.

Full charges

Published charges from each broker's official pricing page, checked 30 September 2026. Excludes GST and statutory charges.
BrokerAccount openingAMCDeliveryIntradayOptionsDP charge
Zerodha₹0Free yr 1; ₹300/yr + GST₹00.03% or ₹20₹20/order₹15.34/scrip/day
Kotak Securities₹0 (₹99 Youth)₹50/month + GST (non-BSDA)0.20% (₹0 Youth)0.05% or ₹10₹10/order0.04% (min ₹20) + GST/day
Groww₹0₹00.1% or ₹200.1% or ₹20₹20/order₹23.60/sell order
Angel One₹0Free yr 1; ₹60/qtr + GST0.1% or ₹200.1% or ₹20₹20/order₹23.60/sell txn
Upstox₹0*Free yr 1; ₹300/yr + GST₹20/order0.1% or ₹20₹20/order₹23.60/scrip/day
5paisa₹0Free yr 1; ₹25/month + GST₹20/order₹20/order₹20/order₹23.60/ISIN debit

How we chose these discount brokers

We paid nothing for inclusion. We took the published tariff of each flat-fee broker, worked out a realistic annual bill for an active investor (brokerage, AMC and DP charges together) and checked what the platform gives back in tools and reliability.

  1. Flat-fee maths — the per-order cap, delivery charge and where a percentage still applies.
  2. Recurring costs — the yearly AMC and the DP charge that bites every time you sell.
  3. Tools for self-directed traders — charts, order types, margin and API access.
  4. Fee transparency — whether the broker lists every charge or leaves gaps.

Discount does not automatically mean cheapest once AMC and DP charges are counted. Check your own pattern with the brokerage calculator.

Worked example: what 100 round trips cost

Discount brokers look alike because most advertise "₹20 per order". The difference shows up in the percentage part of each rule, which matters for small orders. Brokerage for 100 round trips (200 orders):

Broker Intraday, ₹10,000 per side Intraday, ₹1 lakh per side Futures, ₹5 lakh per side
Zerodha ₹600 ₹4,000 ₹4,000
Kotak Securities ₹1,000 ₹2,000 ₹2,000
Groww ₹2,000 ₹4,000 ₹4,000
Angel One ₹2,000 ₹4,000 ₹4,000
Upstox ₹2,000 ₹4,000 ₹4,000
5paisa ₹4,000 ₹4,000 ₹4,000

At ₹10,000 per side, a 0.03% rule costs ₹3 per order while a flat ₹20 costs ₹20, so small-ticket intraday traders pay very different amounts. At ₹1 lakh and above, nearly every discount broker hits its cap and the figures converge — except Kotak Neo's ₹10 cap.

Frequently asked questions

Which discount broker has the lowest charges?

On published rates, Zerodha charges ₹0 on delivery and Kotak Neo charges ₹10 per order on intraday and F&O. The cheapest overall depends on your mix of trades, AMC and DP charges.

Are discount brokers safe?

Discount brokers are regulated by SEBI in the same way as full-service brokers. Check the SEBI registration number on each broker's review and verify it on SEBI's website.

Do discount brokers charge AMC?

Many do. Groww lists ₹0 AMC; Zerodha charges ₹300 + GST a year on non-BSDA accounts; Angel One and Upstox waive AMC in the first year.

Sources

  1. SEBI press release: 93% of individual F&O traders incurred losses (FY22–FY24) — accessed 30 September 2026
  2. Zerodha – Charges — accessed 30 September 2026
  3. Groww – Pricing — accessed 30 September 2026
  4. Angel One – Charges — accessed 30 September 2026
  5. Upstox – Brokerage charges — accessed 30 September 2026
  6. ICICI Direct – Brokerage — accessed 30 September 2026
  7. HDFC SKY – Pricing — accessed 30 September 2026
  8. SEBI – list of registered stock brokers — accessed 30 September 2026