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Best Full-Service Brokers in India

Full-service brokers charge more but offer research, relationship managers and branches. Compare their published tariffs.

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

ICICI Direct

Full-service broker (bank group) · 3-in-1 banking

ICICI Bank integration; Prime plans reduce brokerage.

Delivery
0.29% (Prime lower)
Intraday
0.029%
F&O
₹49/lot
AMC
₹700/yr (₹300 Prime)
#2

Motilal Oswal

Full-service broker · Research house

SEBI-registered research analyst; current online plan 0.20% delivery and ₹20 per options lot.

Delivery
0.20%
Intraday
0.02%
F&O
₹20/lot
AMC
₹0 yr 1; later not verified

When a full-service broker makes sense

Full-service brokers suit investors who want research coverage, a relationship manager, branch access or bank integration. You pay for that through percentage brokerage. Always ask which plan applies to your account.

Broker Default delivery Options
ICICI Direct 0.29% (Prime lower) ₹49 per lot
Motilal Oswal 0.20% (current online plan) ₹20 per lot
Sharekhan 0.30% ₹39 per lot
Published charges from each broker's official pricing page, checked 30 September 2026. Excludes GST and statutory charges.
BrokerAccount openingAMCDeliveryIntradayOptionsDP charge
ICICI DirectNot verified₹700/yr (₹300 Prime)0.29% (Prime lower)0.029%₹49/lot₹20 + GST/scrip/day
Motilal Oswal₹0₹0 yr 1; later not verified0.20%0.02%₹20/lotNot verified
Sharekhan₹0₹400/yr (yr 2+)0.30%0.02%₹39/lotNil via Sharekhan
HDFC SKY by HDFC Securities₹0Free yr 1; ₹20/month₹20 or 2.5%₹20 or 2.5%₹20/order₹23.60/ISIN debit
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

How we compared full-service brokers

Nothing here was paid for. Full-service brokers charge more, so we weighed what you get for the higher fee — research, a relationship manager, branches — against the published tariff and the platform.

  1. Published tariff — the percentage brokerage and the plans that reduce it.
  2. What the fee buys — research, advisory support, branches and account features.
  3. Platform quality — whether the trading tools justify the cost.
  4. Transparency — how clearly the higher charges are disclosed.

A full-service broker earns its fee only if you use the research and support. Compare the cost with a discount broker using the brokerage calculator.

Worked example: the price of full service

What a ₹2 lakh delivery purchase and later sale costs in brokerage and DP charge on each broker's default published plan, with Zerodha as a discount-broker baseline:

Broker Brokerage (buy + sell) DP charge on sale Total
ICICI Direct ₹1,160 ₹23.60 ₹1,184
Sharekhan ₹1,200 ₹0.00 ₹1,200
Motilal Oswal ₹800 Not verified ₹800 + DP (not verified)
HDFC SKY by HDFC Securities ₹40 ₹23.60 ₹64
Kotak Securities ₹800 ₹94.40 ₹894
Zerodha ₹0 ₹15.34 ₹15

On default plans, ICICI Direct and Sharekhan charge four-figure brokerage on this trade. Motilal Oswal's current online plan (0.20% delivery) costs ₹800 in brokerage, but its DP charge is not verified, so its total excludes DP. Kotak's Trade Free plan is also 0.20% on delivery, and its DP charge is percentage-based (0.04%, minimum ₹20, + GST), so on a ₹2 lakh sale it is ₹94.40, not ₹23.60. HDFC SKY's flat ₹20 pricing is shown for comparison. ICICI Direct also sells prepaid Prime plans that cut the delivery rate to 0.25%, 0.10% or 0.07% for an upfront fee — worth checking if you trade regularly and value the research and relationship support.

Frequently asked questions

Are full-service brokers worth it?

They can be if you use their research and service. If you make your own decisions, a discount broker is usually much cheaper.

Can I negotiate brokerage with a full-service broker?

Many full-service brokers offer paid plans (such as ICICI Direct Prime) that reduce brokerage for an upfront fee. Ask which plan applies to your account and get the terms in writing.

Sources

  1. Zerodha – Charges — accessed 30 September 2026
  2. Groww – Pricing — accessed 30 September 2026
  3. Angel One – Charges — accessed 30 September 2026
  4. Upstox – Brokerage charges — accessed 30 September 2026
  5. ICICI Direct – Brokerage — accessed 30 September 2026
  6. HDFC SKY – Pricing — accessed 30 September 2026
  7. SEBI – list of registered stock brokers — accessed 30 September 2026