Everyone who trades or invests in the stock market always searches for the Best Stock Broker in India, so we thought of building a comprehensive list for you.
In this article, you will read about the top brokers in India and why they are on top. The factors we evaluated will help you choose the right brokerage house for your trading needs.

Best Stock Broker of 2026 – List of Top Brokers in India
| Rank | Broker Name |
| 1 | Zerodha |
| 2 | Groww |
| 3 | Angel One |
| 4 | Upstox |
| 5 | ICICI Direct |
| 6 | HDFC Securities |
| 7 | 5Paisa |
| 8 | Kotak Securities |
| 9 | Motilal Oswal |
| 10 | Sharekhan |
To pick the Top 10 Stock Brokers in India, we focused on five main criteria: brokerage charges and other charges.
This is one of the most crucial factors in choosing a brokerage house. Then there is the quality of trading platforms the brokerage house offers, followed by research and advisory services.
Finally, we have considered the quality of support offered to the users and brand value or trust.
The Best Stock Brokers are listed above based on our criteria. As you can see in the above table, Zerodha tops the list, followed by Groww and Angel One, and then the rest of the brokerage houses.
Compare the top 10 stock brokers in India
While it seems difficult to compare stock brokers because there are multiple factors to consider, here is a simple yet insightful comparison for our readers.
| Broker Name | Active Clients | Delivery Charges | Intraday Charges | AMC | Account Opening Fees |
| Zerodha | 66 Lakh | Free | Rs.20 per Trade | Rs.300 per Year | Rs.200 – Rs.300 |
| Groww | 52 Lakh | Rs.20 per Trade | Rs.20 per Trade | Free | Free |
| Angel One | 43 Lakh | Free Delivery | Rs.20 per Trade | 1st Year Free | Free |
| Upstox | 39 Lakh | Rs.20 per Trade | Rs.20 per Trade | Rs.150 per Year | Free |
| ICICI Direct | 27 Lakh | 0.27% of Transaction Value | Rs.20 per Trade | Rs.300 per Year | Free |
| HDFC Securities | 12 Lakh | 0.32% of Transaction Value | 0.032% of Transaction Value | Rs.750 per Year | Rs.199 |
| 5Paisa | 11 Lakh | Rs.20 per Trade | Rs.20 per Trade | Rs.300 per Year | Free |
| Kotak Securities | 10.5 Lakh | 0.25% of Transaction Value | Free | Rs.300 per Year | Rs.99 |
| Motilal Oswal | 9 Lakh | 0.20% of Transaction Value | 0.02% of Transaction Value | Rs.300 per Year | Free |
| Sharekhan | 7.5 Lakh | 0.30% of Transaction Value | 0.02% on Transaction Value | 1st Year Free | Free |
If you look at brokerage charges, you will find that Zerodha, Groww, Angel One, Upstox, ICICI Direct, and 5Paisa charge Rs. 20 per trade in the intraday segment as a flat fee or the maximum fee.
In contrast, Kotak Securities offers free intraday trading, creating a significant win-win situation for active traders.
Another factor that may catch your eye is that most brokers on the list above charge around Rs.300 for annual maintenance of the Demat and trading account.
However, there are a few exceptions, like HDFC Securities, which charges Rs.750 a year, while Groww charges nothing as AMC.
Account opening is mostly free for most brokerage houses, with only a few charging a nominal fee for the account-opening process.
If you compare brokers by active clientele, Zerodha tops the list with 66 lakh active clients, followed by 52 lakh at Groww and 43 lakh at Angel One.
So, now that you understand how these brokerage houses work, let’s dig deeper and find out about each of them individually.
Zerodha – Best Stock Broker in India
Zerodha ranks first on the list of best stock brokers in India.
| Broker Type | Discount Broker |
| Active Clients | 65 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Rs.200 – Rs.300 |
| AMC | Rs.300 per Year |
| Delivery Charges | Free |
| Intraday Charges | Rs.20 per Trade or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
This discount broker revolutionised trading at a low cost, which enabled many stock market enthusiasts to take part in the market and earn from it.
Here are the Pros and Cons of trading and investing with Zerodha.
Pros:
- Currently, Zerodha boasts the highest number of active clients in India, exceeding 6.5 million. This reflects the trading volume on Zerodha’s network, which benefits users.
- It offers a simple, no-hassle brokerage plan where the maximum brokerage you will pay is Rs. 20.
- It offers advanced features and ample resources to build knowledge around financial markets.
- You can trade more than 90000 stocks on one platform, which is possible with Zerodha, along with many other investment options.
- Zerodha keeps adding new services and facilities for the users, so you can expect to grow with the broker as a trader and investor.
Cons:
- Zerodha is an online brokerage house with no physical branches like traditional brokers. This becomes a challenge for traditional investors or people who are not tech-savvy.
- The broker doesn’t offer customised brokerage plans to meet every investor or trader’s requirements.
- Zerodha’s customer support is not up to the mark and needs improvement.
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Groww – Top Brokers in India
Groww ranks second among the top stock brokers in India.
| Broker Type | Discount Broker |
| Active Clients | 51 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Free |
| AMC | Free |
| Delivery Charges | Rs.20 per Trade or 0.05% (whichever is lower) |
| Intraday Charges | Rs.20 per Trade or 0.05% (whichever is Low) |
This broker has become a favourite among young investors and traders because of its super-low brokerage charges and ample research and learning resources.
Pros:
- Groww offers a simple, hassle-free flat-fee brokerage plan. It helps traders and investors trade securities at any volume only at Rs. 20 per order.
- There are no account opening charges or annual maintenance charges.
- You can open a Groww account within the blink of an eye as it is completely paperless.
- Groww offers abundant learning resources for all its users.
- There is an IPO segment at Groww where you can learn about new IPOs and invest directly from Groww’s platform.
Cons:
- The number of investment products and services offered by Groww is limited. It doesn’t offer commodity or currency products.
- Groww also does not offer research and advisory services to its customers.
- Groww does not offer a call-on-trade facility.
Angel One – Top 10 Stock Brokers in India
Per our rankings, the third Top broker in India is Angel One, one of the country’s oldest traditional stock brokers with one of the highest numbers of clients.
| Broker Type | Discount Broker |
| Active Clients | 42 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Free |
| AMC | Rs.240 per Year + GST (1st Year Free) |
| Delivery Charges | Free |
| Intraday Charges | Rs.20 per Trade or 0.25% (whichever is Low) |
The pros and cons of trading with Angel One are as follows:
Pros:
- Angel One offers all types of investment and trading products required by any trader.
- Angel One, a discount broker, offers great benefits for people seeking bulk trading. It helps them save significantly on trading expenses.
- Angel One has no extra charges for fund transfers or online transactions.
- As a traditional broker with years of market experience, it offers clients some of the best stock tips and market overviews.
- You can use facilities like a relationship manager, call & trade, etc.
Cons:
- Margin funding (MFT) interest charges are comparatively higher than other brokerage houses.
- GTC orders or GTT orders are not available now with Angel One.
- You cannot trade SME stocks as Angel One doesn’t offer them.
Upstox – Top Stock Broker in India
Upstox Broker is ranked in fourth position in the list of Best Share Brokers in India.
| Broker Type | Discount Broker |
| Active Clients | 38 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Free |
| AMC | Rs.150 per Year + GST |
| Delivery Charges | Rs.20 per Trade or 2.5% (whichever is low) |
| Intraday Charges | Rs.20 per Trade or 2.5% (whichever is Low) |
It is one of the tech-first brokerage houses that has been pivotal in changing India’s trading and investment experience.
Here are some of the pros and cons for traders who aim to work with Upstox:
Pros:
- Opening an account with Upstox is entirely free. It charges no fees for online account opening or its trading platforms.
- The brokerage plan of Upstox is simple and reasonable. It charges only Rs. 20 per trade.
- Upstox offers a wide range of trading platforms, including Upstox Bridge, Upstox Develop console, mobile, web trading platforms, and more.
- Though it is a discount broker, it offers thousands of mutual fund schemes you can invest in.
- Margin trading is pretty affordable with Upstox. It charges Rs. 20 per day for Rs. 40000 of margin availed.
Cons:
- Since it is an online brokerage house, the broker has no offline branch office.
- There are no tailor-made brokerage plans for the clients.
- You cannot use a margin trading facility for delivery trades.
ICICI Direct – Best Stock Broker
ICICI Direct stands tall at the fifth position in the Top Share Broker in India listing. Currently, the brokerage house has more than fifty lakhs of active clients trading with them.
| Broker Type | Full Service Broker |
| Active Clients | 26 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Free |
| AMC | Rs.300 per Year |
| Delivery Charges | 0.27% of Transaction Value |
| Intraday Charges | Rs.20 per Trade |
Here are the benefits and the flaws of ICICI Direct which you need to be aware of before enrolling with them:
Pros:
- ICICI Direct, affiliated with ICICI Bank, provides a convenient three-in-one account that ensures seamless transactions between your trading and bank accounts.
- ICICI Direct offers many investment products, including equities, mutual funds, commodities, and debt instruments.
- Their platforms enable trading across multiple stock and commodity exchanges.
- This broker offers one-of-a-kind trading platforms even for areas with slow internet connections.
- Multiple order types, including Valid-Till-Cancel and similar, help traders plan trades well in advance and minimise risk.
Cons:
- ICICI Direct’s brokerage charges are a bit on the higher end.
- The call & trade facility charges are higher than its peers.
- They need to improve their customer service.
HDFC Securities – Top Stock Broker
HDFC Securities is ranked sixth in the Top 10 Share Brokers in India listicle. The broker is best known for the efficient services it provides to clients.
| Broker Type | Full Service Broker |
| Active Clients | 11 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Rs.199 |
| AMC | Rs.750 per Year |
| Delivery Charges | 0.32% of Transaction Value |
| Intraday Charges | 0.032% of Transaction Value |
Here are some pros and cons related to HDFC Securities:
Pros:
- HDFC Securities, like ICICI Direct, also offers a three-in-one account.
- HDFC Securities has a big portfolio of investment products that can help you diversify your client portfolios.
- This brand offers multi-exchange trading, with support for all major exchanges.
- They offer many types of brokerage plans per the traders’ requirements.
- HDFC Securities offers many of the finest trading platforms per the traders’ changing preferences.
Cons:
- The brokerage charges offered by HDFC Securities are quite high compared to its competitors.
- At present, HDFC Securities doesn’t offer commodity trading.
- There is a minimum brokerage concept of Rs. 25 per trade, irrespective of the volume, which negatively affects the returns of retail investors and traders.
5Paisa – Top 10 Stock Broker
5Paisa is ranked seventh in the Top 10 Stock Brokers in India listicle.
| Broker Type | Discount Broker |
| Active Clients | 10 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Free |
| AMC | Rs.300 per Year |
| Delivery Charges | Rs.20 per Trade |
| Intraday Charges | Rs.20 per Trade |
Here are the pros and cons of trading with 5Paisa:
Pros:
- You can trade equities, commodities, and currencies, all at a brokerage charge of Rs.20 per order.
- Although it is a discount broker, it offers research and advisory services and other investment products such as mutual funds.
- The account opening process is hassle-free, takes no time, and is free.
- A wide range of trading platforms for all kinds of traders, and you can trade anytime from anywhere.
- You also get an algo trading facility as well as robo-advisory services.
Cons:
- The margin trading facility is not up to the mark and is also expensive.
- The call & trade facility costs Rs.100 per trade under the Optimum Plan.
- Research & Advisory facility is not available under all the brokerage plans.
Kotak Securities – Top Share Brokers in India
Kotak Securities is ranked eighth in the Top 10 Online Brokers list.
| Broker Type | Discount Broker |
| Active Clients | 10 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Rs.99 |
| AMC | Rs.300 per Year |
| Delivery Charges | 0.25% or Rs.20 (whichever is higher) |
| Intraday Charges | Free |
The reasons for trading with Kotak Securities and the drawbacks are here.
Pros:
- You get a three-in-one account with Kotak Securities, making your transactions secure and hassle-free.
- Kotak Securities has years of experience in the financial and capital markets and is a trusted brand in the industry.
- Kotak Securities has reasonable brokerage plans for all types of investors and traders.
- It offers various research and advisory services, from fundamental reports to technical analysis.
- Kotak Securities has a physical presence in close to 400 cities in India.
Cons:
- Kotak Securities’ zero-brokerage plan is available only to customers under 30.
- The brokerage charges are pretty high for the equity delivery segment.
- You must pay hefty brokerages if you opt for a dealer-assisted brokerage plan.
Motilal Oswal – Top 10 Online Brokers in India
In the 9th position of Best Online Brokers, there is Motilal Oswal.
| Broker Type | Full Service Broker |
| Active Clients | 9 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Free |
| AMC | Rs.300 per Year (1st Year Free) |
| Delivery Charges | 0.20% of Transaction Value |
| Intraday Charges | 0.02% of Transaction Value |
This brokerage house is one of the esteemed players in the industry, with over 35 years of experience and over fifty lakhs of clients trading on its platform.
Pros:
- The equity Intraday segment is completely free of cost. This enables active equity day traders to trade at no brokerage cost.
- Motilal Oswal offers all investment products. You name it, they have it.
- Motilal Oswal offers one of the highest exposures regarding margin trading.
- Excellent research and advisory services with daily stock tips from experts.
- Wide range of trading platforms, all loaded with highly advanced features.
Cons:
- The brokerage charges are comparatively high.
- Need to upgrade their customer services.
- Doesn’t have a three-in-one account facility
Sharekhan – Best Online Broker
Sharekhan is placed last in the listing of Top Online brokers.
| Broker Type | Full Service Broker |
| Active Clients | 7.5 Lakh+ |
| Account Opening Charges | Free |
| AMC | Free (1st Year) |
| Delivery Charges | 0.30% of transaction value or 1 paisa per share (whichever is higher) |
| Intraday Charges | 0.02% on transaction value or 1 paisa per share (whichever is higher) |
It is one of the largest and oldest brokers in India. Here are the pros and cons of Sharekhan; have a look:
Pros:
- With Sharekhan, you can learn and earn from the stock market from scratch. The broker offers a wide range of stock market courses for everyone.
- Sharekhan offers a big portfolio, so traders can invest in many products and minimise risk.
- Advanced, well-curated trading platforms enhance the trading experience.
- The call & trade facility is completely free.
- Sharekhan has a great offline presence across the Indian states and cities.
Cons:
- If you are looking for flat brokerage, Sharekhan doesn’t offer it. It charges percentage-based brokerage on trades.
- The commodity segment is not available under the Classic Brokerage Plan
- The minimum brokerage charge is pretty high.
Parameters used in picking up the Best Stock Broker in India
Here is the list of parameters that are used in picking up the above listing of best stock brokers in India:
Brokerage & Other Charges
Out of our five parameters for picking these Top Brokers in India, the first is brokerage and other charges.
Under this parameter, the top five brokers with reasonable brokerage and nominal additional charges are Zerodha, Groww, Upstox, 5Paisa, and Angel One.
The maximum brokerage these brokers charge is Rs. 20 per order for the intraday segment. Apart from Zerodha, all five of these brokers offer free account openings.
Brokerage is only one part of what you pay per trade — see how these charges are actually calculated on every trade, including STT, GST, and stamp duty.
Groww also has free annual maintenance charges.
Quality Trading Platforms
The 2nd parameter we have considered for evaluating these Top 10 Stock Brokers is the quality of their trading platforms.
Trading platforms are super important as everyone trades online. While all the brokers mentioned above have excellent trading platforms, Zerodha, Upstox, Motilal Oswal, and ICICI Direct stand out due to simple yet highly advanced trading platform offerings.
Research & Advisory
Research and Advisory have been integral to Share Brokers in India for a long time. However, with discount brokers disrupting the market, research and advisory services are taking a back seat.
However, brokers with research and advisory services are still given more priority. Motilal Oswal is known for its research and advisory services.
It offers expert suggestions on companies’ stocks, markets, and the economy. Other players include Kotak Securities, Angel One, ICICI Direct, and Sharekhan, all known for their research and advisory services.
Angel One offers a wide range of reports, market updates, regular market tips, and more.
High-Quality Support
For picking the Best Stock Broker in India, the next criterion we considered is the quality of support offered by the brokers.
HDFC Securities, ICICI Direct, Kotak Securities, Angel One, and Upstox stand out in this segment. They provide excellent support to clients and partners.
You can contact them with any queries; they help clients immediately. It enables users to trade and enhances their experience with the brokers.
Brand Trust
Last but not least, the 5th parameter for choosing these Top 10 Stock Brokers in India is Brand Trust. This means how much a brand is valued in the market.
Under this parameter, the most trusted broker is ICICI Direct, followed by Zerodha, Angel One, Upstox, and Kotak Securities.
These brokers are not only prominent contenders in the industry, but they have also built brand trust through consistent service to clients and an impressive array of products and services.
Stock Broker Meaning
A Stock Broker acts as the intermediary connecting the Depository with traders and investors, earning the title of Depository participant.
A Stockbroker can be an individual or a company providing investment products, services, and trading platforms to clients in exchange for commissions or brokerage fees.
They act as intermediaries and make life easier for traders and investors. Besides offering investment products, stock brokers also provide tips, suggestions, and advisory services.
Types of Stock Brokers in India
Broadly, there are four types of stock brokers, which are:
Full-Service Brokers: These traditional brokers offer all kinds of investment products and services for commission/brokerage charges.
Discount Brokers: These new-age brokers offer a limited number of investment products and services but high-end trading platforms and technology at very reasonable brokerage charges.
Bank Broker: These are brokers associated with banks such as ICICI Direct, Kotak Securities, or HDFC Securities.
They offer three-in-one accounts and make every transaction hassle-free, apart from other services and investment products.
Hybrid Brokers: These are full-service brokers but charge like discount brokers. Angel One is one such broker that offers all services and investment products like a full-service broker but charges a flat fee like a discount broker.
Top 10 Stock Brokers in India – Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you find the best stock broker that suits your requirements.
To identify a suitable broker for your trading and investment needs, assess the relevant parameters and compare the ten brokers above.
We remain optimistic that you will soon discover the most suitable broker.
FAQs on Best Stock Broker in India
Check out various FAQs related to the Top Brokers in India:
How to find the top brokers in India?
We have curated a list of India’s top ten stock brokers for you to refer to. This list includes all the information you need about the brokers to help you decide which broker suits your needs.
Which is the best stock broker in India?
As per our rankings, Zerodha is currently the best stock broker in India. It has a very reasonable broker plan, a wide variety of investment products, and much more.
Which broker is best for research & Advisory?
Motilal Oswal is known for its research and advisory services. It offers a wide range of company reports, weekly, monthly, and even daily market reports, stock tips, and more.
Which stock broker provides the lowest brokerage?
Zerodha, 5Paisa, Groww, Upstox, and Angel One are some brokers who have the lowest brokerage charges.
Which broker provides innovative trading platforms?
Again, Zerodha and Angel One are two of the top brokers with the best trading platforms and come up with innovations from time to time.
Which stock broker provides the best tips?
Motilal Oswal and Angel Broking are known for their stock tips, research, and expert advice.
Which is the Top 5 Stock Broker for Beginners?
If you are a beginner, Sharekhan, Groww, Upstox, Zerodha, and Angel One can be top brokers for learning and earning in the stock market.
Which are the Top 3 Stock Brokers for Traders?
Traders need an advanced trading platform and reasonable brokerage charges, which Zerodha, Angel One, and Upstox offer.
Which are the Top 5 Stock Brokers for Investors?
Investors who need more fundamental resources, research, and advisory services may find traditional brokers such as Angel One, Motilal Oswal, Kotak Securities, ICICI Direct, and HDFC Securities best.
Which broker is best for IPO investment?
Groww is one of the best brokers for IPO investment because it offers strong IPO resources and a smooth IPO investment process.











In the full-service market, ICICI Direct, Sharekhan, HDFC Securities, Sharekhan, Angel One, and Axis Bank are the most well-liked stock brokers. Among the most well-known stock brokers in the discount broker segment are Upstox, 5paisa, and Zerodha.