Upstox vs Zerodha overview, features, & Brokerage charges
The stock market offers a very fascinating and lucrative way for trading and investing in various financial instruments, such as shares, bonds, futures, options, and more. However, to succeed in the market, you need to have a good knowledge of the market trends and the factors that affect your returns.
One of the key factors that can make or break your trading experience and profitability is your broker. Your broker is the one who connects you to the market and provides you with various features and services. Therefore, choosing the right broker is a vital decision that you have to make as an investor. There are many brokers available in the market, each with its pros and cons. Therefore it can be difficult to compare and select the best broker for your needs.
We have done a detailed comparison of two of the most popular platforms – Upstox and Zerodha. We will examine how they vary in their brokerage charges, trading platforms, and other features. We will also point out the advantages and disadvantages of each broker and help you choose the one that fits your needs better.
Upstox overview
Upstox is an online platform that allows users to invest and trade in various financial instruments, such as stocks, mutual funds, IPOs, commodities, and more. It offers low brokerage fees, transparent pricing, powerful charting tools, investment ideas, courses, and news. Upstox is backed by reputed investors like Ratan Tata, Tiger Global, and GVK Davix. It has over 1 crore customers and is one of the highest-rated trading apps in India. You can access various unique features of Upstox and become one of the Upstox customers through Upstox pro login.
Zerodha overview
Zerodha is India’s biggest stock broker that offers online trading and investing in various financial markets, such as equities, derivatives, commodities, and mutual funds. It charges flat fees of ₹0 for equity delivery and direct mutual funds, and ₹20 for intraday and F&O trades. It also provides a fast and elegant trading platform called Kite, as well as free and open market education through Varsity and TradingQ&A. Zerodha has over 1.3 crore customers and is trusted by many investors.
Upstox Features
- Upstock offers commission-free trading for all users, providing significant cost savings for active traders.
- Access to real-time market data, ensuring they stay informed about the latest market trends for informed decision-making.
- The platform also offers a 20X margin on your funds to trade in the market. You can also calculate the margin with an Upstox margin calculator.
- Upstock’s social trading platform enables users to follow and replicate the trades of successful investors, offering a valuable learning experience for novice traders.
- Traders and investors can create customizable watchlists of stocks and ETFs, simplifying portfolio management and market monitoring.
- Upstock provides detailed stock charts and advanced charting tools, empowering users to analyze historical trends and make well-informed investment decisions.
- The platform also offers an Upstox brokerage calculator and a sip calculator Upstox for calculating brokerage and other charges.
- With a minimum investment requirement of just $5, Upstock is accessible to traders of all levels.
- With Upstox refer and earn you can also refer to your friends and earn some extra money.
Zerodha Features
- Zerodha provides various advanced trading platforms, including Kite 3.0 (Web trading platform), Kite Android / Kite iOS, Zerodha Console, Zerodha Sentinel, and Zerodha Coin.
- Advanced trading tools such as TradingView charts and ChartIQ are also available.
- Equity delivery and mutual funds on Zerodha incur no brokerage charges.
- A flat fee of Rs. 20 per executed order is charged, regardless of trade size or value.
- Zerodha allows up to 20X margin leverage on funds for intraday trading in equity and F&O segments.
- Zero commission is applied to direct mutual funds on the platform.
- The call and trade feature enables users to place orders through a call.
- Zerodha facilitates a straightforward application process for investing in IPOs.
- With the 2-in-1 account, Zerodha streamlines trading and investing in the stock market within a single account.
- GTT orders (Good till triggered) are available, allowing traders to place orders that remain valid until a specific condition is met.
Account charges
You can compare Upstox charges and Zerodha charges in the following table:
| Charges | Zerodha | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Account Opening Charges | Rs 200 | Rs 0 (Free) |
| Trading Account AMC Charges | Rs 0 (Free) | Rs 0 (Free) |
| Demat Account Opening Charges | Rs 0 | Rs 0 (Free) |
| Demat Account AMC Charges | Rs 300 | Rs 150 |
Zerodha and Upstox brokerage charges
| Account type | Zerodha flat brokerage plan | Upstox default |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Charges | NA | NA |
| Equity Delivery | Rs 0 (Free) | Rs 20 per executed order or 2.5% whichever is low |
| Equity Intraday | Rs 20 per executed order or .03% whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.05% whichever is lower |
| Equity Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or .03% whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.05% whichever is lower |
| Equity Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Currency Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or .03% whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.05% whichever is lower |
| Currency Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Commodity Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or .03% whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.05% whichever is lower |
| Commodity Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Minimum Brokerage | 0.03% in Intraday and F&O | 0.05% |
| Other Charges | Physical contact notes: Rs 20, Trade SMS Alerts: Rs 1 per SMS | Auto Square-off Charges: Rs 50 |
Transaction charges
| Type | Zerodha | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | NSE Rs 335 per Cr (0.00335%) | BSE Rs 375 per Cr (0.00375%) (each side) | NSE Rs 325 per Cr (0.00325%) | BSE Rs 375 per Cr (0.00375%) (each side) |
| Equity Intraday | NSE Rs 335 per Cr (0.00335%) | BSE Rs 375 per Cr (0.00375%) (sell side) | NSE Rs 325 per Cr (0.00325%) | BSE Rs 375 per Cr (0.00375%) (sell side) |
| Equity Futures | NSE Rs 190 per Cr (0.0019%) | BSE Rs 0 | NSE Rs 190 per Cr (0.0019%) | BSE Rs 0 |
| Equity Options | NSE Rs 5050 per Cr (0.0505%) | BSE Rs 500 per Cr (0.005%) (on premium) | NSE Rs 5000 per Cr (0.05%) | BSE Rs 3750 per Cr (0.0375%) (on premium) |
| Currency Futures | NSE Rs 90 per Cr (0.0009%) | BSE Rs 90 per Cr (0.0009%) | NSE Rs 90 per Cr (0.0009%) | BSE Rs 22 per Cr (0.00022%) |
| Currency Options | NSE Rs 3500 per Cr (0.035%) | BSE Rs 100 per Cr (0.001%) (on premium) | NSE Rs 3500 per Cr (0.035%) | BSE Rs 100 per Cr (0.001%) (on premium) |
| Commodity | Group A – Rs 260 per Cr (0.0026%) | Group A – Rs 290 per Cr (0.0029%) |
Margin
| Type | Zerodha | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | 100% of trade value (1x leverage) | 100% of trade value (1x leverage) |
| Equity Intraday | Up to 20% of trade value (5x leverage) | Up to 20% of trade value (5x leverage) |
| F&O (Eq, Curr, Comm) | 100% of NRML margin (Span + Exposure) (1x leverage) | 100% of NRML margin (Span + Exposure) (1x leverage) |
Upstox Vs Zerodha comparison
| Features | Zerodha | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in 1 Account | No | No |
| Charting | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Trading | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Alerts | No | No |
| Online Demo | Yes | Yes |
| Online Portfolio | No | No |
| Margin Trading Funding | Yes | Yes |
| Margin Against Shares (Equity Cash) | Yes | No |
| Margin Against Shares (Equity F&O) | Yes | Yes |
| Kite Web, Kite Mobile for Android/iOS, and Coin | Kite Web, Kite Mobile for Android/iOS and Coin | Upstox Pro Web, Dartstock, NEST Trader, Fox Trader, iOS and Android Algola |
| Intraday Square-off Time | Eq Cash: 3:15 PM | Eq F&O : 3:25 PM | Currency: 4:45 PM | Commodities: 25 min before close | 3:00 PM |
| Trading In SME Shares | Yes | Yes |
| GTC orders | Yes | Yes |
| GTT orders | Yes | Yes |
| Referral Program | Yes | Yes |
| Other Features | Direct Mutual Funds, APIs for Algo Trading | Option strategy builder |
Pros and cons
Zerodha Pros
- The top brokerage firm in India, leading in both active clients and exchange volume.
- A secure, dependable, and technologically advanced brokerage service in India.
- Providing straightforward flat fee brokerage services across various segments and exchanges (BSE, NSE, MCX).
- Offers commission-free equity delivery trades and no brokerage charges for Cash-N-Carry orders.
- Experience a flat Rs 20 per trade brokerage fee for all other segments.
- Access free excellent trading platforms like Kite.
- Explore Direct Mutual Fund Investment options.
- Benefit from good till triggered (GTT) orders, akin to GTC orders.
- NRI Trading accounts are also available.
Zerodha Cons
- No stock tips, research, or recommendations are provided.
- Call & Trade incurs an additional charge of Rs 50 per order.
- Auto square-off is subject to an extra fee of Rs 50 per order.
- A 3-in-1 account is not available.
- Monthly unlimited trading plans are not offered.
- AMC free demat account is not provided.
- Margin funding is not available.
Upstox Pros
- No account opening fee.
- Commission-free mutual fund investment.
- A flat Rs 20 per trade brokerage for all segments, including equity delivery.
- Direct mutual funds are offered.
- A single app for trading in equity, currency, and commodity.
- Margin trading facility (MTF) is accessible at an interest rate of Rs 20/day for slabs of Rs 40,000.
- Margin against share is provided.
- Online access to IPOs, FPOs, Bonds, and NCDs is available.
- Good-till-triggered (GTT) orders can be placed.
Upstox Cons
- The brokerage fee for equity delivery trades is Rs 20 per trade.
- There are no unlimited trading plans available.
- Margin funding is not offered for delivery trades.
- The platform does not provide stock tips or recommendations.
- A 3-in-1 account is not part of the offering.
- 24/7 customer support is not available.
- API access for automated trading is not provided.
- NRI Trading and Demat accounts are not offered.
- BTST (Buy today, sell tomorrow) is not available.
- Digital gold is not offered.
- Call-and-trade incurs an additional fee of Rs 20 per executed order.
- The automatic settlement comes with an extra charge of Rs 50 per executed order.
- Demat debit transaction charges are higher at Rs 18.5 per ISIN compared to Zerodha’s Rs 13.5.
- Intraday square-off occurs at 3 PM, differing from the usual 3:15 PM practiced by most other brokers.
Conclusion
Upstox and Zerodha are both excellent platforms that offer a range of features for different types of investors. Upstox app stands out with its zero-commission mutual fund investment and easy-to-use interfaces, while Zerodha impresses with its powerful platforms, flat fee structure, and rich educational resources. The best platform depends on the individual needs and preferences of the investors, with Upstox being more accessible and affordable, and Zerodha providing more advanced and comprehensive tools. You should consider your goals and trading styles and choose the platform that matches your requirements for a better trading experience.
FAQs – Upstox and Zerodha
How can I contact Upstox customer care?
If you have any queries, you can contact the Upstox customer care number – 022-41792999.
Is Zerodha account opening free?
No, to open an account with Zerodha you need to pay fees of Rs 200.
Do Upstox and Zerodha offer any educational resources or tools for traders and investors?
Zerodha provides free educational resources like Varsity and TradingQ&A. Upstox offers courses, investment ideas, and news to assist traders.
How to become an Upstox partner?
To become an Upstox partner, visit their official website, register for the partner program, and follow the steps outlined, including client referrals and commission earnings through the provided partner dashboard.