Head-to-Head Brokerage Showdown (2026)

Upstox vs Zerodha

Detailed side-by-side comparison of brokerage rates, account maintenance fees, trading platforms, and user ratings to help you choose the winner for your trading style.

U

Upstox

4.6 / 5.0
Backed by Ratan Tata

Backed by Ratan Tata with ultra-responsive Upstox Pro mobile & web platform

Z

Zerodha

4.8 / 5.0
Benchmark of India

Pioneer of discount broking with India's benchmark Kite trading platform

Side-by-Side Fee & Platform Matrix

Feature / MetricUpstoxZerodha
Categorydiscountdiscount
Active NSE Clients25+ Lakhs (Rank #4)76+ Lakhs (Rank #2)
Account Opening Fee₹0 (Free Digital Onboarding)₹200 (Equity & F&O)
Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC)₹0 (Zero Demat AMC on Upstox Basic)₹300/year + 18% GST (Billed ₹75/quarter)
Equity Delivery Brokerage₹20 or 2.5% (whichever is lower) per order₹0 (Free Lifetime)
Equity Intraday Brokerage₹20 or 0.05% (whichever is lower) per order₹20 or 0.03% (whichever is lower) per order
Equity Options Brokerage₹20 flat per executed order₹20 flat per executed order
CDSL DP Charges (Per Sell Debit)₹18.50 + GST per debit transaction₹13.50 + GST per debit per ISIN (CDSL)
Margin Trading (MTF) Interest Rate14.99% p.a. (Margin Trading Facility)10.5% p.a. (0.028% per day via Margin Trading Facility)
Developer / Algorithmic API₹1,000/month (Upstox Pro API)₹2,000/month (Kite Connect API) + ₹2,000 for Historical Data
TradingView Chart Integration✓ Included✓ Included
NSE Complaint Ratio0.03%0.02%
#1

When Should You Choose Upstox?

Mobile-first traders wanting a stable, modern app with both basic investment and advanced option trading modes.

  • Prestigious backing by Mr. Ratan Tata and Tiger Global with strict security protocols
  • Upstox Pro platform features high-refresh TradingView and ChartIQ chart libraries
  • Dual modes: "Invest" mode for beginners and "Pro" mode for active derivative traders
#2

When Should You Choose Zerodha?

Serious long-term investors, swing traders, and active traders demanding a clean, stable UI.

  • Gold-standard Kite platform: fastest order placement with zero clutter and zero sponsored banners
  • True ₹0 brokerage on long-term Equity Delivery and Direct Mutual Funds
  • Varsity by Zerodha: India's most comprehensive free financial literacy encyclopedia

Dalal Street Brokerage & Tax Calculator

Simulate trades with live STT, SEBI, GST, Stamp Duty, and DP charges across top Indian stock brokers.

Net Realized P&L
+₹4756.64
Gross P&L: ₹5000.00
Total Brokerage & Taxes
₹243.36
Brokerage: ₹0.00 | Govt Taxes: ₹243.36
Breakeven Price
₹1002.43
Need +₹2.43/share to cover costs
STATUTORY CHARGES BREAKDOWNTotal Turnover: ₹2,05,000
Brokerage (Zerodha)₹0.00
STT / CTT (Securities Transaction Tax)₹205.00
Exchange Turnover Charge (NSE)₹6.09
GST (18% on Brokerage & Trans. Charges)₹1.13
SEBI Turnover Charges₹0.20
Stamp Duty₹15.00
CDSL DP Charges (Upon selling)₹15.93
Z
ZerodhaBenchmark of India

Zero Brokerage on Equity Delivery + Free Access to Coin & Varsity

Open Zerodha Demat Account

Upstox vs Zerodha Community Poll & Discussions

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