Top 5 Trading Platforms for Beginners and Experts in India 2026

The top trading platforms in India for beginners and experts in 2026 are Groww, Zerodha, Angel One, Upstox and ICICI Direct. Groww has the most active clients, Zerodha offers free equity delivery, and Angel One and Upstox charge a flat Rs 20 on most orders. ICICI Direct suits those who want a bank-linked 3-in-1 account.

This list has been updated for 2026 with current brokerage charges from each broker’s official pricing page and the latest active client figures. Edelweiss, which featured in the earlier version, has been dropped because its broking and wealth business was spun off and now operates separately as Nuvama.

Why more young Indians are trading

Demat account openings rose sharply after the pandemic, led by investors in their 20s and 30s. However, the trend has cooled. According to Kotak Institutional Equities data reported by Business Today, active clients across the broking industry fell about 7% in FY26, from 4.92 crore to 4.57 crore.

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That makes it even more important to pick a platform on cost, ease of use and support, not on hype.

Quick comparison: brokerage charges in 2026

Platform	Equity delivery	Intraday	F&O options
Zerodha	Rs 0	0.03% or Rs 20, lower	Rs 20 per order
Groww	0.1% or Rs 20, lower (min Rs 5)	0.1% or Rs 20, lower (min Rs 5)	See official page
Angel One	0.1% or Rs 20, lower (min Rs 5)	0.1% or Rs 20, lower (min Rs 5)	Rs 20 per order
Upstox	Rs 20 per order	0.1% or Rs 20, lower	Rs 20 per order
ICICI Direct	Plan based, from 0.07%	Plan based	Plan based

Charges are per executed order and exclude GST and statutory levies. Check each broker’s pricing page before you open an account, as plans change.

Top 5 trading platforms for beginners and experts

1. Zerodha

Zerodha is one of India’s best-known discount brokers. It charges nothing for equity delivery trades on NSE and BSE. Intraday and futures trades cost 0.03% or Rs 20 per executed order, whichever is lower, and options cost a flat Rs 20 per order.

Account opening is free for individuals, and the first year of demat maintenance is free for resident individuals. After that, a regular demat account costs Rs 300 a year plus GST. Zerodha had about 68.9 lakh active clients at the end of FY26, making it the second-largest broker. It suits long-term investors who mostly buy and hold shares.

2. Groww

Groww is now India’s largest broker by active clients, with about 1.29 crore active clients at the end of FY26 and a market share of around 28%, according to Business Today. It also offers direct mutual fund investing with zero charges, which makes it a common first app for new investors.

Account opening and account maintenance are listed at Rs 0. Equity brokerage is 0.1% or Rs 20 per executed order, whichever is lower, with a minimum of Rs 5. An auto square-off charge of Rs 50 applies to open intraday positions.

3. Angel One

Angel One was incorporated as Angel Broking in 1996 by Dinesh Thakkar and took its current name in 2021. Headquartered in Mumbai, it listed on the BSE and NSE in October 2020. It was the third-largest broker in FY26, with about 67.6 lakh active clients.

New customers pay no brokerage for the first 30 days on up to Rs 500 of brokerage. After that, delivery and intraday trades cost 0.1% or Rs 20, whichever is lower (minimum Rs 5), and F&O trades cost Rs 20 per order. Account opening is free for residents.

4. Upstox

Upstox is a technology-led discount broker offering equities, derivatives, commodities and currencies through its web and mobile apps. Equity delivery trades cost Rs 20 per order, intraday trades cost 0.1% or Rs 20, whichever is lower, and options cost a flat Rs 20 per order.

Account opening is free, though a processing fee may apply during onboarding. The first year of account maintenance is free for new users, after which a regular account costs Rs 300 plus GST a year. Its active client count declined in FY26, in line with the wider industry.

5. ICICI Direct

ICICI Direct is the online trading platform of ICICI Securities, launched in 2000. ICICI Securities became a wholly owned subsidiary of ICICI Bank in March 2025. Its main product is the 3-in-1 account, which links an ICICI Bank savings account with trading and demat accounts.

With this setup, you can invest directly from your bank balance without transfers. Brokerage depends on the plan you choose, with delivery charges as low as 0.07% on its Prime plans. It suits investors who value a bank-backed full-service broker and branch support over the lowest cost.

How to choose the right trading platform

• Long-term investor: look for zero or low delivery charges, such as Zerodha.
• Beginner: pick a simple app with free account opening, such as Groww or Angel One.
• Active trader: compare intraday and F&O charges, charting tools and order types.
• Bank convenience: a 3-in-1 account like ICICI Direct keeps money, shares and trading in one place.

Always check the full charges sheet, including STT, exchange fees, SEBI fees, stamp duty, GST and demat charges. Trading in derivatives carries high risk, so beginners should learn the basics before trying F&O. For more money guides, visit our Finance and Technology sections.

Further reading: Kalaari Capital, GVK Davix,.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Zerodha charges, Angel One charges, Upstox brokerage, Business Today.