When choosing the best trading apps in India, it’s essential to find a platform that’s user-friendly, secure, and low-fee. All the trading apps discussed here are registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Indian financial regulator, ensuring they meet the highest regulatory standards.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned trader, this guide will help you identify the best options—and highlight a few apps you might want to avoid.
Overview of the best trading apps in India
- Interactive Brokers: Best overall trading app
- Zerodha: Best for low fees
- ICICI Direct: Best for professional investors
- Vested: Best for alternative investments
- Groww: Best for beginners
- INDmoney: Best for financial management features
Comparison table
| Broker | Minimum deposit | Stock fees |
| Interactive Brokers | $500 (or equivalent in ₹) | Tiered pricing: Up to $0.0035 per US share (min. $0.35) |
| Zerodha | ₹0 | 0.03% or ₹20, whichever is lower |
| ICICI Direct | ₹0 | Up to $2.75 per trade, depending on your subscription plan |
| Vested | ₹0 | Basic plan: 0.25% of trade amount (Max: $35) |
| Groww | ₹0 | 0.1% or ₹20, whichever is lower (minimum ₹2) |
| INDmoney | ₹100 | 0.05% or ₹20, whichever is lower |
Best trading apps in India reviewed
Interactive Brokers at a glance
Founded in 1978, Interactive Brokers is one of the leading international brokers listed on the NASDAQ exchange (Ticker: IBKR) and is at the top of our list of the best apps to invest in US and Indian equities from India. You can trade stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, and funds and access over 90 global market centres.
The broker offers robust trading apps with cutting-edge features, over 100 different order types, and smart trading tools. Thanks to extensive reporting capabilities, real-time trade confirmations, and portfolio analysis tools, you can efficiently monitor and manage your investments.
The user-friendly IBKR GlobalTrader app is ideal for beginners because it offers simplified investing without sacrificing the broker’s sophisticated tools. The IBKR Mobile app provides a comprehensive and complex trading experience for stocks, ETFs, and options for experienced traders looking for more sophisticated features.
It’s simple and free to open an account with Interactive Brokers, and there are no minimum activity restrictions. Additionally, you gain access to a free DEMAT account and competitive interest rates on uninvested cash. The minimum deposit is $500, or the equivalent of INR, and you can fund your account with a bank wire transfer.
Please check our Interactive Brokers review to find out more about the broker.
Zerodha at a glance
Zerodha has more than one crore active clients, contributing over 15% of all Indian retail trading volumes. Owing to its robust technology platform, this app is recommended for beginners as well as advanced traders and investors.
Zerodha Kite is the in-house flagship mobile trading software app of the company. At present, Kite 3.0 web platform offers market watch, advanced charting with more than 100 indicators, advanced order types like cover order, good till triggered (GTT) order, fast order placements, among other features.
Moreover, Zerodha Kite can be used as a Chrome extension, which offers features such as order placement and stock tracking.
When using this trading platform, you can enjoy a range of useful features. You’ll experience high-speed streaming of market data and get access to advanced charts with a user-friendly interface. They’ve introduced a “sticky order window” that allows you to keep the order window open, making it effortless to place multiple orders with the same input.
For those looking to manage risk and understand their trades better, a “leverage indicator” helps you check the amount of leverage you’re getting for a particular trade compared to your equity stocks. If you prefer long-term investing, you can benefit from free equity delivery trading without any brokerage fees.
What’s more, you can consolidate your accounts into a convenient 3-in-1 setup, including a Demat account, a trading account, and a bank account with IDFC First Bank. Additionally, you can apply for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) directly through the app, making the investment process even more streamlined and accessible.
ICICI at a glance
ICICI Direct is a trusted company founded in 1995. It allows you to open an ICICI Direct Global account, which allows you to invest in six major markets worldwide: the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
It is very easy to open an ICICI Direct Global account. You can do everything online in just a few clicks. You don’t need any paper documents. The cool thing is that you can only buy a small portion of stocks (fractional shares) in the US market, so you don’t need much money to get started. Additionally, there are no rules that require you to keep a certain amount of money in your account.
ICICI Direct partners with Interactive Brokers LLC (the company mentioned above) to manage its digital platform. This company helps buy and sell stocks. Additionally, they offer more than 80 investment portfolios managed by experts in different regions of the world. This means you can follow their knowledge to make investments.
This app makes it easy to track your investment progress. You can check all your different investments in one place and log in with your fingerprint or face.
Managing your investments is easy because you can create lists of things you want to watch. There are also pre-made lists and tools to help you buy and sell stocks. If you like dark backgrounds on apps, the app has a “dark mode” to make it easier on your eyes. You can also use a feature called “Flash Trade” to buy and sell quickly.
When it comes to cost, ICICI Direct has some good options. You can choose a plan with no registration fee or no brokerage fee. They have three projects:
Global Classic (no subscription fee and $2.75 per transaction), Global Select (₹999 per year and $1.99 per transaction), and Global Advantage (₹9,999 per year and no fee for each trade).
Vested Finance at a glance
Vested Finance is an online platform that helps people in India invest in stocks and ETFs from the United States. Their app makes it easy to trade over 5,000 different stocks and ETFs. One cool feature is that you can buy a small portion of popular companies like Amazon or Google for as little as $1.
The app is designed to be user-friendly, so both beginners and experienced investors can use it easily. You can check real-time stock prices, get news updates, and see interactive charts and other data right on the app.
Vested has different investment options to suit your preferences. They offer ready-made portfolios called “Vests” that are curated with specific goals in mind. These Vests offer a diversified mix of stocks and ETFs that align with different themes or strategies. It’s quick and easy to get started with Vested. You can open an account within minutes through their fully digital onboarding process. They partnered with a US-regulated broker, DriveWealth LLC, allowing Indian investors to access the US stock market.
Vested has two types of subscription plans: Basic and Premium. These plans are made to meet the different needs of investors. The Basic plan has no monthly fixed fee, but it charges 0.25% of the trade amount (Max: $35) and $5 per withdrawal. It gives you important features like easy money transfers, access to curated Vests ( ready-made portfolios), and basic research tools called AlphaScreener Basic.
On the other hand, the Premium plan is priced at a monthly fee of ₹375.00 and offers even more benefits. With the Premium plan, you are charged 0.15% of the trade amount (Max: $35), and you can make 2 free withdrawals per year. You also get access to advanced research tools called AlphaScreener Plus and, priority support.
Groww at a glance
Groww is an investment platform that offers a range of features to its users. These features are divided into basic and premium subscriptions.
The basic features include the ability to buy and sell stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs seamlessly. Users can track their portfolio performance, view historical data, and analyse stocks and mutual funds using comprehensive charts and indicators.
In addition to the basic functionalities, Groww offers premium features to enhance the investment experience. Investors can export and import trade data, search for shareholders of a particular company, and access the latest company announcements, news, and events. This helps users make informed decisions and stay updated about their investments.
There are several advantages to using Groww. The app has a user-friendly interface suitable for investors of all levels. It provides comprehensive data and analytics, empowering users with insights for informed decision-making. Groww has received positive feedback from users and experts, who appreciate its design, customer support, investment options, and efforts to simplify the investment process.
Some additional benefits of Groww include commission-free investing in mutual funds, a quick and simple account opening process for trading and Demat accounts, and the ability to buy digital gold, US FDs, US ETFs, and US stocks.
Overall, Groww offers a user-friendly app with extensive features, making it accessible for investors and providing them with the tools and information needed for successful investing.
INDmoney at a glance
INDmoney is a popular investment app in India. This makes it easier for Indians to invest in US stocks from places like NASDAQ and NYSE.
Opening an account with INDmoney is quick and easy—it will only take a few minutes. Additionally, INDmoney is safe because it has partnered with trusted US brokers like Drivewealth, LLC and Alpaca Securities LLC to ensure that Indian investors can trade safely and legally.
Their Super Money app has many features to help you manage your money wisely. You can have a Demat & Trading account, automatically track your money, invest in mutual funds, use a calculator to plan your investments, buy insurance, access an IPO centre, view expense report details, use INsta Cash, and even track your credit. These tools can help you achieve your financial goals and make informed financial choices.
Regarding the smallest amount you can invest, INDmoney makes it easy for you. With their US Stocks account, you can invest as little as $1 in companies like Apple, Netflix, and Tesla. You can do all your transactions directly on the INDmoney platform, and it’s hassle-free.
If you’re unsure which stocks to choose, refer to available lists or talk to your asset manager. They can provide you with a personalised plan for your investment.
Here’s how the fees are calculated: There are no fees to open an account or buy US stocks. But there is a small fee of 0.05% or ₹20, whichever is lower.
More on regulation
As an Indian investor, you must understand the regulatory framework that governs investment platforms and brokers to ensure your investments are safe and compliant with Indian laws.
SEBI registration
All brokers who offer trading and investment services in India must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is the primary regulator for the securities markets in India. As stated on their website, their mission is:
Membership in stock exchanges (NSE, BSE, MCX)
In addition to SEBI registration, brokers must be members of the stock exchanges on which they operate. Most brokers are members of the following:
- National Stock Exchange (NSE)
- Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
- Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) for commodity trading.
Brokers that are members of these exchanges can provide their clients with access to equities (stocks), derivatives, commodities, and other market segments offered by these exchanges. If a broker is not a member of a specific exchange, they cannot provide access to that exchange’s trading services.
Investor protection
While India doesn’t have a specific investor compensation scheme like some countries (e.g., the UK’s FSCS), there are several protections in place for investors:
- Investor Protection Fund (IPF): Both NSE and BSE maintain an Investor Protection Fund (IPF), which compensates investors in case of broker defaults. If a SEBI-registered broker goes bankrupt or defaults on its obligations, investors may be compensated from this fund up to a certain limit.
- Investor grievance redressal mechanism: SEBI has a grievance redressal mechanism through its SCORES (SEBI Complaints Redress System) platform, where investors can lodge complaints against brokers or intermediaries.
- Client-segregated funds: SEBI mandates that brokers keep client funds separate from their accounts. This means the funds and securities of clients cannot be used for the broker’s purposes, reducing the risk of misuse or loss of investor funds.
- Depository protection: Depository participants (DPs) who manage your demat accounts are also required to be SEBI-registered and follow strict guidelines for maintaining your securities securely.
What to look for in a mobile trading app?
Here’s a breakdown of the most important aspects to evaluate:
- SEBI registration and exchange membership for security, as mentioned above
- User-friendly interface:
- Navigate easily between different sections (e.g., portfolio, markets, watchlist).
- View charts, analytics, and financial data without overwhelming you with complexity.
- Order execution flexibility:
- Market orders, limit orders, stop-loss orders, and bracket orders.
- Margin trading for leveraged trades, if applicable.
- Low and transparent pricing structure:
- No hidden charges like annual maintenance fees for demat accounts or fund transfers.
- Zero-brokerage plans (often available on delivery trades) or discount brokerage models are common in India.
- Strong security features:
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) for an added layer of security.
- Secure encryption protocols to protect your personal and financial data.
- Biometric login options like fingerprint or facial recognition for faster yet secure access.
- Customer support:
- In-app or phone support options that offer fast resolution.
- A dedicated help section with FAQs, chatbots, or community forums.
What is needed to open an account?
To create an investment account in India, you’ll need the following documents:
- Proof of identity: PAN card (mandatory), along with Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, or driving license.
- Proof of address: Aadhaar, utility bill, bank statement, or rental agreement.
- Bank details: Canceled cheque or bank statement.
- Photographs: Passport-sized photos.
- Income proof (for trading in derivatives): Salary slips or income tax returns.
These documents are required to complete the “Know Your Customer (KYC)” verification before you can start trading.
Investment apps you should avoid!
Unfortunately, the world of investment also attracts scams or simply unreliable brokers. As such, we would like to advise you on two that have a major presence in India:
- Pocket Option: A binary options trading platform that operates without clear SEBI regulation, making it risky for Indian investors.
- Quotex: Another binary options platform which isn’t registered with SEBI, exposing users to potential legal and financial risks.
Both platforms lack transparency and proper regulatory oversight, making them unsafe for investment in India. For a secure trading experience, always prioritize apps registered with SEBI and Indian exchanges.
Bottom line
Choosing the right trading app in India is critical for success. Ensure that the app is SEBI-registered, user-friendly, and transparent with fees.
Platforms like Interactive Brokers, Zerodha, and Groww offer excellent features for different types of investors, from beginners to professionals.
However, avoid platforms like Pocket Option and Quotex, as they are not SEBI-regulated and pose significant financial risks. Always prioritize security, regulatory compliance, and ease of use when selecting your investment platform.
