5paisa vs Zerodha
Brokerage, charges, app and account-opening compared side-by-side for 5paisa and Zerodha — the verified numbers, not the marketing pitch.
Who each broker fits
Cost-conscious, self-directed investors and traders who want a low flat-fee, all-in-one app for stocks, F&O, mutual funds and IPOs without a bank-linked 3-in-1 account.
Cost-conscious self-directed Indian investors and active traders who want a low-cost, well-designed platform with free equity delivery, flat-fee intraday/F&O, and free direct mutual funds.
5paisa vs Zerodha at a glance
The verified numbers side-by-side — broker size, account cost and headline brokerage on each broker’s default plan. The lower cost (or larger client base) in each row is highlighted. STT, exchange transaction charges, SEBI fee, stamp duty, GST and DP charges apply on top — see the full landed cost on the brokerage calculator.
| Feature | 5paisa | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Active clients (NSE) | 3.31 L | 68.84 L |
| Account opening | ₹0 (free trading and demat account opening) | Free for resident individual and minor accounts (online); NRI, Partnership/LLP/Corporate accounts ₹500; HUF free online / ₹500 offline |
| Demat AMC | Free for the first year; approximately ₹300 per year thereafter per third-party data | First year free for new resident individuals; non-BSDA ₹300/year + GST from year 2; BSDA tiered (free up to ₹4 lakh) |
| Equity delivery | Flat ₹20 | Free |
| Equity intraday | Flat ₹20 | ₹20 / 0.03% |
| Futures | Flat ₹20 | ₹20 / 0.03% |
| Options | Flat ₹20 | Flat ₹20 |
| DP charges (sell side) | ₹12.5 | ₹13 |
| Default plan | Regular | Flat ₹20 |
The apps compared
- Trade and invest in stocks, mutual funds, IPOs, ETFs, F&O and commodities in one app
- Flat brokerage of Rs 20 per order; zero-commission mutual funds and free IPO applications
- TradingView charts plus FnO 360 tools with option chain analysis and predefined strategies
- Real-time NSE/BSE market data, custom watchlists and single-click order placement
- Fund transfers via UPI, NEFT, RTGS and IMPS
- Biometric login, two-factor authentication and encrypted transactions
- Charts with technical indicators and drawing tools
- GTT (Good Till Triggered) orders for delivery
- Basket orders and option chain with strike-wise OI
- Margin pledging from inside the app
Which one should you pick?
No single broker wins for every investor. The right pick depends on what you actually trade — and the “cheaper” broker on one segment can be the more expensive one on another. Use the calculators below to plug in your typical trade size and see the real landed cost for each.
5paisa is a SEBI-registered discount broker by 5paisa Capital.
Frequently asked
What people ask about 5paisa vs Zerodha.
On equity delivery, 5paisa charges Flat ₹20 and Zerodha charges Free. On intraday, 5paisa is Flat ₹20, Zerodha is ₹20 / 0.03%. On options, 5paisa is Flat ₹20, Zerodha is Flat ₹20. Brokerage is one side of the story — STT, exchange transaction charges, SEBI fee, stamp duty, GST and DP charges also apply. Compare the all-in landed cost on the brokerage calculator before deciding.
Cost-conscious, self-directed investors and traders who want a low flat-fee, all-in-one app for stocks, F&O, mutual funds and IPOs without a bank-linked 3-in-1 account. Cost-conscious self-directed Indian investors and active traders who want a low-cost, well-designed platform with free equity delivery, flat-fee intraday/F&O, and free direct mutual funds. Beginners typically care more about the app experience and the onboarding flow than the last ₹2 of brokerage — open the apps on the Play Store or App Store and look at the one you would actually use every week.
Yes. SEBI allows multiple trading accounts. Your demat can be with one broker and a separate trading account with another. Many active traders keep two — a low-cost discount broker for execution and a full-service broker for research. Watch the AMC and inactivity charges on whichever account you use less.
Both are SEBI-registered and members of NSE / BSE. Demat sits with CDSL or NSDL — the broker doesn't hold your shares, the depository does. Funds are in a SEBI-regulated client bank account separate from the broker's own funds. The bigger risk to manage is account-level fraud (phishing, OTP sharing), which is identical across brokers.
Open the Zerodha account online with PAN, Aadhaar and bank details. Then use the CDSL / NSDL "off-market transfer" / DIS or the new EASI-EASIEST transfer flow to move shares from 5paisa's demat to Zerodha's. You don't need to sell anything. Close the old account afterwards to stop the AMC.