Last Updated: May 10, 2018

I opened my first demat account in 2006 just after getting my first job. I was excited to invest in the stock markets. I had my salary account with ICICI and it was damn easy to get a demat and trading account with ICICI bank.

But later I realised that ICICI charges a hell lot of charges for trading and delivery of shares into account. I still kept using ICICI for a couple of years. Why? Because my trading volume was very low and my overall investment in stock market was less than 1,00,000 rupees.

Most of my investment was in Mutual Funds and Fixed Deposits.

It was easy to transfer funds from my saving account to demat account, so the high transaction charges did not bother me.

Know the difference between demat and trading account before investing. 

A trading account is used to place buy or sell orders in the stock market. Demat means dematerialising shares into digital format rather than on physical paper. The demat account is used as a bank where shares bought are deposited in, and where shares sold are taken from. You will get a single account for demat & trading.

If you are long term investor, then you must read the most insightful article – 7 Smart Steps to Start Investing in Stock Markets even if you have just Rs. 10,000

I bet, you will love it. Read the comments of the article as well. 

In 2010, I started investing heavily into stock markets. In past few years I opened accounts with Ventura Securities, Angel Broking and Sharekhan.

My trading volume is low because I prefer to buy shares for long term. For high trading volume you can open an account with 5Paisa (You can Click here to open account with 5Paisa)

You can read the detailed review of demat accounts and decide which is the best trading platform for you.

Best demat account in India with a lowest brokerage

#1. 5Paisa Demat Account

Unlike other demat and trading platforms, 5 Paisa offers flat Rs. 10 for trade. No matter how much you buy. You will not be charged based on any percentage.

Click Here to open an account with 5Paisa 

Other Benefits 

• First 5 trades free with no DP charges
• First Year Annual Maintenance Charges – Nil
• Invest in Mutual Funds and buy insurance through same account
• Opening Charges – 650 Rs, but you can discuss if they waive off.
• Annula Maintnace Charges – Rs 400

Don’t worry about the account opening charges. In either case, you will save a lot of money from the saving from your trade charges. ICICI charges 0.5% of the trade volume, that means I have to pay Rs. 500 for buying/selling 100,000 Rs. shares while at 5Paisa I will pay only Rs. 10.

Margin provided by 5paisa

Equity Intraday	Upto 15 times
Equity Delivery	5 times
Equity Futures	2 times
Equity Options	2 times
Currency F&O	2 times

Account opening is very easy and convenient. You fill up simple online form and they will come to collect your documents.

Direct link to Fill up online application for 5Paisa Account

5Paisa Brokerage Structure

Transaction Form	Brokerage
Equity Intraday	Rs 10 per executed order
Equity Delivery	Rs 10 per executed order
Equity Futures	Rs 10 per executed order
Equity Options	Rs 10 per executed order
Currency F&O	Rs 10 per executed order

5Paisa Trading Platform

• Investor Terminal – Investor terminal is for the low volume traders. This is a web based terminal and easy to access.
• Trader Terminal – Trader terminal is for high volume traders which provides powerful interface and fast execution.

#2. Angel Broking Demat Account

Angel broking is one of the oldest brokerage company in India having established network branches in over 900 cities. At present angel broking providing service to more than 10,00,000 customers.

I am using that for 3 years now and loving their support system.

Angel broking ‘s  customer care service is up to the mark.

I recommend Angel Broking for the peace of mind, best in class trading platforms.

Click Here To Open Account with Angel Broking

I negotiated the brokerage charges at the time of account opening by giving a high amount of opening cheque.

You can also try when you meet with their agent.

Additional Benefits and Offers

• Lifetime FREE* demat account
• Get upto 4 movie tickets FREE on BookMyShow

Angel Broking Provided Trading Platforms

• Angel Eye – A web based platform useful for portfolio tracking and undated quotes. It also provide up-to-date market information and live news. I use Angel Eye platform for transactions.
• Angel Broking App –  A mobile app useful to view current market prices and track your portfolio.
• Angel Speed Pro –  An installable software comes with 30 days intraday and 20 years historical data.

Additional Services

• Margin provided up to 10 times of the amount deposit.
• Free SMS advisory service for 3 months.
• You can start trading within 1 hour through digital KYC.

Account Charges of Angel Broking

• Trading Account Opening Charges – Rs 0.
• Demat Account Opening Charges – Rs 0.
• Annual Maintenance Charges (Negotiate with the agent when they call you)
• Angel Classic ( 10,000 to 24,999) – Rs 450 per annum.
• Angel Preferred ( 25,000 to 49,999) – No AMC for 1st year and Rs 450 p.a afterwards.
• Angel Premier ( 50,000 to 99,999) – No AMC for 2 year and Rs 450 p.a afterwards.
• Angel Elite ( 1,00,000 & more) – No AMC for 3 years and Rs 450 p.a afterwards.

A Quick Link To Open Account with Angel Broking

#3. Aditya Birla in Demat Account

Disclaimer: Aditya Birla is relatively new in the market so I am not sure about their customer support. I am listing here because of their affordable pricing and good brand name. 

If your fed up with paying annual maintenance charges to the brokerage companies, then you must consider Aditya Birla demat account.

Currently, Aditya Birla offers demat-cum-trading account with no annual maintenance charges for 5 years. For this, you have to pay one time demat account opening charges of Rs 555.

Apply for the Aditya Birla Account by clicking here

Besides, with the market concern, Aditya Birla deals into equity and derivatives market through BSE and NSE and trades into currency market through MCX-SX.

It also provides commodity trading on MCX and NCDEX through its subsidiary company, Aditya Birla commodities broking Ltd.

Account Charges

• Demat Account Opening Charges –  555
• Trading  Account Opening Charges – Nil
• First Year Annual Maintenance Charges – Nil
• Annual Maintenance Charges – Nil (for five years)

Margin Provided by Aditya Birla

Equity intraday	Upto 15 times
Intraday margin selected nifty scrips	Upto 40 times
Equity delivery	Upto 5 times
Equity futures	Upto 3 times
Currency futures	Upto 3 times
Commodity	Upto 4 times

Aditya Birla Demat Account Brokerage Charges

Equity delivery	0.3%
Equity intraday	0.03% of Turnover
Equity options (each lot)	Rs 50
Currency future	0.03% of Turnover
Currency options (each lot)	Rs 20
Commodity	0.03% of Turnover

Aditya Birla Demat Account Trading Platforms

ADM offers terminal based, web based and mobile app based trading to its customers. Other then trading platform ADM is providing a portfolio tracker and online analytical for better decision making.

• ABM Desktop App – Aditya Birla money is using ;omnesys nest’ trader as their primary desktop trading terminal. It shows the real-time market data and live price quotes of NSE, BSE, CDS, MCX and NCDEX.

A Quick Application link for Aditya Birla Account

You can also Access all account related information like portfolio tracker, capital gains, statement of accounts and DP Holdings and.

• ABM Web Trade – “ABM classic“ is a power-packed online trading platform, which provides you with Live streaming quotes (Sensex movements) and research calls, and integrated fund transfer system along with multiple watch list facility.
• Aditya Birla Money Mobile Invest pro– ABM’s Mobile Invest pro is a premium trading mobile app. With this app , you can get real-time stock quotes, instant buy/sell, and track your investment.
• ABM Portfolio Tracker – Its one stop shop for your entire portfolio which provide live tracking of portfolio performance, built-in buy and sell feature Profit & loss, dividend report, and real time gain/loss report.
• ABM Trade Metri(s)ks – This is a analytics tool for making better trading decision. The reports benchmark your trade parameters helping you make better trading decisions
  

Advantage of Aditya Birla Demat Account

• Multiple trading platforms-  terminal based, web based and mobile app.
• Intraday margin on selected nifty scrips upto 40 times.
• Competitive brokerage rate.
• ABM offers services like online bidding for IPO and mutual funds.
• No call and trade charges
• You can transfer funds online from more than 11 banks.
• Provide research assistance for portfolio creation & restructuring.

Cons of Aditya Birla Demat Account

• It offers demat-cum-trading 2-in 1 account. It doesn’t provides saving account integrated 3-in-1 account.
• It doesn’t offer any fixed brokerage plan/ trade order like 5 paisa and Zerodha offer. So, big investors would have to pay higher brokerage.

#4. Religare Demat Account

Religare securities Ltd. (RSL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of religare enterprise. RSL is a diversified financial service group which serving more than 8 lakh across both online and offline platforms.

RSL offers broking services in equity, currency and commodity along with depository participant services.  

Account Charges

• Demat Account Opening Charges – Nil
• Trading  Account Opening Charges – Nil
• First Year Annual Maintenance Charges – Nil
• Annual Maintenance Charges From 2nd Year –  Rs 500

Note – You can avail lifetime AMC free account with one-time payment of Rs.2500.

Religare Demat & Trading Account Brokerage Charges

• Intraday Charges – 0.05%
• Delivery – 0.50%

Advantages of Religare Securities Ltd

• RSL provide mobile trading platform to place order anytime from anywhere.
• Provides facility of investing in equities, derivatives, currency, futures, commodities and mutual funds through a single account.
• Provides intraday reporting and historical charting.

Disadvantages of Religare Securities Ltd

• Charge Rs 10 per offline order with a maximum limit of Rs 50 per day.

#5. Kotak Securities Demat account

Kotak securities demat account offers a single account to hold certificates of your financial instruments like shares, bonds, government securities, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Kotak securities provide a single platform for investments in equities, mutual funds, and currency derivatives. It also offers margin against securities using shares in your demat account. Available margin can be used for any of the three segments.

If you are looking for the broker advice then Kotak broker also provide daily alerts, economic reports and customizable Research Reports to its clients.

Kotak Securities Demat Account Fee & Charges

• Trading Account Opening Chrages – Rs 750
• Demat Account opening Charges – Nil
• Trading Account AMC – Nil
• Demat Account AMC – Rs 600

Other ChargesKotak Securities Trading Platforms
Kotak Securities offers 4 trading platforms to suit investor’s requirement. These are

• Website Based Trading – A stock trading website which can be accessed through any Web Browser. Kotak also offers a lightweight trading website ‘Xtralite’, which can be used by investors with slow speed internet.
• Trading Terminals (KEATProX and FASTLANE) – Kotak offers two different trading terminal based application. KEATProX is an exe based installable desktop application providing fastest trading experience. FASTLANE is a Java applet based application which gives you a trading terminal kind of experience without any installation on your computer.
• Mobile Stock Trading – Through Kotak mobile stock trading app you can Execute Trades, Monitor Portfolio, View Streaming Quotes and Intraday Charts.
• Branch Advisory and Call & Trade – Kotak also offers trading facility through its 1400+ branches and though call centers using call & trade facility.

Kotak Securities Advantages

• Kotak Securities website provides a wide range of investment options. This includes investment in equity, IPO’s, Bonds, FD’s, ETF’s, Mutual Funds, Currency Derivatives etc.
• It provides daily SMS alerts, market pointers, periodical research reports, stock recommendations to help the customers.
• Online Chat facility is available to support the customer.

Kotak Securities Disadvantages

• Kotak Securities is a Full Services Broker. The brokerage charged by them is higher than the Discount Brokers.

Best demat account for investors in India

#6. Sharekhan Demat & Trading Account

Sharekhan is one of the leading online brokerage company having more than 12 lakh customer base. Presently company has providing service from more than 1800 offices across 550 cities.

Sharekhan offers two type of accounts

1) Classic Account – Classic account is a online trading account for equities and derivatives best suited for investors. This account has the features like multiple watch lists, real-time portfolio tracking with price alerts and integrated banking.

2) Trade Tiger Account –  Trade tiger account is a net based executable application for active traders who trade frequently during the day’s trading session.

I have their classic account because I am not a trader, I am a value investor.

Click here to get an account with ShareKhan

Account Charges of Sharekhan account

• Trading Account Opening Charges – Nil
• Demat Account Opening Charges – Nil
• Annual Maintenance Charges – Upto 750 (depend on the balance keep)

Brokerage Structure

Transaction Form	Brokerage
Equity Intraday	0.1% on both sell & buy ( min 5 paise/share)
Equity Delivery	0.5% ( min 10 paise/share)
Equity Futures	0.1%
Equity Options	Rs 100 per lot or 2.5% on premium ( whichever is  higher)

Benefits of Sharekhan

• Account opening charges are adjusted towards first six months brokerage or waived off.
• No annual maintenance charge for the first year.
• Sharekhan provides online & offline training workshops to investors.
• Free call & trade facility.

Drawbacks of Sharekhan

• Minimum brokerage charge per stock would reduce your profit on trading small (penny) stock.
• Brokerage rate is higher as compared to other demat companies. But you can negotiate at the time of account opening.

#7. Motilal Oswal Demat Account

Motilal oswal financial services is at the third position in the list of best demat accounts in India. Motilal Oswal provides a huge number of services such as private wealth management, retail broking and distribution, institutional broking, asset management, investment banking, private equity, commodity broking, currency broking, principal strategies & home finance.

Presently the company has more than 1700 business locations with over 7.5 lakh registered customers. Motilal oswal’ solid research based advice is the reason of such a strong customer base. They spend Around  10% revenue on research and on hiring & training for research.

I do my own research before buying any stocks, so their research calls are not helpful to me.

Account Charges

• Demat Account Opening Charges – Rs 0
• Trading  Account Opening Charges -Rs 0
• Annual Maintenance Charges –  Rs 400.

Motilal Oswal Brokerage Charges

Transaction Form	Brokerage
Equity Intraday	0.05%
Equity Delivery	0.5%
Equity Futures	0.05%
Equity Options	75/ lot

Motilal Oswal Trading Platforms

• Desktop Trading Platform – A desktop based platform which needs to installed in the system, provides to access over 30,000 research reports across all asset classes.

• Web Trading Platform – Accounts can be accessed very easily with any system through web

• Mobile Trading Platform – A mobile platform which allow to trade through mobiles and tablets.

Benefits of Motilal Oswal

• Award winning research advise covers around 95% of market capitalisation.
• Provides free brokerage for the first month.

#8. Zerodha

Zerodha is one of the largest discount broker having more than Over 1.5 lakh trading customers with average daily trading transaction of  over Rs 10,000 crore.

Zerodha is best for the small investors because there is no minimum charges of brokerage per trade. The brokerage rate is 0.01% or Rs 20 per executed order whichever is lower. This will lead you in saving on brokerage.

Their main business review comes from derivatives, hence they have decided to charge zero brokerage on delivery.

Zerodha also offers a 60 Day Challenge. If a trader is net profitable in a 60 day period, all the brokerage charged to him will be refunded. Maximum brokerage reversal is capped at Rs 6000 per challenge.

Key Benefits of Zerodha

• Delivery is totally free. No brokerage on delivery.
• No minimum cap of brokerage per transaction.
• Maximum brokerage charge capped to Rs 20 irrespective of transaction volume.
• Provide margin from 4 to 10 times.

Account Charges

• Trading Account Opening Charges ( one time) – Nil
• Demat Account opening Charges ( one time) – Rs 300
• Trading Account Maintenance Charges (AMC) – Rs 0
• Demat Account Maintenance Charges (AMC) – Rs 300 per year

Zerodha Brokerage Charges

• Equity Delivery- zero brokerage
• Equity Intraday- 0.01% or Rs 20/per trade whichever is lower
• Equity Futures- 0.01% or Rs 20/per trade whichever is lower
• Equity Options-  flat Rs 20 per trade.

Zerodha Trading Platforms

• Zerodha Trader – A complete trading solution for the investors and traders which provide complete market data and multi market access from a single front end.
• Zerodha Z5 –  A browser based website specially for the users having low internet speed of less than 512 Kbps.
• Zerodha Mobile – A mobile app through which you can trade from your mobile also.
• Zerodha Pi – A next generation trading platform having many features such as integrating charting with up to 50,000 candles.

Note: You should not open Zerodha account just because it offers lowest rates. I do not have any account with Zerodha because I am not a trader. You should open Zerodha if your trade volume is more than 1Cr per year.

#9. Ventura Securities

Ventura is a full service broking company which provides service to clients to invest in equity, equity derivatives, commodities, mutual funds, fixed income products and currency futures.  

I am Ventura customer for a long time. Their web based online trading platform is not as matured as Angel & Sharekhan but they provide good support over phone. Their windows based trading platform is also good. You will need a little trading before starting your trading on their platform.

Account Charges

• Trading  Account Opening Charges – Rs 150
• Demat Account Opening Charges – Rs 300
• First Year Annual Maintenance Charges – Nil
• Demat Account Annual Maintenance Charges –  Rs 400
• Trading Account Annual Maintenance Charges- Nil

Ventura Brokerage

Ventura charge different brokerage rate depends upon the plan that you will choose. You have to pay the plan amount at the account opening time. Your brokerage will be adjusted against deposit throughout the year.

Plan	Refundable amount	Validity	Equity Delivery	Equity Intraday	Equity Futures	Equity Options
Rs 1,000	Rs 1,000	1 year	0.45%	0.05%	0.05%	Rs 50 per lot
Rs 2,000	Rs 2,000	1 year	0.35%	0.04%	0.04%	Rs 50 per lot
Rs 3,500	Rs 3,500	1 year	0.20%	0.03%	0.03%	Rs 50 per lot
Rs 5,000	Rs 5,000	1 year	0.17%	0.025%	0.025%	Rs 35 per lot
Rs 7,500	Rs 7,500	1 year	0.15%	0.02%	0.02%	Rs 35 per lot
Rs 9,999	Rs 9,999	1 year	0.15%	0.02%	0.02%	Rs 35 per lot
Rs 10,000	Rs 10,000	6 months	0.15%	0.015%	0.015%	Rs 35 per lot
Rs 15,000	Rs 15,000	6 months	0.13%	0.0125%	0.0125%	Rs 35 per lot
Rs 18,000	Rs 18,000	1 year	0.15%	0.015%	0.015%	Rs 35 per lot
Rs 25,000	Rs 25,000	1 year	0.13%	0.0125%	0.0125%	Rs 35 per lot
Rs 30,000	Rs 30,000	1 year	0.10%	0.01%	0.01%	Rs 35 per lot
Rs 40,000	Rs 43,000	1 year	0.10%	0.01%	0.01%	Rs 25 per lot
Rs 50,000	Rs 55,000	1 year	0.10%	0.01%	0.01%	Rs 21 per lot
Rs 72,000	Rs 80,000	1 year	0.10%	0.01%	0.01%	Rs 18 per lot

Ventura Trading Platform

• Ventura Pointer – This is a software based trading platform which is to be installed in the system. Ventura pointer has the features like customizes watch marker window, detail scrip and allow study, analyze & trade from chart window.
• Web Based Trading – et.ventura1.com is a web based trading platform but it lacks a lot of features. 
• Ventura Wealth – Ventura wealth is a mobile app based trading platform. This app is free if you register under plan Rs 9,999. This provides real time trading and live market updates.

Advantages of Ventura Security

• Offers a wide range of financial products to invest which includes equity, equity derivatives, commodities, mutual funds, fixed income products and currency futures.
• First year AMC is free.
• The mobile app make trading more user friendly.

Disadvantages of Ventura Security

• You have to deposit a fixed yearly fee based on your plan along with the brokerage. The amount is refundable only if you generates similar amount of brokerage for Ventura in a year.

Best Bank For Demat Account in India ( 3-in-1 account )

#10. ICICI Direct Demat and Trading Account

ICICI direct is one the largest share brokerage company having more than 20 lakh customers. ICICI Direct provides a wide range of services and investment options which includes

• Investment in equities, derivatives, mutual funds, SIP, IPO, NCD & bonds, ETF and currency.
• Wealth products.
• Home loans & loan against securities.

Who Should Apply

• If your trading volume is low then ICICI Direct account is best for you.
• If you have ICICI saving account and want to invest in IPO and Mutual Funds.
• You will get 3-in-1 account Saving+Trading+Demat
• It’s easy to transfer in and transfer out money.

ICICI offers 3 types of brokerage plans

1) I- Saver plan

A variable percentage of brokerage is charged on basis of quarterly turnover. Higher the turnover, lesser will be the brokerage.

2) I- Secure Plan

A fixed percentage of brokerage is charged on turnover. There is no turnover based slab rates like I- saver plan.

3) Prepaid Brokerage Plan

You have to pay prepaid brokerage under this plan. The brokerage rate is lesser as compare to the other two plan. But your money will be locked & not beneficial for seasonal traders or investors to lock their money.

Prepaid Card Value	Delivery Brokerage Rate	Intraday Brokerage Rate
10,000	0.45%	0.045%
25,000	0.35%	0.035%
50,000	0.30%	0.030%
75,000	0.25%	0.025%
1,00,000	0.20%	0.020%
2,00,000	0.15%	0.015%
3,00,000	0.12%	0.012%

Account Charges

• Account Opening Charges -Rs 975
• Annual Maintenance Charges –  Rs 700

ICICIDirect Trading Platforms

• Share Trading Account – A web based platform with which you can do all the trading and investing activities. This is not purpose full if you want to do technical analysis for trading.
• Trade Racer – Trading platform suits for technical analysis as well. This provides features like live streaming quotes & research cells and integrated fund transfer system.

#11. SBICap Securities

SBICap offers investment banking services which includes

• Capital Markets (including Public Issues, Rights Issues & Private Placement of Debt and Equity)
• Broking Services
• Financial Engineering
• Resource Mobilisation through Capital Markets

Account Charges

• Account Opening Charges -Rs 850
• Account Annual Maintenance Charges –  Rs 800

SBICap Brokerage Charges

Transaction Form	Brokerage (higher of)
Equity Intraday	0.05% or 5 paisa per share
Delivery	0.50% or  5 paisa per share
Futures	0.05% or 5 paisa per share
Options	Rs 100/ lot

SBICap Trading Platforms

• SBI Desktop Trading Software – This is a software called [email protected] which is provided to all the clients trading with them. This software has to instal in the computer.
• SBI Smart Trading Mobile App –  This mobile app mobile allows SBI customers to trade in equities and derivatives through their mobile phones.

#12. HDFC Security

HDFC security limited is a subsidiary of India’s largest private bank HDFC. HDFC securities provides 3-in-1 account which integrate your saving account, trading account and demat account.

Account Charges

• Account Opening Charges -Rs 0
• Account Annual Maintenance Charges –  Rs 750 ( free for first year)

HDFC Trading Platform

• Web Based Trading – This is a web based trading platform called “ Securities trading and Securities processing”. This is one the best e-brokerage platform. It provides the real time market data and trading options.
• HDFC Securities Mobile Trading – HDFC mobile platform allow to trade in equities and derivatives through their mobile phones.

Benefits

• Due to integrated accounts, funds can easily transfer from one account to another. Only helpful for HDFC saving account customers.

Drawbacks

• High brokerage rate as compared to discount brokers.
• HDFC security doesn’t offer service in the commodity market.
• If you are new customer to HDFC,  then firstly you have to open the saving account.

Which account are you going to open and why?

I tried to collect all required information in a single article. I would like to know which account you liked. Kindly let me know in the comments.

For high volume trading, the first preference should be 5Paisa.

and second should be:

AngelBroking, that provide you reliable trading platforms and awesome customer support. They don’t offer flat broking charges but you can negotiate upto 0.01% brokerage.

Don’t spend much time on deciding about the demat accounts, rather spend more time on learning how can you make money from share market and trading.

Avoid the common mistakes that I also did in the past and lost my money. I have written an article on how to avoid common mistakes in share market.

You must read how to start investing in the indian stock market even if you have only Rs. 10,000 to start with.

Be safe. Learn and make money.