By Saksham Arora If you’re planning to invest or trade, understanding the fee structure of Zerodha is important. The company follows a discount brokerage model, which means most charges are either low or completely free—but not everything is zero.
Let’s break it down clearly so you know exactly where your money goes.
1. Account Opening & Maintenance Charges
This is the first thing beginners usually check.
Account Opening Fees
- ₹0 (Free) for resident Indians
- Fully online process
Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC)
- ₹300 + GST per year
- Charged quarterly → ₹75 + GST every 3 months
BSDA (Basic Services Demat Account)
If your holdings are small:
- ₹0 if holding value is below ₹4 lakh
- ₹100 + GST if between ₹4–10 lakh
NRI Account Charges
- ₹500 + GST per year
2. Brokerage Charges (Main Cost for Traders)
This is where Zerodha stands out.
Equity Delivery (Long-Term Investing)
- ₹0 brokerage (Completely free)
If you just buy and hold stocks, no brokerage is charged.
Intraday Trading
- ₹20 or 0.03% (whichever is lower) per order
Futures & Options (F&O)
- Flat ₹20 per executed order
Important New Rule (F&O Traders)
- ₹40 per order if you don’t maintain 50% margin in cash
- Applies when using collateral
Mutual Funds
- ₹0 brokerage (Direct mutual funds only)
3. Government & Regulatory Charges (Updated 2026)
These are not Zerodha’s charges. They are mandatory taxes collected and passed to the government.
STT (Securities Transaction Tax)
Updated from April 2026:
- Equity Delivery: 0.1% on buy & sell
- Intraday: 0.025% on sell side
- Futures: 0.05% on sell side
- Options: 0.15% on sell side (premium)
Exchange Transaction Charges
- NSE: 0.00297%
- BSE: 0.00375%
4. DP (Depository Participant) Charges
This is one charge many beginners don’t notice.
- ₹13.50 + GST per company (ISIN) per day when you sell shares
Example: If you sell shares of 3 companies in one day → 3 × ₹13.50 = ₹40.50 + GST
5. Other Important Charges
Call & Trade Charges
- ₹50 + GST per order
- Applies if you place orders via phone
Pledge Charges
- ₹30 + GST per request
- For getting margin against shares
Off-Market Transfer
- 0.03% of value or ₹25 (whichever is higher)
Payment Charges
- Netbanking: ₹9 + GST
- UPI: Free
Physical Statements
- ₹20 + courier charges
- Digital statements are free
6. Hidden Costs You Should Know
Zerodha is transparent, but some costs still surprise beginners:
- STT and taxes (cannot be avoided)
- DP charges while selling
- GST on almost every service
- Slippage (market-related, not broker fee)
7. Example: Real Cost for Beginners
Let’s say you:
- Buy shares worth ₹10,000 → ₹0 brokerage
- Sell later → ₹13.50 DP charge + taxes
That’s why Zerodha is popular for long-term investors.
8. Quick Summary
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Account opening → Free
- AMC → ₹300/year
- Delivery trading → Free
- Intraday/F&O → ₹20 per order
- DP charge → ₹13.50 per company (on selling)
Final Thoughts
Zerodha keeps things simple—no complicated slabs, no percentage-based surprises. If you’re a long-term investor, your costs stay very low. Traders also benefit from flat pricing, especially compared to traditional brokers.
But remember, “zero brokerage” doesn’t mean zero cost. Taxes, DP charges, and small fees still add up over time.
If you understand these charges upfront, you won’t face any surprises later—and that’s where most beginners go wrong.
Hemlata Soni