Head-to-head
Zerodha vs 5paisa: Benchmark vs Budget Challenger
Zerodha set the discount standard; 5paisa undercuts on headline price with flat-fee plans. Look past the sticker: compare platform quality, support, and what plans and add-ons actually cost.
Pricing last verified 13 Sept 2026 against official sources.
4.6/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Cost-conscious DIY investors who mainly buy-and-hold stocks or trade F&O occasionally. | Budget investors who want the lowest headline fees and can self-serve. |
| Account opening | ₹0 (free)source | ₹0 (free)source |
| Annual maintenance (AMC) | ₹0 first year, then ₹300/yearsource | ₹300/yearsource |
| Equity delivery | ₹0source | ₹20 per ordersource |
| Intraday | ₹20 or 0.03% per ordersource | ₹20 per ordersource |
| Options | ₹20 per ordersource | ₹20 per ordersource |
| Futures | ₹20 or 0.03% per ordersource | ₹20 per ordersource |
| Research & advisory | — | — |
| Charting | ✓ ChartIQ + TradingViewsource | — |
| Mobile app | ✓ Kite (Android + iOS)source | ✓ 5paisa app (Android + iOS)source |
| Web platform | ✓ Kite Websource | — |
| US stocks | — | — |
| Customer support | ✓ Ticket + call-and-tradesource | — |
| IPO investing | — | ✓ UPI-based IPO applications (incl. Guest IPO without account)source |
| Mutual funds | ✓ Supported | ✓ Supported |
| IPO | ✓ Supported | ✓ Supported |
| US stocks | — | — |
| Fees & pricing score | 4.8/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Trading platforms score | 4.7/5 | 3.7/5 |
| Customer support score | 3.9/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Research & education score | 3.5/5 | 3.3/5 |
| Ease of opening score | 4.2/5 | 4.0/5 |
Highlighted rows differ. “Confirming” means we haven't re-verified that figure yet — check the official pricing page.
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4.6/ 5
Pick Zerodha for the dependable platform, education, and community — worth the ₹200 opening and ₹300 AMC for most.
Most investors: Zerodha. Pure price hunters who need nothing else: 5paisa.
Zerodha: strengths & weaknesses
What we like
- ₹0 equity delivery brokerage
- Simple flat ₹20 intraday/F&O pricing
- Mature Kite web + mobile platform
- Strong Varsity investor-education library
- Free account opening
Watch out for
- ₹300/year AMC after free first year
- No research-advisory for beginners
- Support can be slow on volatile days
5paisa: strengths & weaknesses
What we like
- Flat ₹20 pricing across segments
- Low-cost entry plans
- IIFL-group backing
- Auto-invest and research add-ons
Watch out for
- App UX lags newer rivals
- Add-on fees need attention
- Support is hit-or-miss
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How we research. Every fee on this site carries a source and a verification date. Data is re-checked against official broker pages; read our editorial methodology. LetsInvest is a research publication, not a financial adviser — see our terms.