Top Stock Advisory
Mdirect vs. Astha Trade
All stockbrokers charge you a fee for carrying out trading transactions. They charge you different fees for different asset classes. So, to maximize your returns and best trading experience, you need to choose the best stock broker.
Among the best stockbrokers in India, two top names are Mdirect and Astha Trade. Please find a thorough comparison study for both the stock brokers, and find the table below for the comparison of Mdirect and Astha Trade.
Overview
Mdirect are Astha Trade both private companies and Mdirect operates as a discount broker, while Astha Trade functions as a full service broker. Sushil Agarwal co-founded Mdirect in 1997. And Astha Trade was founded in the year 2005 by Saksham Dumra. Mdirect's headquarters are in Mumbai, Maharashtra and Astha Trade's headquarters are in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Mdirect operates as a discount broker, while Astha Trade functions as a full service broker. Mdirect is registered in NA, while Astha Trade is registered in NA. The total branches of Mdirect are Nil and the Astha Trade branches are 0.
| Overview | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Broker Type | Discount Broker | Full Service Broker |
| Type of company | Private | Private |
| Headquarter | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh |
| Founders | Sushil Agarwal | Saksham Dumra |
| Foundation Year | 1997 | 2005 |
| Supported Exchanges | NA | NA |
| Total branches | Nil | 0 |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Trading Account Opening and Demat Charges
A dematerialization account, also known as a Demat account keeps the securities in an electronic form that are deposited with National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) or Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL).
Account opening fees for various brokers range from 0 to Rs.200, with Mdirect charging Rs.500 and Astha Trade charging Rs.650.
When you open a Demat account, you must pay specific fees such as account maintenance fees, broker commissions, GST, and STT. When you open a Demat account, you must pay specific fees such as account maintenance charges, broker commissions, GST, and STT. So, account maintenance charges (AMC) for the Mdirect Demat account is Free or Rs.400 per Annum and for the Astha Trade Demat account is Rs.300. The Trading AMC for Mdirect and Astha Trade is free. And the margin money for both brokers is also zero.
As we know that NSDL and CDSL are the two depositories in India registered by Indian Government which holds various securities in electronic form like stocks, bonds, etc. So, the depository for both Mdirect and Astha Trade is CDSL.
| Account Opening and Demat Charges | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Account Opening Charges | Rs.500 | Rs.650 |
| Demat AMC (Annual Maintenance Charges) | Free or Rs.400 per Annum | Rs.300 |
| Trading AMC (Annual Maintenance Charges) | Free | Free |
| Margin Money | Zero Margin | Rs.5,000 |
| Offline to Online Charges | Yes | Yes |
| Depository | CDSL & NSDL | CDSL & NSDL |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Equity Brokerage Charges
There are more charges that a broker charges for equity transactions.
Equity delivery charges: This means holding the stocks for a certain period of time and selling it when you make a profit. Different brokers charge different rates on Equity Delivery. The Equity Delivery charges for Mdirect is Rs.18 per Order, while Astha Trade charges you 0.10%.
Equity Intraday: This means when you buy and sell stocks on the same day. So, the equity intraday brokerage charges for Mdirect is Rs.18 per Order or 0.01% whichever is low and for Astha Trade also, it is 0.01%.
Equity Futures: Equity futures refers to the purchase and sale of shares at a fixed price on a future date. Mdirect charge Rs.18 per Order and Astha Trade charge 0.01% for equity futures.
Equity Options: These are contracts that allow an investor to buy or sell equities at a predetermined or strike price, (1 contract=100 shares). For equity options, Mdirect charges Rs.18 per Order, and Astha Trade charges Rs.10 per lot.
| Equity Brokerage Charges | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery Brokerage | Rs.18 per Order | 0.10% |
| Equity Intraday Brokerage | Rs.18 per Order or 0.01% whichever is low | 0.01% |
| Equity Futures Brokerage | Rs.18 per Order | 0.01% |
| Equity Options Brokerage | Rs.18 per Order | Rs.10 per lot |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Currency Brokerage Charges
Currency trading is also known as forex trading, which is used to buy and sell currency pairs. Most brokers offer this trading service.
Currency Future: It is also known as Foreign exchange futures. It is a type of contract where buying and selling of currencies is done on a future date at a fixed price. The Currency Futures Brokerage for Mdirect is Rs.18 per Order and for Astha Trade is 0.01%.
Currency Options: A currency option, like an equity option, is a contract that allows a buyer the right (but not the responsibility) to purchase or sell a specified currency at a fixed exchange rate on or before a particular date. Mdirect charges Rs.18 per Order for currency options, whereas Mdirect charges Rs.10 per lot.
| Currency Brokerage Charges | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Currency Futures Brokerage | Rs.18 per Order | 0.01% |
| Currency Options Brokerage | Rs.18 per Order | Rs.10 per lot |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Commodity Brokerage Charges
Commodity Trading: Commodity trading involves the purchase and sale of various commodities such as gold, silver, agriculture, and energy, as well as their derivative products. Mdirect charges Rs.18 per Order for commodity trading, while Astha Trade charges 0.01%.
| Commodity Brokerage Charges | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity Options Brokerage | Rs.18 per Order | 0.01% |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Other Charges
Here are some other broker charges that should know about -
Minimum Broker Charges: Mdirect levies a minimum brokerage fee of Rs.18, while Astha Trade charges Rs.10 per executed order brokerage fee.
Transaction Brokerage Charges: Mdirect levies a transaction brokerage charge of 0.00301% of Total Turnover, while Astha Trade charges 0.00280% of Total Turnover.
SEBI Turnover Charges: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the market regularly and monitors fair trade practices. They also charge a small fee known as the SEBI Turnover fee. So, the SEBI Turnover charges for Mdirect is 0.0007% of Total Turnover and for Mdirect is 0.0002% of Total Turnover.
Stamp Duty Charges: This fee is charged as per the state and asset class.
GST Charges (Goods and Services Tax): GST of 18% is charged (brokerage and transaction charges)
STT (Securities Transaction Tax): The STT charges for Mdirect are 0.0112% of Total Turnover, while for Astha Trade, they are 0.0126% of Total Turnover.
Call and Trade Charges: This charge varies for different brokers. Mdirect charges NA and Astha Trade charges NA.
| Other Brokerage Charges | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Brokerage Charges | Rs.18 | Rs.10 per executed order | Transaction Brokerage Charges | 0.00301% of Total Turnover | 0.00280% of Total Turnover | SEBI Turnover Charges | 0.0007% of Total Turnover | 0.0002% of Total Turnover | Stamp Duty Charges | As per the state | As per the state | GST Charges | 18% of (Brokerage + Transaction Charges) | 18% of (Brokerage + Transaction Charges) | STT Charges | 0.0112% of Total Turnover | 0.0126% of Total Turnover | Call and Trade Charges | NA | NA |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Equity Exposure/Leverage
With the leverage, you can trade for a much higher amount than you actually pay for it. It means to borrow money for buying securities. For example, if you want to buy stocks for Rs. 5,00,000, but have only funds of Rs. 2,00,000. Then, you can get the remaining 3,00,000 Rs. from the broker by paying them some margin amount.
Equity Delivery: Leverage provided for Equity Delivery by Mdirect is up to Upto 2x and by Astha Trade it is up to Upto 3x.
Equity Intraday: Leverage for equity intraday by Mdirect is up to Upto 2x and by Astha Trade it is up to Upto 10x.
Equity Futures: Leverage for Equity Futures by Mdirect is up to Upto 2x and by Astha Trade it is up to Upto 4x.
Equity Options: Leverage for Equity Options by Mdirect is up to Upto 2x and by Astha Trade also, it is up to Upto 6x.
| Equity Leverage | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | Upto 2x | Upto 3x | Equity Intraday | Upto 2x | Upto 10x | Equity Futures | Upto 2x | Upto 4x | Equity Options | Upto 2x | Upto 6x |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Currency Leverage
The currency futures leverage provided by Mdirect is up to Upto 2x, while for Astha Trade it is up to Upto 4x.
The currency options leverage provided by Mdirect is up to Upto 2x, while for Astha Trade it is up to Upto 6x.
| Currency Leverage | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Currency Futures | Upto 2x | Upto 4x | Currency Options | Upto 2x | Upto 6x |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Commodity Leverage
The commodity leverage provided by Mdirect is up to Upto 2x, while for Astha Trade it is up to Upto 5x.
| Commodity Leverage | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity | Upto 2x | Upto 5x |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Offers
Brokers offer various exciting offers to entice new customers. Here are some of them:
Free Stock Trading and Demat Accounts: many brokers offer new investors to open an account free to cost and start trading straight away with them.
Flexible Plans: attractive plans at an economical price such as ProStocks monthly plan targeting equity cash and currency F&O at Rs.899 and Rs.499, respectively.
Brokerage Discounts: Coupons providing up to 50% discount at their rates.
Happy Hours: A specific time slot where the trades/customers get broker's services at a discount.
1-month Free Plan: where brokers provide free delivery trading such as OneTradePlus.
Holiday Offers: brokers are providing their services at a discounted rate on special events such as Diwali.
Referral Program: brokers provide a discount when your family or friends sign up with the broker using your referral code.
Zero Brokerage on Loss Trade: complete refund of money on unsuccessful trades.
| Offers | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Free Stock Trading Account | No | No | Free Demat Account | No | No | Flexible Plans | No | Yes | Brokerage Discounts | Yes | Yes | Happy Hours | No | No | 1 Month Free Plan | No | No | Holiday Offers | No | Yes | Referral Program | Yes | Yes | Zero Brokerage on Loss Trades | No | No |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Features
Equity Trading: Mdirect and Astha Trade brokers are among the top brokers in India. They provide you with various trading options like Equity Delivery, Equity Intraday and Equity Futures and Options trading.
Currency and Commodity Trading: Mdirect and Astha Trade also offer you to trade in currency and commodities.
Initial Public Offering (IPOs): One of the greatest advantages of Mdirect and Astha Trade broker is that you can also invest in IPOs. Mdirect also has an added advantage that they provide you with robo-advisory services as well.
Trading Exposure: Different brokers provide different trading exposures. Mdirect offers trading exposure of up to Upto 2x, while Astha Trade gives up to Upto 10x.
Mutual Funds: Investing in mutual funds is a great option to grow your wealth and many brokers offer the option to invest on that. With Mdirect and Astha Trade, you can invest in mutual funds through SIP and Lumpsum.
Forex Trading: With Forex Trading, you can trade in various international currencies. Mdirect and Astha Trade also allow you to trade in forex trading.
| Features | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery Trading | Yes | Yes | Equity Intraday Trading | Yes | Yes | Equity Futures Trading | Yes | Yes | Equity Options Trading | Yes | Yes | Currency Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Commodity Trading | Yes | Yes | IPO (Initial public offering) | Yes | Yes | Stocks Suggestions | No | No | Robo Advisory | No | No | PMS (Portfolio Management Services) | No | No |
| Trading Institution | No | No | Trading Exposure | Upto 2x | Upto 10x | Mutual Funds | Yes | No | SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) | Yes | No | Forex Trading | No | No | Banking | No | No | Insurance | No | No |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Advisory Services
Discount brokers and full-service brokers offer different services. Here are some of the top advisory services offered by brokers-
Fundamental Reports: These are the reports that analyse a company's financial statements and help investors and financial analysts make decisions about a company's present financial status.
Research Reports: Many broker companies have in-house research teams which are experienced and help people to give research reports on various securities like stocks, currency, mutual funds, etc. Mdirect and Astha Trade offer you in-depth research reports.
Company Reports: These are detailed and easy-to-understand reports on the company's measures throughout the year, month, or week.
Relationship Manager: Full-service broker gives a dedicated relationship manager, who will clear all your trading queries and help you throughout your trading journey.
Other Services: Many brokers provide more services depending upon the brokerage price like Company Stock Reviews, Free Stock Tips, IPO Reports, Top Picks, Daily Market Reviews, Monthly Reports, Weekly Reports and Offline Advisory.
| Advisory Services | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental Reports | No | No |
| Research Reports | No | No |
| Company Reports | No | No |
| Annual Reports | No | No |
| Company Stock Review | No | No |
| Free Stock Tips | Yes | Yes |
| IPO Reports | No | No |
| Top Picks | No | Yes |
| Daily Market Review | No | Yes |
| Monthly Reports | No | No |
| Weekly reports | No | No |
| Offline Advisory | No | No |
| Relationship Manager | No | No |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Desktop Trading Platforms
A trader can utilise multiple trading platforms to trade in stocks, commodities, etc. A good and advanced trading platform can make your trading easier and result in profit maximization. Mdirect and Astha Trade offer a Desktop Trading Platform with advanced tools, interactive charts, and quick buying and selling of securities. Their trading platforms can be used in Windows, Mac and Desktop browsers as well.
| Desktop Trading Platforms | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Mac | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Browser | Yes | Yes |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Mobile Trading Platforms
Mdirect and Astha Trade offer you mobile trading platforms which can be used in iOS and Android applications.
| Mobile Trading Platforms | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Browser | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | No | Yes |
| iOS App | No | Yes |
| Windows App | No | No |
| Other mobile os | No | No |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Customer Support
Customer service is a critical aspect in converting a new customer into a loyal and long-term customer. Because the trading market moves quickly, an investor requires appropriate customer assistance from their brokers. Mdirect and Astha Trade give good customer support and service to their clients. They help you in online trading through chat support, e-mail support and call support.
| Customer Support Features | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship Manager | No | No |
| Offline Trading | No | No |
| Online Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 24 * 7 Support | No | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Chat Support | No | No |
| Toll free number | No | No |
| Support Branches | 0 | 118 |
Mdirect and Astha Trade Customer Complaints
The BSE and NSE actively accept and handle complaints to maintain a stringent check and balance on fair-trade opportunities. Investors can file complaints about brokers or companies in case of any unfair trade practices. BSE and NSE make sure to resolve your complaints within a certain time. Check out the table below for Mdirect and Astha Trade registered and resolved complaints.
For Mdirect, the Percentage of resolved BSE complaints is 75.00 % and the Percentage of resolved NSE complaints is 89.47 %.
For Astha Trade, the Percentage of resolved BSE complaints is 100.00% and the Percentage of resolved NSE complaints is 95.83 %.
We can say that Mdirect is better than Astha Trade in case of resolving customer complaints.
| BSE Complaints | Mdirect | Astha Trade |
|---|---|---|
| BSE Complaints | 12 | 35 |
| BSE Resolved Complaints | 9 | 35 |
| Percentage of resolved BSE complaints | 75.00 % | 100.00% |
| NSE Complaints | 19 | 48 |
| NSE Resolved Complaints | 17 | 46 |
| Percentage of resolved NSE complaints | 89.47 % | 95.83 % |
| BSE/NSE Complaint vs. Resolved Percentage | 82.24 % | 97.92 % |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mdirect better than Astha Trade?
Mdirect is a discount broker and Astha Trade is a full service broker. You need to look for brokerage charges, account opening fees, trading platforms, etc. to determine which one is better.
Is Astha Trade better than Mdirect?
Astha Trade is a full service broker and Mdirect is a discount broker. As a result, we must examine features such as brokerage costs, account opening fees, trading platforms, and more to determine which of them is a better stockbroker.
Which is cheaper between Mdirect and Astha Trade?
The brokerage charges for Mdirect are on the cheaper side since it is a discount broker, while Astha Trade is a full-service broker. In general, the brokerage fees for both of them will be relatively similar. Examine the brokerage fees in-depth to determine the less expensive broker for your requirements.
Which is better, Mdirect and Astha Trade?
To figure out which of the two stockbrokers, Mdirect and Astha Trade, is better, compare their brokerage charges, trading platforms, other expenses, research, account opening charges, and so on.
Compare Mdirect with other stock brokers
Visit the following pages to see a detailed comparision report of Mdirect with other brokerage firms.
Compare Astha Trade with other stock brokers
Visit the following pages to see a detailed comparision report of Astha Trade with other brokerage firms.