Reviews of Stock Brokers

Zerodha

When it comes to investing in the stock market, choosing the right stockbroker is of utmost importance. It can significantly impact your trading experience, investment returns, and overall satisfaction. In this article, we will provide an in-depth review of Zerodha, one of India's prominent Discount Broker. We will evaluate various aspects, including brokerage charges, trading platforms, customer support, and more, to help you make an informed decision.

Overview

Zerodha founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath is a Private company headquartered in Bangalore, India India. As a Discount Broker, Zerodha aims to provide cost-effective buy/sell orders, enabling investors to save money compared to full-service brokers. However, it is crucial to note that Zerodha operates as a full-service brokers. It offers extensive investment advice and detailed stock analysis for its clients.

Zerodha Account opening charges

To begin trading with Zerodha, you need to open a trading account and a Demat account. Zerodha charges Rs.300 for opening a trading account. Additionally, there is an annual maintenance charge (AMC) of Rs.300 per Annum for the Demat account. However, it's worth mentioning that trading AMC is free.

Zerodha Brokerage Charges

One of the main factors to consider when choosing a stockbroker is the brokerage charges. Zerodha brokerage charges for various segments are as follows:

• Equity delivery: Zerodha offers free brokerage for equity delivery trades. This means you can buy and hold stocks without incurring any brokerage charges.
• Equity intraday: For equity intraday trades, Zerodha charges a flat rate of Rs.20 Per Order per order.
• Equity futures: The brokerage charge for equity futures is also Rs.20 Per Order per order.
• Equity options: Zerodha charges Rs.20 Per Order per order for equity options trading.
• Currency: For currency futures and options trading, Zerodha charges Rs.20 Per Order per order.
• Commodity: The brokerage charge for commodity trading is CDSL per order.

Equity Brokerage Charges

Currency Brokerage Charges

Commodity Brokerage Charges

Zerodha Other Charges

In addition to brokerage charges, there are other charges to consider:

• Minimum brokerage charges: Zerodha imposes a minimum brokerage charge of Zero.
• Transaction brokerage charges: A customer incurs transaction brokerage charges, which amount to 0.00325% of Total Turnover of the total turnover.
• SEBI turnover charges: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) levies turnover charges, which are 0.002% of Total Turnover.
• Stamp duty charges: Stamp duty charges differ based on the state and the specific category of asset.
• GST charges: A GST of 18% of (Brokerage + Transaction Charges) is applied to brokerage and transaction charges.
• STT (Securities transaction tax): Zerodha charges 0.0126% of Total Turnover of the total turnover as STT.
• Call and trade charges: If you place orders through call and trade, Zerodha charges Rs 50 per executed order.

Zerodha Equity Leverage

Leverage enables traders to amplify their market exposure using a relatively smaller capital amount. Here's the leverage provided by Zerodha:

Zerodha Currency Leverage

Zerodha Commodity Leverage

Zerodha Offers

Numerous stockbrokers are enticing customers with attractive offers in order to expand their client base. Some of these enticing offers include:

Zerodha Features

• Full Service Brokers:

  Zerodha is a leading online stock broker in India that offers discount brokerage services to retail investors. It charges a flat rate of Zero per order executed, regardless of the trade size, segment, or exchange.

• Range of Investment Products:

  Zerodha is a one-stop shop for various financial investment products. It allows investors to trade in equity, commodity, and currency at BSE, NSE, and MCX. Additionally, it offers investment options in mutual funds, gold, peer-to-peer lending, insurance, and US investments.

• Subscription Plans:

  Zerodha provides three subscription plans: Basic pack, power investor pack, and ultra trader pack. These plans offer different benefits, including reduced brokerage fees, free trades, research advisory, and dedicated customer support.

• Research and Advisory Services:

  Zerodha stands out by offering exhaustive research and advisory services. It provides short-term and long-term investment ideas, derivative strategies, and portfolio-based investment ideas. The platform also offers a portfolio analyzer tool to analyze the performance of your investments.

• Margin Funding:

  Zerodha provides margin funding services. These enable you to make partial payments for your purchases in the cash segment. The balance is funded by Zerodha at a nominal rate.

• Mobile Trading App and Trading Platforms:

  Zerodha provides a user-friendly mobile trading app, a web-based trading website, and an installable trading terminal. These platforms are built on the latest technology and offer seamless trading experiences. The mobile app allows trading, robo-advisory, and access to various investment options.

• Demat Account Services:

  Zerodha offers demat account services through its membership with CDSL. It has been recognized as a premier depository participant by CDSL.

• Low Charges:

  Zerodha is known for its lowest charges in the industry. It charges a flat fee of Rs.20 Per Order per order executed, and the platform also offers value-add packs for additional benefits. Additionally, 5Paisa provides free account opening and brokerage-free mutual funds.

• Algo Trading and Robo Advisory:

  Zerodha provides algo trading services and robo-advisory to its customers. These services help automate trading strategies and offer personalized investment advice based on risk profiles and return expectations.

• Customer Support:

  Zerodha offers dedicated customer support for its subscribers. The power investor pack and ultra trader pack include free customer support services.

Zerodha Advisory Services

The key distinction between a discount broker and a full-service broker lies in the range of services offered and the rates at which they are provided.

Zerodha Trading Platforms

The Zerodha trading software comprises various trading platforms suitable for the diverse needs of the customers. It is built on IIFL's trading platform. It has been trusted by customers for the past two decades. The trading platform is available in three different forms. Namely: a mobile app, a web browser-based platform, and an installable desktop trading application.

Zerodha Trading Platforms

Zerodha Mobile App

The Zerodha mobile app allows users to trade on the go and provides access to trading at BSE/NSE and robo advisory services. Customers can download the app for free from either the google app store or the apple app Store. The app is designed to be simple and intuitive, enabling users to buy stocks, trade in stock and currency futures & options, and invest in mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, and more.

Zerodha Web Trading

For web-based trading, Zerodha offers a powerful trading website known as Zerodha trader station. This website can be accessed through any web browser on computers, laptops, mobile devices, or tablets. It provides a wide range of trading and investment options within a single domain. The web platform is seamlessly integrated with payment gateways and banks, enabling instant fund transfers.

Zerodha Trade Terminal

Zerodha offers a trade terminal, which is a downloadable trading terminal specifically developed for active traders seeking advanced trading features. This desktop application offers real-time data and advanced charts for monitoring intraday and historic stock prices. It also offers a variety of keyboard shortcuts to facilitate real-time market monitoring and faster order placement.

Zerodha Customer Support

• Relationship manager: Zerodha does not offer a dedicated relationship manager for customers. However, they provide other channels for support.
• Offline trading support: Zerodha does not offer offline trading support. All trading activities are conducted online.
• Online trading support: Zerodha provides online trading support to customers. Their trading platform is accessible via mobile app, web browser, and desktop application, allowing customers to trade conveniently.
• 24*7 support: Zerodha offers round-the-clock support to customers. This means you can reach out to their customer support team at any time, even outside regular business hours.
• Email support: Customers can contact Zerodha’s customer support team via email for assistance. They provide an email address where customers can send their queries and concerns.
• Chat support: Yes, Zerodha does offer chat support as a customer service channel. Customers can easily reach out for assistance through chat.
• Toll-free number: Zerodha does not provide a toll-free number for customer support. However, they may have a regular helpline number that customers can use to seek assistance.
• Support branches: Yes, Zerodha has physical support branches where customers can visit for assistance. In addition, customer support is also provided through remote channels.

Zerodha Complaints

Understanding the number of customer complaints received by a brokerage firm can provide insights into the quality and reliability of their services. The following table shows the information regarding the complaints received by Zerodha.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Zerodha offers a range of trading and investment options through its user-friendly platforms. With competitive pricing and several investment choices, it is one of the best options for investors. However, the lack of comprehensive customer support and the number of customer complaints are areas of concern. Considering all the features and user experience, Zerodha can be considered a decent stock broker, but you must examine the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.