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Upstox vs. Karuna Finance

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 Upstox and Karuna Finance. Please find a thorough comparison study for both the stock brokers, and find the table below for the comparison of Upstox and Karuna Finance.


Overview

Upstox are Karuna Finance both private companies and Upstox operates as a discount broker, while Karuna Finance functions as a full service broker. Raghu Kumar, Ravi Kumar & Shrinivas Vishvanath co-founded Upstox in 2009. And Karuna Finance was founded in the year 1995 by Sanjoy Tekriwal. Upstox's headquarters are in Mumbai, India and Karuna Finance's headquarters are in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Upstox operates as a discount broker, while Karuna Finance functions as a full service broker. Upstox is registered in BSE, NSE, MCX, while Karuna Finance is registered in NA. The total branches of Upstox are 4 and the Karuna Finance branches are Nil.

OverviewUpstoxKaruna Finance
Broker TypeDiscount BrokerFull Service Broker
Type of companyPrivatePrivate
HeadquarterMumbai, IndiaKolkata, West Bengal
FoundersRaghu Kumar, Ravi Kumar & Shrinivas VishvanathSanjoy Tekriwal
Foundation Year20091995
Supported ExchangesBSE, NSE, MCXNA
Total branches4Nil

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 Upstox charging Rs.150 and Karuna Finance charging Free.

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 Upstox Demat account is Rs.150 per annum and for the Karuna Finance Demat account is Rs.360 per Annum. The Trading AMC for Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 Upstox and Karuna Finance is CDSL.

Account Opening and Demat ChargesUpstoxKaruna Finance
Trading Account Opening ChargesRs.150Free
Demat AMC (Annual Maintenance Charges)Rs.150 per annumRs.360 per Annum
Trading AMC (Annual Maintenance Charges)FreeRs.150 per Annum
Margin MoneyZeroMinimum Rs.7,000
Offline to Online ChargesNot applicableYes
DepositoryCDSLCDSL & NSDL

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 Upstox is Zero, while Karuna Finance charges you 0.36%.

Equity Intraday: This means when you buy and sell stocks on the same day. So, the equity intraday brokerage charges for Upstox is Rs.20 and for Karuna Finance also, it is 0.04%.

Equity Futures: Equity futures refers to the purchase and sale of shares at a fixed price on a future date. Upstox charge Rs.20 and Karuna Finance charge 0.04% 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, Upstox charges Rs.20 per lot, and Karuna Finance charges Rs.36 per Lot.

Equity Brokerage ChargesUpstoxKaruna Finance
Equity Delivery BrokerageZero0.36%
Equity Intraday BrokerageRs.200.04%
Equity Futures BrokerageRs.200.04%
Equity Options BrokerageRs.20 per lotRs.36 per Lot

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 Upstox is Rs.20 and for Karuna Finance is 0.04%.

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. Upstox charges Rs.20 per lot for currency options, whereas Upstox charges Rs.36 per Lot.

Currency Brokerage ChargesUpstoxKaruna Finance
Currency Futures BrokerageRs.200.04%
Currency Options BrokerageRs.20 per lotRs.36 per Lot

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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. Upstox charges Rs.20 for commodity trading, while Karuna Finance charges 0.04%.

Commodity Brokerage ChargesUpstoxKaruna Finance
Commodity Options BrokerageRs.200.04%

Upstox and Karuna Finance Other Charges

Here are some other broker charges that should know about -

Minimum Broker Charges: Upstox levies a minimum brokerage fee of Rs.20, while Karuna Finance charges Percentage of Transaction brokerage fee.

Transaction Brokerage Charges: Upstox levies a transaction brokerage charge of 0.00275% of Total Turnover, while Karuna Finance charges 0.00312%.

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 Upstox is 0.0002% of Total Turnover and for Upstox 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 Upstox are 0.0126% of Total Turnover, while for Karuna Finance, they are 0.0126% of Total Turnover.

Call and Trade Charges: This charge varies for different brokers. Upstox charges Rs 20 per trade and Karuna Finance charges NA.

Other Brokerage ChargesUpstoxKaruna Finance
Minimum Brokerage ChargesRs.20Percentage of Transaction
Transaction Brokerage Charges0.00275% of Total Turnover0.00312%
SEBI Turnover Charges0.0002% of Total Turnover0.0002% of Total Turnover
Stamp Duty ChargesAs per the stateAs per the state
GST Charges18% of (Brokerage + Transaction Charges)18% of (Brokerage + Transaction Charges)
STT Charges0.0126% of Total Turnover0.0126% of Total Turnover
Call and Trade ChargesRs 20 per tradeNA

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 Upstox is up to Upto 5x and by Karuna Finance it is up to Upto 3x.

Equity Intraday: Leverage for equity intraday by Upstox is up to Upto 20x and by Karuna Finance it is up to Upto 5x.

Equity Futures: Leverage for Equity Futures by Upstox is up to Upto 7x and by Karuna Finance it is up to Upto 3x.

Equity Options: Leverage for Equity Options by Upstox is up to Upto 8x and by Karuna Finance also, it is up to Upto 4x.

Equity LeverageUpstoxKaruna Finance
Equity DeliveryUpto 5xUpto 3x
Equity IntradayUpto 20xUpto 5x
Equity FuturesUpto 7xUpto 3x
Equity OptionsUpto 8xUpto 4x

Upstox and Karuna Finance Currency Leverage

The currency futures leverage provided by Upstox is up to Upto 5x, while for Karuna Finance it is up to Upto 4x.

The currency options leverage provided by Upstox is up to Upto 6x, while for Karuna Finance it is up to Upto 3x.

Currency LeverageUpstoxKaruna Finance
Currency FuturesUpto 5xUpto 4x
Currency OptionsUpto 6xUpto 3x

Upstox and Karuna Finance Commodity Leverage

The commodity leverage provided by Upstox is up to Upto 7x, while for Karuna Finance it is up to Upto 3x.

Commodity LeverageUpstoxKaruna Finance
CommodityUpto 7xUpto 3x

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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.

OffersUpstoxKaruna Finance
Free Stock Trading AccountYesNo
Free Demat AccountNoNo
Flexible PlansNoNo
Brokerage DiscountsYesNo
Happy HoursNoNo
1 Month Free PlanNoNo
Holiday OffersNoNo
Referral ProgramNoNo
Zero Brokerage on Loss TradesNoNo

Upstox and Karuna Finance Features

Equity Trading: Upstox and Karuna Finance 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: Upstox and Karuna Finance also offer you to trade in currency and commodities.

Initial Public Offering (IPOs): One of the greatest advantages of Upstox and Karuna Finance broker is that you can also invest in IPOs. Upstox also has an added advantage that they provide you with robo-advisory services as well.

Trading Exposure: Different brokers provide different trading exposures. Upstox offers trading exposure of up to Upto 20x, while Karuna Finance gives up to Upto 5x.

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 Upstox and Karuna Finance, you can invest in mutual funds through SIP and Lumpsum.

Forex Trading: With Forex Trading, you can trade in various international currencies. Upstox and Karuna Finance also allow you to trade in forex trading.

FeaturesUpstoxKaruna Finance
Equity Delivery TradingYesYes
Equity Intraday TradingYesYes
Equity Futures TradingYesYes
Equity Options TradingYesYes
Currency TradingYesYes
Commodity TradingNoYes
IPO (Initial public offering)YesYes
Stocks SuggestionsNoNo
Robo AdvisoryYesNo
PMS (Portfolio Management Services)NoNo
Trading InstitutionNoNo
Trading ExposureUpto 20xUpto 5x
Mutual FundsNoYes
SIP (Systematic Investment Plan)NoYes
Forex TradingNoNo
BankingNoNo
InsuranceNoNo

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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. Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 ServicesUpstoxKaruna Finance
Fundamental ReportsNoNo
Research ReportsYesNo
Company ReportsNoNo
Annual ReportsNoNo
Company Stock ReviewNoNo
Free Stock TipsNoYes
IPO ReportsNoYes
Top PicksNoYes
Daily Market ReviewNoYes
Monthly ReportsNoYes
Weekly reportsNoYes
Offline AdvisoryNoYes
Relationship ManagerNoYes

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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. Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 PlatformsUpstoxKaruna Finance
WindowsYesYes
MacYesYes
Desktop BrowserYesNo

Upstox and Karuna Finance Mobile Trading Platforms

Upstox and Karuna Finance offer you mobile trading platforms which can be used in iOS and Android applications.

Mobile Trading PlatformsUpstoxKaruna Finance
Mobile BrowserYesNo
Android AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Windows AppNoNo
Other mobile osNoNo

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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. Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 FeaturesUpstoxKaruna Finance
Relationship ManagerNoNo
Offline TradingNoYes
Online TradingYesYes
24 * 7 SupportNoNo
Email SupportYesYes
Chat SupportNoNo
Toll free numberNoNo
Support BranchesZero67

Upstox and Karuna Finance 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 Upstox and Karuna Finance registered and resolved complaints.

For Upstox, the Percentage of resolved BSE complaints is 68.11 % and the Percentage of resolved NSE complaints is 79.43 %.

For Karuna Finance, the Percentage of resolved BSE complaints is NaN % and the Percentage of resolved NSE complaints is 100.00 %.

We can say that Upstox is better than Karuna Finance in case of resolving customer complaints.

BSE ComplaintsUpstoxKaruna Finance
BSE Complaints1850
BSE Resolved Complaints1260
Percentage of resolved BSE complaints68.11 %NaN %
NSE Complaints1751
NSE Resolved Complaints1391
Percentage of resolved NSE complaints79.43 %100.00 %
BSE/NSE Complaint vs. Resolved Percentage73.77 %NaN %

Frequently Asked Questions


  1. Is Upstox better than Karuna Finance?

    Upstox is a discount broker and Karuna Finance is a full service broker. You need to look for brokerage charges, account opening fees, trading platforms, etc. to determine which one is better.

  2. Is Karuna Finance better than Upstox?

    Karuna Finance is a full service broker and Upstox 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.

  3. Which is cheaper between Upstox and Karuna Finance?

    The brokerage charges for Upstox are on the cheaper side since it is a discount broker, while Karuna Finance 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.

  4. Which is better, Upstox and Karuna Finance?

    To figure out which of the two stockbrokers, Upstox and Karuna Finance, is better, compare their brokerage charges, trading platforms, other expenses, research, account opening charges, and so on.


Compare Upstox with other stock brokers

Visit the following pages to see a detailed comparision report of Upstox with other brokerage firms.


Compare Karuna Finance with other stock brokers

Visit the following pages to see a detailed comparision report of Karuna Finance with other brokerage firms.