Groww and Zerodha are two well-known investment platforms in India that allow users to open demat and trading accounts and invest in stocks, mutual funds, IPOs and other market-linked products. Although both platforms provide similar core services, their pricing structures, interfaces, tools and approach to investing are different.

For someone opening a demat account for the first time, the choice between Groww and Zerodha can therefore depend on trading frequency, preferred features, account maintenance costs and the type of investments being made.

What Is a Demat Account?

A demat account is an electronic account used to hold securities such as shares, bonds, ETFs and other eligible securities in digital form. A trading account, meanwhile, is used to place buy and sell orders in the securities market.

Groww and Zerodha offer both demat and trading account facilities. Account opening is currently free for resident individual investors on both platforms. Groww states that its demat account opening has no charge, while Zerodha also lists individual account opening as free.

Groww vs Zerodha: Account Maintenance Charges

One of the clearest differences is the account maintenance charge, or AMC.

Groww currently states that it charges ₹0 AMC, meaning users are not charged an account-maintenance fee even if they do not trade or hold securities for a long period.

Zerodha’s current structure is different. For resident individual accounts opened on or after June 1, 2026, AMC is free for the first year. From the second year, a regular non-BSDA demat account is charged ₹300 plus 18% GST annually. Eligible BSDA accounts have lower charges depending on the value of holdings.

Under Zerodha’s current BSDA structure, resident individual accounts with holdings up to ₹4 lakh can have zero AMC, while higher holding-value slabs attract reduced charges subject to the applicable conditions.

Therefore, AMC is an important factor for investors who intend to keep their account for several years.

Brokerage Charges

Brokerage is another major consideration.

Zerodha currently charges zero brokerage on equity delivery trades. For equity intraday trades, it charges 0.03% or ₹20 per executed order, whichever is lower. Its listed options brokerage is ₹20 per executed order.

Groww’s current pricing page states that equity brokerage is ₹20 or 0.1% per executed order, whichever is lower, with a minimum brokerage of ₹5. The applicable statutory and exchange charges are additional.

This means the exact cost of using either platform depends on what type of transaction the investor performs.

For a long-term investor who mainly purchases shares and holds them, Zerodha’s zero brokerage for equity delivery is an important difference. For someone who trades different products, the comparison needs to include the relevant brokerage and statutory charges for each transaction type.

Groww’s User Interface

Groww has historically focused heavily on simplicity and accessibility.

Its platform is designed to make investing relatively straightforward, particularly for users who may be new to stocks and mutual funds. Investors can access investments through its app and web platform.

A simple interface can be useful for someone whose primary activities are buying stocks, investing in mutual funds or participating in IPOs without requiring a large number of advanced trading tools.

However, simplicity can mean that users looking for highly specialised trading features may want to examine the platform’s current tools before choosing an account.

Zerodha’s Trading Ecosystem

Zerodha offers its trading platform through Kite, along with other products and tools in its broader ecosystem.

Zerodha describes Kite as its trading platform, while its services also include tools for portfolio tracking, reporting and other investment-related activities.

Its platform is particularly relevant to investors who want access to charting, market information and trading features alongside long-term investing.

The choice therefore may come down to whether the investor prioritises a simple investing experience or wants a broader trading-oriented ecosystem.

Mutual Funds

Both platforms provide access to mutual funds, but their approaches have some differences.

Zerodha states that direct mutual fund investments have ₹0 commission and ₹0 DP charges.

Groww also provides mutual fund investment services, making it possible for users to manage mutual funds alongside stocks and other investments through the same platform.

When comparing mutual-fund platforms, investors should check whether they are investing in direct or regular plans, because the expense structure and distributor commissions can differ.

IPO Investments

Both Groww and Zerodha provide access to IPO applications for eligible investors.

For an investor who frequently applies for IPOs, the important considerations include the application process, UPI mandate experience, order modification, allotment information and the overall convenience of managing applications.

IPO applications themselves are subject to the applicable exchange, SEBI, banking and intermediary rules, regardless of which platform is used.

DP Charges and Other Costs

Brokerage is not the only cost investors should examine.

Depository Participant, or DP, charges can apply when securities are debited from a demat account, generally when shares are sold.

Groww’s current pricing page lists DP charges for equity delivery sell transactions, while Zerodha also applies DP charges according to its published schedule. Zerodha explains that its DP charge is applied when securities are sold from the demat account and is calculated on a per-day, per-stock basis.

Other costs can include STT, exchange transaction charges, GST, stamp duty, SEBI-related charges and other statutory fees. These are not necessarily controlled by the broker.

Consequently, investors should compare the total transaction cost, rather than judging a platform solely by its headline brokerage.

Groww vs Zerodha: Key Differences

Current charges can change, so investors should verify the latest pricing before opening an account.

Which Account Should You Choose?

The answer depends on how you intend to use the account.

Someone who prioritises zero AMC, a simple interface and an all-in-one investing experience may find Groww’s current structure relevant.

An investor who primarily buys shares for delivery and wants zero equity-delivery brokerage, along with a broader trading-oriented platform, may prefer to examine Zerodha’s offering.

For active traders, the comparison should go beyond account-opening charges. Intraday, futures and options brokerage, DP charges, transaction charges, platform functionality and order execution features become more important.

For long-term investors, AMC, delivery brokerage, mutual-fund costs and ease of managing a portfolio may matter more.

Conclusion

Groww and Zerodha both provide demat and trading accounts, but they differ in pricing and platform design.

Groww currently offers zero AMC and focuses on a relatively simple investing experience, while Zerodha offers zero brokerage on equity delivery and a broader trading ecosystem through Kite. Zerodha’s AMC structure also differs, with the first year currently free for eligible new resident individual accounts and subsequent charges depending on the account category.

There is therefore no single account that is universally suitable for every investor. The practical comparison should be based on your investment style, trading frequency, preferred platform, AMC, brokerage, DP charges and other applicable costs.

Before opening an account, check the latest official pricing pages because brokerage, taxes, regulatory charges and account-maintenance rules can change over time.