Zerodha Brokerage Review 2026 | Features, Charges, Kite Platform, MTF & More

Top 30 Zerodha FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

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1. What is Zerodha and how did it start?

Zerodha was founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath. It began as a discount brokerage firm with the goal of reducing high brokerage costs for traders. Over the years, Zerodha has grown into India’s largest retail stockbroker, serving more than 1.6 crore clients through a low-cost, technology-driven model.

2. What types of accounts does Zerodha offer?

Zerodha offers:

• Individual trading and Demat accounts (online)

• Commodity trading accounts (online)

• NRI accounts (offline)

• Non-individual accounts such as HUF, Partnership, LLP, and Corporate accounts (offline)
  Minor and joint accounts are also supported with standard KYC documentation.

3. Is Zerodha account opening free?

Yes. Online account opening for resident individual investors is currently free for equity and commodity segments. Offline account openings such as NRI or corporate accounts carry a one-time charge of ₹500.

4. What documents are required to open a Zerodha account?

To open an individual account, you need:

• PAN card

• Aadhaar card (for e-KYC and eSign)

• Cancelled cheque or bank statement
  Proof of income is required if you wish to trade in F&O. NRI and corporate accounts require additional documentation.

5. How long does Zerodha account activation take?

Online individual accounts are usually activated within 24 to 48 hours after successful e-KYC, eSign, and in-person verification (IPV).

6. What is Zerodha’s brokerage on equity delivery?

Zerodha charges zero brokerage on equity delivery trades. You only pay statutory charges and DP charges when selling shares.

7. What is Zerodha’s intraday brokerage?

For equity intraday trades, Zerodha charges ₹20 or 0.03% per executed order, whichever is lower. The same pricing applies to intraday trades in currency and commodities.

8. How much brokerage does Zerodha charge for options trading?

Zerodha charges a flat ₹20 per executed order (per leg) for options trading, regardless of the option premium.

9. What are Zerodha DP charges and when are they applied?

DP (Depository Participant) charges are applied when shares are sold from your Demat account. Zerodha charges ₹13 + GST per scrip on the sell side. No DP charges are applicable for mutual funds.

10. What is the Demat AMC at Zerodha?

Zerodha charges an Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC) of ₹300 + GST per year, billed quarterly at ₹75 + GST.

11. Does Zerodha provide margin or leverage?

Yes. Zerodha provides intraday leverage (MIS), Margin Trading Facility (MTF) up to 5x on eligible stocks, and exchange-mandated margins for F&O trades. Leverage depends on stock category and volatility.

12. What are Zerodha MTF interest and charges?

MTF interest is charged at 0.04% per day on the funded amount. Brokerage is 0.3% or ₹20 per order, whichever is lower. Pledge and unpledge charges are ₹15 + GST per ISIN.

13. What advanced order types does Zerodha support?

Zerodha supports:

• GTT (Good Till Triggered)

• AMO (After Market Orders)

• Cover Orders (CO)
  Bracket Orders (BO) have been discontinued.

14. What is GTT (Good Till Triggered) order?

GTT allows you to set a trigger price. Once the trigger is hit, Zerodha automatically places your order. It’s useful for long-term price-based buying or selling without monitoring the market continuously.

15. Does Zerodha charge for mutual fund investments?

No. Zerodha offers commission-free direct mutual funds through its Coin platform. There are no brokerage or DP charges on mutual fund transactions.

16. Does Zerodha provide API access for algo trading?

Yes. Zerodha offers Kite Connect API, which allows developers to build trading and analytics applications. It requires a developer subscription and has usage-based pricing.

17. What is Console in Zerodha?

Console is Zerodha’s back-office platform where you can view holdings, P&L reports, tax statements, contract notes, corporate actions, withdrawals, and portfolio analytics.

18. How can I place trades if I am offline?

Zerodha offers a Call & Trade facility. Phone orders can be placed during market hours for a charge of ₹50 per executed order.

19. Can NRIs open an account with Zerodha?

Yes. Zerodha supports NRI accounts, but the process is offline. The account opening charge for NRI accounts is ₹500.

20. Do female investors get any benefit on DP charges?

Yes. Female primary Demat account holders receive a small discount of ₹0.25 on DP charges per sell transaction.

21. What are off-market transfers and charges?

Off-market transfers involve moving shares between Demat accounts outside the exchange. Zerodha charges ₹25 per ISIN for off-market transfers.

22. How are fund withdrawals processed at Zerodha?

Funds can be withdrawn via Console. Requests placed before the cut-off time are usually processed the same day; otherwise, they are processed on the next working day.

23. Does Zerodha provide stock tips or research?

No. Zerodha is an execution-only broker and does not provide stock tips or advisory services. However, it offers free educational content via Zerodha Varsity and integrates with third-party research tools.

24. Which exchanges can I trade on with Zerodha?

With Zerodha, you can trade on NSE, BSE, and MCX, depending on the segment enabled in your account.

25. Is Zerodha SEBI registered?

Yes. Zerodha is registered with SEBI and is also a Depository Participant with CDSL.

26. Can I transfer shares to or from Zerodha?

Yes. You can transfer holdings to Zerodha from another broker or transfer them out. Off-market transfer charges apply.

27. Are there any payment gateway charges?

Payment gateway charges of ₹9 + GST may apply for some card or UPI payments. Bank transfers via UPI, NEFT, RTGS, or IMPS usually do not attract these charges.

28. Can I apply for IPOs through Zerodha?

Yes. IPO applications can be made through Zerodha Console using the UPI-based ASBA process.

29. What is Sentinel in Zerodha?

Sentinel is Zerodha’s cloud-based alert system that works even when your device is offline, unlike app-based alerts that require an active internet connection.

30. How does Zerodha compare to other brokers?

Zerodha is best suited for cost-conscious traders and investors who prefer a clean, technology-driven platform with low brokerage. However, it does not offer personalized advisory services like some full-service brokers.

30. What are Zerodha’s auto square-off timings?

Zerodha automatically squares off intraday positions if they are not closed by the user:

• Equity Intraday: Around 3:25 PM

• Equity & Index F&O: Around 3:26 PM

• Currency F&O: Around 4:45 PM

• Commodities: Around 10 minutes before market close
  Exact timings may vary slightly depending on exchange rules.