For many Indians looking to invest — be it in equities, mutual funds, or other instruments — two names stand out: Groww and Zerodha. Both have made investing accessible to ordinary people. But which one is better — Groww or Zerodha? It depends on what you want out of investing. In this blog, we’ll compare them across important factors: fees & charges, investment options, features & tools, and ideal user profile.
Fees & Charges: What It Will Cost You
One of the first things users check while choosing a broker is the cost. Here’s how Groww and Zerodha stack up.
| Charge / Trade Type | Groww | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening Fee | ₹0 (free) (Hindigyan) | ₹0 or minimal (free or negligible) for basic account (Forbes) |
| Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) | ₹0 — Groww does not charge AMC. (Hindigyan) | ₹300/year AMC for Demat account. (Hindigyan) |
| Equity Delivery Brokerage (buy-and-hold) | Flat ₹20 per order OR 0.05% of trade value (whichever is lower) (comparesharebrokers.com) | Zero brokerage for equity delivery trades. (Forbes) |
| Intraday & F&O Brokerage | Flat ₹20 per order OR 0.05% (whichever lower) (TradingCritique) | Flat ₹20 per order OR 0.03% (whichever lower) — slightly cheaper for larger trades. (Forbes) |
| Mutual Funds (Direct) | ₹0 — free investing in direct mutual funds. (Equity Investors) | ₹0 — also free via Zerodha’s mutual fund facility. (Forbes) |
What this means
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If you are a long-term investor (buy-and-hold strategy), Zerodha becomes attractive because delivery trades have zero brokerage. Over many trades, savings add up.
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If you make only a few trades per year or trade small amounts, Groww’s zero AMC and no account-opening cost make it appealing.
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For frequent traders, intraday or derivatives (F&O) traders — Zerodha’s slightly lower percentage for big trades might cost you less.
In short: there’s no “one size fits all.” The best depends on how often and how much you trade.
What You Can Invest In: Options & Products
Investment options are another major differentiator.
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Zerodha offers a wide range: equities (cash), derivatives (F&O), commodities, currency trading, mutual funds, ETFs, etc. (Forbes)
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Groww, on the other hand, is more streamlined and simple. It focuses mainly on equities (cash), mutual funds, ETFs, and basic stock investments. It does not (yet) offer currency derivatives or commodities. (Forbes)
This means:
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If you want diversified trading opportunities — e.g. derivatives, commodities — Zerodha gives you that flexibility.
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If you're a beginner or want simplicity, Groww covers the basics without overwhelming you with too many choices.
Platform, Tools & User Experience
A good trading platform isn’t just about low fees — tools, ease of use, and interface matter a lot too.
Zerodha:
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Offers advanced charting tools, technical analysis, back‑testing (for strategies), and extra features such as screeners, alerts, basket orders, etc. (Tech Research Online)
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Provides mature ecosystem: more tools and flexibility — helpful for active traders and people who want to deeply analyze market data. (Forbes)
Groww:
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Focus on simplicity: easy to navigate, clean UI/UX, simple order process. Good for those new to investing. (Forbes)
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Basic tools: company financial snapshots, simple ratio analyses, and educational resources/guides. Not as advanced as Zerodha’s offerings. (Tech Research Online)
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Also reportedly provides access to US‑stocks (for users who want global exposure) — a plus for those who want direct Indian + US exposure in one place. (comparesharebrokers.com)
In short: Zerodha targets users who want control, analysis, flexibility — Groww targets users who want convenience, simplicity, and minimal hassle.
Who Should Use Which — Use Cases & Ideal User
Based on above comparisons, here are rough suggestions for which broker suits what kind of investor:
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You are a beginner or small investor, want to invest occasionally — mutual funds, few stocks, no complexity — ➤ Groww is a good fit.
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You prefer a clean interface, minimal maintenance fees/ AMC, don’t trade often — ➤ Groww again makes sense.
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You are a long‑term equity investor, doing periodic investments, not much intraday trading — ➤ Zerodha becomes better because of zero delivery charges.
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You trade often, intraday or derivatives, or want access to commodities/ derivatives/ other advanced features — ➤ Zerodha is more powerful and cost-efficient for active trading.
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You want tools for deep analysis (charts, technical analysis, research) — ➤ Zerodha wins.
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You want something simple to start investing without spending time learning complex tools — ➤ Groww wins.
Recent Updates & Market Position (2025 Context)
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Groww has recently added many new users. According to recent data (Nov 2025), Groww added about 1.38 lakh new DEMAT accounts in a month, even while many older brokers including Zerodha saw decline. (The Economic Times)
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Groww is also expanding its offerings beyond just equities and mutual funds. The company is now moving toward wealth management, commodities trading, corporate bonds and margin‑trading facilities — indicating a broader roadmap. (Reuters)
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On the other hand, Zerodha remains a top favourite among experienced investors and traders because of its mature tools, lower marginal cost for frequent trades, and richness in investment options.
This suggests that Groww is rapidly evolving and may soon close the feature gap — giving even more choices to small/retail investors.
My Take: Which One Should You Choose?
If I were you, and I am new to investing or investing small amounts, I’d start with Groww — because it's simple, easy to use, and I don’t need to worry about maintenance charges. Once I start investing seriously — more stocks, more trading, maybe derivatives — I’d open a Zerodha account, because its advanced tools, lower long-term costs, and flexibility would pay off.
But if you already know what you are doing — or want a long-term, cost-efficient, and tool‑rich platform — then Zerodha is the safer bet from day one.
Conclusion
There is no universal “winner” between Groww and Zerodha. Each has its strengths:
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Groww = Simple, user‑friendly, no AMC, good for beginners / casual investors
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Zerodha = Feature‑rich, low cost for frequent traders, better for serious or heavy investors