Groww vs Zerodha vs Upstox: A Complete Comparison Guide (2025-26)

Which Trading App Is Best for You in 2025-26?

India’s online investing landscape has expanded dramatically, and investors now expect clean interfaces, transparent pricing, and powerful tools. As we step into 2025-26, Groww, Zerodha, and Upstox continue to dominate the market. Each platform caters to a unique audience—beginners, long-term investors, and active traders.

This guide provides a full comparison of all three based on account opening, brokerage, tools, research, and overall usability, helping you choose the best trading app in India (2025-26) for your specific needs.

Groww vs Zerodha vs Upstox: Quick Snapshot

Choosing the right trading platform depends heavily on your investing style.

•  Groww → Ideal for beginners, mutual fund investors, and users who prefer a simple, clean interface.

•  Zerodha → Best for active traders, intraday traders, and professionals who need advanced charts and tools.

•  Upstox → Great for mobile-first traders and cost-conscious investors who want competitive pricing and a modern experience.

Account Opening & Onboarding Experience

Groww

Groww offers one of the most seamless onboarding flows in India. The paperless KYC, minimalistic interface, and quick bank verification make it perfect for new investors—especially those starting with mutual funds or long-term SIP investing.

Zerodha

Zerodha’s onboarding is well-structured and efficient, with smooth e-KYC, strong backend support, and fast Demat integration. Their educational platform Varsity is integrated into the process, giving beginners a strong foundation in trading and fundamental concepts.

Upstox

Upstox provides a modern onboarding setup with fast digital KYC, UPI-enabled bank linking, and a straightforward registration process. The platform is designed to get users started quickly with minimal friction.

Brokerage & Fees in 2025-26

Groww

Groww continues to keep pricing transparent:

•  Zero brokerage on equity delivery

•  Low brokerage on intraday and F&O

•  No hidden charges or complicated pricing layers

This is ideal for casual investors and first-time traders.

Zerodha

Zerodha remains the industry benchmark for low-cost trading:

•  Free equity delivery

•  ₹20 per order or 0.03% (whichever is lower) for intraday and F&O

 This structure is extremely attractive for high-frequency traders or those who prioritize cost efficiency.

Upstox

Upstox offers competitive and flexible pricing, often supplemented with promotional offers for new users.

It is particularly appealing for people who want a low-cost mobile trading option without compromising on features.

Trading Platforms & Tools

Groww

Groww focuses on simplicity.

The platform is clean, distraction-free, and extremely easy to navigate. Its mutual fund interface is among the best in India, making it ideal for long-term investors and SIP lovers.

Zerodha

Zerodha’s Kite app and web platform set a high standard.

They offer:

•  Advanced charting

•  Technical indicators

•  APIs for algo traders

•  Deep integration with tools like smallcase and Sensibull

This makes Zerodha the preferred choice for intraday traders, index traders, and options traders.

Upstox

Upstox has significantly upgraded its mobile experience.

With powerful charts, multiple watchlists, and intuitive UI elements, it caters to traders who prefer trading on the go. The Pro Web version also gives serious traders a solid browser-based toolkit.

Mutual Funds & SIP Investing App

Groww

Groww is the clear leader in mutual funds and SIPs:

•  A vast catalogue of direct mutual funds

•  Smooth SIP setup

•  Beginner-friendly explanations

This makes Groww the best app for long-term, passive investors.

Zerodha

Zerodha offers direct mutual funds through Coin, integrated with its Demat account.

This helps users maintain a consolidated investment view.

Upstox

Upstox provides access to mutual funds as well, though the experience is slightly less refined compared to Groww.

Research, Education & Support

Groww

Groww focuses on beginner-friendly content, simple market explainers, and easy-to-understand insights.

Zerodha

Zerodha’s Varsity remains unmatched for educational depth.

Active traders, in particular, gain a wealth of structured knowledge.

Upstox

Upstox provides market updates, tutorials, event webinars, and short-format learning content.

Which Trading Platform Should You Choose in 2025-26?

•  Choose Groww if you want simplicity, clean design, zero-delivery brokerage, and a strong mutual fund experience.

•  Choose Zerodha if you’re a serious or active trader who values advanced charts, low intraday/F&O fees, and an ecosystem of trading tools.

•  Choose Upstox if you prefer a modern mobile interface with competitive pricing and an overall balanced experience.

FAQ: Groww vs Zerodha vs Upstox — Answers to Top 25 Questions

1. Which app is best for beginners—Groww, Zerodha, or Upstox?

Groww is the best for beginners due to its simple interface, clutter-free design, and easy-to-understand features. Zerodha and Upstox are better suited to users who prefer advanced tools. 

2. Which is the safest platform for investing in India?

All three—Groww, Zerodha, and Upstox—are SEBI-regulated and considered equally safe. Zerodha is known for its long track record and stability.

3. Can NRIs use these platforms from abroad?

Yes. Zerodha and Upstox accept NRI accounts.

Groww currently supports NRIs only with specific restrictions (no equity trading for NRIs).

4. Which app offers 24×7 customer support?

None of these platforms offer full 24×7 support.

However, Groww provides the fastest ticket-based response, while Zerodha offers strong weekday support via its support portal.

5. Which app has the lowest brokerage charges?

Zerodha and Upstox offer the same low brokerage model:

•  ₹20 per order (or 0.03%, whichever is lower) for intraday and derivatives
•  Free equity delivery

Groww charges slightly higher intraday fees.

6. Which platform provides the most advanced charts?

Zerodha (Kite) offers the most advanced TradingView and ChartIQ charting tools with extensive indicators.

7. Is Groww good for intraday trading?

Groww supports intraday trading but lacks sophisticated charting and advanced order types.

Not ideal for active intraday traders.

8. Does Zerodha support international stocks?

Zerodha does not allow direct global stock investment.

Users must invest via mutual funds or ETFs that track global markets.

9. Can Upstox be used outside India?

Yes. You can use the Upstox app worldwide, but you must hold an Indian resident or NRI account to trade.

10. Which app has the best user interface?

Groww is the most visually clean and beginner-friendly.

Zerodha has the most professional and minimal UI.

Upstox provides a balanced modern design.

11. Do these platforms work without Aadhaar for NRIs?

No. All three require Aadhaar or equivalent KYC documents for NRI onboarding.

12. Which broker is SEBI-registered? 

All three—Groww, Zerodha, and Upstox—are SEBI-registered brokers and operate under regulated frameworks.

13. Which app offers IPO investing?

All three support IPO applications through UPI-based bidding.

14. Which platform offers GTT orders?

Zerodha introduced GTT first and offers the most stable version.

Upstox offers GTT-like features.

Groww only recently added advanced order types and may still lack full GTT functionality.

15. Which broker supports commodity and currency trading?

Zerodha and Upstox support commodity and currency trading.

Groww does not support commodity or currency segments.

16. Which app is fastest for account opening?

Groww typically completes account opening in the fastest time due to its simplified onboarding flow.

17. Which app is cheapest for mutual funds?

All three offer zero commission mutual funds, but Groww is the most popular for mutual fund investors.

18. Which app is best for beginners in mutual funds?

Groww is the best for mutual fund beginners thanks to its clean UI, simple data presentation, and educational explanations.

19. Do these platforms provide stock recommendations?

None of them provide direct “buy/sell” tips due to regulations.

They offer research data, screens, and analysis tools, especially Zerodha and Upstox.

20. Which platform offers better margin facilities?

Upstox generally offers more flexible margin options compared to the others.

Zerodha has conservative margin policies for risk control.

21. Which app is most stable during high volatility?

Zerodha Kite is widely regarded as the most stable platform during heavy market volatility due to its robust infrastructure.

22. Does Groww offer advanced order types?

Groww recently added more order types but still lacks:

•  Fully featured GTT
•  Advanced bracket orders
•  OCO (One Cancels the Othe

23. Which app is suitable for professional traders?

Zerodha Kite is the preferred choice for professional traders due to its:

•  Extremely stable platform
•  Advanced charts
•  Faster execution
•  API support

24. Which platform supports trading APIs?

Zerodha and Upstox provide trading APIs.

Groww does not offer trading APIs.

25. Which app is best overall?

•  Beginners & Mutual Funds: Grow

•  Active & Professional Traders: Zerodha

•  Balanced Features + Margin: Upstox

Overall, Zerodha remains the most reliable all-round platform.

Final Thoughts

• The Groww vs Zerodha vs Upstox comparison is one of the most searched investing topics in India for 2025-26. Each platform excels in different areas.

• If you're a beginner or long-term investor, Groww is the simplest and most friendly choice.

• If you’re an intraday or derivatives trader, Zerodha leads with low brokerage and powerful charting tools.

• If you want a stylish, mobile-first, competitively priced platform, Upstox is a strong contender.

• No single app is “best” for everyone—the right choice depends entirely on your investing personality and goals.