Are you wondering which stockbroker is right for you? Look no further than Zerodha vs HDFC Securities, two of the most popular stockbrokers in India.
In this blog post, we will compare Zerodha and HDFC Securities in terms of their features, charges, and trading platforms, so you can make an informed decision about which broker is best for your needs.
what you can expect to learn in this blog post:
- Brokerage charges: How much does each broker charge for equity delivery, equity intraday, F&O, and currency trading?
- Trading platforms: Which broker offers the best trading platforms in terms of features, usability, and stability?
- Customer service: Which broker offers better customer support?
- Additional features: What other features and benefits does each broker offer?
Stay tuned for our detailed comparison of Zerodha and HDFC Securities!
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: About
HDFC Securities
HDFC Securities is a leading full-service stock broker in India. It is a subsidiary of HDFC Bank and allows customers to trade and invest in a variety of financial instruments, including shares, bonds, futures, options, buybacks, mutual funds, IPOs, currency derivatives, commodities, and stock portfolios.
HDFC Securities is a SEBI registered broker and a member of BSE, NSE, MCX, CDSL, and NSDL. It provides trading services through multiple trading platforms…….read more
Zerodha
Zerodha is India’s largest and most reputed discount broker. It offers flat fee brokerage services for investing in equity, currency, commodity, IPO, futures and options, bonds, government securities, and direct mutual funds. Zerodha charges no brokerage for equity delivery trades and direct mutual funds.
For intraday and futures trades, it charges a flat fee of Rs. 20 or 0.03%, whichever is lower, per trade. For options trades, it charges a flat fee of Rs. 20 per executed order…….read more
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Overview
| Details | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Type of broker | Full service | Discount |
| Exchange membership | BSE, NSE | NSE, BSE, MCX, NCDEX |
| Founded in | 2002 | 2010 |
| Founded by | HDFC Bank Pvt. Ltd. | Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath |
| CEO | Dhiraj Relli | Nithin Kamath |
| Headquarter | Mumbai, India | Bengaluru, India, at 153/154, 4th Cross, J.P Nagar 4th Phase, Opp. Clarence Public School, Bengaluru – 560078. |
| Users | 14.5 million active clients | 15 million+ (9.5 Active users) |
| Download on Playstore | 5M+ | 10M+ |
| Rating on Playstore | ⭐ 4.3 Out of ⭐ 5.0 (Based on 112K Votes) | ⭐ 4.0 Out of ⭐ 5.0 (Based on 326K Votes) |
| Number of branches | 500+ branches across India | 75+ Branches |
| Website | www.hdfcsec.com | zerodha.com |
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Features
| Feature | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in 1 Account | Yes | No |
| Charting | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Trading | No | Yes |
| SMS Alerts | Yes | No |
| Online Demo | Yes | Yes |
| Online Portfolio | Yes | No |
| Margin Trading Funding | No | No |
| Margin Against Shares (Equity Cash) | Yes | Yes |
| Margin Against Shares (Equity F&O) | No | Yes |
| Trading Platform | ProTerminal, Blink, smallcase, Voice Enabled Investing, Mobile Trading App, Digify | Kite Web, Kite Mobile for Android/iOS and Coin |
| Intraday Square-off Time | 3:30 PM | 3:15 PM (Eq Cash), 3:25 PM (Eq F&O), 4:45 PM (Currency), 25 min before close (Commodities) |
| Trading In SME Shares Allowed? | – | Yes |
| Referral Program | – | Yes |
| Other Features | E-Margin, ENCASH, Direct Mutual Funds, APIs for Algo Trading | Direct Mutual Funds |
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities Charges
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Account Opening and AMC Charges Comparison
| Charge | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Account Opening Charge | Rs 999 | Rs 200 |
| Trading Account AMC Charge | Free | Free |
| Demat Account Opening Charge | Free | Free |
| Demat Account AMC Charge | Rs 750 | Rs 300 |
Best One: Zerodha has lower account opening and AMC charges than HDFC Securities.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Brokerage Charges Comparison
| Type | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | 0.32% | Free |
| Equity Intraday | 0.032% or Rs 20, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or .03%, whichever is lower |
| Equity Futures | Rs 20 per trade | Rs 20 per executed order or .03%, whichever is lower |
| Equity Options | Rs 20 per trade | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Currency Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or .03%, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or .03%, whichever is lower |
| Currency Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Commodity Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or .03%, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or .03%, whichever is lower |
| Commodity Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
Best One: Zerodha has lower brokerage charges than HDFC Securities for all types of trades. However, HDFC Securities offers a Lite 199 Yearly Subscription Plan that can be cost-effective for traders who have a low volume of trades.
Overall, Zerodha is the better choice for most traders due to its lower brokerage charges.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Brokerage Charges Plan-2
| Account Type | HDFC Securities Alpha 1,999 Yearly Subscription Plan | Zerodha Flat Brokerage Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Charges | Rs 1999 per year | Rs 0 |
| Equity Delivery | 0.18% | Free |
| Equity Intraday | 0.018% | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
| Equity Futures | Rs 20 per trade | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
| Equity Options | Rs 20 per trade | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Currency Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
| Currency Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Commodity Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
| Commodity Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
Best one: Zerodha has lower brokerage charges than HDFC Securities Alpha 1,999 Yearly Subscription Plan for all types of trades, except for equity delivery trades where HDFC Securities has a slight edge. However, HDFC Securities charges an annual fixed fee of Rs 1999, while Zerodha has no annual fixed fee.
Overall, Zerodha is the better choice for most traders due to its lower brokerage charges and lack of annual fixed fee.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Brokerage Plan-3
| Account Type | HDFC Securities Alpha 4999 Yearly Subscription Plan | Zerodha Flat Brokerage Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Charges | Rs 4,999 per year | Rs 0 |
| Equity Delivery | 0.10% | Free |
| Equity Intraday | 0.010% | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
| Equity Futures | Rs 20 per trade | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
| Equity Options | Rs 20 per trade | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Currency Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
| Currency Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
| Commodity Futures | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower | Rs 20 per executed order or 0.03%, whichever is lower |
| Commodity Options | Rs 20 per executed order | Rs 20 per executed order |
Better One: Zerodha has lower brokerage charges than HDFC Securities Alpha 4999 Yearly Subscription Plan for all types of trades, except for equity delivery trades where HDFC Securities has a slight edge. However, HDFC Securities charges an annual fixed fee of Rs 4,999, while Zerodha has no annual fixed fee.
Overall, Zerodha is the better choice for most traders due to its lower brokerage charges and lack of annual fixed fee.
Additionally, Zerodha’s Flat Brokerage Plan is very simple and easy to understand. There are no hidden charges or conditions.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Transaction Charges Comparison
| Transaction | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | 0.00325% | NSE 0.00325%, BSE 0.00375% (each side) |
| Equity Intraday | 0.00325% | NSE 0.00325%, BSE 0.00375% (sell side) |
| Equity Futures | 0.00190% | NSE 0.00190% |
| Equity Options | 0.050% (on premium) | NSE 0.0625% (on premium) |
| Currency Futures | 0.00110% | NSE 0.00090%, BSE 0.00025% |
| Currency Options | 0.040% (on premium) | NSE 0.035%, BSE 0.001% (on premium) |
| Commodity | Group A – 0.0026% | N/A |
Result: Zerodha has lower transaction charges than HDFC Securities for all types of transactions, except for equity delivery and equity intraday transactions where HDFC Securities has a slight edge on the NSE. However, HDFC Securities has higher transaction charges than Zerodha on the BSE for equity delivery and equity intraday transactions.
Overall, Zerodha is the better choice for most traders due to its lower transaction charges.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Margin Comparison
| Segment | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | 100% (1x) | 100% (1x) |
| Equity Intraday | Up to 20% (5x) | Up to 20% (5x) |
| F&O (Equity, Currency, Commodity) | 100% of NRML margin (Span + Exposure) (1x) | 100% of NRML margin (Span + Exposure) (1x) |
Result: HDFC Securities and Zerodha offer the same leverage for all segments. Both brokers offer up to 5x leverage for equity intraday trading and 1x leverage for equity delivery and F&O trading.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Demat Account Charges
| Charge | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Dematerialisation Charges | ₹5 per certificate + ₹35 per Dematerialisation request submitted | ₹150 per certificate (+ ₹100 Courier charges) |
| Rematerialisation Charges | ₹30 per request + CDSL actuals | ₹150 per certificate + CDSL charges + ₹100 Courier charges |
| Transaction Charges (Credit or Buy) | 0.04% of the value of txn subj to min Rs 20 per txn done by EASIEST. For BSDA a/c it’s 0.06%, Min Rs 40 | 0.04% of the value of txn subj to Min Rs 25 per txn |
| Transaction Charges (Debit or Sell) | 0.04% of the value of txn subj to Min Rs 20 per txn done by EASIEST. For BSDA a/c it’s 0.06%, Min Rs 45 | 0.04% of the value of txn subj to Min Rs 25 per txn |
| Pledge Creation Charges | Nil | ₹30 per request + GST |
| Pledge Creation Confirmation Charges | If the pledge is marked in favour of HDFC Bank: 0.02% of the value of the txn subject to min of Rs 40 per txn, 0.04% of the value of the txn subject to min of Rs 60 per txn for BSDA a/c | ₹0 |
| Pledge Invocation Charges | If the pledge is marked to other than HDFC Bank: 0.04% of the value of the txn subject to min of Rs 40 per txn, 0.06%, of the value of the txn subject to min of Rs 60 per txn for BSDA a/c | ₹20 |
| Failed Instruction Charges | Nil | ₹50 per ISIN |
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Other Charges
| Charge | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Mailing charges for non-periodic statements & other communication | Rs 35 for inland & Rs 500 for foreign address | ₹50 (+Courier charges at actual) |
| For restoring services if account is suspended for non payment of charges | Rs 250 | N/A |
| Reissuance of Delivery Instruction Booklet (DIB) | Rs 75 per Booklet | N/A |
| Settlement Charges | Rs 250 pm for CM Principle account & Unified Settlement account & Rs 500 p.m for CM Settlement account | N/A |
| Cheque Bounce | ₹350 | N/A |
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Investment Options
| Investment Option | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Stock/Equity | Yes | Yes |
| Commodity | Yes | Yes |
| Currency | Yes | Yes |
| IPO | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bond/NCD | Yes | No |
| Debt | Yes | No |
| Other Investment Options | Insurance, FD, NCD, Bond, NPS, Loan, NRI Trading | – |
Order Type Offered: Zerodha vs HDFC Securities
| Order Type | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Bracket Order | Yes | No |
| Cover Order | Yes | Yes |
| Buy Today Sell Tomorrow (BTST) | Yes | No |
| Sell Today Buy Tomorrow (STBT) | No | No |
| After Market Order (AMO) | No | Yes |
| Good Till Cancelled (GTC) | Yes | Yes |
Research Report: Zerodha vs HDFC Securities
| Research Report | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Report | Yes | No |
| Free Tips | Yes | No |
| Quarterly Result Analysis | Yes | No |
| News Alerts | Yes | No |
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Best For
| Investor Type | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Casual Investor | Yes | Yes |
| Active Investor | – | Yes |
| Trader | – | Yes |
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Trading Plateforms
| Feature | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform | Yes | Yes |
| Android mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Mac | No | Yes |
| iPad app | No | Yes |
| Virtual trading | No | No |
| iPhone mobile app | No | Yes |
Best One: Zerodha offers more trading platforms than HDFC Securities, including a Mac desktop app, an iPad app, and an iPhone mobile app.
Additionally, Zerodha offers virtual trading, which is a great way for new traders to practice trading without risking real money.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Customer Support
| Feature | Zerodha | HDFC Securities |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship manager | No | Yes |
| Offline trading | No | No |
| Online trading | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 support | Yes | No |
| Email support | Yes | Yes |
| Chat support | Yes | No |
| Toll-free number | No | No |
| Support branches | 0 | 156 |
Best One: HDFC Securities offers a wider range of customer support features than Zerodha, including a relationship manager, offline trading, and support branches. However, Zerodha offers 24/7 support and chat support, which HDFC Securities does not.
Overall, Zerodha offers more convenient and accessible customer support features than HDFC Securities.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities: Regulatory
Both Zerodha and HDFC Securities are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the national securities market regulator of India. They are also members of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
| Zerodha | HDFC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Memberships | SEBI, NSE, BSE, MCX | SEBI, BSE, NSE, MCX |
| Others | NCDEX (National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange) |
Both Zerodha and HDFC Securities are also members of the Investor Protection Fund (IPF), which is a fund set up by the SEBI to protect investors in case a broker defaults on its obligations.
Regulatory Compliance
Both Zerodha and HDFC Securities have a good track record of regulatory compliance. In the past, Zerodha has been fined by SEBI for minor violations, such as failing to maintain adequate records and failing to provide certain information to its clients. However, there have been no major regulatory violations against HDFC Securities.
Overall, both Zerodha and HDFC Securities are well-regulated stockbrokers with a good track record of compliance.
Zerodha vs HDFC Securities:Pros and Cons
✅ HDFC Securities Pros
- 3-in-1 account with HDFC Bank
- India’s No. 1 broker in terms of active clients and exchange volume
- Safe, reliable, and technologically advanced
- Simple flat fee brokerage services across segments and exchanges
- Free equity delivery trades
- Excellent trading platforms (Kite)
- Direct Mutual Fund Investment
- Good Till Triggered (GTT) orders
- NRI Trading account
❌ HDFC Securities Pros
- Must also open a savings bank account and DP account with HDFC Bank
- Very high brokerage charges
- Charges minimum brokerage of Rs 25
- Does not provide stock tips, research, and recommendations
- Call & Trade and Auto Square off charged extra
- Does not offer a 3-in-1 account, monthly unlimited trading plans, AMC Free Demat account, or margin funding
✅ Zerodha Pros
- Free equity delivery trades
- Flat Rs 20 per trade brokerage for all other segments
- Excellent trading platforms (Kite)
- Direct Mutual Fund Investment
- Good Till Triggered (GTT) orders
- NRI Trading account
❌ Zerodha Cons
- Does not offer a 3-in-1 account
- Does not offer monthly unlimited trading plans
- Does not offer an AMC Free Demat account
- No margin funding
Final Words about Zerodha vs HDFC Securities
Both are Good. But, Zerodha is a better choice than HDFC Securities for most traders due to its lower brokerage charges, more comprehensive set of trading platforms, and more convenient and accessible customer support features.
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FAQs
Which stock broker is better, HDFC or Zerodha?
Zerodha is generally considered a better choice than HDFC SEC for most traders. Zerodha offers lower brokerage charges, a more comprehensive set of trading platforms, and more convenient and accessible customer support features.
Can I switch from HDFC Securities to Zerodha?
Yes, you can switch from HDFC Securities to Zerodha.
