To the unwary eye of a new investor, this promise sounds like music: zero brokerage means free trades and, therefore, easy money. Not quite. While the best trading app in India with zero brokerage has opened up the stock markets for millions, some homework is required in choosing the right app. In this post, I’ll take you through a friendly, step-by-step guide to picking the best trading app in India with zero brokerage-without drowning you in jargon. I’ll also point to recent news and industry moves so your decision stays relevant.
Understand what “zero brokerage” really means
Many brokers advertise “zero brokerage,” but the fine print matters. Often, zero brokerage applies to equity delivery, that is, buy-and-hold stocks, while intraday, derivatives, or even more advanced orders might still attract a fee. Other platforms waive brokerage charges but levy other operational or platform fees. A couple of high-profile players introduced or promoted zero-brokerage models in recent years, and a few have revised fees later, so always check the latest announcements.
MarketBhai, go to the broker’s charges page-it exists for every major broker-and search for “delivery,” “intraday,” “F&O”, and “DP/AMC” in their fee schedule.
Keep up to date – regulations and business models change
The brokerage space in India is moving very fast. Regulators, much like the brokers, keep rolling out changes that affect fees, product availability, and features, such as new rules around algo trading or settlement cycles. That’s why it’s smart to go through a recent news piece or company blog before you open an account. Industry reporting has captured rapid moves by fintech brokers and platform shifts-a healthy reminder that what’s free today may be paid for tomorrow.
Prioritise reliability and uptime
If your app crashes during market open, “zero brokerage” won’t help. Best trading app in India with zero brokerage, like MarketBhai, comes with stability, server uptime, and order execution speed that do matter, especially in the case of beginners who might place just one market order at an important moment. Take recent outage reports and user feedback as a red flag. Big names face glitches sometimes, too, and reading recent reports gives you context on how responsive a broker is when something breaks.
What to do: Check recent news for outages and scan user reviews in the App Store or Play Store for complaints about crashes or slow order execution.
Look for a clean, beginner-friendly interface
The best trading app in India with zero brokerage, similar to MarketBhai, makes the basics obvious: simple buy/sell flows, clear order types, and plain-language charts. Bonus features to watch for are in-app learning content, demo or paper trading, and customer support that actually answers your call or chat. Many fintech brokers have doubled down on UX and education as a way to woo new users, a clear win for someone just starting.
Beware of hidden costs (they exist)
Even with “zero brokerage,” other costs can eat into your net returns: DP charges, stamp duty, exchange & regulatory levies, fund transfer fees, and subscription or premium features. Some zero-brokerage models offset the free trades by monetising order flow, margin products, or premium analytics. Read the fee schedule and compare the “total cost of a trade,” not just the headline brokerage. Recent articles and broker notices have called out these exact tradeoffs.
Check product coverage and trading tools
Are you looking just to buy-and-hold, or trade intraday, options, commodities, or crypto? Not every zero brokerage app supports each product. If you plan to grow beyond the basics, pick a platform that will scale with you, offering good charting tools, order types, SIPs for equities and mutual funds, and clean account linking to bank/Demat services. Industry roundups list which apps excel at which features; use them to match your needs.
Safety, regulation and transparency
Only select brokers that are approved by SEBI, with a recognised clearing member as their supporter. See if the platform does secure authentication (2FA), how they store your information, and if they are transparent about customers’ compensation policies in the event of technical failures. MarketBhai publicise compliance pages and business updates.
Customer service matters – try before you commit
Open MarketBhai, head to the help section, and try out the live chat or the helpline. Good customer service is priceless when things go wrong – especially when markets move fast. Some brokers respond to queries even on Twitter, while others count on e-mail tickets. Recent reporting about broker glitches shows that quick response and compensation can separate reliable firms from shaky ones.
Practical starter checklist
You can look for MarketBhai
Confirm which products are actually zero brokerage, delivery versus intraday.
Read the ‘Charges’ page and then work out a sample trade cost, including taxes.
Check user reviews about outages and the speed of customer service. Test the onboarding flow of KYC and bank linking, and test the UI. Check if this application offers in-app learning or paper trading. Look up recent news for any policy/fee changes.
A final friendly thought
In case you’re a beginner, your best trading app in India with zero brokerage should prioritise simplicity, safety, and transparency over chasing zero brokerage at any cost. Zero brokerage is great, but only if the app is stable, compliant, and serves your trading goals. Pick the platform that you’re comfortable using today, and remember: you can always switch later as your skills and needs change. Recent industry pieces show the market continues to evolve; being in the know will help save money and headaches.
