Both Zerodha and Paytm Money are excellent choices as discount brokers in India, yet they have their own strengths and weaknesses. Check our detailed broker review of Zerodha for a better understanding. In this article, let us compare the brokers Zerodha vs Paytm Money 2026, based on your needs and trading styles.
| Segments | Zerodha | Paytm Money |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Stocks, Direct mutual funds, F&O, IPOs, Gift stocks, Fixed income | Stocks, F&O, Mutual Funds, IPOs, ETFs, NPS, Pay Later |
| Fees & commissions | Equity delivery – ₹0 Direct MF – ₹0 online/offline account opening – ₹0 | DP AMC charges – ₹0 UPI payment gateway charges – ₹0 Platform fees – ₹0 |
| Platforms | Kite, Coin, Kite Connect API | Mobile, web, TradingView, Trading APIs |
| Tools | Console, Varsity mobile | Open interest analysis, Market scanner, Market radar, Strategy builder |
Brokerage Charges: Zerodha vs Paytm Money
The main difference in pricing between Zerodha and Paytm Money lies on the Account Maintenance Charges (AMC) and the equity brokerage structure. We found their maximum flat brokerage is identical in most of the segments. Let us have a side-by-side comparison of their pricing:
| Fees/Commission | Zerodha | Paytm Money |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Delivery – free Intraday – 0.03% of turnover or upto ₹20 per order | Delivery – 2.5% of turnover or upto ₹20 per order Intraday – 0.05% of turnover or upto ₹20 per order |
| Options | Flat ₹20 on all option trades | Flat ₹20 on all option trades |
| Futures | Equity / Currency / Commodity – 0.03% or ₹20 per order | 0.02% of turnover or upto ₹20 per order |
| Mutual funds | Free | Free |
| Currency | Futures – 0.03% or ₹20 per order Options – ₹20 per order | NA |
| Commodity | Futures – 0.03% or ₹20 per order Options – ₹20 per order | NA |
| Account opening | Online/offline account – free NRI – ₹500 Corporate – ₹500 | Free |
| Demat AMC | Upto ₹4 lakh – free ₹4 lakh to ₹10 lakh – ₹100 per year Above ₹10 lakh – ₹300 per year | Free |
Trading Platforms & User Experience
Both Zerodha and Paytm Money have trading platforms that have distinct philosophies that cater to different types of users.
| Zerodha | Paytm Money |
|---|---|
| Kite – with streaming market data, advanced charts, an elegant UI, etc. Coin – buy direct mutual funds online Kite Connect API – build trading platforms | Mobile application – for flexible trading Web app – feature-rich with powerful trading tools on your browser Trade from tv.pml.com – integrated with TradingView Trading APIs – build custom trading solutions with APIs |
User experience
The user experience between Zerodha and Paytm Money is actually a trade-off between power and simplicity. Neither is considered best, as the superior choice depends on the user’s focus.
| User experience | Zerodha | Paytm Money |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Requires adequate learning as platform is user-rich and trader-focused | Simple, modern, and easy to use |
| Platforms | Suitable for active traders and long-term equity investors | Suitable for beginners and mutual fund investors |
| Charting | Supports complex order management with advanced tools | Provides basic chart for long-term price tracking |
| Learning | Offers financial education resources through Zerodha Varsity | Offers less extensive educational content |
| Investment options | Better and more comprehensive investment options for active traders | Better integrated and cheaper option for product-specific needs |
Investment options & tools
Paytm Money offers essential tools for modern investors while Zerodha elevates its ecosystem far beyond a simple brokerage, making it ideal for professional and active traders.
| Segments | Zerodha | Paytm Money |
|---|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, Direct mutual funds, F&O, IPOs, Gift stocks, Fixed income | Stocks, F&O, Mutual Funds, IPOs, ETFs, NPS, Pay Later |
| Order types | Good Till Triggered – GTT One Cancels Other – OCO Basket orders Iceberg orders After Market Order – AMO Margin Intraday Square-off – MIS | Good Till Triggered – GTT Basket orders One Cancels Other – OCO Cover Orders – CO Bracket Orders – BO Options Scalper |
| Tools | Console – reporting & analytics dashboard Coin – direct mutual funds Kite connect API – Algorithmic trading | Advanced option chain Heatmap & Market radar |
| Charting and analysis tools | TradingView and ChartIQ integration 20 Market depth Stock SIPs | TradingView and ChartIQ integration Trade from charts Advanced screeners Option Geeks Strategy builder Stock SIPs |
| Risk management features | Nudge system Kill switch | Risk profiling Margin trading facility Portfolio analytics |
| Other special features | Varsity – Market education Sensibull – Options trading Streak – Building algorithmic strategies Tijori – Investment research | Pay later margin trading facility Voice trading IPOs and NPS |
Final verdict: Which broker suits you in 2026?
Determining the right broker to trade with depends entirely on user specific needs, because both brokers cater to different types of users. Yet, both are prominent discount brokers known for low-cost models.
| Trader/Investor types | Zerodha | Paytm Money |
|---|---|---|
| Active traders | Speed and stability with top-tier technology and platform reliability | – |
| High-volume traders | Largest client base offering all-in one market access | – |
| Advanced users | Broader range of assets giving flexibility | – |
| Beginners | – | Mobile-first, simple and highly intuitive platform |
| Investors focused on research | Mature platform having integrations (like Tijori) that provide deeper research insights. Zerodha’s varsity and Trading Q&A are highlights | – |
| Mutual fund investors | – | Free AMC |
| Long-term investors | – | Free AMC and slightly lower overall transaction charges |
Conclusion
If you are a high-volume active investor, Zerodha is the superior choice due to free equity delivery and the best-in-class trading platform (Kite). If you are a beginner or a mutual fund-focused investor, Paytm Money is a strong option due to zero demat AMC.
Pro Tip
Comparing multiple brokers before choosing one for trading is absolutely necessary to avoid fraud and capital risk. Compare Zerodha with its peers Groww vs Zerodha, and Alice Blue vs Zerodha, to understand the competitive offerings.
FAQs
1. What is zerodha’s brokerage in 2026?
Zerodha’s brokerage in 2026 is as follows:
| Instruments | Brokerage |
|---|---|
| Equity | Delivery – ₹0 Intraday – 0.03% or ₹20/order Futures – 0.03% or ₹20/order Options – ₹20/order |
| Currency/Commodity | Futures – 0.03% or ₹20/order Options – ₹20/order |
2. What charges does Paytm Money apply for stocks?
Paytm Money charges 2.5% or ₹20 per order for equity delivery. It charges 0.05% of turnover or ₹20 per executed order for equity intraday.
3. What are the Annual Maintenance Charges for Zerodha?
| Holdings value | AMC |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹4 lakh | Free |
| ₹4 lakh – ₹10 lakh | ₹100 per year, charged quarterly |
| Above ₹10 lakh | ₹300 per year, charged quarterly |
4. What is the minimum investment for Paytm Money?
There is no minimum investment requirement for Paytm Money, but for equity delivery you must maintain 100% funds in cash and for equity intraday you must maintain 50% funds in cash and rest in collateral.
5. Can I use Paytm Money for intraday trading in 2026?
Yes, you can use Paytm Money for intraday trading in 2026.
6. Is Zerodha better than Paytm Money for beginners?
Paytm Money remains extremely simple and hassle-free with zero annual maintenance costs that well suit beginners. However, if you are a long-term beginner investor, you can choose Zerodha for its free delivery trading.
7. Does Paytm Money offer free Mutual Fund investing?
Yes, Paytm Money offers Mutual Fund investing with no Account Maintenance Charges (AMC) and no transaction fees.
8. Can I do futures and options in Paytm Money?
Yes, you can do futures and options trading in Paytm Money with charges ₹20 per executed order.
