"With 1281+ branches in 377 cities of the country serving 1.4 million customers, over 5 lacs trades per day, Kotak Securities have been able to create their own space in stock brokers industry."
Why Kotak Securities?
- A Unique 3-in-1 On-line Trading Account, which includes Kotak Mahindra Banks Saving Account, Kotak Securities Trading Account and Kotak Securities Demat Account, is the key offering for retail stock market investors in India.
- Security: Instead of transferring monies to a broker's pool or towards deposits, you can manage your own demat and bank accounts when you trade through Kotak Securities. It provides you the flexibility to pay only when you trade.
- E-Broking House with >13 Lac customers.
- Wide network of 1281 branches and sub Brokers in 377 cities.
- After Market Orders and Portfolio Management Service(PMS) available.
- Facility to trade in Equities, IPO's, Bonds, FD's, ETF's, Mutual Funds, F&O and Currency derivatives etc.
- Add on services like relationship manager, tips & recommendations, technical research, market pointers, periodical research reports, training and education.
Positives
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✔ What Kotak Securities Does Well
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Needs Improvement
✘ Where Kotak Securities Falls Short
| ✗ | Delivery 0.25% or ₹20 — still expensive vs ₹0 at Zerodha/Groww/Dhan |
| ✗ | AMC ₹600/year — higher than Zerodha (₹300), HDFC SKY (₹240) |
| ✗ | DP charge 0.04%+NSDL min ₹20 — percentage-based, similar to HDFC Securities |
| ✗ | Intraday changed from ₹0 to ₹10 in Nov 2024 — trust impact on loyalty users |
| ✗ | NRI opening charges ₹3,750; NRI AMC ₹750+GST; NRI Call & Trade ₹90/trade |
| ✗ | Dealer Assisted Plan brokerage (0.39% delivery) is high for full-service |
| ✗ | Online account opening restricted to scheduled banks only |
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KOTAK SECURITIES
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Kotak Securities Review 2026 — Trade Free Plan, Neo Platform, Trinity Account, NRI & Honest AssessmentBy CompareShareBrokers Editorial Team | Last updated: March 2026 | Affiliate disclosure
✔ Verified March 2026 ✔ Kotak Mahindra Bank Subsidiary ✔ No Plan Renewal Fees
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Open Free Account →
Free • No Renewal Fees
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₹10
Intraday brokerage (Trade Free)
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0.25%
Delivery brokerage (Trade Free)
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₹0
Account opening charge
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₹600
Demat AMC/year
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14.6L
Active clients (Jun 2025)
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4.0/5
CSB Rating
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| Year of Incorporation | 1994 |
| Broker Type | Full-Service |
| Key USP | Trinity 3-in-1; Trade Free Youth (₹0 for 2 yrs); ₹10 intraday; Neo app |
| Products | Investment banking, Institutional broking, retail broking, private wealth management, and financial product distribution |
| Demat Services | Yes |
| Active Exchange Memberships | NSE, BSE,MCX |
| Website | http://www.kotaksecurities.com |
| Contact Details | 1800222299 |
| Total Number of Clients | 1,368,501 |
| Total Number of Branches | 153 |
Kotak Securities Ltd is a stockbroking and distribution arm of the Kotak Mahindra Bank. Kotak Securities was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India. One of the oldest broking houses in India, its operations include stock broking and distribution of various financial products. It is a corporate member of both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock exchange (NSE).
Kotak Securities, the popular stockbroker is amongst the top five Share Brokers in India having a customer base of more than 13 lacs, 1281 branches, and sub Brokers in 377 cities and executing over 5lacs trade per day.
Kotak Securities is an award-winning and pioneering online broking platform. The platform not only offers convenient ways to invest in Equity, Derivatives, Currency Futures, and Mutual Funds but also other services Fixed Deposits, Loans, Tax Services, New Pension Systems, and Insurance are available.
Kotak Securities offers an easy-to-use platform to invest in equity and various other financial products using its unique 3-in-1 account which integrates customers' saving, trading, and demat accounts.
Kotak Securities also offers access to comprehensive research information, stock picks, and mutual fund recommendations among other offerings.
Kotak Securities offers three brokerage plans. The Trade Free Plan is the default plan assigned at account opening, requires one-time activation (no renewal fees), and charges ₹10 intraday and ₹20 F&O. The Trade Free Max (₹2,499/year) adds lower MTF interest rates. The Trade Free Youth (₹299/yr1, ₹499/yr2) gives under-30 investors zero brokerage for 2 years. The Dealer Assisted Plan has a dedicated dealer and higher percentage-based rates. All charges verified from kotakneo.com/pricing, Chittorgarh, and Kotak Securities' November 2024 fee revision bulletin.
| Segment | Trade Free (default) | Trade Free Max (₹2,499/yr) | Trade Free Youth (under 30) | Dealer Assisted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | 0.25% or ₹20 (higher) | Same as Trade Free | ₹0 for 2 yrs then Trade Free rates | 0.39% |
| Equity Intraday | ₹10 or 0.05% (lower) | Same as Trade Free | ₹0 for 2 yrs | 0.039% |
| F&O Carry-forward | ₹20 flat | ₹20 flat | ₹0 for 2 yrs | Equity ₹39/lot; Currency ₹9/lot; Commodity ₹39/lot |
| Currency Futures | ₹10/order | ₹10/order | ₹0 for 2 yrs | ₹9/lot |
| MTF interest rate | Standard rates | 10.25% p.a. ✔ (lower rate) | Standard rates | Standard rates |
| Subscription / fee | ₹0 — no renewal ever | ₹2,499/year | ₹299 yr1; ₹499 yr2 | No subscription; dealer fee max ₹49/trade additional |
| Charge | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Account opening | ₹0 (under 30) / ₹99 (over 30) | Free under Trade Free Youth Plan. ₹99 for over-30 under Trade Free Plan. NRI opening: ₹3,750. |
| Demat AMC | ₹600/year | ₹0 if net holdings below ₹10,000 (since Nov 2021). BSDA: ₹0 up to ₹50K holdings; ₹100/yr up to ₹2L. NRI AMC: ₹750+GST/year. |
| DP charge | 0.04% + NSDL charges, min ₹20 | Percentage-based. On ₹1L sell: ~₹40+GST. NRI DP: ₹21/scrip. Compare: Zerodha ₹15.34 flat; ICICI Direct ₹20+GST flat. |
| Pledge creation | 0.05% min ₹30 | Pledge invocation: 0.04% min ₹30. |
| Call & Trade (resident) | Included in plans | Dealer-assisted trades via Nest Terminal attract ₹49 minimum brokerage. GTT orders placed by client via app/web: plan rate. NRI Call & Trade: ₹90/trade. |
| Min. brokerage (Trade Free) | ₹20 (delivery); no min on intraday | Minimum ₹20 applies on delivery trades under Trade Free plan. Dealer Assisted: ₹21 min. |
| NRI brokerage | Delivery 1%; Futures 0.1%; Options ₹150/contract | NRI Trinity account. NRE + NRO, PIS route. International partner presence: New York, London, Dubai, Singapore, Mauritius. |
| Tax | Equity Delivery | Intraday | F&O (Budget 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| STT | 0.1% buy+sell | 0.025% sell | Fut: 0.05% sell Opt: 0.15% sell (premium) Effective April 1, 2026. |
| GST | 18% on brokerage + exchange charges + SEBI charges | ||
| SEBI charges | ₹10 per crore | ||
| Stamp duty | 0.015% (buy) | 0.003% (buy) | Fut: 0.002%; Opt: 0.003% (buy) |
The Trinity account links a Kotak Mahindra Bank savings account, Kotak Securities trading account, and demat account into a single integrated entity. Fund transfers are automatic — when you sell shares, proceeds settle into your Kotak Bank account without manual NEFT or transfer instructions. When you buy, funds are auto-debited from the bank. Up to five Kotak Bank savings accounts and five demat accounts can be linked to a single trading account. For non-Kotak bank customers, a 2-in-1 (trading + demat only) is available, though the seamless banking integration advantage is absent.
Kotak Neo (web + app) is built on the Refinitiv trading engine and designed with a modern, clutter-free UI making it accessible for both beginners and experienced traders. Key features include TradingView chart integration, multi-leg option strategies, Payoff Analyser, Smallcase, Stockit (stock discovery tool), basket orders, and direct MF investment. NEST Terminal is the installable desktop platform for high-frequency active traders with advanced multi-market-watch, fast execution, and charting. Neo Trade API enables algorithmic trading and platform customisation for developers. Products include equity, F&O, currency, commodity (MCX + NCDEX), MF, IPO, bonds, NCDs, US stocks, PMS, Smallcase, and Sovereign Gold Bonds.
- You are an existing Kotak Mahindra Bank customer — the Trinity 3-in-1 is the smoothest banking-broking integration available, making trades frictionless with auto fund transfer.
- You are under 30 years old — the Trade Free Youth Plan (₹299/yr1, ₹499/yr2) gives ₹0 brokerage on delivery, intraday, and F&O for 2 years. No other full-service broker matches this.
- You want full-service research + competitive F&O pricing without renewal fees — the Trade Free Plan charges ₹20/order F&O with no annual renewal, unlike HDFC Securities (annual Value Plans) or ICICI Direct (Prime plans).
- You want an NRI Trinity account with global partner presence — Kotak has NRI partner offices in New York, London, Dubai, Singapore, and Mauritius, offering support across major NRI geographies.
- You primarily do delivery trades and want minimum cost — 0.25% delivery brokerage means ₹250 on a ₹1L trade. Zerodha, Groww, and Dhan charge ₹0.
- You are cost-sensitive on AMC — ₹600/year is higher than Zerodha (₹300) and significantly higher than brokers offering ₹0 AMC.
- You are an NRI needing affordable brokerage — ₹3,750 opening + ₹750+GST/year AMC + ₹90/trade Call & Trade + 1% delivery brokerage make NRI costs high. ICICI Direct NRI is generally more competitive.
| Feature | Kotak Securities | ICICI Direct | HDFC Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery | 0.25% or ₹20 | 0.29% default | 0.50% standard | ₹0 ✔ |
| Intraday | ₹10/order | 0.029% | 0.05% | ₹20/order |
| F&O | ₹20 flat | ₹20 (iValue) / ₹49/lot default | ₹20 (Value plan) | ₹20/order |
| AMC | ₹600/yr | ₹700/yr (₹300 iValue) | ₹750/yr ⚠ Highest | ₹300/yr |
| Plan renewal | No renewal fees ✔ | iValue lifetime; Prime annual | Annual renewal ⚠ | No plans |
| 3-in-1 account | Yes ✔ (Trinity) | Yes ✔ | Yes ✔ | None |
| Youth zero-brokerage | Yes ✔ (under 30, 2 yrs) | None | None | None |
Kotak Securities Limited is a listed subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank, SEBI-registered (BSE, NSE, MCX, NCDEX), and holds DP registrations with NSDL. With 30+ years of operation since 1994 and the backing of one of India's top-four private banks, Kotak Securities represents institutional-grade stability. Your demat holdings are held independently in your personal demat account and are not at risk in any broker-level event. The company's triple SEBI registration (Broker + Portfolio Manager + Research Analyst) underscores the breadth of its regulated services.
Kotak Securities occupies a smart middle ground: full-service research, Trinity 3-in-1 banking, and 30-year institutional trust, at a pricing level considerably more competitive than ICICI Direct or HDFC Securities. The Trade Free Plan's no-renewal structure is the most user-friendly plan design in the full-service segment. The Trade Free Youth Plan is genuinely unmatched for under-30 investors. The two real weaknesses are: delivery at 0.25% is still more expensive than ₹0 at discount brokers, and NRI costs are high relative to ICICI Direct. For existing Kotak Bank customers, young investors, and research-dependent traders who want competitive F&O pricing without plan renewal anxiety, Kotak Securities is a compelling full-service choice.
Overall: 4.0/5 — Highly Recommended for Kotak Bank customers, under-30 investors (Youth Plan), and F&O traders seeking full-service research without heavy annual subscription costs. Delivery-focused investors should compare carefully with discount brokers on pure cost.
Kotak Securities Trade Free Plan
Open a 3-in-1 account and get:
- Brokerage-Free Intraday trades (Equity and F&O).
- Flat Rs. 20 per trade brokerage in F&O
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Frequently Asked Questions:
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1. What are Kotak Securities brokerage charges in 2026?
Trade Free Plan (default, no renewal): Delivery 0.25% or ₹20 higher; Intraday ₹10 or 0.05% lower; F&O carry-forward ₹20. First 30 days: ₹0. Trade Free Youth (under 30): ₹0 brokerage for 2 years. Trade Free Max (₹2,499/yr): same brokerage + lower MTF rate (10.25% p.a.). Dealer Assisted: Delivery 0.39%, Intraday 0.039%, Options ₹39/lot. Confirmed from kotakneo.com/pricing (official) and Chittorgarh.
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2. Why did Kotak Securities start charging for intraday from November 2024?
Kotak Securities officially communicated that exchanges moved from slab-based to flat-fee transaction charges, significantly reducing revenue per trade, while SEBI's F&O lot size increases (2–3x) further reduced order frequency and revenue. Together these made zero-brokerage intraday financially unsustainable. Starting November 4, 2024, intraday became ₹10/order or 0.05% (lower). Existing Trade Free Youth subscribers were grandfathered until their subscription period ended.
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3. Does the Trade Free Plan have any renewal or subscription fees?
No. The Trade Free Plan is activated once at account opening and has no annual renewal or subscription fee — ever. This is distinct from HDFC Securities' Value Plans (₹199–₹5,999/year, auto-renewed annually) and ICICI Direct's Prime plans (₹999–₹9,999 lifetime subscription). Trade Free Plan is truly one-time and lifetime. Confirmed from kotakneo.com/pricing/trade-free-plan (official).
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4. What is the Trade Free Youth Plan?
For investors under 30 years of age: ₹299 subscription for Year 1, ₹499 for Year 2. During the 2-year period, ₹0 brokerage applies on equity delivery, intraday, and all F&O (carry-forward and intraday). After 2 years, Trade Free Plan rates apply. Account opening is free under the Youth Plan. This is the most comprehensive zero-brokerage offer among full-service brokers reviewed on CSB — no other full-service broker offers ₹0 delivery for this duration.
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5. What is the Trinity account?
The Trinity account is Kotak's 3-in-1 combining a Kotak Mahindra Bank savings account, Kotak Securities trading account, and demat account. Fund transfer for trade settlement is automatic — no NEFT or manual instruction needed. Up to five Kotak Bank savings accounts and five demat accounts can be linked. Kotak also offers a 2-in-1 (trading + demat) for non-Kotak bank customers who want to keep their existing bank. The NRI Trinity account provides the same integration using NRE/NRO PIS bank accounts.
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6. What is the Kotak Securities demat AMC?
₹600/year for standard accounts. ₹0 if net holdings are below ₹10,000 (waived since November 2021 for small investors). BSDA accounts: ₹0 up to ₹50,000 holdings; ₹100/year up to ₹2 lakh. NRI AMC: ₹750+GST/year. Compare: ICICI Direct ₹700/yr (₹300 with iValue), HDFC Securities ₹750/yr, Zerodha ₹300/yr, HDFC SKY ₹240/yr.
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7. Does Kotak Securities offer NRI accounts?
Yes. The NRI Trinity account combines NRE/NRO savings, trading, and demat accounts with PIS route support. NRI account opening: ₹3,750 (one of the highest in reviewed set). NRI AMC: ₹750+GST/year. NRI brokerage: Delivery 1%; Futures 0.1%; Options ₹150/contract. NRI Call & Trade: ₹90/trade. Kotak has partner presence in New York, London, Dubai, Singapore, and Mauritius for NRI servicing.
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8. What platforms does Kotak Securities offer?
Kotak Neo (web + app) — built on Refinitiv engine with TradingView charts, option payoff analyser, basket orders, Smallcase, and direct MF. NEST Terminal — installable desktop platform for active intraday traders with advanced multi-market-watch and fast order execution. Neo Trade API — for algorithmic trading and third-party platform integration. The Neo app is generally regarded as one of the more polished full-service broker apps in India.
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9. What are Budget 2026 F&O STT changes at Kotak Securities?
Effective April 1, 2026: Futures STT raised to 0.05% on sell side. Options STT raised to 0.15% on sell side on premium. These are government taxes applicable at all brokers equally. No separate Kotak action needed — the charges appear automatically in your contract notes from April 1, 2026.
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10. Kotak Securities vs Zerodha — which is better?
Choose Kotak Securities if: you are a Kotak Bank customer (Trinity 3-in-1), you are under 30 (Youth Plan ₹0 brokerage for 2 years), you want full-service research + RM, or you need NRI Trinity account with global partner presence. Choose Zerodha if: cost minimisation is the priority (₹0 delivery vs 0.25%, ₹300 AMC vs ₹600), you want the most established discount broker platform with GTT orders, or Coin for direct MF investment. On delivery cost and AMC: Zerodha wins. On research, 3-in-1 banking integration, and youth plan: Kotak wins.
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11. Is Kotak Securities safe?
Kotak Securities Limited is a listed subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank (NSE: KOTAKBANK), SEBI-registered on BSE, NSE, MCX, and NCDEX, and holds NSDL DP registration. With 30+ years of operation since 1994 and Kotak Mahindra Bank backing (a top-4 Indian private bank), Kotak Securities is among the safest brokers in India alongside ICICI Direct and HDFC Securities. Your demat holdings are held in your personal demat account independent of the broker.
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