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Overview Overall

"ICICIdirect.com, an award winning, pioneering online broking platform, The platform not only offers convenient ways to invest in Equity, Derivatives, Currency Futures, Mutual Funds but also other services Fixed Deposits, Loans, Tax Services, New Pension Systems and Insurance are available.

ICICIdirect.com is a market leader in financial product distribution with huge network of own offices, sub brokers and investment associates."

  • Brokerage & Other Charges
  • Mobile Trading
  • Research
  • Customer Services
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Why ICICI Direct?

    • A Unique 3-in-1 On-line Trading Account, which includes ICICI Bank Account, ICICI Trading Account and ICICI 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 ICICIdirect.com. It provides you the flexibility to pay only when you trade.
    • Largest Equity E-Broking House with >40 Lac customers.
    • Share trading in both NSE and BSE, innovative offerings like - Margin, MarginPlus, BTST, SPOT, Derivatives trading, overseas trading, mutual funds, IPOs and on-line life insurance.
    • Call-n-Trade: you can place orders securely over the telephone with the Call N Trade service.
    • Award Winning Research

Positives

    ✔ What ICICI Direct Does Well
    3-in-1 account — bank + trading + demat seamlessly integrated with ICICI Bank
    Institutional trust — ICICI Bank subsidiary since 1995; 30+ year operating history
    SEBI RA research team — 50+ analysts, sector coverage, stock recommendations
    NRI 3-in-1 account (NRE + NRO, PIS + non-PIS) — fully integrated NRI banking
    eATM — sale proceeds in 5–30 minutes to trading account
    iValue plan: ₹20/order intraday + F&O at just ₹299 one-time
    50+ products: equity, F&O, MF, IPO, bonds, NCDs, FD, insurance, NPS, home loans
    Branch support across 87+ ICICI Bank locations
    Trade Racer professional terminal for advanced traders
    VTC orders valid for 45 days
    Both NSDL and CDSL DP options
    19.5 lakh active clients — proven at massive scale

Needs Improvement

    ✘ Where ICICI Direct Falls Short

     
    Default plan 0.29% delivery brokerage is expensive — ₹580 on ₹1L trade vs ₹0 at discount brokers
    AMC ₹700/year — highest among all brokers reviewed on CSB
    DP charge ₹20+GST per ISIN — same as Groww, Angel One; higher than Zerodha (₹15.34)
    Call & Trade ₹50/order — expensive
    MTF interest 17.99% p.a. — among the highest; mStock at 6.99%–14.99% is significantly cheaper
    3-in-1 account requires ICICI Bank account for full benefit — non-ICICI bank users get only 2-in-1
    Account closure not possible online — physical form submission required
    Platform innovation slower than app-first brokers like Dhan or Groww
    eATM proceeds go to trading account only — not bank account
Special Offer: Invest brokerage-free Equity Delivery and Direct Mutual Funds (truly no brokerage). Pay flat Rs 20 per trade for Intra-day and F&O. Open Instant Account online with Zerodha and start trading today.
ICICI DIRECT

ICICI Direct Review 2026 — 3-in-1 Account, Brokerage Plans, Research, NRI & Full Honest Assessment

By CompareShareBrokers Editorial Team  |  Last updated: March 2026  |  Affiliate disclosure
✔ Verified March 2026 ✔ ICICI Securities Ltd — ICICI Bank subsidiary India's Largest Full-Service Broker
Open Free Account →
Free • 3-in-1 Account
0.29%
Default delivery brokerage
 
₹20
iValue F&O (₹299 one-time)
 
3-in-1
Bank + Trading + Demat account
 
₹700
Demat AMC/year
 
19.5L
Active clients (Jun 2025)
 
3.9/5
CSB Rating
ICICI Direct Review  
Year of Incorporation 2000
Broker Type Full-Service
Key USP ICICI Bank 3-in-1; SEBI RA research; eATM; 50+ products; NRI 3-in-1
Products -
Demat Services Yes
Active Exchange Memberships -
Website -
Contact Details -
Total Number of Clients 2,045,086
Total Number of Branches 154

ICICIdirect is a retail trading and investment service from ICICI Securities, the largest retail stockbroker firm in India offering a wide range of investment options to retail and institutional customers. ICICIdirect.com 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.

ICICIdirect.com 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' savings, trading, and demat accounts. ICICIdirect.com also offers access to comprehensive research information, stock picks, and mutual fund recommendations among other offerings. ICICIdirect.com is the first broker in India to introduce `Digitally Signed Contract Note' to its customers.

What Is ICICI Direct and Why Does It Matter?

ICICI Direct is the online trading and investment platform of ICICI Securities Limited (I-Sec), a wholly owned subsidiary of ICICI Bank. Established in 1995 and listed on both NSE and BSE, ICICI Securities is India's largest retail stockbroker by revenue and one of the largest by active client count — 19.5 lakh active clients as of June 2025. With SEBI registration INZ000183631 for broking and INH000000990 as a Research Analyst, and memberships on NSE (07730), BSE (103), and MCX (56250), ICICI Direct operates across the full spectrum of Indian financial markets.

ICICI Direct is fundamentally different from discount brokers reviewed elsewhere on CSB. It is a full-service broker — meaning it charges higher brokerage but provides comprehensive research, advisory, relationship management, branch support, and over 50 products including insurance, home loans, NPS, and NCDs alongside standard equity and derivatives. The flagship offering is the 3-in-1 account: a single integrated structure combining an ICICI Bank savings account, ICICI Direct trading account, and ICICI Securities demat account. This eliminates fund transfer delays, automates settlement, and is unique to ICICI group account holders.

ICICI Direct's pricing complexity is the most important thing to understand before signing up. The default MoneySaver plan charges 0.29% on delivery (both buy and sell) and 0.029% on intraday — expensive by discount broker standards. However, the iValue plan at just ₹299 one-time reduces F&O and intraday brokerage to a flat ₹20/order — matching discount broker rates. The Prime plans (₹999–₹9,999 lifetime) further reduce delivery brokerage to as low as 0.07%. Understanding which plan you are on is critical to evaluating ICICI Direct's actual cost to you.

Our honest take, upfront: ICICI Direct is India's most trusted full-service broker — ICICI Bank's backing, 30+ year operating history, SEBI RA research, branch network, NRI 3-in-1 accounts, and 50+ products make it the right choice for investors who want hand-holding and comprehensive financial services in one place. The honest trade-off: the default plan is genuinely expensive (0.29% delivery = ₹580 brokerage on a ₹1 lakh delivery trade vs ₹0 at discount brokers). The ₹700/year AMC is the highest in the market. The iValue plan (₹299 one-time) makes F&O competitive, but delivery stays expensive unless you upgrade to Prime. If pure brokerage cost is your focus, discount brokers win. If research, trust, branch access, and banking integration matter, ICICI Direct is the gold standard.
Our Ratings Breakdown
Brokerage charges (default)
   
2.2
Brokerage (iValue plan)
   
3.7
Research & advisory
   
4.7
3-in-1 account & banking
   
4.8
NRI support
   
4.5
Customer support
   
4.1
Product breadth
   
4.8
Trust & brand stability
   
4.9
Overall Rating
   
3.9

Ratings based on independent testing, verified user reviews, SEBI complaint data, and platform benchmarking. Updated March 2026. Default brokerage rated separately from iValue plan as they represent meaningfully different cost structures.

ICICI Direct Charges 2026 — All Plans Explained in Full

ICICI Direct's pricing is significantly more complex than discount brokers — it operates multiple plans, and the plan you are on determines your actual brokerage. The sections below cover each plan separately. All charges verified from icicidirect.com/brokerage (official), Chittorgarh, InvestorGain, and Investorgain as of March 2026.

⚠ Critical: Know which plan you are on before assuming costs. Most new ICICI Direct users default to the MoneySaver plan — which charges 0.29% on delivery. This is expensive. Adding the iValue plan for ₹299 (one-time, lifetime) immediately reduces F&O/intraday to ₹20/order. For delivery cost reduction, the Prime plans are needed. Always check your current plan under Settings > Brokerage Plans in your account.
Plan 1: MoneySaver (Default Plan — No Additional Cost)

This is the plan all ICICI Direct customers are on unless they upgrade. No subscription fee, but brokerage is percentage-based and high.

Segment Brokerage Example on ₹1 lakh trade
Equity Delivery 0.29% (buy + sell) ₹290 buy + ₹290 sell = ₹580 total
Equity Intraday 0.029% per side ₹29 buy + ₹29 sell = ₹58 total
Futures 0.029% per side On contract value per side.
Options ₹49 per lot Per executed lot.
Currency F&O ₹20 flat Flat per order.
Commodity (MCX) ₹20 flat Flat per order.
Plan 2: iValue Plan (₹299 One-Time Lifetime) — Best for Traders

Add-on plan. Reduces F&O and intraday to ₹20/order. Delivery brokerage stays as per MoneySaver or Prime plan. AMC reduced to ₹300/year (from ₹700). This is the plan most active traders on ICICI Direct should have.

Segment Brokerage (iValue) Notes
Equity Delivery As per MoneySaver/Prime iValue does not change delivery brokerage.
Equity Intraday ₹20/order flat Replaces 0.029%. Saves significantly for small trades.
Futures ₹20/order flat Replaces 0.029%.
Options ₹20/order flat Replaces ₹49/lot. Major saving for options traders.
Demat AMC ₹300/year Reduced from ₹700. Saving: ₹400/year.
Subscription cost ₹299 one-time, lifetime Pays back in savings within the first month for active traders.
Plan 3: Prime Plans (₹999 / ₹4,999 / ₹9,999 Lifetime) — For High-Volume Investors

Reduces delivery brokerage significantly. Can be combined with iValue for the lowest all-in ICICI Direct cost. All plans have lifetime validity except ₹299 (annual).

Segment MoneySaver (default) Prime ₹999 (lifetime) Prime ₹4,999 (lifetime) Prime ₹9,999 (lifetime)
Delivery 0.29% ~0.25% ~0.15% ~0.07%
Intraday/Futures 0.029% ~0.025% ~0.007% ~0.0007%
Options ₹49/lot ~₹35/lot ~₹20/lot ~₹9/lot
eATM Not available Yes ✔ Yes ✔ Yes ✔

Note: Exact Prime plan rates differ by plan subscribed. Verify current rates from icicidirect.com/brokerage/prime-plan before subscribing. The rates above reflect the approximate range from Chittorgarh and InvestorGain as of March 2026.

Account, Demat & Other Charges
Charge Amount Notes
Account opening ₹0 Free Free online. Confirmed official.
Demat AMC (standard) ₹700/year Individual accounts. Highest AMC among all reviewed brokers. Reduced to ₹300 with iValue plan.
Demat AMC (iValue plan) ₹300/year With iValue subscription (₹299 one-time). Confirmed official.
DP charge (CDSL) ₹20+GST per ISIN per day CDSL: ₹20+GST per ISIN per day. Applies on delivery sell. On same ISIN sold multiple times in a day, ₹20 once. Confirmed official prime plan page.
DP charge (NSDL) ₹20+GST first; ₹4+GST subsequent First debit instruction per scrip per day: ₹20+GST. Subsequent same-day, same-scrip: ₹4+GST.
Call & Trade ₹50/order Equity and derivatives. Commodity: ₹50 regardless of plan. Confirmed official.
System square-off (RMS) ₹50/order (capped ₹100/day) Maximum ₹100 per day per account. Confirmed official brokerage page.
Pledge creation ₹25+GST Per pledge instruction. Confirmed thebeststockbroker.
MTF interest (standard) 17.99% p.a. (0.049%/day) Confirmed from icicidirect.com/brokerage. Reduces with higher Prime plans. Industry-high rate — mStock offers 6.99%–14.99%.
Physical contract note ₹99+GST per delivery Charged if email bounces or physical delivery requested. Use email delivery to avoid.
Government Taxes — Post Budget 2026 (Same at All Brokers)
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)
NRI Account Charges
Segment NRI Brokerage Notes
Equity Delivery (NRI) 0.50%–1.25% Varies by trade volume. Lower rates for higher volumes.
Equity Futures (NRI) 0.03%–0.05% Per side on contract value.
Equity Options (NRI) ₹70–₹95/lot Per executed lot.
Account type NRI 3-in-1 NRE + NRO; PIS + non-PIS routes both supported.
Online account opening US-based NRIs: Yes US-based NRIs can open online. Others may need to visit branch or courier documents.
The 3-in-1 Account — ICICI Direct's Defining Feature

The 3-in-1 account is the combination of an ICICI Bank savings account, ICICI Direct trading account, and an ICICI Securities demat account — all linked together. This creates a single financial universe for the customer: when you sell shares, the proceeds settle directly into your linked ICICI Bank account without manual transfer instructions. When you buy, funds are automatically debited from your bank. There are no NEFT/IMPS transfer delays, no payment gateway charges for fund additions, and no waiting for settlement cycles to reinvest proceeds.

Who benefits most: Investors who are already ICICI Bank customers, or those who are willing to open an ICICI Bank savings account alongside the trading account. For non-ICICI bank customers, ICICI Direct offers a 2-in-1 account (trading + demat only, with any bank), but the seamless fund transfer advantage is reduced.

eATM (Equity ATM): A Premium-plan feature where sale proceeds from selling shares are credited to the trading account within 5–30 minutes of the transaction — rather than waiting for T+2 settlement. This allows reinvestment of sale proceeds on the same day. Note: eATM funds go to the trading account, not the bank account, so they cannot be directly withdrawn.

Platforms & Products
Trading Platforms

ICICIdirect.com (Web) is the flagship platform, one of India's most visited financial websites, offering trading, investing, research, and portfolio management in an integrated interface. ICICI Direct Mobile App (Android and iOS) provides real-time quotes, order placement, portfolio tracking, and research access. Trade Racer is an installable professional trading terminal designed for active and high-frequency traders, with advanced charting, multiple market watch windows, option chain, and fast order execution. Money App is a dedicated mutual fund investment application. ICICIdirect Markets App provides market news and research alerts.

Research & Advisory

ICICI Securities is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (INH000000990). The research team covers equity stocks, sectors, IPOs, and mutual funds. Offerings include daily morning market views, stock recommendations (buy/hold/sell with price targets), sector reports, IPO reviews, and post-results analysis. This research is provided free to all account holders — not gated behind a subscription. The research department has received multiple industry awards for quality. For investors who rely on analyst-backed investment decisions, this is a genuine differentiator that discount brokers do not offer.

Unique Features

Cloud Order: Pre-save orders in advance while the market is closed. When market opens, review and activate with one click — no order form delay. VTC (Valid Till Cancelled): Limit orders valid for up to 45 days without daily renewal. One Click Equity: Execute pre-set equity portfolios in one click. Systematic Equity Plan (SEP): Regular, automated stock purchases like SIP for equities. i-Learn: Embedded education app for investment knowledge. Investonomics: ICICI Direct's knowledge centre for market education.

Products Available

ICICI Direct covers over 50 products including: Equity (delivery, intraday, BTST), Equity F&O, Currency derivatives, Commodity (MCX), Mutual Funds, IPO/FPO, Bonds and NCDs, Fixed Deposits (multiple banks), Insurance (life and general), NPS, Home Loans, Loans Against Securities, Smallcase, US Stocks (via ICICI Global initiative), and Sovereign Gold Bonds. This product breadth is matched only by HDFC SKY among the brokers reviewed on CSB, and likely exceeds it in several categories.

Who Should (and Shouldn't) Use ICICI Direct
ICICI Direct is the right choice if:
  • You are an existing ICICI Bank customer — the 3-in-1 account integration is seamless. Instant fund transfers and automatic settlement with your existing bank account make trading frictionless.
  • You are an NRI who wants an integrated NRI 3-in-1 account — ICICI Direct offers NRE + NRO PIS + non-PIS with the full ICICI Bank NRI banking infrastructure. Few brokers match this depth of NRI support.
  • You want SEBI RA-backed research and advisory support — the 50+ analyst team, free stock recommendations, IPO analysis, and sector research are genuine differentiators. Discount brokers provide no research.
  • You need a single account for 50+ financial products — stocks, MF, FD, insurance, NPS, bonds, NCDs, loans, US stocks all in one account without opening multiple apps.
  • You are a long-term buy-and-hold investor who rarely sells — delivery brokerage hurts only at sell time. With iValue (₹299) reducing F&O costs, and a Prime plan for delivery, total costs become more manageable.
  • You want branch support — 87+ ICICI Bank locations nationwide where you can get help with your trading/demat account. No discount broker offers this.
ICICI Direct may not be right if:
  • You are a frequent delivery trader focused on minimising cost — 0.29% delivery brokerage costs ₹580 per ₹1L trade vs ₹0 at Zerodha, Groww, Dhan. Even the best Prime plan (0.07%) still costs ₹140/₹1L vs ₹0 elsewhere.
  • You don't have an ICICI Bank account and don't want one — the 3-in-1 advantage is lost. The AMC (₹700) and brokerage burden are harder to justify vs free accounts at Groww or Angel One.
  • You are an active F&O trader who wants the lowest brokerage — iValue gives ₹20 but mStock and Shoonya offer ₹5/order, 4x cheaper.
  • You want a modern, app-first UI — ICICIdirect.com is feature-rich but not as slick as Groww, Dhan, or Upstox. The interface is functional but dated compared to app-first competitors.
ICICI Direct vs Competitors — 2026
Feature ICICI Direct Zerodha HDFC SKY Angel One
Delivery brokerage 0.29% default ₹0 ✔ ₹0 ✔ ₹20 or 0.1%
F&O brokerage ₹20 (iValue) /
₹49/lot (default)
₹20 ₹20 ₹20 or 0.25%
AMC ₹700/yr (₹300 iValue) ⚠ Highest ₹300/yr ₹240/yr ₹0 yr1
Research SEBI RA, 50+ analysts ✔ Varsity (education) Limited SmartAPI research
NRI 3-in-1 Yes ✔ (full NRI banking) None None Yes ✔
Branch support 87+ locations ✔ None HDFC Bank branches ✔ Yes ✔
Safety, Trust & Regulatory Standing

ICICI Securities Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of ICICI Bank — one of India's largest private sector banks with a ₹8+ lakh crore balance sheet. ICICI Securities itself is listed on NSE and BSE, making its financial health publicly transparent through quarterly results. SEBI registration INZ000183631 (Broker) and INH000000990 (Research Analyst) are both in full standing. With 30+ years of operation, 19.5 lakh active clients, and ICICI Bank backing, ICICI Direct represents the highest business continuity safety available in Indian retail broking — comparable only to HDFC SKY (HDFC Bank subsidiary) and Kotak Securities (Kotak Mahindra Bank).

✔ CompareShareBrokers Final Verdict — ICICI Direct 2026

ICICI Direct is the right broker if you are willing to pay a premium for India's most trusted full-service brokerage platform — ICICI Bank backing, 30+ year history, SEBI RA research, NRI 3-in-1 accounts, branch support, and 50+ products in one place. The 3-in-1 account for existing ICICI Bank customers is genuinely the smoothest banking-broking integration available in India. The iValue plan (₹299 one-time) makes F&O competitive at ₹20/order. The critical honest caveat: the ₹700/year AMC and 0.29% default delivery brokerage are expensive by modern standards. Active delivery traders and cost-sensitive investors are better served by Zerodha, Groww, or Dhan. But for investors who want research, trust, branch access, and banking integration — ICICI Direct has no peer.

Overall: 3.9/5 — Highly Recommended for ICICI Bank customers, NRIs, research-dependent investors, and those who want a single account for all financial needs. Upgrade to iValue (₹299) immediately after opening. Add Prime plan if delivery trading is frequent. Not recommended for pure cost-minimisation or active F&O traders.

Zerodha Special Offer:

Free Equity Delivery Trading and Mutual Funds

  • Brokerage-free Equity Delivery and flat Rs 20 per trade for Intraday & F&O +
  • Brokerage-free Direct Mutual Fund investment +
  • Trade with the best trading platform in India.

This is a limited-time offer. Open Instant Zerodha Account online and start trading today.

Frequently Asked Questions:

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