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ICICI Direct logo

ICICI Direct

7/10

Zerodha

6.7/10
5/10RegulationWinner7/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
6/10Education & ResearchTied6/10
1.5/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied1.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

ICICI Direct was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in India, while Zerodha was established in 2010 and is based in India. Both brokers are regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), among other authorities. ICICI Direct serves 2,000,000+ clients worldwide; Zerodha has 1,500,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $0.

ICICI Direct wins this category
FeatureICICI DirectZerodha
Min. Deposit$0$0
RegulationSecurities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock ExchangeSecurities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange
Founded19942010
CountryIndiaIndia
Clients2,000,000+1,500,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ICICI Direct and Zerodha, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $0. Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ICICI Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Zerodha does not. Zerodha charges deposit fees; ICICI Direct does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureICICI DirectZerodha
Min. Deposit$0$0
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

ICICI Direct offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Zerodha supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. ICICI Direct supports social and copy trading features, which Zerodha does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureICICI DirectZerodha
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsWeb Trader, Tablet & Mobile appsWeb Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how ICICI Direct and Zerodha compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureICICI DirectZerodha
Forex EducationNoNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. ICICI Direct accepts 1 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer), while Zerodha supports 1 (bank transfer). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureICICI DirectZerodha
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardNoNo
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both ICICI Direct and Zerodha offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 13 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureICICI DirectZerodha
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, TurkceEnglish, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce