Groww vs Upstox
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Groww
Indian investing app for stocks, mutual funds, F&O, IPOs and US stocks.
Upstox
Indian discount broker app for stocks, F&O, commodities, mutual funds and IPOs.
The short answer
Groww suits first-time investors who want mutual funds, stocks and US stocks in one simple app with no account maintenance charge. Upstox suits traders who want flat-fee F&O, built-in TradingView charts and API and algo tools. Both charge up to ₹20 per order on equity delivery. The main difference is focus: Groww aims at beginners, Upstox at active traders.
Groww or Upstox: our take
Groww and Upstox are both Indian discount brokers with apps for Android, iOS and the web. They cover stocks, F&O, commodities, IPOs, mutual funds and US stocks. Their pricing is similar, so the real difference is who each app is designed for.
On cost, both charge brokerage on equity delivery. Groww charges ₹20 or 0.1% per order, whichever is lower. Upstox charges ₹20 per executed order, and options cost a flat ₹20 per executed order. Both have free account opening and no brokerage on direct mutual funds. Upstox also has ₹0 brokerage on IPO applications. The clearer gap is maintenance: Groww's account maintenance is ₹0, while Upstox is ₹0 in the first year, then ₹300 + GST for non-BSDA accounts. For a long-term holder who rarely trades, that yearly charge matters.
Groww's strength is simplicity. Its interface is aimed at first-time investors, SIPs are easy to set up, and it says it serves 50 million+ customers. Advanced tools live in separate products, Groww Terminal and 915. Groww also runs its own mutual fund house alongside third-party funds. Upstox, which has had a broking licence since 2010 and reports 2 crore+ users, puts more trading tools into its main platform. You can switch between its own charts and a built-in TradingView chart, use option chains and screeners, and connect code through its trading API and the Algoverse algo platform. Uplearn courses cover the basics.
New investors starting with mutual funds and occasional stock buys will likely find Groww easier, and they avoid a yearly maintenance fee. F&O traders and people who want TradingView charts or algorithmic trading inside one platform are better served by Upstox. Neither offers research or stock advisory like a full-service broker.
Which should you pick?
Choose Groww if…
- First-time investors in India who want mutual funds and stocks in one simple app
- No account opening or maintenance charges
- Direct mutual funds and SIPs with zero commission
Choose Upstox if…
- Indian traders who want flat-fee F&O trading with TradingView charts and API access
- Flat ₹20 maximum brokerage per order across segments
- No brokerage on mutual funds and IPOs
About each app
What is Groww?
Groww is a Bengaluru-based investing app that began with mutual funds and grew into a full broker for Indian stocks, ETFs, IPOs, futures and options, commodities and US stocks. It is known for a simple, clean interface aimed at first-time investors, and it says it serves more than 50 million customers. Opening a trading and demat account is free and fully online, there is no annual account maintenance charge, and direct mutual fund investments (lump sum or SIP) carry no commission. Stock trades cost a small fee per executed order, capped at ₹20, plus the usual government and exchange charges. More active traders can use the separate Groww Terminal and 915 platforms, stock screeners, margin trading and an API for algorithmic trading. Groww also runs its own mutual fund house, which some investors will want to keep in mind when browsing fund suggestions. It runs on Android, iOS and the web.
What is Upstox?
Upstox is a Mumbai-based discount broker whose app and web platform let Indian investors trade stocks, futures and options, currencies and commodities, and invest in mutual funds, IPOs and US stocks. It got its broking licence in 2010, and it now says more than 2 crore Indians use it. Pricing follows the flat-fee model: equity delivery, intraday and F&O orders cost up to ₹20 per executed order, while mutual funds and IPO applications have no brokerage and there's no account maintenance charge for the first year. Traders can switch between Upstox's own charts and a built-in TradingView chart, use option chains and screeners, and connect their own code through a trading API and the Algoverse algo platform. Uplearn courses and webinars cover the basics for new investors. Upstox runs on Android, iOS and the web, and it is one of the main alternatives to Zerodha for people who want low, predictable fees.
Side by side
| Attribute | Groww | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, Android, iOS | Web, Android, iOS |
| Best for | First-time investors in India who want mutual funds and stocks in one simple app | Indian traders who want flat-fee F&O trading with TradingView charts and API access |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Groww | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| Account maintenance | ₹0 | ₹0 in the first year, then ₹300 + GST (non-BSDA) |
| Account opening | ₹0 | Free |
Groww vs Upstox pricing
Groww: free plan + paid
We couldn't verify Groww's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Groww pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Groww | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Groww facts
7 of 7 verified- Account maintenance
- ₹0
- Checked Nov 8, 2026groww.in(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 0 maintenance charges”
- Equity brokerage
- ₹20 or 0.1% per order, whichever is lower
- Checked Nov 8, 2026groww.in(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 20 0.1% per executed order whichever is lower”
- Mutual funds
- Direct funds at zero charges
- Checked Nov 8, 2026groww.in(opens source in a new tab)
- “Invest in direct mutual funds at zero charges”
- Account opening
- ₹0
- Checked Nov 8, 2026groww.in(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 0 trading & demat opening”
- MTF interest
- 14.95% a year on the funded amount
- Checked Nov 8, 2026groww.in(opens source in a new tab)
- “14.95% per annum on the funded amount”
- Pledge charge
- ₹20 per ISIN
- Checked Nov 8, 2026groww.in(opens source in a new tab)
- “Pledge ₹20 per ISIN”
Upstox facts
7 of 7 verified- Equity delivery brokerage
- ₹20 per executed order
- Checked Nov 8, 2026upstox.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Equity Delivery ₹20 per executed order”
- Mutual funds and IPOs
- ₹0 brokerage
- Checked Nov 8, 2026upstox.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 0 Brokerage * On Mutual Funds and IPOs”
- Broking licence
- 2010
- Checked Nov 8, 2026upstox.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Read More 2010 Its Official! We receive our licence to begin our trading business in India under Upstox Securities Pvt.”
- Users
- 2 crore+
- Checked Nov 8, 2026upstox.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Loved & Trusted by 2 crore+ Indians”
- Account opening
- Free
- Checked Nov 8, 2026upstox.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Account Opening Fees Free”
- Equity options brokerage
- Flat ₹20 per executed order
- Checked Nov 8, 2026upstox.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Options Flat ₹20 per executed order.”
- Account maintenance
- ₹0 in the first year, then ₹300 + GST (non-BSDA)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026upstox.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “AMC ZERO AMC is applicable for newly onboarded customers in the first year Non-BSDA users: AMC of ₹ 300 + GST BSDA Users: Know more 3.”
Pros and cons of Groww
- No account opening or maintenance charges
- Direct mutual funds and SIPs with zero commission
- Beginner-friendly app that also covers US stocks and IPOs
- Equity delivery trades carry brokerage, unlike Zerodha's ₹0
- Advanced trading tools are split into separate terminal products
- Runs its own mutual funds alongside third-party ones
Pros and cons of Upstox
- Flat ₹20 maximum brokerage per order across segments
- No brokerage on mutual funds and IPOs
- TradingView charts and a trading API built in
- Equity delivery trades cost ₹20 per order, not free
- Account maintenance charge applies after the first year
- No research or stock advisory like a full-service broker
Other apps to consider
Zerodha KiteInstead of Groww
Free equity delivery trades and deeper charting, for investors who've outgrown a beginner app.
Angel OneInstead of Groww
Full-service broker with research and advisory, plus free brokerage in your first 30 days.
Groww vs Upstox: common questions
Is Groww better than Upstox?
Groww suits first-time investors who want mutual funds, stocks and US stocks in one simple app with no account maintenance charge. Upstox suits traders who want flat-fee F&O, built-in TradingView charts and API and algo tools. Both charge up to ₹20 per order on equity delivery. The main difference is focus: Groww aims at beginners, Upstox at active traders.
Is Groww free?
Groww has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Upstox free?
Upstox has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Groww or Upstox open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Groww and Upstox support?
Groww: Web, Android and iOS. Upstox: Web, Android and iOS.