The stock market trading applications in India have transformed how people invest in the stock market. Days when you required tremendous amounts of money to start trading or when you were forced to visit the office of a broker are gone. Trading apps in India enable one to easily purchase and sell stocks, mutual funds and other financial products directly through their mobile phones today. The best part? Most trading applications in India currently charge no or minimal brokerage, so you can keep a significant percentage of each trade.
This article will guide you to know the most economical to use in the stock market, or those that are best suited in terms of fees charged by the broker, or no fees at all, through the use of these applications in India. We also are going to discuss whether it is possible to trade without an investment or not and how these apps work in practice. No matter whether you are a student, a working professional, or simply want to start investing, trading with small sums, these trading apps can become your ideal starting point in India.
In this guide, we will discuss all the information that you need to know about Trading Apps Without Investment, how to open one without any fee, what payments you have to expect, and what application will best address your needs. We are going in and having fun with the world of cheap trading!
Can You Do Trading Without Investment?
A lot of individuals ask whether Trading Apps Without Investment really allow them to trade without putting in any money. The honest answer is no, not entirely. Real stock market trading requires purchasing shares, and that always involves money. However, you can still get a practical feel for trading without investing your own funds. Most trading apps in India offer demo accounts where you can practice buying and selling using virtual money.
Some platforms also provide signup or referral bonuses that can be used to place small trades. While real profits are not possible without eventually investing real money, these options help you learn how trading works before exposing your hard-earned capital to risk. Think of it as learning to drive in a safe training environment before heading out onto real roads.
Types of “Zero Investment” Trading Experiences
1. Paper / Demo Trading
Demo trading or paper trading is a simulated form of the stock market video game. In India, trading applications provide you with counterfeit cash (in the form of virtual cash) to simulate the process of buying and selling real stocks. The prices are actually market prices, but the currency is not really money. It assists beginners to understand how the market operates, experiment with their strategies and make errors without putting their real money into it. It is the least risky way to learn to trade with real money.
2. Free Account / Zero Brokerage Trading
In India, various Trading Apps without investment have free accounts that can be opened without any account opening charges. Other of these apps have zero brokerage on some categories of trades, particularly delivery trades where you acquire stocks and hold them longer. This is by saving the commission fees charged by brokers. The account is free, but you are required to invest your own funds to purchase real stocks and realize real gains.
3. Referral / Rewards Based Earning
Some trading applications in India offer referral programs that let you earn small amounts of money or free stocks by inviting friends to use the app. By using your referral code, you and your friend may receive rewards such as free stocks of the value of Rs. 100-500 or cash backs. Although this is not strictly speaking trading, you still get a little money that you can use to begin your trading life without having to inject your own money into trading at first.
4. “Earn Money Trading Without Investment” Apps — Reality Check
Be very careful of apps or websites that promise you can earn money from trading without any investment. Most of these are scams or misleading offers. The truth is that legitimate low-cost trading apps in India require you to invest your own money to make real profits. Some fraudulent apps might offer you “free money” to trade, but they often have hidden terms where you cannot withdraw your earnings, or they might steal your personal information. Real wealth building through a trading business requires patience, learning, and genuine investment. There’s no magic shortcut to making money without putting in effort and capital.
10 Best Legit Trading Apps in India (Low/Zero Brokerage)
1. Shoonya (Zero Brokerage on Delivery)
Shoonya by Finvasia is among the most used trading application in India where individuals desire to trade without any brokerage commissions. It has an all-free trading in delivery meaning that when you purchase stocks and retain them, the company will charge zero brokerage. Zero brokerage is also paid by Shoonya on intraday equity trades, futures, options, commodities and the currency trading. Account opening fees, annual maintenance fees, and unclear platform fees do not exist.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Download Shoonya app free
- Full time instant online check clearing.
- Start with no fees
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Buy stocks at low
- Sell at higher prices
- Hold for long-term gains
Pros:
- Zero brokerage on all trades
- No cost of keeping accounts.
- Simple and easy interface
Cons:
- The customer support can be refined.
- A smaller number of research instruments.
- There is a slight lag of the apps.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹0
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹0
- AMC (Annual Maintenance): ₹0
- DP Charges: ₹13 per scrip (only when selling)
- Payment Gateway Charges: ₹9 per fund transfer
App Link: https://shoonya.com/
Customer Ratings: 4.2/5
2. Groww
Groww is among the easy-to-use trading apps without investment options in India, known for its minimal and attractive design. It began as a mutual fund investment platform but now offers stocks, IPOs, ETFs, F&O, and gold trading. Groww provides zero brokerage on delivery trades and zero commission on mutual fund investments. The app is also well known for its educational content, which helps first-time investors understand the stock market better. Account opening is completely online and can be completed within a few minutes.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Sign up in minutes
- No account opening charges
- None delivery trade brokerage.
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Invest in growing stocks
- Earn from mutual funds
- Trade in IPO listings
Pros:
- Extremely easy to use interface.
- Very easy to use in case of total beginners.
- Displayed upfront transparent prices.
Cons:
- Intraday charges are higher
- Poor developed trading facilities.
- Delays of customer support response.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹20 per executed order or 0.05% (whichever is lower)
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹20 per executed order or 0.05% (whichever is lower)
- AMC: ₹0
- DP Charges: ₹0 (for first sell transaction per day), ₹5 per additional scrip
- Fund Transfer: Free via UPI/Net Banking
App Link: https://groww.in/
Customer Ratings: 4.3/5
3. Zerodha
Zerodha is the biggest and most reputable discount broker in India and is often discussed among trading apps without investment due to its zero brokerage on delivery trades. Founded in 2010, Zerodha transformed how people view trading applications in India by pioneering the flat-fee brokerage model. It charges no brokerage on delivery trades of stocks and ETFs.
For intraday and F&O trades, it applies a flat fee of ₹20 per trade regardless of trade volume. Kite, Zerodha’s trading platform, is regarded as one of the best in India, offering advanced charting tools, fast execution, and high reliability.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Open account for free
- There are no delivery trading fees.
- Get extensive learning materials.
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Day trading with strategies
- Long-term stock investments
- Options and futures trading
Pros:
- Most reputable trading platform.
- Advanced charting and tools
- Good educational material present.
Cons:
- ₹300 annual maintenance charge
- Charges apply for intraday
- None of the relationship manager support.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹20 per executed order or 0.03% (whichever is lower)
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹20 per executed order
- AMC: ₹300 per year (waived if turnover > ₹1 crore)
- DP Charges: ₹15.93 per scrip sold
- Call & Trade: ₹50 per executed order
App Link: https://zerodha.com/
Customer Ratings: 4.1/5
4. Upstox
Another example of a popular discount broker and one of the rapidly growing trading apps without investment in India is Upstox. Backed by investors such as Ratan Tata, Upstox offers zero brokerage on delivery trades and very competitive charges for intraday and F&O trading.
The platform is known for its modern mobile app design and fast trade execution. Upstox provides easy access to stocks, F&O, commodities, currencies, and mutual funds. Account opening is completely paperless and can be completed in less than five minutes.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Register in five minutes
- No account opening fee
- Zero brokerage on delivery
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Buy shares for profit
- Use margin trading facility
- Trade in various segments
Pros:
- Fast and modern app
- Facility of margin trade is available.
- The following were good charting tools.
Cons:
- There is a need to improve customer service.
- Some technical hitches reported occasionally.
- Inadequate recommendations on research.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹20 per executed order or 0.05% (whichever is lower)
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹20 per executed order
- AMC: ₹0
- DP Charges: ₹17.5 per scrip sold
- Fund Withdrawal: ₹10 per request (free via UPI)
App Link: https://upstox.com/
Customer Ratings: 4.0/5
5. Flattrade
Flattrade is one of the true trading apps without investment in India, as it offers zero brokerage across all types of trading—delivery, intraday, and F&O. Unlike many discount brokers that charge a flat fee for intraday or derivatives trades, Flattrade stays true to its name by providing completely free trading in all segments. There is no account opening fee or annual maintenance charge.
Flattrade generates revenue through other services such as payment gateway fees and interest on unused balances, allowing users to continue trading without any brokerage costs.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Create a free account that is open.
- No charges on trades
- All segments available free
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Free active intraday trading.
- No Brokerage fees on scalping.
- Save money on fees
Pros:
- They should never pay any commission.
- No annual maintenance fee
- Good for active traders
Cons:
- There should be better app interface.
- Lack of brand recognition at the moment.
- Less educational resources are availed.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹0
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹0
- AMC: ₹0
- DP Charges: ₹13 per scrip sold
- Payment Gateway: ₹9 per fund transfer
App Link: https://flattrade.in/
Customer Ratings: 4.0/5
6. Dhan
Dhan is a modern trading application in India that is committed to delivering a high quality trading experience through zero delivery trade brokerage. It is aimed at serious traders who require sophisticated tools and attributes. Dhan has a forever-free delivery trading and has a flat fee of 20 on intraday and F&O trades. The app is distinguished by such innovative functions as Options Strategy Builder, integration of TV charts, and the ability to trade with algorithms. Dhan offers a complete analytics and reports so it becomes easy to monitor your trading performance.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Opening of accounts instantly online.
- Zero delivery trade charges
- Paper trading for practice
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Easily build option strategies.
- Use analytics for decisions
- Investments in long term delivery.
Pros:
- Mature trading instruments not available.
- Strategies builder included options strategy builder.
- Modern and clean interface
Cons:
- Relatively new in market
- Loss of bigger customer base at the moment.
- Learning curve for features
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹20 per order or 0.03% (whichever is lower)
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹20 per order
- AMC: ₹0
- DP Charges: ₹15 per scrip sold
- Withdrawal Charges: ₹10 per request
App Link: https://dhan.co/
Customer Ratings: 4.2/5
7. Stoxkart
Stoxkart is a newer discount broker and one of the emerging trading apps without investment in India, offering zero brokerage on delivery trades and competitive pricing in other segments. The platform is focused on simplicity and accessibility, especially for beginners. Stoxkart supports all major trading segments including equity, F&O, commodities, and currencies.
The app is designed cleanly and straightforwardly, avoiding overwhelming users with complex features. Aadhaar-based verification enables fast, paperless account opening, and Stoxkart also provides reliable customer support via phone and email.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Easy enrolment procedure online.
- No account opening charges
- Zero brokerage on delivery
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Buy and hold stocks
- Diversify into other segments.
- Save on trading costs
Pros:
- Simple and easy app
- Good for long-term investors
- Good customer service was offered.
Cons:
- Poor advanced features offered.
- Currently lesser user community.
- Less tools of research incorporated.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹20 per order or 0.05% (whichever is lower)
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹20 per order
- AMC: ₹0
- DP Charges: ₹15.93 per scrip
- Call & Trade: ₹50 per order
App Link: https://www.stoxkart.com/
Customer Ratings: 3.9/5
8. mStock
mStock by Mirae Asset can be considered a special player in Indian trading apps since it is sponsored by an enormous world asset management firm. It has zero brokerage on delivery trades as well as any intraday equity trades and this makes it very appealing to day traders. mStock is an application that has integrated stocks, mutual funds, insurance as well as loans. It is associated with its research reports and stock recommendations by the research team of Mirae Asset.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Online opening of accounts without the use of paper.
- Zero brokerage for intraday
- Free access research reports.
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Day trading without fees
- Adhere to the recommendations made.
- Investment product diversification.
Pros:
- Zero intraday equity brokerage.
- Good research reports given.
- Several financial products in the market.
Cons:
- F&O charges are higher
- App can be slow
- At times, there is a delay in customer support.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday Equity): ₹0
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹50 per order
- AMC: ₹0
- DP Charges: ₹20 per scrip
- Payment Gateway: Standard charges apply
App Link: https://www.mstock.com/
Customer Ratings: 4.1/5
9. 5Paisa
One of the oldest trading apps in India to deal with discounts brokers is 5Paisa, which began its operations in 2007. As the name implies, it initially had only a 5Paisa charge per trade, but the pricing has since changed. 5Paisa charges no brokerage on delivery trades on stocks and ETFs. The platform offers equity, derivatives, commodities, currencies, mutual funds and IPOs. The 5Paisa robo-advisory service is one of the distinct reasons that will make you build a personalized investment portfolio based on your goals and risk appetite.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Rapid electronic account opening.
- No account opening fee
- Zero delivery trading brokerage.
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Make use of robo-advisory.
- Commerce across various divisions.
- Invest in systematic plans
Pros:
- Robo-advisory service was provided.
- Several investment opportunities at hand.
- Instructional learning material.
Cons:
- Intraday charges are there
- The interface of the app looks old-fashioned.
- There are certain hidden charges which are confusing.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹20 per order or 0.05% (whichever is lower)
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹20 per order
- AMC: ₹0 (₹500 if no trade in 365 days)
- DP Charges: ₹15 per scrip
- Call & Trade: ₹20 per order
App Link: https://www.5paisa.com/
Customer Ratings: 3.8/5
10. Paytm Money
Paytm Money is the investment and trading arm of Paytm, one of the most successful online payment companies in India, and is often mentioned among trading apps without investment for beginners. It is one of the most user-friendly trading applications, especially for people who already use Paytm for digital payments.
Paytm Money charges zero commission on mutual fund investments and zero brokerage on delivery trades. The app features a clean and straightforward interface that makes investing feel less intimidating for newcomers. Users can invest in stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, NPS, and even digital gold—all from a single application.
How Users Can Start for Free:
- Use existing Paytm account
- Prompt money transfer at will.
- No-charge delivery brokerage.
Ways to Make Money With This App:
- Begin with low investments.
- Use wallet for trading
- Make investments in different products.
Pros:
- Super easy to use
- Prompt money transfer at will.
- Trusted Paytm brand name
Cons:
- Poor advanced trading capabilities.
- Increased derivatives charges.
- The customer care aspect should be enhanced.
Charges & Hidden Costs:
- Account Opening: ₹0
- Brokerage (Delivery): ₹0
- Brokerage (Intraday): ₹10 per order
- Brokerage (F&O): ₹20 per order
- AMC: ₹0
- DP Charges: ₹6 per scrip
- Mutual Funds: ₹0 commission
App Link: https://www.paytmmoney.com/
Customer Ratings: 4.0/5
How to Earn From Trading (Realistically)
1. Investing in Good Companies in the Long Run – Don’t attempt to make money fast, purchase stocks of good companies and keep them as long as possible. The more these companies expand the higher your value of investments and in the long run you will have good returns.
2. Learning Technical and Fundamental Analysis – Learn to read stock charts (technical analysis) and financial reports of companies (fundamental analysis). This assists in making sound decisions on what stock to purchase and at what time to sell.
3. Starting Small and Growing Gradually – Do not put all your money into it. You should start with some small sums you can lose, you should learn from your mistakes, and then gradually invest more and more as you get experience and confidence.
4. Investment Portfolio Diversity – It is advisable not to place all money in a single stock or industry. Diversify your investments to various companies and industries such that when one is doing badly, others will counter it.
5. Being Disciplined and Having a Plan – Have a plan of which days to buy and sell, and do it. Don’t make hasty judgments out of fear or out of greed. Luck is less important in successful trading than patience and discipline.
Conclusion
The stock market has been transformed to be accessible to millions of individuals who usually believed that only the wealthy or professionals would invest in the stock market through trading apps in India. With the zero or low brokerage facilities, anyone can begin his investment without having to fear high fees cutting down his profits.
The ten trading applications in India that we have discussed are Shoonya, Groww, Zerodha, Upstox, Flattrade, Dhan, Stoxkart, mStock, 5Paisa, and Paytm Money; each of which have their own advantages and can be used by a variety of traders and investors. In this list, there is a trading app that fits every first-time trader and every professional trader in India. Select according to your type of trading, requirements and budget. Happy investing!
FAQs
Am I really going to trade in India without any brokerage?
Indeed, most Trading Apps in India, such as Shoonya, Flattrade, Groww, and Zerodha, have zero brokerage on delivery trades, where you purchase stocks and hold them. Nonetheless, others can have fee on intraday or F&O trading.
What is the most secure trading application in India?
Any regulated trading application in India that is registered by SEBI is secure. The most reliable are Zerodha, Groww, Upstox and Paytm money because they have a huge user base, and their security is good.
Would I incur anything on the zero brokerage applications?
Yes, you would have to pay some statutory fees such as DP charges (when selling stocks), STT (Securities Transaction Tax), GST and stamp duty even with a 00:1000 brokerage. These are charges by the government and not by the broker.
What is the amount of capital required to begin trading in India?
Trading in India will only require ₹100-500 to get started. In India, there are several trading applications where there is no minimum deposit, but you must have sufficient funds to purchase at least one share of the company you are interested in investing in.
Will I be able to make money every day selling apps?
Although day trading can be done, it is very hard and risky to have continuous income every day. The majority of successful investors make money due to long-term investment and not the day-to-day trading.
