ICICI Direct⭐ 8.1/10
Upstox⭐ 9.2/10ICICI Direct vs Upstox Comparison
Compare brokerage charges, trading platforms, technical features, pros, cons, and account opening times to see which Demat account is best for you.
Upstox is the Clear Winner
Upstox is the superior choice for most traders and investors due to its higher overall rating of 9.2/10 compared to ICICI Direct's 8.1/10. Key strengths include Backing of top investors and A powerful, tech-first platform backed by Ratan Tata..
📊 Charges & Pricing Comparison
| Fee / Segment | ICICI Direct | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening Fee | Free | Free |
| Account AMC (Annual) | Rs 300 / year | Rs 150 / year |
| Equity Delivery | Rs 20 or 0.05% | Rs 20 or 0.1% |
| Intraday Brokerage | Rs 20 per order | Rs 20 or 0.05% |
| Futures & Options | Rs 20 per order | Rs 20 per order |
| Commodity Trading | Rs 20 per order | Rs 20 per order |
| Other / DP Charges | Standard industry charges | Standard DP charges |
| Account Opening Time | 15 Minutes | 10 Minutes |
💻 Trading Tools & Platforms
| Platform Feature | ICICI Direct | Upstox |
|---|---|---|
| Margin Trading (MTF) | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Advisory & Tips | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Trading API Access | ✅ Free API | ✅ Free API |
| Advanced Charts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Web Interface | Modern, fast, browser-based trading platform with TradingView charts. | Modern, fast, browser-based trading platform with TradingView charts. |
| Mobile Trading App | Highly rated mobile app available on iOS and Android with biometric login. | Highly rated mobile app available on iOS and Android with biometric login. |
ICICI Direct Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✅ Competitive pricing
- ✅ Good customer support in regional languages
Cons
- ❌ App UI might lack modern polish compared to top tier brokers
Upstox Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✅ Backing of top investors
- ✅ Fast order execution
- ✅ Pro and Invest modes in app
Cons
- ❌ Customer support can be slow
- ❌ Delivery is not completely free
❓ FAQs: ICICI Direct vs Upstox
Which is cheaper between ICICI Direct and Upstox?
ICICI Direct charges Rs 20 or 0.05% for delivery trades and Rs 20 per order for intraday, with an AMC of Rs 300 / year. Meanwhile, Upstox charges Rs 20 or 0.1% for delivery and Rs 20 or 0.05% for intraday, with an AMC of Rs 150 / year. In terms of onboarding costs, ICICI Direct is Free compared to Upstox's Free.
Who has a better mobile app: ICICI Direct or Upstox?
ICICI Direct's mobile app offers: "Highly rated mobile app available on iOS and Android with biometric login.". In comparison, Upstox's mobile app offers: "Highly rated mobile app available on iOS and Android with biometric login.". If you require advanced charting tools directly on your phone, both platforms support TradingView integrations but execution layouts vary.
Is ICICI Direct safer to use than Upstox?
Both ICICI Direct and Upstox are SEBI-registered brokers regulated in India, meaning your shares are safely held with central government-backed depositories (NSDL/CDSL). However, ICICI Direct has a rating of 8.1/10, reflecting their complaint ratio and client size, while Upstox has a rating of 9.2/10.