Intro and winners
Find below the strengths of the best brokers available in India, updated for 2025:
- Interactive Brokers is the best international online broker in India in 2025 - Extremely low fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
- Swissquote - Access to many markets and products. No inactivity fee. Rock-solid background.
- NinjaTrader - Low futures fees and margins. Great platform and research. Quality educational materials.
- CMC Markets - Low forex fees. Great web and mobile platforms. Advanced research and educational tools.
- tastytrade - Low trading fees. Great educational materials. Good research tools.
- Spreadex - Low forex fees. Good web platform. Helpful customer service.
- Pepperstone - Fast and fully digital account opening. Seamless and free deposit and withdrawal. Great educational materials.
- Fusion Markets - Low trading and non-trading fees. Fast and easy account opening. Great customer service.
- Axi - Low forex fees. No withdrawal/deposit fees. Fully digital account opening.
- Hantec Markets - Low forex and CFD fees. No deposit or withdrawal fees. Extensive forex and CFD offering.
Overview of winners
Take a look at the interactive table below to compare the key services of each broker in our toplist. We personally checked and tested all the features and services we consider most crucial for users.
| Broker | Overall score | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | 4.9 /5 | $0 |
| Swissquote | 4.5 /5 | $0 |
| NinjaTrader | 4.5 /5 | $0 |
| CMC Markets | 4.4 /5 | $0 |
| tastytrade | 4.3 /5 | $0 |
| Spreadex | 4.3 /5 | $0 |
| Pepperstone | 4.3 /5 | $0 |
| Fusion Markets | 4.3 /5 | $0 |
| Axi | 4.3 /5 | $0 |
| Hantec Markets | 4.2 /5 | $10 |
Key fees at the top brokers
The fees you pay for a trade play a critical role in selecting a broker. While trading fees are super important in our rankings, they aren't the only ones. Although we prioritize low-cost or even zero-fee brokers, our experience tells us that the cheapest option isn't always the best choice. We collected the most important fees for you in the following interactive table.
| Broker | US stock | Indian stock |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | $1.0 | $0.20 |
| Swissquote | $10.0 | - |
| NinjaTrader | - | - |
| CMC Markets | - | - |
| tastytrade | $0.0 | - |
| Spreadex | - | - |
| Pepperstone | - | - |
| Fusion Markets | - | - |
| Axi | - | - |
| Hantec Markets | - | - |
Non-trading fees at the top brokers
Non-trading fees are charges not directly related to a given trade and typically include the account maintenance fee, deposit/withdrawal fees, and the inactivity fee.
| Broker | Account fee | Inactivity fee |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | ||
| Swissquote | ||
| NinjaTrader | ||
| CMC Markets | ||
| tastytrade | ||
| Spreadex | ||
| Pepperstone | ||
| Fusion Markets | ||
| Axi | ||
| Hantec Markets |
Financial market regulation in India
Online brokers and trading platforms that serve Indian citizens are regulated, licensed and overseen by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, or SEBI, the country’s financial markets regulator. The SEBI and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are responsible for issuing licenses to these brokers and ensuring that their activities comply with existing regulations.
SEBI has implemented several regulations to ensure that all participants in the financial markets are protected and the markets are free from manipulation. Despite these efforts, unregulated and illegal platforms that make promises of high or exorbitant profits are quite widespread in India.
As a general rule, if something sounds too good to be true, it most often is. Do not expect to become a millionaire overnight by trading stocks or forex or CFDs. You may easily end up losing all your invested money if you start working with an unregulated or scam broker.
All the brokers featured in our toplist are registered with at least one top-tier regulator and are licensed to operate in India.
Taxation of stock trading in India
Capital gains realized through stock trading are subject to income tax in India. The Indian tax office makes a distinction between two types of capital gains:
-
Short-term capital gains: realized when an Indian trader sells the shares within 12 months of purchasing them and the sales price is higher than the purchase price. The income tax rate applicable to short-term capital gains is 15%.
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Long-term capital gains: if the trader sells the stocks after 12 months of purchase and makes a capital gain of more than Rs.1 lakh (INR 100,000) on the sale, the profit will attract a long-term capital gains tax of 10%. The tax applies to shares traded outside of India as well.
If a trader buys/sells shares within the same trading day (i.e. engages in intraday trading), the gains will be treated as business income and taxed according to the income tax slab of the trader.
There is also a Securities Transaction Tax (STT), which is a direct tax levied on the purchase or sale of listed securities in India, with rates varying based on the type of transaction (e.g. 0.1% on equity delivery trades).
And now, let's see the top international online brokers for residents in India in 2025 one by one, starting with the winner, Interactive Brokers.
Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
| Interactive Brokers snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Interactive Brokers services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees
| Swissquote snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | High |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $10 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Swissquote services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for active traders focusing on futures
| NinjaTrader snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $30 |
| Time to open account | >3 days |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of NinjaTrader services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex and CFD traders looking for an advanced trading platform with many research tools
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69% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| CMC Markets snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of CMC Markets services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for options and futures traders focusing on US markets
| tastytrade snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of tastytrade services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for spread, forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal options
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64% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Spreadex snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Spreadex services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex traders looking for great account opening and customer service
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75.1% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Pepperstone snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, POLi, BPay, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Union Pay, MPESA+FaceID |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, POLi, BPay, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Union Pay, MPESA+FaceID |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Pepperstone services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex traders looking for low fees and a chance to use the MetaTrader 4 platform
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74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Fusion Markets snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, Jeton Wallet, Perfect Money, Online Naira, Doku |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, Jeton Wallet, Perfect Money, Online Naira, Doku |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Fusion Markets services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex traders familiar with the MetaTrader 4 platform
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76.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Axi snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, Sofort, GiroPay, iDeal, Polish Internet Banking, Global Collect, China Union Pay |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, Sofort, GiroPay, iDeal, Polish Internet Banking, Global Collect, China Union Pay |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Axi services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for traders who prefer the MetaTrader platform and value a reliable mobile trading experience for trading on the go
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58% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Hantec Markets snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Hantec Markets services, check out our review for 2025 |
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How did we select the best international online brokers in India in 2025?
We checked whether the broker is regulated by a trusted regulator
Compared fees (including spreads, withdrawal fee, commission)
We checked and compared every aspect of their services
Opened an account and tested the platform (charting, features, usability) with real money
Save hours of research!
Our expert team has done all the work for you, and reviewed brokers based on BrokerChooser's unique methodology.
FAQ
What is the minimum deposit needed to start trading in India?
There is no set minimum deposit for trading stocks, bonds, forex or CFD in India, but pro traders recommend starting with at least $100.
Is Zerodha an expensive broker?
Zerodha, one of the biggest discount brokers in India, charges low fees and offers free equity delivery trading. The broker is a good choice for beginner investors as well. The account opening is slow and not fully digital and the product portfolio covers only the Indian market. As a Zerodha client, you will not be covered by investor protection.
Which are the best online brokers in India?
The top online brokers in India in 2025 are:
- Interactive Brokers - Extremely low fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
- Swissquote - Access to many markets and products. No inactivity fee. Rock-solid background.
- NinjaTrader - Low futures fees and margins. Great platform and research. Quality educational materials.
- CMC Markets - Low forex fees. Great web and mobile platforms. Advanced research and educational tools.
- tastytrade - Low trading fees. Great educational materials. Good research tools.
- Spreadex - Low forex fees. Good web platform. Helpful customer service.
- Pepperstone - Fast and fully digital account opening. Seamless and free deposit and withdrawal. Great educational materials.
- Fusion Markets - Low trading and non-trading fees. Fast and easy account opening. Great customer service.
- Axi - Low forex fees. No withdrawal/deposit fees. Fully digital account opening.
- Hantec Markets - Low forex and CFD fees. No deposit or withdrawal fees. Extensive forex and CFD offering.
Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.
