Charges at a glance
Figures above are ICICI Direct's default MoneySaver plan. Its iValue Plan (₹299 one-time) brings intraday, F&O and commodity brokerage down to a flat ₹20/order and lowers demat AMC to ₹300/year, while the Prime plans (₹4,999 / ₹9,999 one-time) cut delivery brokerage to as low as 0.10% / 0.07%.
About ICICI Direct
ICICI Direct is the retail trading and investment brand of ICICI Securities Ltd, part of the ICICI Bank group. It is registered with SEBI and is a depository participant with both CDSL and NSDL, offering equities, F&O, currency and commodity derivatives, IPOs, mutual funds, bonds, NPS and more through its 3-in-1 investment account.
ICICI Direct is best known for the tight integration of its 3-in-1 account — ICICI Bank savings, trading and demat — along with a wide branch network, research desk and relationship-manager support. Its default MoneySaver brokerage plan is on the higher side compared with discount brokers, but its iValue Plan brings F&O, intraday and commodity brokerage down to a flat ₹20/order, while its Prime plans can lower delivery brokerage to as little as 0.07%.
Platforms
ICICI Direct App & Website
Free mobile and web trading app covering equities, F&O, IPOs, mutual funds, bonds and more.
Trade Racer
Downloadable desktop terminal built for high-speed equity and F&O trading, with live streaming quotes and research calls; free to use, no separate subscription.
i-Track
Web-based analytics and screener platform with charting, stock screeners and portfolio tracking; free to use.
Regulatory & statutory charges
Besides brokerage, every trade attracts STT/CTT, exchange transaction charges, SEBI charges, GST and stamp duty. These are fixed by the government/exchanges and are the same across brokers.
Calculate the exact charges for any trade upfront using our brokerage calculator.
Equity
| Charge | Equity delivery | Equity intraday | F&O – Futures | F&O – Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brokerage | 0.29% (buy & sell), no minimum | 0.029% per side (buy & sell) | 0.029% per side (buy & sell) | ₹49 per lot |
| STT/CTT | 0.1% on buy & sell | 0.025% on sell side | 0.05% on sell side | 0.15% on sell side (premium); 0.15% of intrinsic value if exercised |
| Transaction charges | NSE 0.00307% / BSE 0.00375% (buy & sell) | NSE 0.00307% / BSE 0.00375% (buy & sell) | NSE 0.00183% / BSE 0% (buy & sell) | NSE 0.03553% / BSE 0.0325% (on premium) |
| SEBI charges | ₹10 / crore | ₹10 / crore | ₹10 / crore | ₹10 / crore |
| Stamp duty | 0.015% (buy side) | 0.003% (buy side) | 0.002% (buy side) | 0.003% (buy side) |
| GST | 18% on (brokerage + SEBI charges + transaction charges) | |||
Rates above are the MoneySaver (default) plan. ICICI Direct also offers currency derivatives trading, and its iValue and Prime plans reduce brokerage further — confirm current rates on icicidirect.com before trading.
Commodity
| Charge | Commodity futures | Commodity options |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage | ₹20 per order, across all brokerage plans | ₹20 per order, across all brokerage plans |
| STT/CTT | 0.01% on sell side (non-agri) | 0.05% on sell side (premium) |
| Transaction charges | 0.0021% (buy & sell) | 0.0418% (on premium) |
| SEBI charges | Non-agri 0.0001%, Agri 0.00001% | 0.0001% (on premium) |
| Stamp duty | 0.002% (buy side) | 0.003% (buy side) |
| GST | 18% on (brokerage + SEBI charges + transaction charges) | |
Mutual funds
- ICICI Direct offers both Direct and Regular mutual fund plans; Direct plans carry no distributor commission, while Regular plans build trail commission into the fund's expense ratio.
- Stamp duty of 0.005% applies on the purchase (buy) side of mutual fund units, as mandated by the government.
- STT of 0.001% applies only on redemption (sell) of equity-oriented mutual fund units.
Charges for account opening
| Type of account | Charges |
|---|---|
| Individual account | free |
| HUF account | not published — confirm with ICICI Direct |
| NRI account | not published — confirm with ICICI Direct |
Demat AMC (Annual Maintenance Charge)
ICICI Direct charges ₹700/year demat AMC on the default MoneySaver plan; subscribing to the iValue Plan (₹299 one-time) reduces this to ₹300/year. The trading account itself carries no AMC.
Penalties & other charges
Charges that apply only in specific situations — good to know upfront so nothing catches you off guard.
Penalties
Other charges
Pros & cons
What users like
- Backed by ICICI Bank, with a wide branch network and a tightly integrated 3-in-1 account linking bank, trading and demat
- Trade Racer desktop terminal and i-Track research/screener tools are free — no separate subscription fee
- Broad product range — equities, F&O, currency & commodity derivatives, IPOs, mutual funds, bonds, NPS and insurance
- iValue Plan brings F&O, intraday and commodity brokerage down to a flat ₹20/order; Prime plans cut delivery brokerage to as low as 0.07%
What to watch for
- Default MoneySaver plan brokerage is high — 0.29% on delivery with no minimum, 0.029% on intraday/futures per side
- Demat AMC of ₹700/year on the default plan is higher than many discount brokers
- Lower iValue/Prime pricing needs an upfront one-time subscription fee
Read what customers say about ICICI Direct
Overall rating 3.5/5 based on 2 customer reviews — or share your own experience.