Zerodha changed how India trades. When Nithin Kamath launched the discount brokerage in 2010, the idea of zero brokerage on equity delivery was revolutionary. Now in 2026, Zerodha has over 15 million active users. But with competitors like Groww, Upstox, and Angel One nipping at their heels, is Zerodha still the best choice?
What Zerodha Gets Right
Kite Platform
Kite remains one of the best trading platforms in India. It is fast, clean, and does not overwhelm you with features you do not need. The charting tools are professional-grade, the order placement is intuitive, and the app rarely crashes — something that cannot be said for all competitors.
Console for Long-term Investors
The Console dashboard gives you a comprehensive view of your portfolio, tax reports (P&L statements), and holdings. The tax P&L report alone saves you hours during ITR filing season.
Varsity — Free Education
Varsity is genuinely one of the best free financial education resources in India. Modules on options, technical analysis, and fundamental analysis are well-written and accessible. This is something no competitor has matched.
Where Zerodha Falls Short
Customer Support
This is Zerodhas weakest link and has been for years. Support is ticket-based only — no phone support, no live chat. Response times can stretch to 24-48 hours for non-urgent queries. For a platform handling peoples money, this is not good enough.
Mutual Fund Experience
Coin (Zerodhas mutual fund platform) works but the experience is inferior to Groww. Groww makes mutual fund investing feel simple and friendly. Coin feels like an afterthought bolted onto a trading platform.
No Advisory Services
Zerodha deliberately avoids giving trading tips or advisory services. While this is ethical (most advisory services are terrible), it means beginners get zero guidance on what to invest in.
The Competition in 2026
Groww: Best for beginners and mutual fund investors. The UX is superior for non-traders.
Upstox: Competitive pricing, decent platform, but reliability issues during market volatility.
Angel One: Good for those who want advisory services alongside trading.
Verdict
Zerodha remains the best platform for active traders who value speed, reliability, and clean UX. For passive investors and beginners, Groww might be a better starting point. For those who want hand-holding and tips, Angel One is worth considering. But if you are serious about trading, Zerodha is still the gold standard in India.
— Aman K., retail trader and personal finance blogger
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