ICICIDirect Vs HDFC Sky Vs Kotak Securities: Which one is better?
Last updated August 26, 2026
This IPO News reference page covers “ICICIDirect Vs HDFC Sky Vs Kotak Securities: Which one is better?”. The page is organized around compare stock brokers side-by-side, compare icicidirect vs hdfc sky vs kotak securities on service, account opening charges and amc, compare icicidirect vs hdfc sky vs kotak securities on trading & demat account opening charges, about brokerage plans. IPO News presents the structured facts and tables in its own layout and wording.
Topics Covered
- Compare Stock Brokers Side-by-Side
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Service
- Account Opening Charges and AMC
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Trading & Demat Account Opening Charges
- About Brokerage Plans
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Plan Options
- Account Opening
- Share Broker's Transaction Charges
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Transaction Charges
- Account Features
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Account Features
- Trading Platform
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Trading Platform
- Broker Ratings by Users
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on User Rating
- Investment Offerings
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Investment Offerings
- Margin Trading Facility
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on MTF
- API
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on API Details
- Customer Service Offered
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Customer Service
- Tips/Research/Reports Published
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Research Reports, Tips
- Demat Account
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Demat Account
- Special Offers, Advantages, Disadvantages
- Compare ICICIDirect vs HDFC Sky vs Kotak Securities on Special Offers and Promotion
- ✅ Pros
Key Facts
- India's trusted financial research platform since 2015. Live IPO GMP, subscription data, allotment status, Rights Issues, NCDs and unbiased stock broker reviews.
- 100% digital and paperless 3-in-1 account opening facility.
- Trade on the BSE, NSE, MCX, and invest in other products.
- Place Valid Till Cancelled (VTC) order, valid for 45 days.
- Mutual fund investment with ICICIDirect is not free, as it charges a lower of Rs. 30 or 1.5% on SIP transaction and Rs. 100 fees on lumpsum investment.
- Its Trade free youth plan is only available for upto 30 years of age and that too is valid for 2 years only.
- High brokerage in dealer-assisted plan (Delivery: 0.39%, Equity and commodity options: Rs 39 per lot)
- Delivery trading is not free as charged with 0.25% brokerage.
- Commodity and Currency Trading at Rs 20/order flat brokerage
- transfer funds in just 5 minutes
- 💹 Flat ₹10 per Trade Brokerage on Intraday & F&O
- Last Updated on Fri, May 8, 2026
Data Tables
| Segment | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Account Opening Fees | Free | Free | Free |
| Trading AMC | Free | Free | Free |
| Demat Account Opening Fees | Free | Free | Free |
| Demat AMC | Rs 700 p.a. [Free for 1st year] | Rs 240 PA (Free for 1st year) | Rs 600 PA |
| Provide DP Service | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plan Types | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Plans | Yes | No | Yes |
| Monthly Plans | No | No | No |
| Yearly Plans | No | No | No |
| ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account Opening Request | Link to open account |
| Transaction Charges Compare | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | NSE:297 | BSE:375 Per Cr | NSE:297 | BSE:375 Per Cr | NSE:297 | BSE:375 Per Cr |
| Equity Intraday | NSE:297 | BSE:375 Per Cr | NSE:297 | BSE:375 Per Cr | NSE:297 | BSE:375 Per Cr |
| Equity Futures | NSE:173 | BSE:0 Per Cr | NSE:173 | BSE:0 Per Cr | NSE:173 | BSE:0 Per Cr |
| Equity Options | NSE:3503 | BSE:3250 Per Cr on premium | NSE:3503 | BSE:3250 Per Cr on premium | NSE:3503 | BSE:3250 Per Cr on premium |
| Currency Futures | NSE:35 | BSE:45 Per Cr | NSE:35 | BSE:45 Per Cr | NSE:35 | BSE:45 Per Cr |
| Currency Options | NSE:3110 | BSE:100 Per Cr | NSE:3110 | BSE:100 Per Cr | NSE:3110 | BSE:100 Per Cr |
| Commodity | MCX: 4180| NSE: 100 Per Cr | MCX: 4180| NSE: 100 Per Cr | MCX: 4180| NSE: 100 Per Cr |
| Brokerage Charges | Complete Brokerage Plans for icicidirect | Complete Brokerage Plans for hdfc-sky | Complete Brokerage Plans for kotak-securities |
| Account Features Compare | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 in 1 Account | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Algo Trading | No | No | No |
| SMS Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online Demo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online Portfolio | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Margin Trading Funding Available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Combined Ledger for Equity and Commodity | No | Yes | No |
| Intraday Square-off Time | 3:15PM | 3:15PM | 3:15PM |
| NRI Trading | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other Features | NIL | NIL |
| Trading Platform Compare | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web Trading Detail | https://www.icicidirect.com | https://hdfcsky.com/ | https://www.kotaksecurities.com/itrade/user/welcome.exe?action=chk_seckey_stat |
| Web Trading Demo | Web Trading Demo | Web Trading Demo | Web Trading Demo |
| Mobile Trading | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading App | ICICI direct Mobile | HDFC Sky App | Kotak Neo |
| Mobile Trading App Demo | ICICI direct Mobile | HDFC Sky App | Kotak Neo |
| Android Mobile App | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Android App Download | Android ICICI direct Mobile Download | Android HDFC Sky App Download | Android Kotak Neo Download |
| iPhone Mobile App (IOS) | Yes | No | Yes |
| iOS App Download | iOS ICICI direct Mobile Download | iOS HDFC Sky App Download | iOS Kotak Neo Download |
| Android Tablet App | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad App (IOS) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Software Charges | Free | Free | Free |
| Equity Brokerage Calculator | Equity Intraday and Delivery Brokerage Calculator for ICICIDirect | Equity Intraday and Delivery Brokerage Calculator for HDFC Sky | Equity Intraday and Delivery Brokerage Calculator for Kotak Securities |
| Futures Brokerage Calculator | Futures Brokerage Calculator for ICICIDirect | Futures Brokerage Calculator for HDFC Sky | Futures Brokerage Calculator for Kotak Securities |
| Options Brokerage Calculator | Option Brokerage Calculator for ICICIDirect | Option Brokerage Calculator for HDFC Sky | Option Brokerage Calculator for Kotak Securities |
| Detail | Detail on Trading Platforms for ICICIDirect | Detail on Trading Platforms for HDFC Sky | Detail on Trading Platforms for Kotak Securities |
| ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 267 Customer reviews Rate | 99 Customer reviews Rate | 83 Customer reviews Rate | |
| Fees Ratings | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Trading Brokerage Rating | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.7 |
| Trading Platform Usability | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.2 |
| Customer Service Ratings | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
| Overall Rating | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.8 |
| Broker Rating | ICICIDirect is Rated 2.5 / 5 based on 267 customer reviews | HDFC Sky is Rated 2.5 / 5 based on 99 customer reviews | Kotak Securities is Rated 2.81 / 5 based on 83 customer reviews |
| Investment Offerings Compare | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Cash and F&O | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Currency Derivatives | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commodity | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online IPO Application | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds / NCD | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance | Yes | No | Yes |
| Forex | No | No | No |
| MF SIP Investment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Equity SIP Investment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PMS Service | Yes | No | Yes |
| Other Investment Options | NIL | NIL |
| MTF Compare | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTF Leverage | – | – | 4-5x leverage on 1500+ stocks |
| MTF Interest Rate | – | – | 9.69% p.a. |
| MTF Segment | – | – | Equity Delivery |
| MTF Pledge Charges | – | – | ₹20 per ISIN |
| MTF Unpledged Charges | – | – | ₹20 per ISIN |
| Maximum MTF Funding | – | – | ₹20 crore per account |
| API Compare | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| API Type | – | – | Neo Trade API (Quote, order, positions, reports, etc.) WebSocket API ( real-time data) |
| Customer Service Compare | ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 Customer Service | No | No | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online Live Chat | No | No | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Toll Free Number | No | No | Yes |
| Through Branches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Care Number | 1860 123 1122 | 1800 121 2109 | 1800 209 9191 |
| Account Opening Process | Online | Online | Online |
| Customer Support Email | [email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected] |
| Knowledge Center/Education | https://www.icicidirect.com/knowledge-center | https://hdfcsky.com/learn | https://www.kotaksecurities.com/ksweb/Research/Knowledge-Bank/Investment-Knowlegde-Bank |
| Head Office Address | ICICI Centre,H.T. Parekh Marg,Churchgate,Mumbai – 400020 | LODHAI-I THINK TECHNO CAMPUS BLDG-ALPHA, 8 FLR, NEAR KANJURMARG RLYSTN, KANJURMARG,MUMBAI-MH-400042 | 27 BKC, C 27, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai 400051 |
| Website | https://www.icicidirect.com | https://hdfcsky.com/ | https://www.kotaksecurities.com |
| ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Research Equity Reports | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Research ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Market Report | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Tips | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quarterly Result Analysis | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| News Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP Source | CDSL | CDSL | CDSL |
| DP ID | 14301 | 12400 | 25100 |
| Demat Account Annual Maintenance Charges(AMC) | ₹700 pa | ₹750 pa | ₹780 pa |
| Advance Deposit | Rs. 7500/- , If the client is not having ICICI BANK Account | Customer having only Depository relationship with the Bank has to pay an advance fee of Rs.7,500/- | NA |
| Statutory charges | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Transaction Charges on Debit (Per ISIN) | 0.04% (Min ₹30 and Max ₹25,000) + ₹5.50 (CDSL Charges) | 0.04% (Min ₹20) + CDSL charges | 0.04% (Min ₹27) + CDSL charges |
| Demat | ₹50 per set up | ₹5 per certificate + ₹35 request charges | ₹3 per certificate + ₹50 courier charges |
| Remat | ₹25 for 100 securities upto max fee of Rs 3 lakh, MF Reconversion ₹25 per transaction | ₹30 | ₹10 for every hundred securities (Min ₹15) |
| Pledge Creation | 0.02% (Min ₹35 and Max ₹25,000) | Nil | 0.05% of transaction value (Min ₹30) |
| Pledge Creation Confirmation | 0.02% (Min ₹35 and Max ₹25,000) | 0.04% of transaction value (Min ₹40) | 0.05% of transaction value (Min ₹30) |
| Pledge Closure | 0.02% (Min ₹35 and Max ₹25,000) | Nil | 0.05% of transaction value (Min ₹30) |
| Pledge Closure Confirmation | 0.02% (Min ₹35 and Max ₹25,000) | 0.04% of transaction value (Min ₹40) | 0.05% of transaction value (Min ₹30) |
| Pledge Invocation | 0.02% (Min ₹35 and Max ₹25,000) | 0.04% of transaction value (Min ₹40) | 0.05% of transaction value (Min ₹30) |
| Failed Instruction Charges | ₹30 per transaction | Nil | Nil |
| Other Charges | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| ICICIDirect | HDFC Sky | Kotak Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Likes | 100% digital and paperless 3-in-1 account opening facility. Trade on the BSE, NSE, MCX, and invest in other products. Multiple brokerage plans for residents and NRI trading. All kinds of trading platforms across web, app, and desktop versions. Invest in mutual funds for free with ICICIdirect Money App. Expert research calls and recommendations. Sell stocks and get cash instantly with the e-ATM facility. Advanced orders like bracket order, cover order, after market order, and basket order. Place Valid Till Cancelled (VTC) order, valid for 45 days. Informative articles, blogs, videos, learn hub, and Investonomics learning platform for beginners. Margin funding Loans on securities. Dedicated customer services. Detail Review… | ✅ Pros Free account opening Zero AMC (1st year) Flat ₹20 brokerage Invest in US stocks Free research & daily trading calls Advanced order types (BO, CO, OCO, GTT) No minimum balance Modern mobile app Detail Review… | Wide range of products from equity to F&O, IPO, debt, mutual funds, SGBs, etc. Minimal account opening charges No brokerage intraday trading Low-cost brokerage trading Multiple platforms to trade on web, app, and desktop StockCase: Experts recommended basket of stocks Tools like equity screeners, TradingView charts, and Payoff analyzer BNST: Buy Now Sell Tomorrow order Bracket order, cover order, GTT, and aftermarket order Intraday trading tips, short-term and long-term calls, derivative calls, equity investment ideas, and quarterly research reports from experts are available. Margin trading facility (MTF) with dealer assisted trading Kotak Traders Academy for beginners Detail Review… |
| Dislikes | High brokerage charges. Mutual fund investment with ICICIDirect is not free, as it charges a lower of Rs. 30 or 1.5% on SIP transaction and Rs. 100 fees on lumpsum investment. Detail Review… | ❌ Cons Delivery trades not free (Zerodha offers free delivery) No desktop trading terminal Direct mutual funds are not supported Detail Review… | Its Trade free youth plan is only available for upto 30 years of age and that too is valid for 2 years only. High brokerage in dealer-assisted plan (Delivery: 0.39%, Equity and commodity options: Rs 39 per lot) Delivery trading is not free as charged with 0.25% brokerage. Detail Review… |
| Special Offers/Promo | Free Account Opening Commodity and Currency Trading at Rs 20/order flat brokerage No demat AMC for the 1st year transfer funds in just 5 minutes Open Instant Account Now | 💼 Kotak Securities Trade Free Plan 🆓 Free Account Opening 💹 Flat ₹10 per Trade Brokerage on Intraday & F&O Open Instant Account Now | |
| Open Kotak Securities Account Now |
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