The creation of Demat accounts has revolutionized how stock exchanges conduct their business. The paper scrips were no longer needed to purchase and sell shares. This was a time-consuming and sometimes mismanaged process. Stock brokers authorized by SEBI can open and operate a Demat account. Dematerialization allows shares and securities to be held and traded digitally from anywhere. This reduces the risk of fraud and theft associated with paper-based transactions.

 Open a Demat Account if you plan to trade shares or securities on the stock exchange. This list includes the best Demat Accounts in India for 2023 and their pros, cons, and prices. Continue reading!

List of 10 best Demat accounts in India (updated 2023)

Demat account Charges

Axis Direct Demat account opening charges: Nil

 Account closure charges: Nil

 Charges for account maintenance

1. Axis Bank customer

 First Year: Nil

 From the second year: Rs750

  2. Customers of Non-Axis Bank

 First Year: Rs 350

 From the second year: Rs.750

 SAS Online Brokerage: Rs999 a month or Rs9 a trade

 Demat account fee: Rs 200 per annum (plus GST)

 Account opening fee: Rs200

 SBICAP Securities Demat Account Account opening charges: Nil

 Maintenance charges per year: Rs 400

 ICICI Direct Demat account opening charges: Rs 975 to Rs nil

 Account maintenance fees: Rs 700 from 2nd year.

 Kotak Securities Demat Account Account opening charges: Nil

 Brokerage fees: Nil

HDFC Securities Demat account charges vary according to pricing plans

 Futures and Options: Rs20 for each order

 Zerodha Demat Account Brokerage: Nil

 Intraday trades and F&O: Rs20, or 0.03%, whichever is lower.

Upstox Demat account maintenance fee: Nil

 Account opening fee: Nil

 Commissions: Nil

 Brokerage: Rs20

 IIFL Demat account Account maintenance fee: Rs250 + GST after the first year.

 Account opening charges: Nil

 Brokerage: Variable depending on plans

 Sharekhan Demat Account Account opening charges: Nil

 For the first year, there are no account maintenance fees.

List of 10 Best Indian Demat Accounts [Updated in May 2023]: Detailed Overview

1. Axis Direct Demat account

Axis Direct Demat Account is the demat account of choice for over 2,000,000 clients in India. Axis offers investment options and market research tools to help you make informed decisions. This is a great tool for anyone wanting to learn the trading basics. Axis Direct's 3-in-1 trading account offers free market analytics insights by specialists, as well as tools for beginners.

 The following are some examples of

 All three services - banking, trading and Demat - can be done on one account.

 Market research professionals can provide you with expert advice.

 You can trade in stocks, mutual funds and bonds, derivatives, ETFs and other financial instruments.

 Educational resources include webinars, online courses and expert articles.

Pros

There is no fee for the first year of account maintenance.

 Experts conducted market research, which was made available for free.

 Beginner's Educational Resources

 You can also find out more about the Cons.

 Non-Axis Bank Customers Face Higher Account Management Charges

 Price

 Account Opening Charge: Nil

 Account Closing Fee: Nil

 Account Maintenance Fee:

 Axis Bank customer

 First Year: NIL

 From the Second Year: Rs.750

 Customers of Non-Axis Bank

 First Year: Rs 350/-

 From the Second Year: Rs.750

2. SAS Online

SAS Online is an online trading platform which allows you to buy or sell securities instantly, thus allowing you the maximum profit. This is a great option for active traders. SAS Online offers a viable option for aggressive traders. You can trade at a low cost and enjoy some unique features.

The following are some examples of

 Choose from over 300 different stocks.

 You can purchase up to four times your order value as delivery.

 Updates and news on the market are provided.

 You can buy and sell immediately.

Pros

Trading costs are reduced.

 Expert advisors and market scanners

Real-time trading

 You can also find out more about the Cons.

 No commodity trading

 Email is the only way to contact customer service.

Price

Rs999 per month, or Rs9 per trade

 The annual fee for a Demat account is Rs 200 (+GST), and the account opening fee is Rs 200

3. SBICAP Securities Demat account

SBICAP Securities Demat Account provides a mobile and online trading platform with educational resources, market analysis tools and other tools that help you make informed investment decisions. SBICAP Securities Demat Account belongs to the SBI group. The app's instructional features, statistics and trading suggestions justify its designation as India's top Demat account.

The following are some examples of

 There are many educational resources available.

 Tools for Market Research

 Exchange currencies, stocks, and other assets

 Stock trading recommendations

 Relationship manager

Pros

Resources for Education

 Market research

 Advice on Trading

 Relationship Manager with a Specific Focus

 You can also find out more about the Cons.

 Account opening fees are a bit steep.

 Price

 Account opening costs Rs 850

 Account opening charges: Nil

 Maintenance charges per year: Rs 400

4. ICICI Direct Demat account

The ICICI Direct Demat account is a digital platform which allows you to trade in domestic and international markets. You can trade stocks and mutual funds as well as fractional shares. The ICICI Demat Account offers market information to help you invest and allows you to trade fractional shares on the global market.

The following are some examples of

 You can trade in stocks, mutual funds and currencies, commodities, initial public offerings, and currencies.

 Market research and market insight

 Learn more about the material available for you.

 Invest in fractional shares of global markets.

 Get a 3-in-1 account that includes trading, banking and a Demat Account.

Pros

Fractional shares are shares that are divided into fractions.

 No minimum balance is required.

 Investing in international stocks

 You can also find out more about the Cons.

 Brokerage fees for small investors are high.

Price

 Account opening fees: Rs975 to Rs975

 Account maintenance fees: Rs 700 from 2nd year.

5. Kotak Securities Demat account

Over 20 million investors use Kotak Securities Demat account. This account offers a three-in-one account, market analysis tools and trading advice. It is one of your best options to build a low-cost investment portfolio. Kotak Securities is a good option for those who are new to investing or have a limited amount of money.

The following are some examples of

 Market research and suggestions

 All three accounts - Savings, Trading, and Demat - are integrated into one account.

 Margin trading involves trading with small amounts of money.

 Build a low-cost portfolio by investing in small cases.

Pros

Account for 3-in-1 Market Study

 This is a great opportunity for small investors.

 Global investment

 Price

Account opening charges: Nil

 Brokerage fees: Nil

 Dematerialisation: Rs50 per request, Rs3 per certificate

 Account Maintenance Charges: Nil for holdings of securities less than Rs10,000

 For holding securities worth more than Rs10,000, Rs65 per month for up to 10 debit transaction

 Rs50 per month for debit transactions between 11 and 30

 For more than 30 debit transactions, Rs 35 per month

6. HDFC Securities Demat account

HDFC Securities Demat account is a trading service provider with 20 years of experience. It allows you to trade electronically, saving time and effort. This is the best option for offline advice. HDFC Securities Demat account is the one-stop shop for all your trading needs. You can trade Indian or international stocks and get customer service seven days a week.

The following are some examples of

Margin trading refers to trading on margin.

 Tools for Market Research

 You can exchange currencies, commodities and stocks.

 Global Investment Opportunities are Available

 Orders can be placed over the phone.

Pros

The customer service team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 Stocks in the United States

 Portfolio management tools

 You can also find out more about the Cons.

 The Demat account fee is high compared to other options.

 Commodity trading is not an option.

 Price

Pricing plans vary according to the plan.

 Futures and Options: Rs20 for each order

7. Zerodha Demat Account

Zerodha has over 5 million clients, making it one of the top Demat accounts in India. You can use it as a trading account and depository and get market data and detailed charts to help you make informed investment decisions. Zerodha provides all the features you require in a Demat Account. The market research tools are excellent.

The following are some examples of

 Market research data and advanced charts can be used to aid in your trading.

 The Zerodha Varsity app can help you learn more about trading.

 This tool allows you to create your trading platform.

 Coin by Zerodha allows you to trade mutual funds through its app.

Pros

Market research tools of high quality

 Create your trading platform.

 Affordable fees

 App for Learning

 You can also find out more about the Cons.

 The Indian market only is covered.

 No investor protection

 Price

 Brokerage: Nil

 Intraday trades and F&O: Rs20, or 0.03%, whichever is lower.

8. Upstox Demat account

You can trade stocks, mutual funds, digital Gold, or futures using a digital account. Charts in the software help you make better decisions by providing market data. This is one of the best ways to avoid high brokerage fees. Upstox offers one of the safest Demat accounts in India. Upstox provides zero-commission trading, which can be a major benefit.

The following are some examples of

 Digital and paperless demat accounts

 Real-time updates on the trading market

 All you need is one account for your mutual funds and stocks.

 Opening a bank is a very simple process.

 You can buy and sell digital Gold.

Pros

Investing without commissions.

 You can invest as low as Rs 1

 Trade from anywhere on the planet

 You can also find out more about the Cons.

 Some consumers are unhappy with the market crashes that result from large market swings.

 Price

 No account maintenance fees

 Account opening fees: Nil

 Commissions: Nil

 Brokerage: Rs20

9. IIFL Demat Account

The IIFL Demat Account is a market leader with a 25-year track record. You can open a Demat Account for free. It also provides you with market analysis tools that allow you to invest only when you understand the market well. It is one of your best options to trade at low costs. Software for portfolio analysis and price alerts can also be very useful.

The following are some examples of

 Market research in depth

 Trade currencies, stocks, mutual funds, commodities and more

 App for mobile: Get market news, price alerts, trading ideas and more.

Pros

 There are no charges to open a Demat Account with IIFL.

 Price Alerts

 Research and Analysis Tools

 Price

 Fees for account maintenance: Rs 250 + GST after the first year

 Account opening charge: Nil

 Brokerage: Variable depending on plans

10. Sharekhan Demat account

Sharekhan Demat account is a trading platform that includes learning, portfolio management and market research. This strategy is beneficial to both professional and novice traders. Sharekhan is a good option if you are looking for the best Demat account in India. You can trade stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and a wide range of other assets. You can hire professionals to manage your portfolio and rebalance it.

The following are some examples of

 You can use audio and video clips to understand market trends.

 Expert market forecasts

 Learn more about our learning aids.

 Portfolio management services available

 With this platform, you can trade in stocks, bonds and mutual funds, ETFs, foreign exchange, futures and options, FX or Futures.

Pros

 You will be notified when the price of your favourite stocks changes.

 The customer service team is available 24/7

 No minimum deposit is required.

 Expert portfolio rebalancing

 You can also find out more about the Cons.

 The account opening process can be lengthy.

 Price

 Account opening charges: Nil

 For the first year, there are no account maintenance fees.

 Final Word

 Demat accounts are revolutionizing the markets. They have increased the market's efficiency and provided greater security to traders. Digitization has made it possible to execute orders more quickly and accurately. The ability to buy or sell instantly can result in substantial profits, especially when the market is unpredictable. Beginners can make informed decisions when choosing a Demat Account by evaluating brokers for their services, extra features like access to research reports, on-call support and the cost of opening the account.

Stocks can be an excellent option for your portfolio. They do, however, carry significant risks. For novice investors who don't understand the complexity of investing in stocks, mutual funds managed by professional and qualified fund managers could be an excellent option. Mutual funds can help diversify your portfolio and maximize your profits based on the performance of the underlying asset classes, indices or securities. Mutual funds are also easier to invest in because you don't require a trading account or a Demat one. 

Interested? Invest in Mutual funds today, starting as low as Rs 10.

How does a Demat Account work?

 You can place a "buy" or "sell" request on your trading account after logging in to your Demat account and trading account. The depository participant will then forward this request to the stock market. The stock exchange will search for sellers willing to sell shares at the requested price. If the price is the same, the stock exchange will share the request with clearing houses so that they can debit the shares from the seller's Demat and credit the buyer's Demat.

  What documents are needed to open a Demat Account?

According to the Demat account provider's terms and conditions, you will need to provide your PAN Card, Aadhaar, or Passport as proof of identity, along with ITRs, pay slips, statements for the past six months, audited annual business accounts, passport-sized photos, and more.

 What are the types of Demat Accounts?

There are three main types of Demat accounts. There are three types of Demat accounts: regular Demat for Indian residents, repatriable Demat for NRIs, and non-repatriable Demat for NRIs, which must be linked with an NRO.

What is BSDA?

BSDA is the acronym for Basic Services Demat accounts, introduced recently by SEBI. This type of Demat account has zero maintenance fees if your holding value is below Rs50,000 and Rs100 per year. Holding value between Rs50,000 to Rs2 lakh.