Investing and trading on Groww involves multiple types of charges. Many people focus only on brokerage, but the real cost comes from brokerage + DP charges + taxes + other fees.
Here’s a complete, practical breakdown based on the latest structure, including your inputs and additional clarity where needed.
What is Groww?
Groww is a popular Indian discount broker that offers:
- Stock investing (delivery & intraday)
- Futures & Options (F&O)
- Direct mutual funds (₹0 commission)
It’s known for its simple interface and low-cost model, especially for beginners and long-term investors.
1. Account Opening & Maintenance Charges
Groww follows a strong zero-fee model here.
- Demat & Trading Account Opening: ₹0 (Free)
- Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC): ₹0 (Free)
- Inactivity Charges: ₹0
👉 Even if you don’t use your account for months or years, no penalty or maintenance fee is charged.
This is one of Groww’s biggest advantages over competitors.
2. Groww Brokerage Charges (Segment-wise)
Brokerage is what Groww charges when you execute trades.
| Segment | Brokerage |
| Equity Delivery | Lower of ₹20 or 0.1% per order |
| Equity Intraday | Lower of ₹20 or 0.1% per order |
| Futures | Flat ₹20 per order |
| Options | Flat ₹20 per order |
| Mutual Funds | ₹0 (Direct plans only) |
Important Notes:
- Maximum brokerage = ₹20 per order
- Very small trades may attract:
- Minimum ₹5 or 2.5% of trade value (whichever is lower)
- Brokerage is charged per executed order, not per day
👉 Example:
- Trade ₹1,000 → brokerage may be ₹5
- Trade ₹50,000 → brokerage capped at ₹20
Key Insight (Very Important)
Groww is ideal when:
- You are a long-term investor
- You place fewer trades with higher amounts
For very small trades, the minimum brokerage can feel high in percentage terms.
3. Depository Participant (DP) Charges
This is one of the most ignored but important costs.
👉 DP charges apply only when you sell delivery shares
👉 Not applicable for intraday or F&O
DP Charges Breakdown:
For Sale Value ≥ ₹100:
- Male Investors: ₹20 + GST per stock (ISIN per day)
- ₹16.50 (Groww fee) + ₹3.50 (Depository fee)
- Female Investors: ₹19.75 + GST
- ₹16.50 + ₹3.25
For Sale Value < ₹100:
- Groww waives its fee
- Only depository charge applies:
- ₹3.50 (male) / ₹3.25 (female)
Important Points:
- Charged per stock (ISIN), not per quantity
- Selling 1 stock vs 100 shares → same DP charge
- Selling 5 different stocks → 5 DP charges
👉 This is where many traders lose extra money without noticing.
4. Statutory & Regulatory Taxes
These are government and exchange charges. Groww only collects and passes them on.
(A) STT – Securities Transaction Tax
| Segment | STT |
| Equity Delivery | 0.1% (Buy & Sell) |
| Intraday | 0.025% (Sell only) |
| Futures | 0.02% (Sell) |
| Options | 0.125% (Sell on premium) |
(B) Exchange Transaction Charges
- NSE: ~0.00297%
- BSE: ~0.00375%
- F&O:
- Futures: ~0.00173%
- Options: ~0.03503%
(C) GST (Goods & Services Tax)
- 18% on:
- Brokerage
- DP charges
- Transaction charges
(D) SEBI Charges
- 0001% (₹10 per crore turnover)
(E) Stamp Duty
| Segment | Stamp Duty |
| Delivery | 0.015% (Buy only) |
| Intraday | 0.003% (Buy only) |
| Futures | 0.002% |
| Options | 0.003% |
5. Other Miscellaneous Charges
These are situational but important.
- Auto Square-off: ₹50 + GST
(If intraday position not closed before 3:20 PM) - Pledge/Unpledge: ₹20 per ISIN
- Demat/Remat: ₹150 per certificate
- Physical Statement: ₹10 per page + courier
(Email is free) - Delayed Payment Charges (DPC):
05% per day on negative balance
6. Real Example (Understanding Total Cost)
Let’s say you do a delivery trade:
- Buy shares worth ₹1,00,000
- Sell later
Charges:
- Brokerage → ₹20 (buy) + ₹20 (sell)
- DP charge → ~₹20 (on sell)
- GST → applicable
- STT → 0.1% buy + sell
- Other charges → small
👉 Total cost ≈ ₹80–₹150 depending on trade
7. Summary Table
| Feature | Charge |
| Account Opening | Free |
| AMC | Free |
| Equity Brokerage | Max ₹20 |
| F&O Brokerage | ₹20 per order |
| DP Charges | ~₹20 + GST (sell side) |
| GST | 18% |
Pros of Groww Charges
- Zero AMC (huge advantage)
- Free account opening
- Simple pricing structure
- ₹0 mutual fund commission
Cons (Reality Check)
- DP charges apply on every sell
- Minimum brokerage affects small trades
- Taxes reduce actual profit significantly
Final Verdict
Groww is one of the best low-cost platforms for investors, especially beginners.
- Long-term investing → very low cost
- Active trading → still affordable but not cheapest
- Small trades → can feel expensive
The biggest mistake people make is ignoring DP charges and taxes. Brokerage looks small, but total cost tells the real story.