Dhan vs Zerodha — Brokerage, MTF Rates & Features Compared (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of Dhan and Zerodha across every charge and feature that matters to Indian retail traders. Data verified April 2026. Use the live MTF comparison for real-time rate checks.
Dhan
dhanOptions-trader-focused broker with powerful features
Best for: Options traders, MTF users, advanced retail
Zerodha
zerodhaIndia's largest discount broker by active clients
Best for: Serious long-term investors, F&O traders, Kite power users
Charges compared
| Fee / Charge | Dhan | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Equity delivery | ₹0 (free) | ₹0 (free) |
| Intraday | ₹20/trade or 0.03% (lower) | ₹20/trade or 0.03% (lower) |
| F&O (flat) | ₹20/trade | ₹20/trade |
| MTF interest (p.a.) | ~9.99% p.a. | ~11.5% p.a. |
| AMC (annual) | ₹0 (free) | ₹300/year |
Dhan — pros & cons
Pros
- Lowest MTF rate in the segment (~9.99%)
- Zero AMC
- TradingView charts built-in
- Options chain, strategy builder, backtesting — trader-first features
Cons
- Smaller user base than Zerodha/Upstox
- Fewer educational resources
- App still maturing — occasional UX rough edges
Zerodha — pros & cons
Pros
- Largest user base — most liquid community
- Kite 3 is a benchmark trading platform
- Excellent educational content (Varsity)
- Profitable, self-funded, no VC pressure
Cons
- ₹300 AMC (higher than peers)
- No free call-and-trade
- Onboarding slower than newer brokers
Which broker should you pick?
- Pick Dhan if you fit this profile: options traders, mtf users, advanced retail.
- Pick Zerodha if you fit this profile: serious long-term investors, f&o traders, kite power users.
- Use the live MTF comparison to check the cheaper broker for the specific stock you want to margin-trade — rates vary per stock.
- Run your expected monthly trading volume through the brokerage calculator to see actual all-in cost (brokerage + STT + exchange fees + GST).
Other broker comparisons
Related tools
- Live MTF comparison — real-time rates for 800+ stocks across all brokers
- Full brokerage comparison — complete fee breakdown
- Brokerage calculator — compute your actual trade cost
- Stocks directory — per-stock best-broker recommendations
- India markets dashboard — live indices + sectors