ICICI Direct Review 2025: Stock Trading, Demat, and Brokerage

Account opening and demat charges

ICICI Direct has Free account opening charges for both trading and Demat accounts. For trading account, the AMT charges are Free but the AMC for the Demat Account is Rs. Rs.300 per Year.

If you are looking to invest in stock through ICICI Direct, you would have to open a 2-in-1 account which includes a Demat account and a trading account.

ICICI Direct brokerage charges 2025

The brokerage refers to an amount that is charged by a stockbroker against the services offered.

• Equity delivery: You need to pay these charges when you buy and hold stocks in your trading account for a longer period. This type of trading generally charges lower brokerage charges as compared to others.
• Equity intraday: When you buy and sell stocks on the same day, you need to pay equity delivery brokerage charges. Intraday trading mainly focuses on short-term price movements.
• Equity futures: You have to pay equity future brokerage charges when you trade futures contracts on stocks. Equity futures are agreements to buy or sell a stock at a predetermined price on a future date. The charges for trading equity futures include brokerage fees and may also include transaction charges based on the contract value.
• Equity options: When you trade options contracts based on stocks, you have to pay brokerage charges determined for equity options. An equity option gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a stock at a specified price before or at the expiration date. The brokerage charges for options trading often include a flat fee per contract or a fee based on the option’s premium.
• Commodity futures: These are charges for trading futures contracts on commodities such as gold, oil, or agricultural products. Commodity futures contracts are agreements to buy or sell a specific quantity of a commodity at a predetermined price on a future date.
• Currency futures: These are charges for trading futures contracts on currencies. Currency futures involve agreements to exchange one currency for another at a set price on a future date. The charges for currency futures usually include a flat fee per contract and may vary depending on the currency pair and contract size.
• Currency options: Charges for trading options contracts on currencies. A currency option provides the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a currency pair at a specified price before or at the expiration date. The charges for currency options typically include a fee per option contract and may be based on the option's premium.

ICICI Direct margin exposure

To provide assistance to traders and investors in the utilization of margin money for trading, ICICI Direct offers margin exposure. You may manage bigger holdings with lesser sums of money when you use margin money. You can increase your trading potential and seize market opportunities with this product.

ICICI Direct other charge

Apart from charging brokerage charges, there are several other charges levied by ICICI Direct. These charges come under the purview of other charges. These include stamp duty, STT, SEBI turnover charges, GST, transaction charges, and others. As an investor or trader, you must need to be aware of these charges before going ahead.

ICICI Direct trading platforms

ICICI Direct offers different trading platforms for both mobile and desktop users. All these trading platforms are high on user-friendliness and advanced features. Whether you are new to stock trading or a seasoned trader, these trading platforms offer exemplary trading experience. Some of the features offered by ICICI Direct trading platforms are:

• Single-click order placement
• Multiple watchlists
• Smart mobile application
• Research and advisory
• UPI-based fund transfer
• Auto investor
• Live quotes on markets and stocks
• Tracking investments and trades

ICICI Direct offers

In order to entice investors, a lot of stockbrokers make alluring offers. For instance, some might provide a free account opening procedure, while others might provide free trading and delivery. Brokers utilize these offerings to set themselves apart from the competition and to draw in new business while keeping hold of their current clientele. Brokers increase the desirability of their services in comparison to rivals by emphasizing these advantages.

ICICI Direct features

Additionally, ICICI Direct provides sophisticated trading tools for both novice and seasoned traders. From fundamental elements like portfolio tracking and real-time market data to more sophisticated choices like investment research, tailored recommendations, and charting tools, these features cover the gamut. Additionally, Angel One provides stock tips, research reports, and personalized stock recommendations.

Services

The platform offers numerous financial services. Core services include trading in stocks, derivatives, and IPOs. The platform also offers in-depth market research, investment recommendations, and tools to help traders make informed decisions. For those seeking more hands-on management, Angel One provides portfolio management services as well. While it doesn't offer a traditional 3-in-1 account, it covers most other essential financial services.

Products

For traders and investors, ICICI Direct provides a full range of financial solutions. Based on your interests, you can trade in stocks, options, and futures. It also provides currency and commodity trading. ICICI Direct also lets you trade foreign equities if you're interested in international markets. Additionally, investing in mutual funds allows you to diversify your portfolio. It will assist you in protecting your money from erratic market fluctuations. ICICI Direct can efficiently cater to a variety of investment plans and tastes thanks to its wide range of product offerings.

Customer support

ICICI Direct provides strong customer service to guarantee a seamless and trouble-free experience for its customers. For assistance with any questions or problems, their committed support staff is accessible via phone, email, and live chat.

Customer complaints

The BSE and NSE regularly receive and address complaints in order to maintain a rigorous check and balance on fair-trade opportunities for all traders and investors. Investors have the option to file complaints regarding brokers, trading members, and index-listed businesses. In order to address them, the BSE and NSE give them a deadline to correct their error; if they don't, harsh action is taken against them. The total number of complaints filed with the BSE or NSE is listed below. You may also see the percentage of those complaints that were settled. Another helpful indicator to evaluate a stock broker is the proportion of lodged vs resolved cases.