ICICI Direct Review 2026: Stock Trading, Demat, and Brokerage

ICICI Direct is a Public Discount Broker in India , established in 1994 , and headquartered in Mumbai. The broker provides access to equity delivery, equity intraday, equity futures, equity options, commodity futures, commodity options, currency futures and currency options through mobile app access, web trading, desktop terminal access and algo trading support, making it relevant for traders and investors who want one platform for market access, order execution, and portfolio tracking.

This 2026 review covers ICICI Direct brokerage charges, Demat account costs, trading platforms, products, customer support, and key features. Investors comparing brokers can use the details on this page to understand whether ICICI Direct matches their cost expectations, preferred trading segments, and platform requirements.

ICICI Direct Overview

ICICI Direct is listed as a Public Discount Broker that started operations in 1994 with headquarters in Mumbai. ICICI Direct lists Vjay Chandok as its founder and focuses on serving investors who need access to equity delivery, equity intraday, equity futures, equity options, commodity futures, commodity options, currency futures and currency options.

On the platform side, ICICI Direct highlights mobile app access, web trading, desktop terminal access and algo trading support and supports products such as equity delivery, equity intraday, equity futures, equity options, commodity futures, commodity options and currency futures. Its brokerage plan is listed as Neo Plan with subscription charges of Zero.

For investors evaluating overall value, the broker also highlights watchlists, real-time updates, portfolio tracking, online mutual fund access, research reports and global indices tracking and support access through trading desk support, dedicated dealer assistance, call support, email support and website support. This combination of products, tools, and support channels can help determine whether ICICI Direct is suitable for beginner, active, or long-term investors.

ICICI Direct — A Comprehensive Company Overview

Company Overview ICICI Direct
Company TypePublic
Broker TypeDiscount Broker
HeadquartersMumbai
FounderVjay Chandok
Establishment Year1994
Brokerage PlanNeo Plan
Branches / OfficesAvailable

ICICI Direct Ratings

ICICI Direct has been evaluated across key parameters including technology, charges, products, and customer experience to help investors make an informed comparison.

ICICI Direct — Ratings

ParameterRating
Overall Rating 9.65 / 10
Customer Support 9.61 / 10
Technology 9.77 / 10
Charges 9.69 / 10
Products & Services 9.60 / 10
Experience 9.58 / 10

Account opening and Demat charges

ICICI Direct lists account opening charges of Free for its onboarding process, while the annual maintenance charge (AMC) for the Demat account is Rs.300 per Year.

Before opening an account with ICICI Direct, investors should compare onboarding fees, Demat AMC, brokerage slabs, and the availability of services such as IPO access, F&O trading, and research tools.

Account Opening and Demat Charges

ChargeICICI Direct
Trading Account Opening ChargesFree
Demat AMC (Annual Maintenance Charges)Rs.300 per Year
DP ChargesRs.13.5 per Scrip only on Sell
Account Closure ChargesFree
Account Reactivation ChargesFree
Dematerialisation ChargesRs.50 per Certificate
Call & Trade ChargesFree – 1st 20 Calls per Month

ICICI Direct brokerage charges 2026

Brokerage is the fee charged by a stockbroker for executing trades on your behalf. ICICI Direct applies the following charges across segments:

  • Equity delivery: ICICI Direct charges 0.27% of Total Transaction — applies when investors buy and hold stocks for the long term.
  • Equity intraday: ICICI Direct charges Rs.20 per Trade — applies to buy and sell orders placed within the same trading session.
  • Equity futures: ICICI Direct charges Free — applies when trading futures contracts on stocks or indices.
  • Equity options: ICICI Direct charges Rs.20 per Trade — applies when trading equity option contracts.
  • Commodity futures: ICICI Direct charges Rs.20 per Trade — covers trading in commodities like gold, silver, and crude oil.
  • Commodity options: ICICI Direct charges Rs.20 per Trade — applies to option contracts on commodity instruments.
  • Currency futures: ICICI Direct charges Rs.20 per Trade — allows participation in forex price movements on the exchange.
  • Currency options: ICICI Direct charges Rs.20 per Trade — enables traders to hedge or speculate on currency fluctuations.

Brokerage of ICICI Direct

BrokerageICICI Direct
Brokerage PlanNeo Plan
Subscription ChargesZero
Equity Delivery0.27% of Total Transaction
Equity IntradayRs.20 per Trade
Equity FutureFree
Equity OptionRs.20 per Trade
Commodity FutureRs.20 per Trade
Commodity OptionRs.20 per Trade
Currency FutureRs.20 per Trade
Currency OptionRs.20 per Trade

ICICI Direct margin exposure

ICICI Direct offers margin exposure to help traders manage larger positions with less capital. The margin facility allows investors to leverage their holdings across different segments, enabling better utilisation of available funds while managing risk appropriately. The margin trading interest rate is 0.07% per day.

ICICI Direct — Exposure / Margin

ExposureICICI Direct
Equity Delivery1x
Equity IntradayUpto 5x (Depends on Stocks)
Equity F&O Carry Forward1x
Equity F&O Intraday1.3x
Commodity F&O Carry Forward1x
Commodity F&O Intraday1.3x
Currency F&O1x
Margin Trading Interest0.07% per day
Pledge Creation Charges0.02% of Value
Pledge Invocation Charges0.02% of Value

ICICI Direct other charges

Apart from brokerage, several statutory and operational charges apply when trading through ICICI Direct. These include Securities Transaction Tax (STT), stamp duty, transaction charges, SEBI turnover fees, GST, and depository charges. Understanding these costs helps investors calculate the true cost of every trade.

Other Charges of ICICI Direct

ChargeICICI Direct
Transaction Charges — Equity Delivery0.00325% (NSE) & As per Stock (BSE)
STT — Equity Delivery0.1% on buy & sell
Stamp Duty — Equity Delivery0.015% on buy
Transaction Charges — Equity Intraday0.00325% (NSE) & As per Stock (BSE)
STT — Equity Intraday0.025% on sell
Stamp Duty — Equity Intraday0.003% on buy
Transaction Charges — Equity Futures0.0019% (NSE & BSE)
STT — Equity Futures0.0125% on sell
Stamp Duty — Equity Futures0.002% on buy
Transaction Charges — Equity Options0.053% (on premium)
STT — Equity Options0.0625% on sell (on premium)
Stamp Duty — Equity Options0.003% on buy
Transaction Charges — Commodity Futures0.0021% (Non-Agri) / 0.006% (Agri) / 0.0005% (Special)
STT — Commodity Futures0.01% on sell (Non-Agri)
Stamp Duty — Commodity Futures0.002% on buy
Transaction Charges — Commodity Options0.05% (Non Agri)
STT — Commodity Options0.05% on sell
Stamp Duty — Commodity Options0.003% on buy
Transaction Charges — Currency Futures0.0009% (NSE) & 0.00022% (BSE)
STT — Currency FuturesNil
Stamp Duty — Currency Futures0.0001% on buy
Transaction Charges — Currency Options0.035% (NSE) & 0.001% (BSE)
STT — Currency OptionsNil
Stamp Duty — Currency Options0.0001% on buy
SEBI Turnover ChargesRs.10/ Crore (All Segment)
DP ChargesRs.13.5 per Scrip only on Sell
GST18% on (Brokerage + SEBI + Transaction charges)

ICICI Direct trading platforms

ICICI Direct provides mobile app access, web trading, desktop terminal access and algo trading support to support order placement, portfolio tracking, and market monitoring. The broker also supports algorithmic trading, allowing advanced users to automate strategies through its platform. Basket trading is available, enabling investors to place multiple orders in a single transaction.

Key platform features include: watchlists, real-time updates, portfolio tracking, online mutual fund access, research reports, global indices tracking, customised recommendations, stock tips, interactive charts, live market tracking, secure platform controls.

ICICI Direct — Trading Platforms

Trading PlatformICICI Direct
Android App ICICI Direct Android App Link
iOS App ICICI Direct iOS App Link
Web Trading Platform ICICI Direct Web Trading Link
Trading TerminalAvailable
Algo Trading PlatformAvailable
Basket Trading PlatformAvailable
Mutual Fund Investment PlatformAvailable
Digital Gold Investment PlatformAvailable
Bonds Investment PlatformAvailable

ICICI Direct offers

ICICI Direct highlights the following offers and benefits to attract and retain investors. These can help reduce overall trading costs or improve the value of the account relationship.

ICICI Direct — Offers

OfferICICI Direct
Free Account OpeningYes
Free BrokerageYes
Flat BrokerageYes, Limited
Flexible Brokerage PlansYes
Happy Trading HoursYes
Free F&O TradingYes
Free Research ReportsYes
Free Trading CallsYes
Referral OffersRs.500 per Client
Margin Funding / PledgingYes
Brokerage CashbackYes

ICICI Direct features

ICICI Direct highlights features such as watchlists, real-time updates, portfolio tracking, online mutual fund access, research reports and global indices tracking. These tools support research, market monitoring, order execution, and day-to-day portfolio management for both first-time and active market participants.

ICICI Direct — Trading Features

Trading FeatureICICI Direct
Wishlist / Watchlist Yes
Real-Time Updates Yes
Portfolio Details Yes
Online MF Buy Yes
Research Reports Yes
Global Indices Yes
Customised Recommendations Yes
Stock Tips Yes
Interactive Charts Yes
Live Market Yes
Multi Profile Management No
Robust & Secure Platform Yes

ICICI Direct research and advisory

ICICI Direct provides the following research and advisory services to help investors make more informed trading and investment decisions.

ICICI Direct — Research & Advisory

Research ServiceICICI Direct
Fundamental ReportsYes
Research ReportsYes
Company ReportsYes
Annual ReportsYes
IPO ReportsYes
Technical ReportsYes
Stock TipsYes
Daily Top Stock PicksYes
Daily Market ReviewYes
Monthly ReviewYes
Weekly ReviewYes
Relationship ManagerYes

Services

ICICI Direct provides services that may include Demat services, trading services, intraday trading, F&O trading, IPO access and 3-in-1 account support. Depending on the products enabled, investors may also get access to equity delivery, equity intraday, equity futures, equity options, commodity futures, commodity options and currency futures from the same ecosystem, making it easier to manage both trading and long-term investing requirements.

ICICI Direct — Services Provided

ServiceICICI Direct
Demat Services Yes
Trading Services Yes
Intraday Services Yes
F&O Services Yes
IPO Services Yes
3-in-1 Account Yes
Stock Research Yes
Stock Recommendations Yes
Trading Education / Institution Yes, iLearn
Share Pledging Yes
PMS or PCG Yes
NRI Services Yes

Products

ICICI Direct offers a range of investment products including stocks, futures & options, currency trading, commodity trading, mutual funds, digital gold and bonds, enabling users to explore multiple asset classes from a single platform. The platform also supports long-term wealth creation through mutual funds, allowing investors to diversify and reduce risk exposure. Digital gold investment is also available as an alternative asset class on the platform.

ICICI Direct — Products Provided

ProductICICI Direct
Equity Delivery Yes
Equity Intraday Yes
Equity Option Yes
Equity Future Yes
Commodity Option Yes
Commodity Future Yes
Currency Option Yes
Currency Future Yes
Foreign Stocks No
Mutual Funds Yes
Banking Yes
Insurance Yes
Corporate Bonds Yes
Government Bonds Yes
Digital Gold No

ICICI Direct partner programs

ICICI Direct offers partnership opportunities for individuals and organisations looking to associate with the broker and earn income by referring clients or operating as a sub-broker.

ICICI Direct — Partner Programs

ProgramICICI Direct
Sub-broker ProgramYes
Partner ProgramYes
Referral ProgramYes

Customer support

ICICI Direct provides customer support through trading desk support, dedicated dealer assistance, call support, email support and website support. The broker operates Available branches across India for in-person assistance. A dedicated dealer service is also available for clients requiring personalised trade execution support.

Customer Support of ICICI Direct

Support ChannelICICI Direct
Trading SupportAvailable, Free
Dedicated DealerAvailable, Free
Call Support1860-123-1122
Email Support[email protected]
Website Support Website Link
Facebook Support Facebook Support Link
Twitter / X Support Twitter Support Link
Telegram Support Telegram Support Link
Branches / OfficesAvailable

Customer complaints

The BSE and NSE regularly track and publish broker complaint data as part of maintaining investor protection standards. The table below shows the complaint record for ICICI Direct, which can serve as an indicator of service quality and grievance resolution effectiveness.

ICICI Direct — Complaints Data

MetricICICI Direct
Total Complaints Lodged402
Total Complaints Resolved337
% of Resolved Complaints83.83%
Non-Actionable Complaints16
% of Non-Actionable Complaints3.98%

User experience: buying stocks with ICICI Direct

ICICI Direct can be evaluated through its onboarding costs, platform access, pricing structure, product range, and support options. Based on the broker data available on this page, here is a summary of the likely trading experience.

  • Account Opening Experience: ICICI Direct lists account opening charges of Free and Demat AMC of Rs.300 per Year, so investors can estimate onboarding costs upfront.
  • Trading Platforms: The broker provides mobile app access, web trading, desktop terminal access and algo trading support for market access and order execution.
  • Brokerage Transparency: Key charges include equity intraday brokerage of Rs.20 per Trade and equity delivery charges of 0.27% of Total Transaction. The broker follows a Neo Plan plan with subscription charges of Zero.
  • Investment Options: Available products may include stocks, futures & options, currency trading, commodity trading, mutual funds, digital gold and bonds.
  • Research & Tools: The broker highlights watchlists, real-time updates, portfolio tracking, online mutual fund access, research reports and global indices tracking to support research, monitoring, and execution.
  • Customer Support: Support options listed for ICICI Direct include trading desk support, dedicated dealer assistance, call support, email support and website support.
  • Overall Rating: ICICI Direct carries an overall rating of 9.65 / 10 based on technology, charges, products, and customer experience metrics.
  • Overall Fit: ICICI Direct may appeal to investors looking for equity delivery, equity intraday, equity futures, equity options, commodity futures, commodity options, currency futures and currency options with access to Demat services, trading services, intraday trading, F&O trading, IPO access and 3-in-1 account support.

Frequently Asked Questions


Who is the founder of ICICI Direct?
ICICI Direct lists Vjay Chandok as its founder.

What type of broker is ICICI Direct?
ICICI Direct is listed as a Public Discount Broker and provides access to equity delivery, equity intraday, equity futures, equity options, commodity futures, commodity options and currency futures.

What are the account opening and AMC charges of ICICI Direct?
ICICI Direct lists account opening charges of Free and annual maintenance charges of Rs.300 per Year.

Is ICICI Direct reliable for trading and Demat services?
ICICI Direct is profiled as a Public Discount Broker established in 1994 with headquarters in Mumbai. Review its brokerage, platform access, support channels, and complaint data before opening an account.

How can I open a Demat account with ICICI Direct?
You can start the account opening process with ICICI Direct by completing its online KYC flow and submitting the required PAN, Aadhaar, bank, and signature details.

What trading platforms does ICICI Direct offer?
ICICI Direct offers mobile app access, web trading, desktop terminal access and algo trading support for accessing equity delivery, equity intraday, equity futures, equity options, commodity futures, commodity options, currency futures and currency options and related investment services.

What brokerage plan does ICICI Direct offer?
ICICI Direct follows a Neo Plan brokerage structure with subscription charges of Zero.

What segments does ICICI Direct support?
ICICI Direct supports trading in equity delivery, equity intraday, equity futures, equity options, commodity futures, commodity options, currency futures and currency options.

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