Last updated: 19 October 2026 · By Analyst, Platizio Global
As of 12:35 pm IST on 19 October 2026: yes on Upstox and on Groww (still rolling out), partly on Zerodha (web-only beta), and on Angel One only through a referral to Vested, a US broker.
Key takeaways
- US$1,000 buy, 19 October 2026: Groww US$1.19, Zerodha US$1.23, Upstox US$3.00; Angel One publishes no rate.
- US$100 buy: Groww US$1.19 (US$1 minimum brokerage), Zerodha US$0.13, Upstox US$0.30.
- At Zerodha, the banks’ 0.5–1.2% currency markup exceeds the 0.1% brokerage.
- The US$250,000 Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) limit and the ₹10 lakh threshold for 20% tax collected at source (TCS) cover all your remittances each financial year.
The four apps compared (19 October 2026)
In GIFT City, India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), a Global Access Provider (GAP) authorised by the regulator, IFSCA, routes orders to a US broker.
| Groww | Zerodha | Angel One | Upstox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Rolling out (reported 29 Sep 2026) | Public web beta (19 Oct 2026) | Vested referral (US broker) | Live (7 Sep 2026) |
| GAP; US broker | Groww IFSC (IFSCA/GAP/BD/2026-27/013); Alpaca, account in your name | BSE’s India INX Global Access; ViewTrade, on your behalf | Vested (VF Securities); Angel One’s GAP IFSCA/GAP/BD/2026-2027/016, no product listed | Upstox’s IFSC branch (IFSCA/GAP/BD/2026-27/17); Alpaca |
| Brokerage and fees | 0.1% (min US$1) + 18% GST | 0.1% (max US$10) + 18% GST + 0.005% IFSCA fee | Not published (Vested Basic: 0.25%, max US$35) | 0.25% (max US$25) + 18% GST + 0.005% IFSCA fee; first 30 days free |
| Minimums (all four offer fractions) | US$1 order | US$1 order; US$50 first transfer, US$100 after | Not stated | US$1 order; US$100 deposit |
| Non-resident Indians (NRIs) | Not stated | No | Yes | Yes |
| How to enable | In app | account.zerodha.com; enabled in batches | Via Vested; KYC 1–3 business days | In app |
Groww: staged rollout
Groww had begun adding US stocks by 29 September 2026, with all users due to get them “over the next month” (Free Press Journal, citing Moneycontrol); no completion was announced by 19 October.
Zerodha: public web beta
Zerodha announced a public beta on kite-beta.zerodha.com at 11:55 am IST on 19 October 2026; withdrawals were promised “within 2 days”. Its product page says “live now”, offers systematic investment plans (SIPs) and includes regulatory fees in brokerage; its announcement and guide, followed here, list the IFSCA fee separately and SIPs as upcoming. Funding: net banking from HDFC, ICICI, IDFC FIRST, Axis or Kotak, up to three working days.
Angel One: Vested now, GIFT City pending
Angel One’s US-stocks page still says “Powered by Vested”; its 15 October 2026 results reported GAP authorisation, with no launch date. One disclaimer cites the “IFSCA Global Access route”, but with no GIFT City pricing published, this article treats it as pending.
Upstox: live since 7 September
Upstox charges US$0 for deposits and withdrawals, and says both typically take 3–5 business days.
Costs at US$100 and US$1,000
| Buy | Groww | Zerodha | Upstox | Angel One (assumed: Vested Basic, no GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US$100 | US$1.19 | US$0.13 | US$0.30 | US$0.25 (assumed) |
| US$1,000 | US$1.19 | US$1.23 | US$3.00 | US$2.50 (assumed) |
Buy-side fees published on 19 October 2026: brokerage, 18% GST and any listed 0.005% IFSCA fee (US$0.01 minimum at Zerodha; Groww lists none but rounds its CAT fee up to US$0.01).
At ₹95.0194 (RBI reference rate, 16 October 2026), a US$1,000 buy on Zerodha costs ₹117 fees (US$1.00 brokerage + US$0.18 GST + US$0.05 IFSCA) + ₹475–₹1,140 bank markup (0.5–1.2%) + ₹171 GST on conversion = ₹763–₹1,428 all-in (0.80–1.50%), before wire fees; a US$100 buy, ₹105–₹171 (1.1–1.8%). Groww and Upstox publish no markup.
Rules on every app
- LRS: US$250,000 per financial year, GIFT City included; no margin or derivatives.
- TCS: banks collect 20% on remittances above ₹10 lakh a financial year (section 394, Income-tax Act, 2025): about ₹19,000 on a further US$1,000, credited against income tax (TCS explained).
- Tax: 12.5% plus surcharge and cess on gains after more than 24 months, slab rates before; 25% US withholding on dividends with a W-8BEN (US treaty form), creditable in India (US stock tax guide).
- Schedule FA (foreign assets in your return): report every US holding at any time in the calendar year (Schedule FA penalties).
- Estate tax: up to 40% on US holdings above US$60,000 at death.
- Hours: 7:00 pm–1:30 am IST until 30 October 2026; 8:00 pm–2:30 am IST from 2 November (US market timings in IST); T+1 settlement.
Other apps for US stocks
Brokerage on 19 October 2026; full comparison of US-stock apps.
- Appreciate: GIFT City; 0.05% (min ₹5) + ₹1 per unit or ticker.
- Dhan: GIFT City; 0.25%.
- INDmoney: GIFT City; 0.25% (max US$25) + GST, or US$0 on its “Direct Access (NSEIX)” route.
- Platizio Global: GIFT City (accounts with ViewTrade International IFSC Private Limited); 0.29% (min US$1) + 18% IGST, no published cap; by the method above, US$1.19 on US$100 (same as Groww) and US$3.47 on US$1,000 (more than Groww, Zerodha or Upstox).
- Vested: US broker; 0.25% Basic (max US$35).
Sources
- Reserve Bank of India: Master Direction – Liberalised Remittance Scheme — https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=10192
- Income Tax Department: Section 394, Income-tax Act, 2025 — https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/w/section-394-6
- Groww: US stocks pricing — https://groww.in/pricing/us-stocks
- Groww: Invest in US Stocks & ETFs from India — https://groww.in/us-stocks
- Groww IFSC: Mandatory disclosure — https://groww.in/pages/groww-ifsc-mandatory-disclosure
- Zerodha (TradingQnA, Zerodha Feature Announcements): US Stocks & ETFs on Kite: Beta is live (19 October 2026, 11:55 am IST; edited 12:14 pm) — https://tradingqna.com/t/us-stocks-etfs-on-kite-beta-is-live/198922
- Zerodha: Investing in US stocks through Zerodha, a complete guide (published 14 October, updated 19 October 2026) — https://support.zerodha.com/category/trading-and-markets/general-kite/global-investing/articles/global-investing-guide
- Zerodha: Invest in US Stocks & ETFs from India — https://zerodha.com/us-stocks/
- Angel One: Press release, Q2 FY27 business highlights (15 October 2026) — https://w3assets.angelone.in/wp-content/uploads/pdf/1792067090823-Covering-Press-Release.pdf.pdf
- Angel One: Invest in US stocks via Vested — https://www.angelone.in/us-stocks-vested
- Upstox: US stocks — https://upstox.com/us-stocks/
- Platizio Global: Pricing — https://platizioglobal.com/pricing
Platizio Global is operated by Platizio Services LLP, an AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor. Accounts are opened and held with ViewTrade International IFSC Private Limited, which is regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority in GIFT City. Platizio is a referral partner, not a broker, investment adviser or research analyst, and may receive remuneration from ViewTrade. This article is for education only. It is not investment, tax or legal advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security or to use any platform. Platforms and fees are shown for comparison only and are not recommendatory. Investments in US stocks and ETFs are subject to market risk, currency risk and tax implications; past performance is not indicative of future results, and returns are not guaranteed. Prices, fees, tax rates and rules are as of 19 October 2026 and can change; check them with a chartered accountant before you act.