How to Open an Upstox Demat and Trading Account

Opening a Demat account is the first practical step for most Indians who want to buy shares, ETFs or other exchange-traded securities. Upstox combines a Demat account, a trading account and an investing platform in one online onboarding journey.

This guide explains the complete process for a resident Indian adult. It also covers Upstox’s main investing and trading features, documents, standard charges, benefits, limitations and safety checks.

Information status: Features and charges were checked on 29 July 2026 at 5:32 PM IST. Broker tariffs, promotional offers and product availability can change. Always review the live pricing page and the tariff sheet shown before you e-sign.

Key Takeaways

• A Demat account stores your securities, while a trading account lets you place buy and sell orders. Upstox links both with your verified bank account.
• Upstox lists standard account opening as free and waives AMC for the first year for eligible newly onboarded customers, but brokerage, DP charges, taxes and other service charges may still apply.
• Keep your PAN, Aadhaar-linked mobile number, bank details and a live selfie ready. Income proof is additionally required if you want to activate derivatives such as F&O.

Affiliate disclosure: The account-opening button in this article contains a placeholder for an affiliate link. After the author replaces it with a valid link, the author may earn a commission when an eligible reader opens an account through it. Your applicable Upstox tariff is determined by Upstox, not by this article. Compare brokers and choose only if the platform suits your needs.

Open an Upstox Demat and Trading Account

What Is Upstox?

Upstox is a technology-led Indian investing and stockbroking platform. Its app and web platforms are designed for two broad groups:

• Investors who want to buy shares, ETFs, mutual funds, IPOs and fixed-income products.
• Traders who need live market data, advanced charts, option analytics and faster order-entry tools.

Upstox Securities Private Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of RKSV Securities India Private Limited. The company’s official page identifies Ravi Kumar, Kavitha Subramanian and Shrini Viswanath as its co-founders.

More importantly, investors should verify a broker’s regulatory identity rather than relying only on a familiar brand name. Upstox publishes SEBI registration number INZ000315837, NSE member code 13942 and CDSL registration IN-DP-761-2024. The NSE member directory and CDSL Depository Participant database independently list Upstox Securities Private Limited and its registrations. Upstox also states that it is a trading member of NSE, BSE and MCX.

Upstox began as a discount-broking business and has developed into a broader financial platform. Its current product menu includes investing, active trading, fixed income, NPS, insurance and other financial services. A February 2026 Economic Times report also described the company’s expansion into commodities, margin trading and mutual funds.

Demat Account vs Trading Account vs Bank Account

Think of these three accounts as a connected system:

Account	Simple meaning	What it does
Bank account	Your money source	Sends money to the trading account and receives withdrawals, sale proceeds and eligible payouts
Trading account	Your market-order counter	Lets you place buy and sell orders on supported exchanges and segments
Demat account	Your digital securities locker	Holds eligible shares, ETFs, bonds and other securities electronically in your name

When you buy a delivery share, the order is placed through the trading account. After exchange settlement, the share is credited to your Demat account. When you sell that holding, the security is debited from the Demat account and the sale proceeds flow through the trading and settlement system.

This distinction is consistent across the NSE first-time investor guide and Zerodha Varsity’s explanation of market intermediaries. Upstox acts as the stockbroker and as a Depository Participant connected to CDSL.

Main Upstox Features

The following list covers the principal retail features visible on Upstox as of the verification date. Small interface changes, offers and product eligibility can change more frequently.

Features for investors

1. Indian stocks and ETFs

Users can invest in shares listed on supported NSE and BSE segments and explore equity, gold, debt, international and other ETF categories. Stock pages include market data, charts, financial information, news and discovery lists.

Upstox also highlights stock checklists and analyst buy, sell or hold views. Treat these as research inputs—not as a guarantee or a substitute for your own analysis.

2. Direct mutual funds and SIPs

The platform offers direct mutual fund plans and recurring SIPs. Direct plans do not include distributor commission in their expense ratio, although the fund’s own expense ratio and other scheme-level costs still apply.

Upstox provides fund discovery lists, risk-and-return information, SIP calculators and ready-made mutual fund portfolios. A ready-made list is a starting point for research, not personalised investment advice.

3. Stock SIP

A stock SIP lets you schedule recurring purchases of selected shares. It can encourage discipline, but unlike a diversified mutual fund, repeatedly buying one company can create concentration risk.

4. IPO applications

Users can view current and upcoming IPOs, check company information and subscription data, pre-apply where available and submit an application using the supported payment process. Upstox lists zero commission for IPO applications, but an application does not guarantee allotment or listing gains.

5. Fixed-income and other financial products

The current Upstox ecosystem displays products such as fixed deposits, government securities, Treasury Bills, bonds, non-convertible debentures, gold-related investments and NPS. It also provides access to insurance and selected lending services.

These products do not all work like listed shares. Their issuer, liquidity, lock-in, taxation, default risk, regulator and custody structure can differ. Read the product document before investing.

6. Wealth tracking

The investor mode includes portfolio tracking and may let users connect bank accounts or import eligible external mutual fund holdings. This can provide a broader wealth view, subject to consent, supported institutions and data availability.

7. Discovery, alerts and education

Users get watchlists, price alerts, market news, calculators and educational material. UpLearn and the Upstox Learning Center cover investing, personal finance, fundamental analysis, technical analysis and derivatives. Educational content is useful, but it cannot remove market risk.

The Upstox investor product page provides the current overview of its investor mode, wealth tracker, stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and IPO tools.

Features for traders

1. Multiple trading segments

Upstox supports eligible equity delivery and intraday orders, stock and index futures and options, currency derivatives and commodity derivatives. Segment access depends on regulations, client eligibility and activation. Income proof is needed for derivatives.

2. Mobile, web and specialist interfaces

The Upstox app and web platform support regular order placement. Upstox Pro, TradingView integration, Chart 360 and the Scalper interface add tools for technical analysis and active execution.

Available charting features include multi-chart layouts, indicators, drawing tools, shorter timeframes, chart-based order entry, alerts, historical data and strategy testing features. Some advanced functions may require Upstox Plus or another applicable plan.

3. Option-chain and strategy tools

The Upstox F&O platform includes a customisable option chain and analytics such as Greeks, implied volatility, put-call ratio, open interest, max pain and India VIX. Strategy tools can show payoff graphs, risk-reward estimates and multi-leg structures.

These tools help organise information; they do not predict the market with certainty. Multi-leg options can involve large or theoretically unlimited losses, depending on the strategy.

4. Order and execution tools

Depending on the segment and platform, available tools include:

• Market, limit, stop-loss limit and stop-loss market orders
• Good-Till-Triggered orders
• Cover and OCO-style risk-managed orders where available
• Basket orders for multi-order execution
• Order slicing for quantities above exchange freeze limits
• Ready-made option strategies and strategy-builder orders
• Trailing stop-loss features on supported interfaces
• Orders placed from charts or the option chain

Exchange rules, liquidity and trigger conditions still determine whether an order is accepted or executed. A GTT trigger does not guarantee the desired fill price.

5. MTF and margin pledge

The Margin Trading Facility allows an eligible user to buy selected shares by paying part of the value while Upstox funds the rest. Users may also pledge eligible holdings for trading collateral.

Both facilities create additional cost and risk. Interest or daily funding charges, pledge fees, margin shortfalls and forced square-offs can turn a small adverse move into a larger loss. MTF is borrowing, not a discount.

6. Trading and market-data APIs

Developers and systematic traders can connect approved applications to Upstox’s trading and market-data APIs. The API suite includes orders, portfolio data, quotes, historical data, live feeds and option information. API access may be free, but brokerage, exchange rules, rate limits and algorithmic-trading regulations still apply. See the current Upstox API page before building an integration.

Selling-authorisation and account-control features

For delivery sells, a non-DDPI customer generally authorises the debit of securities using a CDSL TPIN and OTP. A customer who voluntarily enables DDPI can allow eligible debits without entering TPIN for each supported sale. Read the DDPI scope carefully; never share your login password, OTP or TPIN with anyone.

Upstox also provides account statements, holdings and position views, P&L reports, contract notes, nominee management, fund transfers and support through its app or help centre.

Optional Upstox Plus plan

Upstox Plus is an optional plan aimed at active traders. The current Plus page describes features such as deeper market views, tick-by-tick order insights, shorter chart timeframes, one-tap chart trading, more alerts and watchlists, selected API enhancements, preferential rates and priority support.

The trade-off matters: the published Plus tariff can charge up to ₹30 per order, compared with up to ₹20 per order on the Basic plan. Do not activate Plus merely because it sounds premium. Estimate whether its tools and preferential service rates are worth the higher per-order brokerage for your usage.

Who Can Open an Upstox Account?

This article’s online process is intended for an individual resident Indian who is at least 18 years old and can complete digital KYC.

Upstox also has separate documentation or processes for:

• NRIs using eligible NRE or NRO banking arrangements
• Minors whose account is operated by a guardian
• Hindu Undivided Families
• Companies, partnerships and other non-individual entities
• Joint holders

Do not use the resident-individual flow if you fall into one of these categories. Documentation, permitted segments, repatriation rules, fees and onboarding methods can be different.

Documents and Details to Keep Ready

SEBI states that KYC is required when an account-based relationship begins and that PAN is a key identification number for securities-market transactions. CDSL also requires core KYC attributes such as name, PAN, address, mobile number, email and income range.

Requirement	Why it is needed
PAN	Mandatory securities-market identifier and tax/KYC check
Aadhaar or another accepted address document	Identity/address verification according to the applicable KYC route
Mobile number linked with Aadhaar	Receives OTP for DigiLocker access or Aadhaar e-sign in the standard online flow
Active email address	Receives account communication, statements, forms and contract notes
Bank account number and IFSC	Links the verified bank account used for deposits and withdrawals
Cancelled cheque, bank statement or passbook image, if requested	Verifies the account holder’s name and bank details
Live selfie or in-person verification image	Confirms that the applicant is a real, present individual
Signature image, if requested	Records the applicant’s signature for account documents
Income proof for F&O, currency or commodity derivatives	Supports derivatives-segment activation under applicable rules
Nominee details and ID proof, if adding a nominee	Records who may claim securities after the account holder’s death

Common income-proof options include a recent bank statement, salary slip, Form 16, ITR acknowledgement or another document accepted in the onboarding flow. Upstox’s document guide and Moneycontrol’s 2026 Demat guide both confirm the core PAN, Aadhaar, bank-verification and digital-KYC process.

Step-by-Step Upstox Account-Opening Process

Step 1: Start from the account-opening link

Use the account-opening button below after checking that it takes you to an official Upstox-controlled page. Confirm the website address before entering personal data.

Start Upstox Account Opening

Step 2: Enter and verify your mobile number

Enter your active Indian mobile number and verify it with the OTP sent to you. Use your own number because it will be connected to important account alerts and authentication.

Step 3: Provide PAN and basic personal details

Enter your PAN, date of birth, email address and other requested information exactly as they appear in your official records. Name or date-of-birth differences across PAN, Aadhaar and bank records can delay KYC.

Step 4: Complete digital KYC

The journey may retrieve verified details from an existing KYC record or ask you to authorise DigiLocker. Follow the on-screen Aadhaar and address-verification steps. If the registered mobile number cannot receive Aadhaar OTPs, the fully digital route may not complete and an alternative process may be required.

Step 5: Choose the segments you genuinely need

Equity investing is enough for many beginners. Activate F&O, currency or commodity segments only if you understand leverage, settlement, margin and loss risk. Upload acceptable income proof when the onboarding flow requests it.

Step 6: Link and verify your bank account

Enter the account number and IFSC carefully. The bank account should normally be in the applicant’s name. Upload a cancelled cheque, bank statement or passbook copy if automated verification is unavailable or the platform asks for proof.

Step 7: Complete live identity verification

Allow camera access and take a clear live photograph in good lighting. Remove anything that hides your face and follow prompts such as blinking or positioning your face inside the frame.

Step 8: Add a nominee or record your opt-out

Enter the nominee’s details and upload the requested ID proof, or explicitly choose the available opt-out option. Adding a trusted nominee can simplify transmission for your family, although nomination does not replace a properly prepared will.

Step 9: Review declarations and e-sign

Read the account-opening form, rights and obligations, tariff sheet, risk disclosure and voluntary authorisations. Check the selected trading segments and charges. Then complete Aadhaar-based e-sign using the OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Do not sign a blank form or accept an authorisation you do not understand. This advice is also included in the NSE investor do’s and don’ts.

Step 10: Wait for verification and activation

Upstox checks the application and supporting records. If something is missing or mismatched, respond only through the official app, website or verified support channel. Activation time depends on successful KYC, bank verification, exchange registration and whether additional documents are required.

After approval, set up your login security and verify:

• Your name, PAN and contact details
• Trading segments that were activated
• Bank account and nominee status
• Demat Beneficial Owner ID and Client Master Report
• Brokerage plan and tariff sheet
• Contract-note and statement delivery preferences

Upstox Charges You Should Understand

The table below summarises the standard Basic-plan charges most relevant to a new resident-individual customer. It is not a substitute for the live tariff.

Item	Published standard charge checked on 29 July 2026
Account opening	₹0 on the public tariff; Upstox separately notes that an account-processing fee may be shown during onboarding, so check the final screen
Equity delivery brokerage	Up to ₹20 per executed order; the public calculator displays ₹20 per order, while plan details describe a percentage-based lower amount for very small orders
Equity intraday brokerage	₹20 or 0.1% per executed order, whichever is lower
Equity futures brokerage	₹20 or 0.05% per executed order, whichever is lower
Equity options brokerage	₹20 per executed order
Currency and commodity brokerage	Up to ₹20 per executed order under the Basic plan; verify the instrument-specific calculation
Mutual fund and IPO commission	₹0 platform commission
Demat AMC for eligible new customers	₹0 for the first year
Regular non-BSDA AMC after the free period	₹300 plus GST per year, currently ₹354 including 18% GST
BSDA AMC for holdings up to ₹4 lakh	₹0
BSDA AMC for holdings above ₹4 lakh and up to ₹10 lakh	Up to ₹100 plus GST per year, currently ₹118 including 18% GST on Upstox
Holdings above ₹10 lakh	Not eligible for BSDA; regular AMC may apply
DP charge on equity-delivery sells	The official Upstox tariff currently lists ₹20 plus GST per scrip per day; not charged on delivery buys, intraday or F&O
Pledging and unpledging	₹20 plus GST per scrip on the published tariff
Basic-plan call and trade	₹75 plus GST
Basic-plan auto square-off	₹75 plus GST
Basic-plan instant withdrawal	₹20 plus GST
Net-banking payment-gateway transfer	₹7 including GST; other transfer methods can have different treatment

Apart from brokerage, a trade may include STT or CTT, exchange transaction charges, SEBI turnover fees, GST, stamp duty and applicable investor-protection charges. These are based on the segment, side of the trade, turnover and current rules.

The figures were cross-checked against the official Upstox pricing page, Upstox brokerage calculator, the CDSL BSDA guidance and an independent 2026 Upstox tariff review. Some third-party pages still show older DP-charge component splits; the current official Upstox tariff and your contract note should be treated as the source of truth.

A simple cost example

Suppose you use the Basic plan to buy ₹20,000 of one stock as a delivery order and later sell the full holding in one order on another day.

• Delivery-buy brokerage: ₹20
• Delivery-sell brokerage: ₹20
• Officially listed DP charge on the delivery sell: ₹20 before GST
• Known brokerage-plus-DP subtotal: ₹60 before GST and statutory or exchange charges

The final contract-note amount will be higher because applicable taxes and regulatory charges are added. This example also shows why “free account opening” does not mean every investment transaction is free.

Benefits of Opening an Account with Upstox

• One platform for investing and active trading
• Paperless resident-individual onboarding
• Separate investor and trader experiences
• Broad mix of shares, ETFs, mutual funds, IPOs and fixed-income products
• Advanced charting, option analytics and execution tools
• Direct mutual funds and zero platform commission on mutual funds and IPOs
• Developer APIs for eligible custom integrations
• CDSL-based electronic custody and regulated exchange access
• Educational courses, webinars, market news and calculators

Limitations and Trade-Offs

Equity delivery is not normally brokerage-free

The standard Basic tariff charges up to ₹20 per executed delivery order. A temporary zero-brokerage promotion should not be confused with permanent pricing.

AMC may apply after the first year

Eligible new customers get first-year AMC relief, but regular non-BSDA customers can pay ₹300 plus GST after that. Eligible small portfolios may receive BSDA pricing.

Delivery selling can attract both brokerage and DP charges

The DP charge is separate from sell-side brokerage and statutory charges. Frequent delivery selling across multiple scrips can therefore add up.

The advanced interface can encourage overtrading

Fast charts, ready-made strategies and leverage are tools—not an edge by themselves. More trades mean more opportunities for costs, slippage and mistakes.

MTF and F&O increase risk

Borrowing or trading derivatives can create losses much larger than the initial amount you expected to risk. Beginners should not activate a segment simply because the button is available.

Product availability and terms can change

Not every financial product shown in the app is a security held in the same Demat account. Insurance, loans, FDs, bonds and third-party offerings have their own issuer, eligibility and risk terms.

A regulated broker does not guarantee performance

SEBI registration and exchange membership establish a regulatory framework. They do not guarantee platform uptime, investment returns, IPO allotment or protection from market loss.

Common Account-Opening Mistakes

1. Using mismatched records: Ensure your name and date of birth match across PAN, Aadhaar and bank documents.
2. Entering someone else’s bank account: Use an eligible account in the applicant’s name unless the specific account type permits otherwise.
3. Activating every trading segment: Select only the segments you understand and intend to use.
4. Ignoring the tariff sheet: Read brokerage, AMC, DP, square-off, pledge and withdrawal charges before e-signing.
5. Treating a promotion as permanent: Save the offer terms and expiry conditions.
6. Skipping nomination without thought: Add an appropriate nominee or make a conscious opt-out decision.
7. Sharing OTP, TPIN or passwords: Upstox, CDSL, NSE and SEBI do not require you to reveal these to a caller.
8. Opening through an unverified page: Check the domain and app publisher before submitting PAN or Aadhaar information.
9. Assuming account approval is automatic: KYC, bank or exchange checks can require corrections.
10. Starting with leveraged trades: Learn order types and risk management before considering F&O or MTF.

Is Upstox Suitable for You?

Upstox may suit you if you want:

• A single app for both long-term investing and active trading
• Direct mutual funds, IPO access and multiple asset categories
• Detailed charts and options tools
• A published maximum per-order brokerage model
• API access or specialist trading interfaces

You should compare alternatives if your priority is:

• Permanent zero brokerage on equity delivery
• Permanent zero AMC regardless of BSDA eligibility
• A relationship manager or branch-heavy full-service model
• A very simple interface with minimal trading prompts
• A product or exchange segment that Upstox does not currently support

The “best” broker is the one whose regulation, reliability, products, service and total cost match your actual investing behaviour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Upstox Demat and trading account free to open?

The current public tariff lists account opening at ₹0. Upstox also states that an account-processing fee may be displayed during onboarding, so review the final charge screen before e-signing.

Does Upstox charge AMC?

Eligible newly onboarded customers receive zero AMC for the first year. After that, the published non-BSDA AMC is ₹300 plus GST per year. Eligible BSDA accounts receive lower, holding-value-based AMC under SEBI rules.

Do I need a Demat account for mutual fund SIPs?

Not necessarily. Mutual funds can also be held in statement-of-account form. A Demat account is required for holding exchange-traded shares and ETFs and for receiving IPO shares.

Can I have more than one Demat account?

Yes, Indian investors can have multiple Demat accounts, subject to KYC and provider rules. However, having another Demat account can affect BSDA eligibility because BSDA is designed for qualifying investors with only one eligible account as sole or first holder across depositories.

Is income proof required for normal stock investing?

PAN, KYC and bank verification are central requirements for a regular cash-equity account. Income proof is normally requested when activating derivatives such as F&O, currency or commodity segments.

Can I open an account if my Aadhaar is not linked to my mobile number?

The standard DigiLocker and Aadhaar e-sign route relies on OTP authentication. If you cannot receive the OTP, contact official Upstox support for the available alternative onboarding method.

Does opening an Upstox account guarantee IPO allotment or investment profit?

No. Account opening only gives access to supported products. IPO allotment follows the issue and exchange process, while all market-linked investments can gain or lose value.

This article is only for information purposes and is not investment advice. Before investing, do your own research.