Independent. We compare, we do not sell. Some platforms pay us a referral fee; scores are computed from published weights. Capital at risk: read the warning
TradingExpert
Your country

2 regulated investing platforms in India (2026)

Compare licensed platforms available to residents of India. Independent scores, transparent fees, no account required.

Advertising disclosure

Some platforms on this page pay TradingExpert a referral fee when you open an account through our links. Compensation never affects a platform's score or the price you pay. Order on the page is determined by the score unless you change the sort. Full disclosure.

Comparison table

# Fees Regulated by Assets CFD loss Actions
1 Lumen SecuritiesMobile brokerage 8.6 None US$0 commission on US stocks, 0.03% on HK/SG MAS, ASIC, SFC StocksETFsOptionsFunds โ€” Visit platform
2 Tidewater InvestOnline brokerage & robo-advisor 8.5 None C$0 on ETFs, C$4.95 on stocks, 0.4% managed CIRO, FINRA, CNBV StocksETFsOptionsBonds+1 โ€” Visit platform

In detail: every platform for India

#1

Lumen Securities

Mobile brokerage ยท Singapore

8.6 Excellent

Lumen Securities feels like a fintech app first and a broker second, in the best sense: onboarding takes minutes and the pricing is about as low as regulated equity trading gets.

India: served under the MAS licence (Singapore), also authorised by ASIC, SFC. Minimum deposit None. US$0 commission on US stocks, 0.03% on HK/SG.

Pros

  • Very low cost for US and Asian equities
  • Slick app with real-time quotes
  • Money-market sweep pays interest on cash

Cons

  • Web platform is a thin version of the app
  • No forex or commodities
  • Support is chat-only
What we found in testing

Who it suits

Investors in Asia-Pacific who want US and regional stocks without paying per-trade commissions, and who are comfortable doing everything on a phone.

Costs in practice

US trades are free; exchange and regulatory fees are passed through at cost. Asian markets carry a tiny percentage fee. Currency conversion is 0.2%, competitive for the region.

Platform and tools

The app includes an options chain, a stock screener, earnings alerts and a paper-trading mode. Level-2 data is a paid add-on.

Safety

As a MAS capital-markets licensee, Lumen must keep client money in trust and file audited reports. Securities are held in omnibus accounts at a top-tier custodian.

#2

Tidewater Invest

Online brokerage & robo-advisor ยท Toronto, Canada

8.5 Excellent

Tidewater Invest is a sensible default for Canadian residents: local registration, registered accounts and a hands-off option if you do not want to pick securities yourself.

India: served under the CIRO licence (Canada), also authorised by FINRA, CNBV. Minimum deposit None. C$0 on ETFs, C$4.95 on stocks, 0.4% managed.

Pros

  • Supports Canadian tax-advantaged accounts
  • Choice of self-directed or managed
  • Strong phone support

Cons

  • Stock commissions are not zero
  • Limited coverage outside North America
  • App lags the web platform in features
What we found in testing

Who it suits

Canadians and, through partner entities, US and Mexican residents who want a broker that understands their tax wrappers.

Costs in practice

ETF purchases are free, which makes a passive portfolio nearly costless. Stocks cost C$4.95 per trade. The managed service charges 0.4% a year plus the ETF expense ratios.

Platform and tools

The web platform includes portfolio analytics, goal tracking and a decent options interface. Fractional shares were added recently and cover the largest 500 US companies.

Safety

Canadian accounts are protected by CIPF; US accounts by SIPC. Cash is held at insured banks.

Questions from investors in India

Which regulator protects investors in India?

The primary supervisor is the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Firms may also serve residents of India under a passport or cross-border permission from another recognised regulator; our listings note which licence applies to you.

Can I deposit in INR?

Most platforms listed for India accept INR deposits by card or bank transfer. If a platform only holds accounts in USD or EUR, a conversion fee applies each time you fund or withdraw, so check the platform's fee page.

Do I have to pay tax on profits in India?

In most cases yes, on realised gains and on dividends. Some countries apply withholding automatically at domestic brokers; with foreign brokers you usually self-report. Our tax basics guide explains what records to keep, and a local adviser can confirm your position.

What is the difference between a demo and a live account?

A demo account uses virtual money and real prices so you can learn the platform without risk. A live account uses your deposit. We recommend at least a couple of weeks on a demo before funding.

How do I know a platform is really licensed?

Find the legal entity name in the platform's footer and search it on the Securities and Exchange Board of India register or the register of the regulator named in our listing. Never trust a screenshot of a licence.

What does the "retail accounts lose money" figure mean?

Regulators require CFD providers to publish the share of retail clients who lost money over the previous year. It applies to leveraged products only. We show it beside every platform that offers CFDs so you can see the risk before you click.

Can I hold real shares, or only CFDs?

It depends on the platform. Our listing shows the asset classes each one offers and whether they are cash securities or derivatives. Long-term investors should look for real shares and ETFs.

What happens to my money if the platform fails?

Client money at a regulated firm is held separately from company funds, so it is not used to pay the firm's creditors. Most jurisdictions also run an investor compensation scheme with a per-client limit. Check the limit that applies in India.

Nearby countries