Brokers · Delivery
Best demat account for long-term delivery investing
Delivery brokerage plus annual maintenance charge. Cost-first, disclosed, and informational, not a recommendation to open any specific account.
The answer
For long-term delivery investing the best demat account charges zero brokerage on equity delivery and a low annual maintenance charge, so a buy-and-hold portfolio pays almost nothing beyond the one-time statutory charges on each purchase.
BazaarBaaziSource & method
The picks3 brokers
Ranked on delivery brokerage plus annual maintenance charge. Statutory charges (STT, exchange, GST, stamp) are the same across brokers and sit on top of the brokerage below.
Top pick · Zero delivery brokerage
Zerodha
Free equity delivery and a low AMC suit a hold-for-years portfolio.
#2 · Low delivery cost
Upstox
Competitive on delivery with a simple holdings view.
#3 · Low delivery cost
Groww
Easy for a passive investor adding to holdings over time.
What you actually pay
The brokerage is only part of the cost. For an apples-to-apples view, add the statutory charges, which do not vary by broker.
Charges are the published flat-fee structures of the named discount brokers and are indicative for 2026. Verify the current rate card on the broker site before opening an account.
FAQ2 reader questions · AEO-eligible
The editorial line, distilled. Schema-marked for AI Overview and reader search.
Do I pay brokerage when I buy shares to hold long term?
With most discount brokers equity delivery brokerage is zero, so a long-term buy pays only the statutory charges (STT, exchange, GST, stamp). The recurring cost is then just the annual maintenance charge on the demat account.
What charges apply to a buy-and-hold portfolio?
A one-time set of statutory charges on each buy, plus the demat annual maintenance charge. There is no brokerage on zero-delivery plans and no cost simply for holding shares between trades.
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