Zerodha, led by Nithin Kamath, has introduced US stock investing on its Kite platform, giving users access to shares of around 2,000 companies.
Zerodha has launched US stock investing on its Kite platform, allowing eligible Indian residents to invest in American companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through their existing accounts.
The service offers access to around 2,000 US-listed companies and 1,000 ETFs, with fractional investments starting at $1. Investors can buy eligible US securities without opening a separate Indian demat account.
The facility is available to resident Indian individuals but excludes non-resident Indians (NRIs), joint account holders, and non-individual entities.
The service operates through BSE-owned India INX Global Access at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat’s GIFT City. Zerodha’s investing guide identifies ViewTrade as its US brokerage partner. Securities purchased through the service are held through the overseas broker rather than in an Indian demat account.
Zerodha US Stock Investing Charges
Zerodha charges brokerage of 0.1% of the transaction value, subject to a minimum of $0.01 and a maximum of $10 per executed order. The fee applies to both buy and sell orders, with an additional 18% goods and services tax (GST) on brokerage.
For example, a $20,000 transaction would attract the maximum $10 brokerage fee rather than the $20 that an uncapped 0.1% rate would produce, excluding taxes and other applicable charges.
However, Zerodha’s published information contains a discrepancy regarding regulatory fees. Its detailed investing guide lists an IFSC Authority (IFSCA) turnover fee of 0.005% of the trade value and applicable US regulatory fees on sales. The company’s main US investing page, meanwhile, states that these charges are included in brokerage.
The detailed guide also states that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) Trading Activity Fee is suspended from October 1 to December 31, 2026.
Currency conversion adds another cost. Zerodha’s guide lists a bank markup of 0.5% above the Reserve Bank of India’s reference exchange rate. Banks may also charge remittance fees and applicable taxes.
For comparison, Groww charges 0.1% brokerage on US stock transactions, subject to a minimum of $1 per executed order. Its published pricing does not specify a maximum brokerage cap.
How to Buy US Stocks Through Kite
Investors can transfer money from a linked Indian bank account into a dollar-denominated global wallet through net banking.
The service supports transfers through HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and IDFC FIRST Bank. UPI, debit cards, and credit cards are not supported.
Although fractional investments start at $1, Zerodha requires a minimum initial fund transfer of $50. Subsequent transfers must be at least $100.
The platform supports delivery-based investments in eligible stocks and ETFs, including fractional shares. Investors can place market and limit orders, but intraday trading, margin trading, and derivatives are not available.
Investors cannot apply for US initial public offerings (IPOs) through the service. Newly listed shares become available only if they meet Zerodha’s eligibility requirements.
The ETF selection is also restricted to eligible funds with assets under management exceeding $250 million. Bitcoin ETFs and leveraged ETFs are excluded.
RBI Remittance Rules and Tax Requirements
Overseas investments through the platform fall under the Reserve Bank of India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). The scheme allows resident individuals to remit up to $250,000 per financial year for permitted purposes.
Investors must also account for applicable tax collected at source (TCS) requirements and foreign asset disclosure rules.
Currency movements, brokerage charges, remittance fees and taxes can affect overall returns, making the total cost of investing an important consideration when choosing an international investment platform.
Zerodha Enters a Competitive US Investing Market
Zerodha’s launch comes as Indian brokerages expand beyond domestic equities to offer retail investors access to international markets.
Groww and Upstox are among the platforms expanding their overseas investing offerings. Providers such as INDmoney and HDFC Securities also offer Indian investors access to US equities.
The expansion gives investors another route to diversify geographically and gain direct exposure to global companies, particularly in technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and semiconductors.
US-listed companies such as Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon offer exposure to businesses that investors cannot replicate directly through domestic shares alone.
However, investing in US equities carries risks beyond share-price movements. Currency fluctuations, foreign exchange costs, taxation, and regulatory obligations can all affect returns. Investors should consider these factors alongside brokerage fees when comparing platforms.
