Broker comparison
ICICI Direct vs 5paisa (2026): Brokerage, API, AMC & Execution Compared
Side-by-side comparison of ICICI Direct and 5paisa from published official pricing and features — no affiliation with either broker.
- 0 – 3Cheaper on example trades (ICICI Direct – 5paisa)
- 4 – 4Published features (of 9)
| Metric | ICICI Direct | 5paisa |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery brokerage | 0.29% per order on the default MoneySaver plan (lower on prepaid Prime plans) | ₹20 per order (flat) |
| Intraday brokerage | 0.029% per order on MoneySaver; ₹20 per order with an iValue subscription | ₹20 per order (flat) |
| F&O brokerage | MoneySaver: futures 0.029%, options ₹49 per lot; ₹20 per order with iValue | ₹20 per order (flat) |
| AMC | ₹700 per year (₹300 for iVALUE subscribers) | ₹25 per month + GST (per official pricing; BSDA conditions apply) |
| Account opening | ₹0 (free); 3-in-1 account with ICICI Bank | Free (online) |
| Trading API | Breeze API — Free (per official Breeze page) | 5paisa Xstream API — Free (per official page) |
| Reported execution speed | Not Disclosed | ≈ 85 ms (median) |
| Algo support | Yes - via Breeze API | Yes - via Xstream API |
| Platforms | ICICI Direct web, ICICI Direct Markets app, Trade Racer | 5paisa app, 5paisa web, FnO 360 |
| Best for (published) | ICICI Bank customers who want research, advisory and one integrated account. | Cost-conscious traders comfortable with a subscription add-on model. |
Statutory charges (STT, exchange fees, GST, etc.) are not included. Figures are from official pricing pages at our last review — verify before opening an account.
Cost face-off: what real trades cost
| Trade | ICICI Direct | 5paisa | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intraday: ₹1 lakh buy & sell | ₹104.55 | ₹82.97 | 5paisa (saves ₹21.58) |
| Delivery: ₹50,000 buy & sell | ₹491.09 | ₹178.98 | 5paisa (saves ₹312.11) |
| Options: premium ₹100 × 75 | Not modelled | ₹66.43 | - |
| Futures: ₹24,000 × 75 | ₹2,253.16 | ₹1,067.15 | 5paisa (saves ₹1,186.01) |
Illustrative quantities. Try your own trade in the compare-all brokerage calculator.
Feature check
| Feature | ICICI Direct | 5paisa |
|---|---|---|
| Free delivery | – | – |
| Zero AMC | – | – |
| Free API | ✓ | ✓ |
| TradingView | – | – |
| MCX commodity | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mutual funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| IPO | – | – |
| Research desk | ✓ | – |
| Published speed | – | ✓ |
What the published data shows
5paisa publishes an execution-speed figure; ICICI Direct does not on verifiable sources.
Tools & profiles
- ICICI Direct full profile
- 5paisa full profile
- ICICI Direct brokerage calculator
- 5paisa brokerage calculator
- Lowest brokerage brokers in India
- All broker comparisons
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Frequently asked questions
ICICI Direct vs 5paisa: which has lower delivery brokerage?
At our last review, ICICI Direct published delivery brokerage as "0.29% per order on the default MoneySaver plan (lower on prepaid Prime plans)" and 5paisa as "₹20 per order (flat)". Plan-based or percentage pricing cannot always be reduced to a single winner — use the official pricing pages linked below.
Does ICICI Direct or 5paisa have a trading API?
Both have documented APIs at review time: ICICI Direct (Breeze API), 5paisa (5paisa Xstream API). Compare pricing and rate limits on each broker's developer page.
Which is faster — ICICI Direct or 5paisa?
5paisa publishes ≈ 85 ms (median). ICICI Direct has no verifiable execution-speed figure we could cite.
Is ICICI Direct cheaper than 5paisa?
On our four example trades (intraday, delivery, options and futures), ICICI Direct is cheaper on 0, 5paisa on 3, and 0 are tied, with the rest not modelled from published pricing. Statutory charges are identical, so any difference comes from brokerage.
Are these comparisons independent?
Yes. Indian Broker Test is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any broker. Rankings and comparisons use only published official data; gaps are shown as Not Disclosed.
Sources
- ICICI Direct - official website - https://www.icicidirect.com
- ICICI Direct - official pricing - https://www.icicidirect.com/brokerage
- 5paisa - official website - https://www.5paisa.com
- 5paisa - official pricing - https://www.5paisa.com/pricing