Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs Zerodha
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Kraken |  Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | ₹0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures | Bonds, ETFs, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 | Free withdrawals |
| Platforms | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet | Coin, Console, Kite |
| Minimum deposit | $1 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | ₹300 |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | ₹20 |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 10x | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Zerodha offers Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
- Kraken is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Forex, Crypto.
- Markets: only Zerodha offers Bonds, Funds, Options.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Platforms: only Zerodha offers Coin, Console, Kite.
- Features: only Kraken offers Crypto.
- Features: only Zerodha offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
Kraken
Kraken suits beginners and experienced investors who want stocks, ETFs and crypto together through app and desktop access. Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1 and funding terms shown as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 for cost planning across small balance accounts.
Zerodha
Zerodha suits Indian investors who place their own orders and want trading costs kept down. The stock trade fee is INR 0 and the account fee is INR 300, so the bill lands on holding an account and on derivatives rather than on the shares. Platforms for placing orders are Coin, Console and Kite.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kraken | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. | 9.1Equity orders cost INR 0 in brokerage, but the account fee of INR 300 and INR 20 on an options contract add up. |
| Offer | 9.0Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.3HigherRegisters cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. | 8.8 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Kraken | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Which one suits you
Pick Kraken if trust matter most.
Pick Zerodha if offer matter most.
Where these facts come from
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Zerodha
- zerodha.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sebi.gov.in: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- chittorgarh.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- tradebrains.in: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 21 of 471 | 132 of 471 |
| Futures trading platforms | 5 of 82 | 33 of 82 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Zerodha Broking Limited |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2010 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | Zerodha | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | ₹300highest quarter | ₹0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | ₹20at the median | ₹20 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Kraken
Pros
- Stock trades priced at $0 within a model shown as commission free.
- Entry at $1, below $50 at eToro for smaller starting balances.
- Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex, pairing stocks and ETFs with crypto and futures.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, without phone or live chat help found at many rivals.
- Card funding terms run Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, which adds cost next to bank transfer options.
- Entry at $1 sits above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB for tight budgets.
Zerodha
Pros
- One account covers bonds, etfs and funds, so shares, funds, bonds, options and futures sit with a single provider.
- Oversight comes from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in India, with Zerodha Broking Limited as the named legal entity.
- Withdrawals carry no charge, and demo account and mobile app includes a demo account and a mobile app, so a new user can practise before funding.
Cons
- The account fee of INR 300 ranks 107 of 138 brands on that measure, above the site median of €0.
- Options contracts are charged INR 20, so the low equity cost does not carry over to derivatives.
- Crypto is not among its markets (bonds, etfs and funds), so digital asset traders need a second provider.
Who each suits
Kraken
Who it suits
- You want stocks plus crypto in stocks, ETFs and forex in a single login rather than an equity only account at XTB.
- You want app led dealing through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop with modest entry at $1 rather than higher entry at eToro at $50.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want phone or chat help rather than help centre only, consider XTB or ActivTrades for wider contact choice.
- You want the lowest cash entry rather than $1, consider ActivTrades at $0 or XTB at €0.
Zerodha
Who it suits
- Indian investors placing their own share, fund and bond orders, with Coin, Console and Kite available to trade on.
- Newcomers who want to try a demo account and a mobile app, both listed in demo account and mobile app.
- Derivatives traders who can absorb INR 20 on an options contract and want funds, bonds and equities in one place.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for readers who want forex, CFDs and crypto in one account, since stocks, etfs and forex covers that wider asset list.
- Vantage, for light traders who would rather pay an account fee of $0 than INR 300.
- eToro, for readers who only compare the equity charge, since its stock trade fee is also $0.
Country by country
| Country | Kraken | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| India | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Kraken
What does Kraken charge for stock trades+
Stock dealing is priced at $0 and Kraken describes its model as commission free. Bank funding is framed separately as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so card use adds cost while bank transfer terms remain distinct. Check the fee schedule before placing orders.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account+
Account entry is set at $1. That level sits below $50 at eToro, yet above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB. It keeps starting balances modest while leaving room for funding charges.
Zerodha
What does Zerodha charge to buy and sell shares?+
The stock trade fee is INR 0, and Zerodha ranks 1 of 161 brands on that measure, so equity dealing sits at the cheap end of the table. Derivatives are priced apart from equities, with an options contract charged INR 20, so the headline equity cost is not the whole bill.
Is there an account fee, and how does it compare?+
Yes. The account fee is INR 300, which places Zerodha at 107 of 138 on the account fee table, well below its stock trade fee ranking of 1 of 161. Withdrawals, by contrast, cost nothing. Holding the account open is the pricier side of this cost profile, while dealing through it ranks well.
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