Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage: What 'Zero' Covers, What It Skips and How to Claim It

Univest brokerage: 0 on delivery, intraday and F&O. Free window: 30 days, capped at Rs 500. Then Rs 18 per order per help FAQ. Account opening: Rs 0.

Updated: 8 Oct 2026 • 8:22 pm

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Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage: What 'Zero' Covers, What It Skips and How to Claim It

Quick Answer

A free demat account with zero brokerage removes the broker's fee on a trade, but it does not remove STT, GST, exchange charges, SEBI fees or DP charges. Univest lists 0 brokerage on delivery, intraday and F&O, and its help FAQ mentions a 30-day free brokerage window capped at Rs 500 before standard brokerage of Rs 18 per order applies. Check which plan applies to you in the app before you place your first order.

A free demat account with zero brokerage sounds like the end of trading costs, but the phrase only covers the broker's own fee. Government taxes, exchange charges and depository fees are separate, and they are charged whether your brokerage is zero or not.

This guide shows what zero brokerage covers on delivery, intraday and F&O trades, what it skips, and how to claim the offer on Univest without being surprised by the charge sheet later.

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Table of Contents

What Does a Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage Cover?

A free demat account with zero brokerage covers the fee the broker earns per order. On Univest's broking page, intraday, delivery and F&O are each listed at 0 brokerage. Univest's broking page lists 0 brokerage on intraday, delivery and F&O. Its help FAQ adds that a 30-day free brokerage window (capped at Rs 500) applies and that standard brokerage of Rs 18 per order applies after it, so confirm the plan shown in the app when you apply.

Segment	Brokerage on the page	Still payable
Equity delivery	0	STT, GST on fees, exchange charges, SEBI fee, stamp duty, DP charges on sell
Intraday	0	STT on sell side, GST on fees, exchange charges, SEBI fee, stamp duty on buy
Futures and options	0	STT, exchange charges, GST on fees, SEBI fee, stamp duty

Charges That Remain Even With a Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage

The charges that remain even with a free demat account with zero brokerage are statutory and depository costs. STT applies on delivery trades and on the sell side of intraday trades. In the Union Budget 2026-27, STT on futures rose to 0.05% from 0.02% and STT on options premiums rose to 0.15% from 0.1%, effective 1 April 2026.

STT: charged by the government on the transaction value
Exchange transaction charges: charged by NSE or BSE
GST: charged on brokerage and transaction charges
SEBI turnover fee and stamp duty: small per-trade levies
DP charges: a flat fee each time shares are debited from your demat account

How the 30-Day Free Window Works

The 30-day free brokerage window is a launch benefit that lets a new user trade without brokerage up to a cap of Rs 500. After the window, the help FAQ states standard brokerage of Rs 18 per order on equity delivery, intraday, futures and options. Treat the window as a trial period and compare the post-window cost with your trading frequency.

Use the Univest Screener to find stocks before your first zero brokerage trade

Who Gains Most From a Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage?

Frequent intraday and F&O traders gain the most because brokerage is charged per order and adds up fast. A trader placing 20 orders a day pays brokerage 20 times, while a long-term investor placing four orders a year barely notices it. If you invest rarely, DP charges and AMC matter more than brokerage, so a free demat account with zero brokerage is a smaller win for you.

How to Claim a Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage on Univest

Download the Univest app and tap Open Demat Account.
Complete mobile verification, PAN, Aadhaar eKYC and bank linking.
Sign digitally and wait for account activation.
Open the brokerage plan screen in the app and confirm the active plan.
Place a small first order and check the contract note for every line of charges.

Zero Brokerage Demat Account vs the Best Trading App With Zero Brokerage

A zero brokerage demat account is the account that holds your shares, while the best trading app with zero brokerage is the platform you use to trade them. At Univest both come together, so the demat account opening charges and the brokerage plan sit in one charge sheet.

When you compare a zero brokerage demat account across brokers, check demat account opening charges first, then AMC, then DP charges, and only then the brokerage headline. A free demat account with zero brokerage is a good start, but the total yearly cost decides value.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to open your free demat account and check the live brokerage plan.

Questions to Ask Before You Pick a Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage

Is zero brokerage permanent or for a limited period?
Does it apply to all segments or only delivery?
Is there a cap on free trades or on the amount waived?
What are the DP charges and AMC after the offer ends?

Is a Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage Worth It?

A free demat account with zero brokerage is worth it when you trade often, because brokerage is the cost you control. It does not remove taxes or depository fees, and any time-bound offer needs a look at the price after it ends. Read the charge sheet, test with a small order and keep your risk limits clear. You can open a free demat account with zero brokerage on Univest and check the live plan before your first trade.

Disclaimer: Data and figures in this article are sourced from publicly available information. These may or may not be accurate. Please verify all data with the official NSE (nseindia.com) and BSE (bseindia.com) websites before making any investment decision. Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This content is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice by Univest (SEBI RA INH000013776).

FAQs on Free Demat Account With Zero Brokerage

What is a free demat account with zero brokerage?

Ans. It is a demat and trading account with no opening fee and no broker fee per trade. Taxes, exchange charges and DP charges still apply on top.

Does Univest offer a free demat account with zero brokerage?

Ans. Univest lists 0 brokerage on intraday, delivery and F&O and charges nothing to open the account. Its help FAQ mentions a 30-day free brokerage window capped at Rs 500, then Rs 18 per order.

What charges apply even with zero brokerage?

Ans. STT, GST, exchange transaction charges, SEBI turnover fee, stamp duty and DP charges on sales still apply. These go to the government, exchanges and depositories.

Is zero brokerage available on F&O trades?

Ans. Univest lists 0 brokerage on F&O. STT on futures is 0.05% and on options premiums 0.15% from 1 April 2026, so F&O trades still carry costs.

What happens to a free demat account with zero brokerage after the free period ends?

Ans. Standard brokerage applies as per the plan. Univest's help FAQ states Rs 18 per order after the 30-day window, so check the live plan in the app.

Is a free demat account with zero brokerage good for long-term investors?

Ans. It helps, but long-term investors place few orders, so AMC and DP charges matter more. Compare the full yearly cost and not just brokerage.

How do I open a free demat account with zero brokerage online?

Ans. Download the Univest app, tap Open Demat Account, complete eKYC with PAN, Aadhaar and bank details and sign digitally. Then confirm your brokerage plan in the app.