Best Demat Account for Students in India (2025) – Compare, Choose & Start Investing

In 2025, more and more students in India are getting interested in the stock market, mutual funds, IPOs, and financial literacy. If you’re a student and want to start your investment journey, opening a Demat account is your first step.

But with so many options, which one is best for students?

In this article, we’ll explore:

• What is a Demat account?

• Why students should open one

• Top 5 best Demat accounts for students in 2025

• Features, charges, pros and cons

• Documents required

• FAQs for student investors

Let’s get started!

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📌 What is a Demat Account?

A Demat account (short for “Dematerialised account”) is used to hold your shares and securities in digital format. Just like a bank account holds your money, a Demat account holds your investments.

To buy/sell stocks or mutual funds, you need two accounts:

1. Demat account – to hold shares

2. Trading account – to buy/sell them

Most platforms offer both together.

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🧑‍🎓 Why Students Should Open a Demat Account

Here’s why it’s a great idea for college students to start investing early:

• ✅ Learn real-world finance

• ✅ Start investing small (as low as ₹100)

• ✅ Build long-term wealth

• ✅ Explore stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, IPOs

You don’t need to wait till you get a job. Investing early gives you the power of compounding.

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🏆 Best Demat Accounts for Students in India (2025)

Here are the top 5 platforms that offer easy, affordable, and student-friendly Demat accounts:

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1️⃣ Zerodha (Kite)

Zerodha is India’s largest stockbroker and is known for its clean interface, low charges, and reliability.

Why it’s good for students:

• No brokerage on delivery

• Easy to use app (Kite)

• Learning platform: Varsity

Charges:

• Account opening: ₹200 (₹0 during offers)

• AMC (Annual Maintenance): ₹300/year

Pros:
✅ Clean interface
✅ Huge learning resources
✅ India’s most trusted broker

Cons:
❌ No direct mutual fund SIPs (use Coin separately)

👉 Best for: Students who want to learn and grow slowly in stocks

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2️⃣ Groww

Originally a mutual fund platform, Groww now also offers stock trading and IPO access.

Why it’s student-friendly:

• Zero account opening fee

• No annual charges

• Simple, mobile-first app

Charges:

• Account opening: ₹0

• AMC: ₹0

• Brokerage: ₹20 or 0.05% per trade

Pros:
✅ Free account
✅ User-friendly app
✅ Mutual funds + stocks in one app

Cons:
❌ No advanced trading tools

👉 Best for: Beginners who want mutual funds + stocks in one place

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3️⃣ Upstox

Backed by Ratan Tata, Upstox is a fast-growing discount broker with solid features.

Why it suits students:

• ₹0 account opening

• Great offers for new users

• Clean interface

Charges:

• Account opening: ₹0

• AMC: ₹0 for 1st year, ₹150/year after

• Brokerage: ₹20/trade

Pros:
✅ Free 1st year
✅ Easy for beginners
✅ IPO and ETF support

Cons:
❌ Slightly techy app compared to Groww

👉 Best for: Students who want future-ready tools

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4️⃣ Angel One

Angel One is a full-service broker that also offers modern features like app trading and research reports.

Why it works for students:

• Smart recommendations

• Free learning academy

• Low-cost trading

Charges:

• Account opening: ₹0

• AMC: ₹0 for 1st year, ₹240/year after

• Brokerage: ₹20/trade

Pros:
✅ App + research + advisory
✅ Learning modules
✅ Strong brand trust

Cons:
❌ More focused on active traders

👉 Best for: Students who want guidance + stock ideas

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5️⃣ ICICI Direct

If you already have an ICICI bank account, this might be the easiest option to start.

Why students prefer it:

• No account linking hassle (if ICICI customer)

• Trusted bank-backed platform

• Offers NEO plan with ₹0 brokerage

Charges:

• Account opening: Free under Neo Plan

• AMC: ₹0

• Brokerage: ₹0 under Neo plan

Pros:
✅ Safe, secure
✅ ₹0 brokerage in Neo Plan
✅ Mutual funds, IPOs, insurance – all in one

Cons:
❌ ICICI-only account integration

👉 Best for: Students who use ICICI Bank

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📝 Comparison Table

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📄 Documents Needed to Open a Demat Account (As Student)

To open a Demat account as a student (under 18 or above), you need:

✅ PAN card (mandatory)
✅ Aadhaar card (linked with mobile)
✅ Bank account (preferably in your name)
✅ Passport-size photo
✅ Signature scan

🔸 If you’re under 18:
You’ll need a guardian account — the account will be opened in your parent/guardian’s name with your details as minor.

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🧠 Tips for Students New to Investing

• Start with mutual funds or ETFs

• Avoid intraday trading — it’s risky

• Invest small (₹100–₹500/month)

• Track performance using apps like Tickertape or ET Markets

• Learn before you earn – use Zerodha Varsity or Groww Learn

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📌 Conclusion: Which is the Best Demat Account for Students in 2025?

Here’s our recommendation:

• ✅ Best overall: Groww – ₹0 fees, easiest to use, perfect for beginners

• 🧠 Best for learning: Zerodha – Varsity + strong platform

• 💰 Best free plan: Upstox – Free 1st year, ₹0 opening

• 💼 Best bank-linked: ICICI Neo – Zero hassle if ICICI user

👉 Our Final Suggestion:
Start small, be consistent, and keep learning. Your financial freedom journey begins with your first ₹100 invested wisely.

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💬 FAQs

❓ Can a student open a Demat account without income?

Yes. You don’t need income proof to open a Demat account as long as you have a PAN card and bank account.

❓ What is the minimum amount to invest?

You can start investing in mutual funds with as little as ₹100/month and stocks from ₹10 (fractional shares not allowed yet in India, but low-cost stocks exist).

❓ Is it safe to invest as a student?

Yes — just avoid risky day trading and focus on long-term investing through mutual funds and quality stocks.

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