Breaking Down Dhan: Is India’s Newest Broker the Most Trader-Friendly Yet?

Brokerage Free Team •June 17, 2025 | 4 min read • 13 views

🔍 Introduction

Dhan is a new-age discount broker launched in November 2021 by Raise Financial Services, founded by Pravin Jadhav (ex-CEO of Paytm Money). Despite being one of the youngest players, Dhan has quickly gained traction by offering technology-first, trader-centric features, especially for derivatives and active trading.

🏢 Company Overview

Parameter Details
Founded 2021
Founder/CEO Pravin Jadhav
Parent Company Raise Financial Services
Head Office Mumbai, India
Memberships NSE, BSE, MCX, CDSL
Platforms Web, Mobile App, API
Target Audience Active traders & Investors

 

💰 Brokerage and Pricing Structure

Type Charges
Account Opening Charges ₹0
Annual Maintenance Charges ₹0
Equity Delivery ₹0
Intraday & F&O ₹20 or 0.03% per executed order (whichever is lower)
Mutual Fund Investment ₹0 (Direct schemes available)
API Access Free for all users

🔺 Highlight: Unlike most peers, Dhan offers free API access even for individual users – a big plus for algo traders.

📱 Platforms & Tools

Dhan distinguishes itself with proprietary tools designed for power users:

1. Dhan Web and App

  • Clean, intuitive UI with fast load times.

  • Built-in tools like market scanners, watchlists, charts.

2. TradingView Integration

  • Native TradingView charts with advanced technical indicators.

  • Trade directly from charts or even via TradingView.com.

3. Options Trader App

  • Dedicated app for Options trading.

  • Strategy builder, payoff diagrams, Greeks, and open interest data.

4. Web Console for Pro Traders

  • Features like pre-defined strategies, OI data, and basket orders.

  • Custom triggers and alerts.

⚙️ Key Features & Offerings

Feature Available in Dhan?
Direct Mutual Funds ✅ Yes
IPO Investment ✅ Yes
Smallcase Integration ✅ Yes
Margin Trading Facility (MTF) ✅ Yes (up to 4x on select stocks)
Basket Orders ✅ Yes
Trading APIs ✅ Free & Powerful
Instant Payouts ✅ Real-time with UPI

🔺 Unique Offering: Dhan offers trading from TradingView.com directly using your Dhan login – no separate platform needed.

📊 Real-World Performance Metrics

Metric Dhan (as of 2025)
NSE Active Clients ~2.1 lakh
App Rating (Play Store) 4.3/5
Average Daily Turnover ₹9000+ Cr
Customer Support Response Within 12 hours avg

 

👥 Real User Feedback Snapshot

  • “Dhan's Options app is a blessing for option sellers.” — Trader, Quora

  • “Free API access should be the norm. Hats off to Dhan!” — Reddit user

  • “UI is fast, but sometimes support takes a few hours to respond.” — App Store review

📊 Dhan vs Discount Brokers (Comparative Analysis)

Feature / Broker Dhan Zerodha Upstox Groww Fyers
Year of Launch 2021 2010 2017 2020 2016
Account Opening Free ₹200 Free Free Free
AMC Free ₹300 ₹300 Free ₹300
Equity Delivery ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0
Intraday/F&O ₹20/order ₹20/order ₹20/order ₹20/order ₹20/order
Mutual Funds Direct Plans Direct Plans Direct Plans Direct Plans NA
Options Strategy Tools Advanced (Dhan Options) Basic (Sensibull - paid) Moderate (limited tools) No tools Basic
Charting Platform TradingView (Native) ChartIQ/TradingView TradingView Proprietary (Basic) TradingView
APIs Free ₹2000/month ₹750/month Not available Free
Algo Trading Full support Requires Kite Connect Limited support Not supported Supported
Basket Orders Yes Yes Yes No Yes

 

📅 Safety & Compliance

  • ✅ SEBI Registered Broker

  • ✅ Member of NSE, BSE, MCX

  • ✅ Uses CDSL TPIN for secure transactions

  • ✅ Client funds held in segregated accounts

🕥 Common API Use Cases

  1. Automated Options Trading based on market conditions.

  2. Custom dashboards with real-time portfolio tracking.

  3. Backtesting strategies using historical Dhan data.

🔹 Strengths of Dhan

  1. Tech-first Broker: Fast-paced innovation, new features monthly.

  2. Options Trader App: Truly differentiated.

  3. Free APIs: Game-changer for algotraders and developers.

  4. TradingView Integration: Deep, native, and seamless.

  5. Real-time UPI Payouts: Faster fund access than peers.

❌ Limitations / Challenges

  1. New Player: Smaller brand recall than Zerodha or Upstox.

  2. Fewer 3rd Party Integrations: Ecosystem still growing.

  3. No NRI Support Yet: Not available for NRIs.

  4. Customer Support Scaling: Needs faster human support.

🧐 Ideal For Whom?

User Type Is Dhan Ideal?
Options Traders ✅✅ Best in class
Algo Traders ✅✅ Excellent
Beginners ✅ Easy to use
Long-term Investors ✅ Decent platform
NRI Investors ❌ Not supported
Ecosystem Seekers 🔄 Still building

 

🌟 Pros vs Cons Snapshot Table

💪 Pros of Dhan ⚠️ Cons of Dhan
Free APIs for everyone Limited 3rd-party integrations
Advanced options trading platform Still scaling customer support
Seamless TradingView integration No NRI account support
Real-time payouts via UPI Newer entrant (lesser brand recall)

 

🏁 Final Verdict

Dhan is disrupting the Indian discount broking space with its tech-centric approach and advanced options tools. While Zerodha and Upstox dominate in terms of scale, Dhan offers superior value for active traders, particularly options and algo traders, thanks to free APIs, premium charts, and exclusive tools.


🔽 Scenario-Based Recommendations

  • “If you trade options daily and want tools — go for Dhan.”

  • “If you want a large ecosystem and passive investing tools — choose Zerodha.”

  • “If you prefer simplicity and mutual funds — Groww may be better.”


🧲 Best For Matrix

Category Best Broker Why
Best for Options Dhan Advanced tools & strategy app
Best for Beginners Groww Simple UI, MF integration
Best API Platform Dhan Free, open for all
Best Ecosystem Zerodha Sensibull, Smallcase, Streak

 

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