For many Indian investors, opening a domestic demat account is the first step towards participating in the stock market. Once they become familiar with investing in Indian equities and mutual funds, expanding their portfolios to international markets can be a natural progression.
Investing in US stocks offers an opportunity to diversify geographically and gain exposure to some of the world’s leading companies across technology, healthcare, consumer goods and other sectors.
However, investing in US stocks involves a different process from purchasing domestic equities. Indian investors generally need a separate overseas brokerage account and a USD balance to fund their investments. The Reserve Bank of India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) provides the framework for resident individuals to remit funds overseas for permitted investments.
For investors who already have an Indian demat account, choosing the right US stock investment app becomes important. Factors such as account activation, fund transfers, brokerage charges, investment options and portfolio tracking can influence the overall experience.
Here is a look at some of the best apps for Indian investors who already have a demat account and want to invest in US stocks.
1. Groww
Groww is an option for investors looking to manage their domestic and international investments through a single investment ecosystem. As India’s largest stock broker, it offers an integrated experience for managing Indian equities, mutual funds, derivatives and US stocks through one app.
For existing Groww users, accessing US stock investments involves a digital account activation process. Investors who already have their domestic KYC completed can activate the US stocks facility through on-screen consent, making it easier to access international markets without going through an entirely separate onboarding experience.
Even investors using other domestic brokers can consider Groww for their US stock investments.
Key Features of US Stock Investing on Groww
- Digital Account Activation: Existing Groww users can activate their US stock accounts through a simple digital process using on-screen consent, reducing the need for additional onboarding formalities.
- Fractional Investing Starting at $1: Investors can purchase fractional shares of US-listed companies with as little as $1. This makes it possible to invest in high-value stocks without purchasing an entire share.
- Access to 10,000+ Stocks and ETFs: Groww provides access to more than 10,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs, giving investors a broad selection of securities to diversify their existing Indian portfolios.
- Transparent Brokerage: Groww charges zero account opening and maintenance fees. Its brokerage is 0.1% of the transaction value or $1, whichever is higher.
- USD Dividend Tracking: Dividends earned from US-listed companies are credited in USD to the investor’s balance, allowing them to track international dividend income separately.
- After-Market Orders: The app supports after-market orders (AMOs), enabling investors to place orders outside regular US market hours.
- Daily Trading Summaries: Investors receive daily activity summaries detailing applicable charges and fees, along with email trade statements for transaction tracking and record-keeping.
2. Zerodha
Investors who already have a demat account with Zerodha can explore its global investing facility to access US-listed stocks and ETFs. Zerodha’s international investing offering provides an additional avenue for its existing customers to diversify beyond Indian equities.
Its integration with the broader Zerodha ecosystem makes it an option for investors who prefer managing their domestic and international investments through familiar interfaces.
Key Features:
- Integration with Kite: Investors can access global investing through Zerodha’s ecosystem, providing a familiar interface for managing their investment activities.
- Fractional Investing: Zerodha provides access to fractional investments in US-listed equities and ETFs, allowing investors to purchase portions of shares instead of committing to the price of a complete share.
- Competitive Brokerage: Its brokerage is structured at 0.1% of the transaction value or $0.01, subject to a maximum of $10 per order.
3. Dhan
Dhan is a technology-focused stockbroking app that caters to active traders and long-term investors. Its US stock investing facility allows existing customers to explore international equities and ETFs alongside their domestic investments.
For investors who already use Dhan for Indian stock market transactions, its international investing facility provides another way to diversify their portfolios without having to switch to an entirely different investment app.
Key Features:
- Fractional Investing: Investors can purchase fractional shares of US-listed companies and ETFs, with investments starting at $1.
- Transparent Brokerage: Dhan charges brokerage of 0.25% of the transaction value, subject to a minimum of $0.01 and a maximum of $10 per order.
- Consolidated Investment Experience: The app brings together domestic trading and investment facilities with access to international securities, allowing users to manage different investment categories within one ecosystem.
4. INDmoney
INDmoney is a financial super-app that can complement an existing Indian demat account, particularly for investors whose domestic brokers do not offer dedicated international investing facilities.
The app provides access to US stocks and ETFs while offering financial management and banking-related features to simplify the process of investing overseas. Investors can use INDmoney alongside their existing domestic brokerage account rather than moving their Indian investments.
Key Features:
- Automated SIPs in US Stocks: Investors can set up recurring weekly or monthly investments in selected US stocks and ETFs, helping them follow a disciplined investment approach.
- US Stock Wallet: INDmoney provides a dedicated wallet for managing funds allocated to US investments, along with facilities for transferring money back to an Indian bank account.
- Tax Filing Assistance: The app offers tools to help investors track overseas investments and manage tax reporting requirements, including disclosures relating to foreign assets.
5. Vested Finance
Vested Finance is a specialised investment app focused on providing Indian investors with access to US-listed stocks and ETFs. It can serve as a complementary investment option for individuals who already maintain a domestic demat account with another broker.
The app focuses on international investing and offers features such as curated stock collections and tax documentation support to simplify the experience of investing in overseas markets.
Key Features:
- Zero-Brokerage Investing: Vested offers zero-brokerage investment options, making it an alternative for investors looking to reduce conventional transaction-based brokerage costs.
- Thematic Stock Collections: Investors can explore curated collections based on investment themes and sectors, such as software and clean energy, instead of selecting individual stocks.
- Tax Documentation Support: The app facilitates W-8BEN submission and provides investment-related tax documents to help Indian investors manage reporting requirements associated with their US stock holdings.
Conclusion
For investors who already have an Indian demat account, choosing an app for US stock investments depends on whether they prioritise integration with their existing broker, competitive transaction costs, investment choices or additional portfolio management features.
Zerodha and Dhan offer international investing facilities within their respective ecosystems, making them relevant options for existing customers. INDmoney and Vested Finance, meanwhile, can complement an existing domestic demat account by providing dedicated access to international markets.
Groww is a great choice for investors seeking to bring their domestic and international investments under one ecosystem. As India’s largest stock broker, it combines Indian and US stock investing within a single app. With access to over 10,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs, fractional investing starting at $1, digital account activation and transparent brokerage, Groww offers a convenient way for existing Indian investors to expand their portfolios into global markets.
