Flattrade: accounts, trading costs, platforms and client protection

Flattrade Broking Private Limited is an Indian securities broker offering exchange-traded equities, derivatives and commodities. Zero online brokerage is the central tariff feature, but opening, depository, dealer and financing charges remain. Its current legal name appears in SEBI’s register; older pages still use Fortune Capital Services.[1][2][17]

The two charges above are prospective as of 26 October 2026. They are not current recurring inactivity fees. With 18% GST, the stated opening fee is ₹236; the announced reactivation charge would be ₹118. These examples cover only those fees.[2]

View full spreads & trading costs

Indian resident currency access is governed by RBI rules. INR currency derivatives serve hedging needs, and the no-documentation threshold for exchange positions was reduced to USD 5 million equivalent on 10 October 2026 across all INR pairs and recognised exchanges. The underlying hedging requirement remains. The RBI does not permit overseas forex-margin remittances under LRS.[18][19]

The tariff adds GST at 18% on brokerage, transaction charges and SEBI charges. A zero-brokerage execution can therefore still generate exchange and statutory costs; futures turnover and option-premium turnover are different charging bases.[2]

The DP charge already includes its disclosed depository component; adding that component again would overstate cost. Financing interest and risk-square-off fees are separate from online brokerage.[2]

GTT is documented for equities, derivatives, currency, MTF and MCX, subject to the instrument being available. A long validity setting cannot keep an expired contract tradable.[9][20]

The risk policy contains inconsistent equity intraday cutoffs in different tables. Currency’s stated 16:45 cutoff is not permission to wait for the final minute: liquidation may occur earlier for insufficient margin.[4]

The launch notice does not clearly allocate exactly 10 orders per second between its two categories. Its version 1 transition was temporary and does not establish that version 1 remains available in October 2026. The notice also says obtaining a token for one version disconnects the other version’s session; disconnection is not documented as closing positions.[7]

The September 2026 risk policy repeats the 08:00 payout cutoff in the older help article. A deposit receipt does not guarantee immediate usable margin, and a displayed trading balance is not necessarily settled withdrawable cash.[4][13]

These documents do not establish one consistent dormancy trigger. Confirm the operative account agreement and reactivation requirement before returning after a long break. The risk policy mentions registered-email instructions and IPV where KYC is unchanged; the policies page asks for identity/address proof and a request letter. The announced reactivation fee is a separate charge.[5][4][2]

The firm directs clients to designated client bank accounts and depository pledge controls, and warns against anyone claiming authority to trade on their behalf. Such safeguards do not guarantee returns or eliminate the customer’s obligation to meet losses and margin shortfalls.[17][4]

For an order that cannot be managed online, the published alternative is the dealing desk during the trading day. Sending a support email or WhatsApp message does not submit a trade. Dealer availability and market execution remain separate issues.[11][12]

Flattrade says it does not provide stock tips or authorise others to trade customers’ accounts. No-code automation still places trades according to the user’s configured strategy; backtesting is not a performance guarantee.[17][8]

Flattrade suits comparison on explicit zero online brokerage, detailed currency charges and execution-capable APIs. The relevant limitations are paid assisted dealing, financing and DP costs; a new reactivation tariff from 28 October; and inconsistent dormancy and some equity cutoff wording. Its 70% risk threshold is a liquidation trigger, not negative-balance protection.[2][4][5][7]