HDFC Securities vs SMC Global
A full side-by-side comparison of brokerage charges, demat AMC, margin, platforms, features and user ratings — updated for 2026.
HDFC Securities vs SMC Global — quick verdict
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Company overview
HDFC Securities is a full-service broker incorporated in 2000; SMC Global is a full-service broker incorporated in 1994.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Type of broker | Full-Service Broker | Full-Service Broker |
| Exchange membership | NSE · BSE · MCX | NSE · BSE · MCX · NCDEX · MSEI |
| Year of incorporation | 2000 | 1994 older |
| Number of branches | 200+ | 2,500+ wider |
| Active clients | ~14.6 Lakh larger | 4 Lakh+ |
Charges & AMC
Account-opening and maintenance charges for HDFC Securities and SMC Global compared side by side.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Trading a/c opening | ₹999 + GST | ₹0 (Online) |
| Trading a/c AMC | ₹0 (Free) | ₹0 |
| Demat a/c opening | ₹0 (Free) | ₹0 |
| Demat a/c AMC | ₹750 per year* | ₹399 + GST per year lower |
| DP charges (per ISIN, sell) | ₹18.50 + GST per debit transaction | ₹15.93 per debit transaction (including GST) lower |
Brokerage charges
How HDFC Securities and SMC Global price each trading segment, per executed order.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | 0.10% | 0.30% |
| Equity Intraday | 0.03% | 0.30% |
| Equity Futures | ₹20 per executed order or 0.03% (whichever is lower) | 0.30% |
| Equity Options | ₹20 per executed order | ₹20 per executed order |
| Currency F&O | ₹20 per executed order | 0.03% |
| Commodity F&O | ₹20 per executed order | 0.03% |
| Call & Trade | ₹20 per executed order | ₹20 per executed order |
Transaction charges (exchange turnover)
Exchange turnover and clearing charges passed through by HDFC Securities and SMC Global, per segment.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | NSE ₹297 per Cr (0.00297%) | BSE ₹297 per Cr (0.00297%) | NSE: 0.00297% • BSE: 0.00375% |
| Equity Intraday | NSE ₹297 per Cr (0.00297%) | BSE ₹297 per Cr (0.00297%) | NSE: 0.00297% • BSE: 0.00375% |
| Equity Futures | NSE ₹173 per Cr (0.00173%) | BSE ₹173 per Cr (0.00173%) | NSE: 0.00173% |
| Equity Options | NSE ₹3,503 per Cr (0.03503%) | BSE ₹3,250 per Cr (0.0325%) | NSE: 0.03503% (on premium) |
| Currency Futures | NSE ₹35 per Cr (0.00035%) | BSE ₹35 per Cr (0.00035%) | NSE: 0.00035% |
| Currency Options | NSE ₹3,100 per Cr (0.0311%) | BSE ₹1,000 per Cr (0.01%) | NSE: 0.03110% (on premium) |
| Commodity Futures | MCX ₹260 per Cr (0.00260%) | MCX: 0.00210% |
| Commodity Options | MCX ₹5,000 per Cr (0.05%) | MCX: 0.04180% (on premium) |
Demat & DP charges
Depository (demat) charges for HDFC Securities and SMC Global — AMC, debit transactions, pledging and remat.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Demat Account Opening | ₹0 (Free) | ₹0 |
| Transaction Charges (Sell) | ₹18.50 + GST per debit transaction | — |
| Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) | ₹750 per year* | ₹399 + GST per year |
| Pledge Creation / Invocation | ₹25 + GST per request | — |
| Remat | ₹25 per certificate + applicable charges | — |
| Failed Transactions | Nil | Nil |
| Debit Transaction Charges | — | ₹15.93 per debit transaction (including GST) |
| Pledge / Unpledge Charges | — | ₹25 + GST per request |
| Dematerialisation (Demat) | — | ₹150 per certificate + GST |
| Rematerialisation (Remat) | — | ₹150 per certificate + GST |
Margin & leverage (MTF)
Intraday and delivery margin / leverage offered by HDFC Securities and SMC Global.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | 100% of trade value (1x) | 100% of trade value (1x) |
| Equity Intraday | As per SEBI peak margin norms (Up to 5x) | VAR + ELM Margin (Up to 5x*) |
| F&O (Eq/Curr/Comm) | SPAN + Exposure Margin (1x) | SPAN + Exposure Margin (As per available margin) |
| Equity Options (Buy) | — | Premium Value (Not Applicable) |
| Equity Options (Sell) | — | SPAN + Exposure Margin (As per available margin) |
| Currency Futures & Options | — | SPAN + Exposure Margin (As per available margin) |
| Commodity Futures & Options | — | SPAN + Exposure Margin (As per available margin) |
Features & account
Account type and feature availability across HDFC Securities and SMC Global.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| 3-in-1 account | ✓ Yes better | ✕ No |
| Automated / API trading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Margin Trading (MTF) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Trading in SME shares | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Trading platforms | HDFC SKY, HDFC Securities Mobile App, ProTerminal, InvestRight | SMC ACE Web, SMC ACE Mobile App, SMC Trade Pro |
| Intraday square-off | 3:15 PM | 3:15 PM |
| Other | 3-in-1 account, MTF, research reports, IPO investment, basket orders, option chain, mutual funds, ETFs and bonds. | Research Reports, Trading Calls, Option Chain, Advanced Charting, Basket Orders, Price Alerts, Portfolio Tracker, Margin Trading Facility (MTF), IPO Investment, Wealth Management |
Trading platforms & apps
Trading terminals, web platforms and mobile apps offered by HDFC Securities and SMC Global.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Trading platforms offered | HDFC SKY, HDFC Securities Mobile App, ProTerminal, InvestRight | SMC ACE Web, SMC ACE Mobile App, SMC Trade Pro |
| Number of platforms | 4 more choice | 3 |
| Platforms (summary) | HDFC SKY, HDFC Securities Mobile App, ProTerminal, InvestRight | SMC ACE Web, SMC ACE Mobile App, SMC Trade Pro |
| Mobile / desktop apps | Web + Mobile, Mobile, Desktop, Web | Web, Mobile, Desktop |
User ratings
User ratings for HDFC Securities and SMC Global across the key parameters.
| Rated on | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 4.3 better | 4.1 |
| Brokerage | 4.4 better | 4.2 |
| Trading platform | 4.7 better | 4.3 |
| Customer service | 4.3 | 4.5 better |
| Research | 4.5 | 4.8 better |
| Overall | 4.4 better | 4.3 |
Investment options
Which investment products HDFC Securities and SMC Global let you access.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks / Equity | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Commodity | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| IPO | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Mutual Funds | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bonds / NCD | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Order types offered
Advanced order types supported by HDFC Securities and SMC Global.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Bracket Order | ✕ No | ✓ Yes better |
| Cover Order | ✕ No | ✓ Yes better |
| BTST | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| After Market (AMO) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| GTC / GTT | ✓ Yes better | ✕ No |
Safety & credibility
SEBI registration, financial strength and complaint record for HDFC Securities and SMC Global.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| SEBI registration | INZ000186937 | INZ000199438 |
| NSE member code | 06586 | 06611 |
| Year of incorporation | 2000 | 1994 longer track record |
| Net worth | ₹3,300+ Crore stronger | ₹3,215+ Cr |
| Exchange memberships | NSE · BSE · MCX | NSE · BSE · MCX · NCDEX · MSEI |
| Latest complaint ratio | 0.175% | 0.004% fewer complaints |
Complaints record
Exchange complaint data for HDFC Securities and SMC Global — the ratio matters more than the raw count.
| Parameter | HDFC Securities | SMC Global |
|---|---|---|
| Latest financial year | 2025-26 | 2025–26 |
| Exchange | NSE | NSE |
| Active clients | 15,39,103 larger base | 4,21,538 |
| Complaints filed | 2,690 | 17 |
| Complaint ratio | 0.175% | 0.004% fewer complaints |
Pros & cons
The main advantages and drawbacks of each broker.
▲ Pros
- ✓ Integrated 3-in-1 account with HDFC Bank.
- ✓ Comprehensive research reports and expert recommendations.
- ✓ Advanced web, mobile and desktop trading platforms.
- ✓ Investment in Stocks, F&O, IPOs, Mutual Funds, ETFs and Bonds.
- ✓ Margin Trading Facility (MTF) available.
- ✓ Strong brand reputation with nationwide presence.
- ✓ Dedicated relationship manager for eligible customers.
▼ Cons
- ✕ Brokerage charges are higher than discount brokers.
- ✕ Annual Maintenance Charges apply for demat accounts.
- ✕ Call & Trade service is chargeable.
- ✕ Some advanced trading tools are available only to eligible customers.
- ✕ Margin benefits depend on the applicable product and segment.
▲ Pros
- ✓ Strong equity, commodity, and currency research.
- ✓ Wide range of investment and wealth management products.
- ✓ Large nationwide branch and franchise network.
- ✓ Supports stocks, F&O, commodities, currencies, IPOs, mutual funds, bonds, PMS, and insurance.
- ✓ Advanced web, mobile, and desktop trading platforms.
- ✓ Dedicated relationship managers and advisory services.
▼ Cons
- ✕ Brokerage charges are higher than discount brokers.
- ✕ Annual Demat AMC is applicable.
- ✕ Some advanced advisory services are available only to premium clients.
- ✕ Trading platforms may have a steeper learning curve for beginners.
- ✕ Call & Trade charges apply.