Angel One vs Vested for US stocks: which is better? (2026)
Angel One: zero brokerage until Dec 2026, then 0.1% min $0.99, GIFT City route via Vested Finance Inc. Vested: 0.25% Basic / 0.15% Premium, LRS route. Real cost comparison.
Arnav GroverCo-Founder & Chief Product Officer, RoviaAngel One launched US stock investing via Vested Finance Inc. as clearing broker — which means Angel One users and Vested users share the same underlying US custody infrastructure, but pay different fees and use different routes. The comparison matters because Angel One's zero-brokerage promotion is only available until December 31, 2026.
The infrastructure relationship
Angel One clears through Vested Finance Inc. — Vested's US broker-dealer. This means:
- Same SIPC protection on holdings (up to $500k via DriveWealth)
- Similar underlying stock universe (Angel One has 10,000+ vs Vested's NYSE/NASDAQ)
- Different fee structures and routes (Angel One: GIFT City IFSC; Vested: LRS)
This is not a conflict — it is a distribution arrangement, common in financial services.
Fee comparison
| Fee | Angel One | Vested Basic | Vested Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹0 | ₹0 | ₹4,500 |
| Brokerage (until Dec 31, 2026) | ₹0 | 0.25%, cap $35 | 0.15%, cap $35 |
| Brokerage (from Jan 1, 2027) | 0.1%, min $0.99 | 0.25%, cap $35 | 0.15%, cap $35 |
| FX markup | ≈1.5% (unconfirmed) | ≈75–100p/$ (≈0.9–1.2%) | ≈75–100p/$ |
| Withdrawal fee | TBC | $5 per withdrawal | 2 free/yr; $5 after |
| Route | GIFT City IFSC | LRS | LRS |
| Schedule FA helper | Basic | Yes | Yes |
Brokerage: Angel One wins until Dec 2026
Until December 31, 2026, Angel One's zero brokerage means every trade is free on brokerage. Vested Basic charges 0.25% per trade.
On ₹10L/year in 4 trades of ₹2.5L each: Vested Basic costs ≈₹2,500 in brokerage; Angel One costs ₹0.
The catch: FX markup is still charged even with zero brokerage. If Angel One's FX markup is ~1.5% and Vested's is ~0.9–1.2%, the FX cost on ₹10L is ≈₹15,000 (Angel One) vs ≈₹10,000 (Vested). Vested's tighter FX saves ≈₹5,000/year — partially offsetting Angel One's zero-brokerage advantage.
Net comparison for ₹10L/year until Dec 2026
| Cost | Angel One | Vested Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage | ₹0 | ≈₹2,500 |
| FX markup (₹10L, 1.5% vs 0.9%) | ≈₹15,000 | ≈₹9,000 |
| Total | ≈₹15,000 | ≈₹11,500 |
At ₹10L/year, Vested Basic may actually be cheaper than Angel One in 2026 — the FX saving outweighs the zero-brokerage advantage. Verify Angel One's actual FX rate in-app before assuming savings.
From January 2027
Angel One's 0.1% + $0.99 minimum rate from January 2027 is cheaper on brokerage than Vested Basic (0.25%) for trades above $1,000 per trade. The FX comparison remains the deciding factor.
| Trade size | Angel One (post-Jan 2027) | Vested Basic |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1.00 (0.1%) | $2.50 (0.25%) |
| $5,000 | $5.00 | $12.50 |
| $14,000 | $14.00 | $35.00 (cap) |
Route difference
Angel One uses GIFT City IFSC; Vested uses LRS. Same TCS rates, different transfer mechanics (NEFT vs SWIFT). Section 10(4D) potential capital gains exemption may apply to Angel One — verify with CA.
Vested's LRS route has established Schedule FA treatment and tooling. Angel One's GIFT City Schedule FA treatment is evolving.
Decision
Choose Angel One if:
- You are an existing Angel One user
- You want zero brokerage until December 31, 2026 — and your FX rate in-app is competitive with Vested
- Your brokerage trades happen to be large enough that Angel One's post-Jan 2027 0.1% rate beats Vested's 0.25%
Choose Vested if:
- You are already on Vested with Schedule FA history and established documentation
- Angel One's FX markup in-app exceeds Vested's by more than the brokerage saving
- You value Schedule FA tools and LRS compliance support
Important: Verify Angel One's actual in-app FX rate before making any comparison. If the FX markup is higher than Vested's, the zero-brokerage offer may not save you money on net.
Related reading
- Angel One US stocks: full charges guide
- Vested charges explained in full
- Best US stock platform for Indians 2026
Vested.blog is the editorial publication of Rovia.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Angel One cheaper than Vested for US stocks? ▾
- Until December 31, 2026: yes — Angel One charges zero brokerage, while Vested Basic charges 0.25% and Vested Premium charges 0.15%. FX markup (~1.5% on Angel One vs ~0.9–1.2% on Vested) is higher on Angel One, so Vested's tighter FX partially offsets the brokerage advantage. From January 2027, Angel One charges 0.1% min $0.99 — cheaper on brokerage than Vested Basic's 0.25%.
- Does Angel One use Vested's infrastructure? ▾
- Yes. Angel One clears US stock trades through Vested Finance Inc. — Vested's own US SEC/FINRA-registered broker-dealer entity. Your holdings on Angel One are held at Vested Finance Inc. and cleared through DriveWealth, giving SIPC protection. Angel One and Vested effectively share the same US custody chain, but serve different platforms with different fee structures.
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About the author
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Rovia
IIT Bombay + IIM Calcutta. Founding PM at Aspora (largest NRI fintech). 6+ years covering Indian-resident US investing, LRS compliance, Schedule FA, and ITR-2 filing for AY 2026-27.
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