Upstox vs Vested for US stocks: which is better? (2026)
Upstox: 0.25% max $25, GIFT City IFSC, free withdrawal, own IFSCA entity. Vested: 0.25% Basic / 0.15% Premium, LRS route, Schedule FA helper. Real cost comparison.
Arnav GroverCo-Founder & Chief Product Officer, RoviaUpstox and Vested charge the same base brokerage rate (0.25%) but differ on route, cap, withdrawal fees, and tax tooling. For investors choosing between them fresh, the differences are meaningful.
Fee comparison
| Fee | Upstox | Vested Basic | Vested Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹0 | ₹0 | ₹4,500 |
| Brokerage | 0.25%, max $25 | 0.25%, capped $35 | 0.15%, capped $35 |
| Brokerage cap savings at $14K trade | $25 vs $35 = $10 saved | — | — |
| FX markup | ~1–3.5% (unconfirmed) | ≈75–100p/$ | ≈75–100p/$ |
| Withdrawal fee | ₹0 | $5 per withdrawal | 2 free/yr; $5 after |
| Route | GIFT City IFSC | LRS | LRS |
| Schedule FA helper | Basic | Yes | Yes |
| Min deposit | $100 | None | None |
Brokerage
At $10,000 per trade, both charge $25 (Upstox cap) vs $25 (2.5% on $10K). Wait — Upstox's cap of $25 kicks in at $10,000 (0.25% × $10K = $25). Vested's $35 cap kicks in at $14,000. So for trades between $10,000 and $14,000, Upstox is cheaper:
| Trade $10K–$14K | Upstox ($25 cap) | Vested Basic ($35 cap) | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $25.00 | $25.00 | $0 |
| $12,000 | $25.00 | $30.00 | $5.00 |
| $14,000 | $25.00 | $35.00 | $10.00 |
| $20,000 | $25.00 | $35.00 | $10.00 |
Above $10,000, Upstox's lower cap saves up to $10 per trade. For investors making ₹8.5L–₹17L per trade regularly, this adds up.
Withdrawal fees: Upstox wins clearly
Upstox: ₹0 per repatriation.
Vested Basic: $5 per repatriation.
For an investor repatriating once per year: $5 (≈₹425) saving.
For an investor repatriating quarterly: $20 (≈₹1,700) saving per year.
Over 3 years of quarterly repatriation: $60 (≈₹5,100) saved vs Vested Basic.
Route difference
Upstox uses GIFT City IFSC; Vested uses LRS. Same TCS rates apply. Key differences:
- Upstox: NEFT/IMPS (same day), no SWIFT
- Vested: SWIFT (2–5 days), A2 form may be required
- Section 10(4D) potential: Upstox (verify with CA); not available on Vested's LRS route
- Schedule FA: Vested has established tooling; Upstox treatment is still evolving
Tax documentation: Vested leads
Vested has Schedule FA helper tools and LRS calculators built for Indian investors — accumulated over 7 years of operations. Upstox is a September 2026 launch with standard tax reporting at this stage.
Decision
Choose Upstox if:
- You are an existing Upstox user
- You make trades of $10,000+ regularly — Upstox's $25 cap saves vs Vested's $35
- You repatriate regularly — free vs $5/withdrawal
- GIFT City route and NEFT convenience matter
Choose Vested if:
- You are already on Vested with Schedule FA history
- You need the Schedule FA helper and LRS compliance tooling
- You value 7+ years of operating history
- Vested Premium (0.15% brokerage) fits your high-turnover pattern
Related reading
- Upstox 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 Upstox or Vested better for US stocks? ▾
- Both charge 0.25% brokerage. Upstox has a $25 cap (vs Vested's $35) and free repatriation (vs Vested Basic's $5). Vested has a longer track record, Schedule FA helper, and LRS route certainty. Upstox's GIFT City route may qualify for Section 10(4D) gains exemption. For existing Upstox users, Upstox is the natural choice; for existing Vested users, switching needs to justify the friction.
- Does Upstox charge for withdrawals? ▾
- No. Upstox does not charge a platform fee on repatriation. Vested Basic charges $5 per withdrawal; Vested Premium gives 2 free withdrawals/year then $5. Over 3 years with 2 repatriations per year, this saves ₹2,550 vs Vested Basic.
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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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