Angel One, Zerodha expand US stock investing access for Indian investors

Angel One and Zerodha are enabling Indian investors to invest in US markets without using only domestic equity platforms. Their services offer access to US-listed companies and ETFs, giving investors another way to build portfolios and seek exposure to international businesses.

Angel One is adding US stock investing to its app for a limited group first, with a wider rollout expected by mid-November. Zerodha has launched a beta service with access to about 2,000 US-listed stocks and 1,000 ETFs. Angel One also supports fractional investing, so users can buy part of a share.

The expansion follows approval for international investing through GIFT City in Gujarat. Angel One will waive brokerage charges until December 2026, then charge 0.1% per trade, with a $0.99 minimum. Regulatory charges, GST, and foreign-exchange costs still apply, and investments remain subject to India's LRS rules.

US-listed stocks are shares of companies traded on US exchanges. Buying one gives an investor ownership exposure to a particular business, such as Apple or Nvidia. An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, is a fund whose units trade on an exchange and generally hold a collection of assets. It can therefore spread exposure across several companies or investments.

For example, an investor could buy an individual share of Amazon to focus on that company. Alternatively, the investor could choose an ETF that holds multiple companies, depending on the ETF's design. Angel One's service includes both US-listed stocks and ETFs, while Zerodha says it offers about 2,000 stocks and 1,000 ETFs.

The main difference is concentration. A single stock ties performance more closely to one company, while an ETF can provide a wider basket through one transaction. The article does not specify the holdings or strategies of the available ETFs, so investors would need to review each product before investing.

The new access is broad, especially on Zerodha's beta platform. It includes around 2,000 US-listed stocks and 1,000 ETFs. That gives Indian investors access to many international companies and funds through one investing route, rather than limiting them to a small list of securities.

The article names Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Netflix, Spotify, and Toyota as examples available through Angel One. Angel One also supports fractional investing. This mechanism lets an investor purchase a portion of a share instead of paying for one complete share, which can make high-priced stocks easier to access.

The platforms are at different rollout stages. Angel One is initially serving a limited group, with wider availability expected by mid-November. Zerodha's service is in beta. The article gives Zerodha's numerical coverage, but it does not state an equivalent total for Angel One. Availability and applicable charges may therefore differ between platforms.

Direct access changes the range of businesses Indian investors can consider. Instead of choosing only companies listed in India, they can seek exposure to major US and global companies such as Apple, Nvidia, and Amazon. This may be especially relevant for investors interested in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and semiconductors.

The key mechanism is platform access through the newly available services. Angel One is adding US-listed stocks and ETFs to its app, while Zerodha's beta platform covers about 2,000 stocks and 1,000 ETFs. Angel One also allows fractional investing, so an investor can buy part of a share rather than a full unit.

The change does not remove investment costs or rules. Angel One's brokerage is free until December 2026, then becomes 0.1% per trade, with a $0.99 minimum. Regulatory charges, GST, foreign-exchange conversion costs, and LRS requirements remain. US securities may also carry SIPC protection under applicable conditions.

An Indian investor might choose US markets to look beyond domestic equities. The article highlights demand for international equities and portfolio diversification. US access can connect investors with global businesses and sectors such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and semiconductors, alongside familiar companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia.

The practical mechanism is direct access through Angel One and Zerodha. Investors can buy US-listed stocks or ETFs, and Angel One supports fractional shares. Zerodha's beta service offers around 2,000 stocks and 1,000 ETFs. This creates more choices than investing only through a domestic-company list, although access does not guarantee returns.

The trade-off is added complexity. Investments are subject to India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme and other regulations. Investors may also pay foreign-exchange conversion costs, regulatory charges, GST, and brokerage after Angel One's waiver ends. Currency movements and foreign-market rules can affect outcomes, so broader choice also requires careful attention to costs and risk.

GIFT City in Gujarat is the location through which brokers can offer international investing. The International Financial Services Centres Authority approved brokers offering this service through GIFT City. That approval supports the infrastructure behind Angel One's and Zerodha's expanded access to US securities.

The mechanism has several parts. Platforms provide the investing interface and access to US stocks and ETFs. The approved GIFT City route enables the international service. The RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme sets the remittance framework that applies to Indian investors sending money abroad. Investors must follow that scheme and other applicable requirements.

This means access is broader, but not unrestricted. The article does not describe the LRS limit or every compliance step. It states that investments through these platforms are subject to LRS and regulatory requirements. Charges can also apply, including foreign-exchange conversion costs, regulatory charges, GST, and brokerage under the platforms' pricing structures.

Holding investments across countries can reduce portfolio concentration because an investor is not relying only on one domestic equity market. Access to US-listed companies and ETFs lets Indian investors add exposure to global businesses and sectors. This broader mix may make the portfolio less tied to developments in Indian equities alone.

The mechanism works in both directions. A US holding can perform differently from an Indian holding, but its value for an Indian investor is also affected by the exchange rate between the two currencies. The investment is subject to foreign-market rules and India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Different platforms may also have different pricing structures.

Cross-border investing therefore brings extra costs and obligations. The article lists regulatory charges, GST, and foreign-exchange conversion costs. Angel One will charge 0.1% per trade, with a $0.99 minimum, after December 2026. Diversification can widen opportunity, but investors still face market, currency, regulatory, and fee-related risks.