INDmoney and Vested both let you buy US stocks from India, but they are built differently. INDmoney runs US investing through its GIFT City unit, charges 0.25% a trade capped at $25 and adds London-listed UCITS ETFs. Vested holds your shares through its own US broker-dealer and charges 0.25% capped at $35 on its free plan, or 0.15% on Premium. Up to $10,000 an order, the free plans cost the same. Above that, INDmoney is cheaper.
How do INDmoney and Vested compare at a glance?
Here is how the two compare as of October 2026, from INDmoney's and Vested's own pricing and fee pages.
| Feature | INDmoney | Vested |
|---|---|---|
| How you hold US stocks | Through INDmoney's GIFT City unit, regulated by IFSCA | Through Vested's own US broker-dealer, VF Securities, Inc. |
| US clearing broker | DriveWealth or Alpaca | DriveWealth |
| Brokerage per trade | 0.25%, capped at $25, plus GST | 0.25% capped at $35 (Basic), 0.15% capped at $35 (Premium) |
| Plan fee | None | Basic free, Premium $4.99 a month |
| Account opening | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| Forex on funding | 0.5% to 1.2%, charged by partner banks | Not published, depends on your bank |
| Withdrawals to India | $0 | Free above $100, $3 below $100 |
| Beyond US stocks and ETFs | London-listed UCITS ETFs | Managed portfolios (Vests), global funds, OTC securities |
| SIPs in US stocks | Weekly or monthly | Weekly or monthly |
| Outgoing ACATS transfer | Not listed on its pricing page | $65 per transfer |
What does each charge on a US trade?
Here is what each charges on a US trade, as of October 2026.
| Charge | INDmoney | Vested Basic | Vested Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brokerage | 0.25% of trade value | 0.25% of trade value | 0.15% of trade value |
| Cap per order | $25, before GST | $35 | $35 |
| Plan fee | None | None | $4.99 a month |
| Other charges | SEC and TAF fees on sells, IFSCA turnover fee of 0.005% | OTC securities at 0.5% (Basic) or 0.25% (Premium) | Same as Basic |
Fees are taken from INDmoney's and Vested's published pricing and fee pages.
What does it cost to fund and withdraw?
Currency conversion is usually a bigger cost than brokerage on either platform. Money leaves India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, up to $250,000 a financial year. TCS may apply above a yearly threshold, as Paasa's TCS guide explains.
- INDmoney: you remit in the app through partner banks (HDFC, Federal, ICICI, Kotak and IDFC). The bank charges 0.5% to 1.2% for conversion and INDmoney adds no transfer fee. Withdrawals to your linked Indian account are free.
- Vested: you fund through your own bank or a Vested partner bank. Vested does not publish a forex rate, so the cost depends on your bank. Withdrawals to India are free above $100 and cost $3 below that. Withdrawals in USD cost $5.
Note: on ₹10 lakh, a 0.5% to 1.2% markup costs ₹5,000 to ₹12,000. That is more than the brokerage on most orders, so compare the conversion rate before you send money.
What can you buy on each?
Both offer US stocks and ETFs with weekly or monthly SIPs. The difference is what sits around them.
- INDmoney: 10,000+ US stocks and ETFs, fractional from $1, plus London-listed UCITS ETFs. UCITS ETFs can reduce dividend tax and US estate tax exposure, as Paasa's UCITS guide explains.
- Vested: US stocks and ETFs, extended-hours trading, Vests (managed portfolios with an advisory fee of 0.6% to 1% of AUM a year), global funds and some OTC securities, including European companies.
Neither lets you buy individual stocks listed on exchanges in the UK, Europe or Asia.
How safe is your money on INDmoney and Vested?
Both are legal routes for Indian residents: investing in US stocks through INDmoney or Vested is allowed under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Your US stocks sit with a regulated US broker on both platforms, not in your Indian demat account. The structure in between is different.
1. Is INDmoney safe?
INDmoney offers US stocks through its GIFT City unit, which is regulated by IFSCA as a broker-dealer and Global Access Provider. Trades clear through DriveWealth or Alpaca, both US-regulated brokers. INDmoney is the holder of record at the US broker, and your ownership is recorded in INDmoney's books. INDmoney states SIPC protection of up to $500,000, including $250,000 cash.
2. Is Vested safe?
Vested offers US stocks through VF Securities, Inc., its own US broker-dealer and a member of FINRA and SIPC (CRD 315194), with DriveWealth as the clearing broker. SIPC protects up to $500,000 per customer, including $250,000 cash, if the broker fails.
Note: SIPC protects against a broker failing, not against a fall in share prices.
What do you get at tax time?
Both give you documents for your Indian return, and INDmoney does more of the filing for you.
- INDmoney: a tax centre that pre-fills Schedule FA and supports ITR filing in the app.
- Vested: a tax module with one-click ITR documents, plus a tax loss harvesting tool.
The tax rules are the same on both. Paasa's guide to how foreign stocks are taxed in India and Schedule FA guide walk through each step.
Should you choose INDmoney or Vested?
Choose INDmoney for larger orders, free withdrawals, UCITS ETFs and more tax filing help in one app. Choose Vested for managed portfolios, global funds and shares held through its own US broker-dealer.
| If you want… | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Single orders above $10,000 | INDmoney |
| UCITS ETFs alongside US stocks | INDmoney |
| Free withdrawals of any size | INDmoney |
| Schedule FA pre-filled in the app | INDmoney |
| Managed portfolios and global funds | Vested |
| Your shares held by your platform's own US broker-dealer | Vested |
Can you move your holdings later?
Yes. US stocks and ETFs can move between brokers through an in-kind ACATS transfer, without selling, so switching does not trigger capital gains tax.
Vested charges $65 per outgoing ACATS transfer. INDmoney does not list a transfer-out fee on its pricing page, so ask before you start. Paasa's transfer guide explains the process.
To see how both compare with a multi-market account, read INDmoney vs Vested vs Paasa.
About Paasa
Paasa is a global investing platform built for Indian and Asian investors, and open to anyone who wants direct access to global markets.
- More markets in one account: buy stocks and ETFs across the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, including UCITS ETFs.
- Costs you can see: 0.10% brokerage on US stocks plus a $0.15 ticket charge (minimum $0.50, maximum $50), currency conversion at the mid-market rate for 0.03% (minimum $2), and 3.38% on uninvested cash above $10,000.
- Move without selling: transfer your US holdings from INDmoney or Vested in-kind, with India-ready tax reports once you arrive.
