If you’re planning to open a trading account, Zerodha is probably one of the first names you hear. There’s a good reason for that. The platform feels clean, simple, and affordable, and it attracts beginners who want a smooth start in the market.
For many Indians, Zerodha made stock trading feel accessible. Low charges, a friendly interface, and easy to learn tools give users confidence when they begin.
Still, no broker is flawless. As you dig deeper, you’ll find a few recurring complaints that investors often talk about. These concerns matter, especially when real money is at stake.
Zerodha remains a solid choice, but it’s not perfect. A smart investor checks both the good and concerning parts before trusting any platform.
Zerodha Review
Zerodha is one of India’s largest and most trusted discount brokers, known for its low-cost trading, clean interface, and beginner-friendly tools.
It offers services across equity, F&O, commodities, and mutual funds, all through a smooth app and web platform.
Over the years, Zerodha has built a strong reputation for transparency and affordability, becoming the first choice for many new and experienced traders in India.
Zerodha User Complaints
While Zerodha is widely trusted, some traders have raised concerns about issues like sudden order rejections, delays in fund settlement, technical glitches during peak market hours, and slow or repetitive customer support responses.
These problems don’t affect everyone, but they show that even a top broker has areas where users need to stay cautious and informed.
According to the latest data, Zerodha has over 70 lakh active clients and received 535 complaints during the 2025-26 period.
Out of these, 459 were resolved with zero cases marked non-actionable or pushed into arbitration.
Around 76 complaints are still pending, giving Zerodha a very low complaint ratio of just 0.008%, one of the lowest considering its massive user base.
Types of Zerodha Complaints
Type I: Payment Related Problems
Type II: Securities-Related Issues
Type III: Document-Related Problems
Type IV: Unauthorized Trades/Misappropriation of Client’s fund
Type V: Service Related Issues
Type VI: Closing Out / Squaring Up Issues
Type IX: Miscellaneous issues
However, being a big name in the industry doesn’t mean perfection. There are some complaints that have been raised by Zerodha’s clients. Some of these issues are posted online, whereas some reached the arbitrator.
Let’s dig deep into the issues:
Recently, Zerodha has been getting heat from some users online who say they’re facing intermittent problems, mainly with charts and API performance.
A few users posted on X that charts have been acting up for days, while one user even shared what looked like API error logs and claimed something was “wrong with Zerodha.”
What people are really upset about isn’t just the glitch, but it’s the back-and-forth.
Some users questioned why Zerodha was asking customers for basic troubleshooting details, saying a platform of this scale should already know when API calls are failing through its own monitoring and logs.
For investors and traders, this matters because even short disruptions can delay decisions.
Long-term investors may only feel inconvenience, but active traders, especially those who rely on charts or API-based strategies, can be hit harder if data or execution becomes unreliable at the wrong time.
Zerodha Complaints on Community Platform
Across community platforms like MouthShut, Quora, and Trustpilot, Zerodha reviews often come from users sharing real trading or account-related frustrations.
The overall sentiment is largely negative, with repeated complaints about support, platform reliability, and account/process delays.
One user says that during the expiry week, their account suddenly showed a big negative balance and high margin usage, and they were unable to place new buy orders even though they believed funds were available.
They also claim the support executive didn’t explain the calculation clearly, spoke in an unprofessional way, and warned about squaring off and extra charges, which made the user feel their money was being blocked due to “hidden rules.”
Some Quora-style reviews focus more on reliability, saying the low brokerage doesn’t matter if the platform faces technical issues or downtime when traders urgently need to enter or exit positions.
Another short review uses strong language to warn that weak support and poor platform experience can hurt a trader’s capital, implying that people who trade actively should be careful.
Other reviews highlight operational issues like account-opening or compliance delays, repeated document re-uploads (including NRI demat complaints), and slow resolution on basic profile/KYC changes, leaving users feeling stuck with unclear timelines and poor communication.
Alongside these personal stories, your screenshots also show low overall ratings and a heavy share of 1-star feedback, reinforcing the same theme.
Users are mainly upset about service quality and problem-handling rather than just pricing.
Zerodha Arbitrations
As India’s largest discount broker, Zerodha has millions of users and is often praised for its low brokerage, clean interface, and tech-driven approach to trading.
But with such a massive user base, complaints are inevitable.
From sudden margin shortfalls and order rejections to platform glitches during volatile market hours, many traders find themselves frustrated when things don’t go as planned.
Most issues get resolved through customer support or the exchange’s grievance mechanisms. However, some disputes go a step further, ending up in formal arbitration proceedings under SEBI and stock exchange rules.
Here are the details of a few arbitrations filed against the broker:
Case 1: Disputed margin shortfall + sudden square-off
Mr. Jethi Subhash Chandra Saurabh (client) filed an arbitration against Zerodha Commodities Pvt. Ltd. In this case, we represented our client and fought for their rights.
The client alleged that Zerodha’s RMS squared off his open commodity positions on 2 April 2024 without giving him proper warning or a real chance to add funds.
He said this sudden square-off caused a large loss of ₹10.39 lakh.
He also pointed out that some lots were squared off and then 2 lots were later restored, which made him feel the margin calculation and the action itself were not handled carefully.
Penalty imposed
The arbitrator imposed the penalty and asked Zerodha to pay ₹10,39,000 to the client as the award amount.
Key lessons for others
- Always keep a cushion in your trading account; margins can jump suddenly after a new trade.
- If a broker squares off, immediately save proof: margin screenshots, ledger, contract notes, SMS/email history, and timestamps.
- Exchanges/SEBI framework expects upfront margin discipline, so if the broker claims “margin shortfall,” ask for the exact margin computation and the time it becomes short.
Case 2: Zerodha “Technical Glitch” Dispute
Mr. Sunil Tukaram Salunkhe (client) filed against Zerodha Broking Ltd. He claimed ₹2,49,000 for losses and charges, saying Zerodha’s Kite platform had serious problems.
He argued that there was an hour-long “hang” on 4 Jan 2021, leading to poor execution and loss, and a stop-loss failure on 1 Feb 2021, causing another loss.
He also said his support tickets were closed without solving the issue.
Zerodha denied any glitch, saying logs/bulletins showed normal functioning and that the charges were as per the signed account terms.
Penalty imposed
No penalty on Zerodha. The sole arbitrator dismissed the claim entirely because the client couldn’t prove the glitch or properly support the loss calculation with solid evidence.
Key lessons for others
- “Technical issue” complaints need hard proof: same-day ticket, screenshots, screen recordings, order/trade IDs, time-stamped error messages, and broker responses.
- Raise disputes quickly; older claims often fail because they look stale and become difficult to verify against system records.
- Arbitration is meant to be a quicker dispute resolution route when exchange complaint resolution doesn’t satisfy a party, but it still needs evidence and not just frustration.
How to Complaint Against Zerodha?
Handling complaints against brokers, preparing arbitration cases, or navigating platforms like SEBI SCORES or SMART ODR can feel overwhelming.
That’s exactly where we step in. Our goal is to make the entire process smooth, structured, and stress-free for you.
Step 1: Documentation Assistance
We help you gather, organize, and structure every document you need to trade statements, ledger reports, contract notes, call logs, screenshots, emails, and more. Your case becomes stronger because your evidence is complete, clear, and professionally arranged.
Step 2: Drafting Your Complaint
A well-written complaint can make all the difference. Our team prepares clear, accurate, and professionally formatted drafts tailored specifically for NSE, BSE, SEBI SCORES, and SMART ODR.
Step 3: Platform Filing Support
Whether you’re submitting your grievance on SCORES or filing through SMART ODR, we guide you through the entire submission process. Every detail is filled in correctly, so your application isn’t delayed or returned.
Step 4: Escalation Guidance
If your complaint needs to go beyond the broker, we show you the right escalation path, whether it’s approaching the stock exchange, initiating IGRP, or preparing for arbitration. You’re never left guessing what to do next.
Step 5: End-to-End Case Management
Once you register with us, we track your case from beginning to end. We remind you of deadlines, help you prepare responses to regulator queries, and ensure nothing gets missed at any stage.
Step 6: Support During Counseling & Arbitration
If your matter progresses to counseling or arbitration, we help you prepare strong statements, organize your evidence, and get ready with confidence.
You’ll know exactly how to present your side clearly and effectively.
When you register with us, you avoid the stress of complicated procedures, confusing paperwork, and drafting errors.
We take over the technical side, so you can focus on your recovery and peace of mind.
Conclusion
Zerodha is a strong platform, but issues can still happen. A sudden square off, system error, or wrong margin call can cause heavy loss.
When something feels unfair, you should act quickly and follow the right steps.
With proper proof and support, you can get justice through scores, the exchange, or arbitration.
Make every decision with full awareness. Your money deserves safety, clarity, and accountability.
