Groww is a sleek, easy-to-use investment app that allows individuals in India to invest in stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and even gold in digital form—all on their phone or laptop. With the vision of making investing easier, Groww removes the fear factor associated with using traditional brokers. It features a clean interface, easy sign-up, and minimal technical jargon, making it particularly appealing to novice investors who might otherwise be intimidated by the stock market.
The founders started Groww with a single goal: to make investing as simple as buying stuff online. They envisioned a platform where an individual with zero knowledge about finance could begin investing in minutes. Theirs was not a goal merely to provide a platform for selling and buying stocks—rather, it was to craft an ecosystem where transparency, education, and simplicity come together.
For new investors, the attraction is its simple interface, commission-free mutual fund investments, and effortless sign-up. For regular traders, Groww provides smooth stock trading, professional charts, and competitive fees versus traditional brokers. It fills the middle ground between occasional investors and serious traders, striking a balance between simplicity and functionality.
The History and Growth of Groww
Groww was started by four Flipkart alumni in 2016: Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal. Their common experience in e-commerce and technology influenced the app’s user-friendly interface. Groww initially offered investment in only mutual funds but diversified into stocks, digital gold, ETFs, and fixed deposits as demand picked up from users.
Timeline of Major Milestones
- 2016 – Groww is founded in Bengaluru.
- 2017 – Mutual fund investment feature goes live.
- 2020 – Stock trading launches, attracting millions of new users.
- 2021 – Groww becomes a unicorn after Series D funding.
- 2022 & Beyond – Expansion into fixed deposits and advanced trading tools.
Funding, Valuation & Achievements
Supported by marquee investors such as Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, and YC Continuity, Groww has raised several rounds of capital, valuing it at over $3 billion. Its milestones include becoming the most popular app on app store charts, reaching over 40 million registered users, and emerging as one of the fastest-growing investment platforms in India.
How Groww Works
- Creating an Account: Firstly, users download the app or go to the website, register using an email or telephone number, and confirm their identity. It is all paperless—the user does not have to go to an office or send paperwork by post.
- KYC and Verification Process: Know Your Customer (KYC) is compulsory according to SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) guidelines. Groww employs Aadhaar-based e-KYC for real-time verification. You upload your PAN card, address proof, and a selfie for face verification. Most accounts get activated within 24 hours, usually within minutes.
- Navigating the Dashboard: Once inside, the dashboard neatly displays your portfolio, watchlist, and investment options. You can filter stocks by market cap, sector, or popularity. Mutual funds can be sorted by returns, risk level, or AMC. It’s designed so that even first-time users won’t feel lost.
Features of Groww
- Mutual Fund Investments: Groww offers access to thousands of mutual fund schemes from top AMCs in India. The best part? It charges zero commission, meaning you invest in direct plans with lower expense ratios, maximizing your returns over time.
- Stock Trading: With Groww, you can trade NSE and BSE stocks in real time. It offers intraday as well as delivery trading. The interface provides sophisticated charts, price alerts, and market news, without burying the new user.
- Digital Gold, ETFs, and Other Products: In addition to stocks and mutual funds, Groww also lets you invest in digital gold for as low as ₹10, trade ETFs, and buy fixed deposits from various banks—all from one platform.
Pros and Cons of Using Groww
Advantages for Investors
- Simple, beginner-friendly design.
- Zero commission on mutual funds.
- Low brokerage fees for stock trading.
- Wide variety of investment options.
- Fully digital KYC process.
Limitations and Drawbacks
- No commodity or currency trading.
- Limited research tools compared to advanced brokers.
- Customer support can be slow during peak times.
Groww is perfect for any individual looking for a straightforward way to invest. New investors will love how easy it is, while intermediate investors can take advantage of the stock trading benefits. That being said, if you are a seasoned day trader looking for extremely sophisticated analysis tools, you may find it a bit restrictive.
Charges and Fees Structure
Groww keeps its pricing transparent and competitive. For equity delivery (buying shares and holding them), Groww charges ₹20 or 0.05% per executed order—whichever is lower. This is far cheaper than many traditional brokers who charge a percentage of trade value. For intraday trading, the same rate applies. Mutual fund investments are completely free of commission, which means you’re investing in direct plans with lower expense ratios.
Other Hidden Fees
While Groww is upfront about brokerage, investors should still be aware of additional charges. These include:
- Exchange Transaction Charges – levied by NSE/BSE.
- SEBI Turnover Charges – a nominal fee per trade.
- Depository Participant (DP) Charges – ₹8 + GST per scrip on sell transactions.
- GST – applied on brokerage and transaction charges.
Security and Safety Measures
How Safe is Your Money on Groww?
Groww is SEBI-registered as a stockbroker and AMFI-registered for the distribution of mutual funds. Your investments are not kept in your Groww account but in your demat account with CDSL. So even if Groww’s business ends, your holdings are safe and secure.
Data Privacy and Encryption: The platform utilizes 256-bit SSL encryption for all transactions, making sure your personal and financial information is safe. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is also active to provide an additional layer of security during logins and transactions.
Regulatory Compliance: Groww is strictly compliant with SEBI regulations. It is also a member of NSE, BSE, and CDSL, which implies your trades and holdings are executed and stored through official channels, providing legal and operational safeguards.
How to Start Investing on Groww
Step-by-Step Guide to Buying Stocks
- Login to your Groww account.
- Search for the stock you want.
- Select Buy.
- Enter the number of shares and type of order (market or limit).
- Confirm and place the order.
Investing in Mutual Funds
- Go to the Mutual Funds section.
- Use filters to find a suitable scheme.
- Select Invest.
- Choose between Lump Sum or SIP.
- Confirm and complete the payment.
Diversifying Your Portfolio: Groww’s filters and sorting tools make it easy to diversify. For example, you can split investments between large-cap stocks, balanced mutual funds, and gold ETFs—all within the same app.
Groww vs. Other Trading Platforms
Groww vs. Zerodha
Zerodha is a leader in India’s discount brokerage market and provides sophisticated trading platforms such as Kite and Coin. It serves significantly active traders and veteran investors. Groww, in contrast, emphasizes a neater, more minimalistic interface for novices, with the benefit of zero-commission mutual funds. Zerodha provides commodity and currency trading—Groww does not.
Groww vs. Upstox
Upstox is comparable to Zerodha in low brokerage and trading facilities but with a newer UI. Groww still takes the cake when it comes to user-friendliness of mutual funds and new investor onboarding, while Upstox takes a small lead for users who desire derivatives and more sophisticated order types.
Which Platform is Best for You?
- If you’re a beginner: Groww is the easiest to start with.
- If you’re a day trader: Zerodha or Upstox might offer more tools.
- If you want a mix of both worlds: You can actually use Groww for mutual funds and another broker for advanced trading.
Customer Support and User Experience
- Support Channels: Groww provides email support, in-app chat, and a help center with guides and articles. Though there is no telephonic support available for most questions, the responses via email are clear and useful.
- Response Time: Email responses usually take 24–48 hours. The in-app support section is accessible immediately for self-help, but wait times are longer in the case of market volatility due to high volumes of queries.
- User Feedback and Reviews: The majority of the reviews are positive regarding Groww’s simplicity and ease of use. The only regular complaints are related to delayed support response times and some delays during peak market hours. Generally, user satisfaction is high, particularly for mutual fund investors.
Future of Groww
- Upcoming Features: Groww has teased plans to introduce more sophisticated charting capabilities, improved stock research features, and even fixed-income investments in terms of bonds and government securities in the immediate future.
- Growth Potential in India: With India’s retail investor universe growing aggressively, Groww is poised to pick up new investors, particularly the young and technologically advanced generation that is joining the markets.
- Challenges Ahead: Regulatory shifts, competition from other cheap brokers, and keeping platform speed during times of high usage will be top challenges for Groww in the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
Groww has revolutionized investing for millions of Indians by making it easy, cheap, and accessible. Mutual funds for trading stocks, with their emphasis on user experience, have placed it at the top as a starter platform, yet it continues to serve serious investors.
Though it does not have some of the higher-end features offered by other brokers, its minimalist approach, transparent pricing, and learning strategy make it a great wealth-building tool over the long term.
Learn More:
- How to Start Investing in Mutual Funds in India – Step-by-Step Process for Beginners
- Difference Between Mutual Funds and Stocks – Which is Better for Beginners?
- Understanding NAV (Net Asset Value) in Mutual Funds – What It Means and Why It Matters
- Risks Involved in Mutual Fund Investments – Common Risks and How to Manage Them
FAQs: Groww
1. Is Groww safe for beginners?
Yes, Groww is SEBI-registered and CDSL-backed, ensuring your investments are secure.
2. How much money do I need to start investing on Groww?
You can start with as little as ₹10 for digital gold or ₹100 for some mutual funds.
3. Can I use Groww outside India?
Currently, Groww is available only to Indian residents with valid KYC documents.
4. Does Groww charge for mutual fund investments?
No, mutual fund investments on Groww are 100% commission-free.
5. How does Groww make money?
Groww earns from stock trading brokerage, interest on idle funds, and partnerships with financial institutions.
