INDmoney or Vested: Which is Better for US Investing (2026)?

Here is the uncomfortable truth about your savings in 2026: they are leaking value.

If you hold your money in a standard SBI fixed deposit, you are likely earning around 6.8% annually. Meanwhile, retail inflation in India is hovering near 5.8%, according to recent data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). After taxes, your real return is barely positive.

But there is a second leak: currency depreciation. Over the last decade, the Indian Rupee has lost roughly 3% to 4% of its value against the US Dollar every year.

To plug these leaks, many Indian investors look toward US Investments. Buying shares of global giants like Apple, Microsoft, or Nvidia is no longer just about chasing growth; it is about hedging your hard-earned capital against the weakening Rupee.

Five years ago, investing abroad was a headache reserved for the ultra-wealthy. Today, fintech apps have democratized the process. The two loudest names in this space are INDmoney and Vested.

On the surface, they look identical offering “zero commission” trading. But as an analyst who has watched fintech cycles come and go, I know that “free” usually means the cost is hidden elsewhere.

Let’s pop the hood and see which engine is built better for your financial journey.

Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

• The Real Cost is Forex: Both apps offer zero brokerage on trades. The actual cost is the foreign exchange (forex) fee charged by banks to convert INR to USD, which can range from 0.5% to 2.5%.
• The Ecosystem vs. The Specialist: INDmoney is a “super app” that tracks your entire Indian and US portfolio. Vested is a focused specialist dedicated purely to the US market.
• The TCS Elephant: Remember, under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), any amount remitted over ₹7 Lakhs in a financial year attracts a 20% Tax Collected at Source (TCS). This is refundable, but it locks up your capital.

The Deep Dive: Understanding the Plumbing

Before comparing the apps, you must understand the mechanism. Neither INDmoney nor Vested are brokers in the traditional sense. They are technology platforms—essentially fancy user interfaces.

When you buy a US stock through them, the actual execution and custody of your shares are handled by a US-based brokerage partner. Currently, both platforms primarily partner with DriveWealth LLC.

This is good news. DriveWealth is regulated in the US and is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). This means your US securities are protected up to $500,000 in the unlikely event that the US broker goes bust. (Note: This protects against broker failure, not investment losses).

The Friction Point: Sending Money Abroad

The hardest part of US Investments is not picking the stock; it is funding the account. You must utilize the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), which allows resident individuals to remit up to $250,000 per financial year.

This process involves your Indian bank converting Rupees to Dollars and sending them via the SWIFT network. This is where the fees hide.

INDmoney: The Aggressive Ecosystem

INDmoney wants to be the Google of your financial life. It started as a portfolio tracker and expanded into US stocks, neobanking, and advisory.

• The Experience: The app is feature-rich, sometimes bordering on cluttered. It excels at giving you a single view of your net worth, tracking your Indian mutual funds, Stocks, EPF, and US stocks together.
• Funding the Account: INDmoney aggressively pushes its own “neobanking” savings account (partnered with small finance banks). If you use their partner bank, they claim to offer zero markup on the forex rate, significantly lowering the cost of transfer.
• Pros: Excellent all-in-one tracking; potentially lower forex costs if you use their banking ecosystem.
• Cons: The UI can be overwhelming; frequent notifications to cross-sell other products.

Vested: The Focused Specialist

Vested has taken a singular approach: simplify US Investments for Indians. It does one thing and tries to do it well.

• The Experience: The interface is clean, minimalist, and purpose-built for US trading. It offers pre-built portfolios called “Vests” (similar to smallcases) based on themes like SaaS or Biotech.
• Funding the Account: Vested offers a standard transfer process via your existing bank. They also introduced “Vested Direct,” a premium integration with specific banks that lowers the forex markup and digitalizes the LRS paperwork, making transfers faster.
• Pros: Clean, focused user experience; innovative products like “Vests”; dedicated support for US investing issues.
• Cons: It is another standalone app; it doesn’t track your Indian portfolio.

Comparison Table: Head-to-Head

The Contrarian View: The Myth of “Zero Cost”

Many beginners are lured into US Investments by the “zero commission” marketing banner. Do not let this fool you.

In finance, if you are not paying for the product, the costs are just shifted.

While you save $2-$3 on trading commissions, you might be losing 1% to 2% of your entire capital every time you transfer money. If your bank charges a ₹1000 SWIFT fee plus a 1.5% forex spread on a $1000 transfer, your “zero cost” investment just cost you over $25 before you bought a single share.

Furthermore, consider the taxation trend. The 20% TCS on remittances over ₹7 Lakhs is a significant cash-flow hurdle. While you can claim it as a refund when filing your ITR, the government effectively holds 20% of your capital interest-free for months.

Actionable Conclusion

Both platforms are credible gateways for US Investments. Your choice depends on your personality as an investor.

1. Choose INDmoney if: You want a single dashboard for your entire financial life and are willing to open a new savings account within their ecosystem to minimize forex fees.
2. Choose Vested if: You want a clutter-free, dedicated platform for US stocks and prefer pre-built portfolios (“Vests”) to guide your decisions.
3. The Golden Rule: Regardless of the app, accumulate a decent sum (at least $500 – $1000) before transferring. Sending small amounts frequently will erode your capital through fixed SWIFT fees.

The bridge to the US markets is open, but ensure you know the toll tax before crossing.

References & Source Links

• MOSPI (India Inflation Data): Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
• SBI Fixed Deposit Rates: State Bank of India Interest Rates
• RBI Master Direction on LRS: Reserve Bank of India
• SIPC Insurance Explained: Securities Investor Protection Corporation
• Vested vs INDmoney Charges Discussion (Reddit 2025)​
• INDmoney vs Vested Fee Analysis (RetireWithRohit)​
• TCS Threshold Update Budget 2025​
• USD INR Forecast 2026​
• DriveWealth Partnership Confirmation​
• INDmoney US Stocks Safety & Backend​
• TCS Rules 2025 (Wise)​
• INDmoney GIFT City Offering​

Disclaimer: I am not a SEBI registered investment advisor. This article is for educational purposes only and represents my analysis of the platforms. Investing in US markets involves risks, including currency fluctuations and market volatility. Fees mentioned are subject to change by the platforms and banks. Please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

PiyushK

Piyush is a portfolio management executive with 15 years of experience in digital transformation and strategic finance. He holds an MBA from IIM Kozhikode and specializes in personal finance strategy, investment fundamentals, and AI-driven financial tools. He writes about making financial concepts accessible and building sustainable wealth through technology and automation.