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Is Angel One safe and registered in India? SEBI licences and 2026 complaints

Angel One is a legally registered stock broker holding five active SEBI licences. While the regulatory standing is verified, practical safety for a retail investor involves more. Recent users complain about the app freezing during market moves and charging unexpected fees.

By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-27

Yes, Angel One is a legally registered stock broker holding five active SEBI licences (Qrates directory). It is one of the largest stock broking and trading apps in India, with over 10 crore installs and a 4.40 lifetime rating on Google Play. However, retail investors face practical safety issues today, with recent users complaining about the app freezing during market moves and charging unexpected fees.

Quick answer: Is Angel One safe and registered in India?

Angel One is a legitimate stock broker registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India. It holds five active SEBI licences, including registrations as a stock broker and a depository participant. The company operates under strict regulatory oversight in India.

While the regulatory standing is verified, practical safety for a retail investor involves more than just a licence. Real users currently report issues with the app freezing during active trading hours. Others complain about unexpected fees that were not made clear during sign-up.

Licence and registration details

Stock broker and depository participant

Angel One Limited holds the SEBI stock broker licence INZ000161534 (Angel One Official Website). This licence permits the company to execute trades on the stock exchanges on your behalf.

It is also a registered depository participant under the registration number IN-DP-384-2018. This means your purchased shares are held safely by the central depository, which is either CDSL or NSDL. The broker itself does not hold your shares.

Research, advisory and portfolio management

The company holds three additional active SEBI licences for other financial services. It is registered as a Research Analyst with the licence number INH000000164. It also operates as an Investment Adviser under the registration number INA000008172.

Finally, the company holds a Portfolio Manager licence under the number INP000001546. You can check the latest figures and verify all five SEBI registration numbers on the Angel One Qrates page.

Regulator warnings and compliance

As a SEBI registered stock broker and an exchange member, Angel One is subject to regular audits and strict compliance rules. SEBI rules prohibit brokers from using uninvested client money for their own proprietary trading (SEBI Official Website). Client funds must be kept in segregated bank accounts.

Margin pledge rules also protect your holdings. A broker cannot move or pledge your shares without your permission. The rules require your explicit OTP authorization before any shares can be pledged.

If a broker violates these rules, users can file formal complaints. The NSE Grievance Dashboard allows you to view formal complaints filed against registered brokers (NSE Grievance Dashboard). This provides a public record of how a broker handles serious disputes.

What the Angel One app can read on your phone

According to the Qrates directory, the Angel One app requests permission on Google Play to read your text messages, record audio, see your location, and read phone identity.

Location and audio permissions are standard for the in-person verification process when opening a demat account. This verification step can be completed via video. Reading text messages is typically used to auto-fill OTPs during login and transaction steps. Reading phone identity helps the app verify that the registered device is the one making the trade.

What users complain about

App reliability during market hours

The Angel One app has over 10 crore installs and a lifetime Google Play rating of 4.40. However, the average of recent reviews over the last 90 days is much lower at 3.23.

The most raised problem in recent store reviews is the app breaking or freezing when the market moves. This issue was cited in 5 of 398 Google Play reviews read. App reliability during peak trading hours is a practical safety concern for users trying to enter or exit positions quickly.

Unexpected brokerage charges

Users also complain about charges nobody mentioned. This problem appeared in 4 of 398 Google Play reviews read.

These complaints often relate to depository participant charges, margin pledge fees, or annual maintenance charges. First-time investors often miss these fees because they are buried in the Angel One vs Groww: Brokerage, AMC and hidden charges in 2026 tariff sheet rather than displayed on the trading screen.

Customer support response

Another common issue is that nobody answers support requests, which was noted in 4 of 398 recent Google Play reviews. Poor customer service leaves users stranded when a trade fails or money does not reflect in their account.

On the positive side, Angel One replies to 100 percent of one and two star reviews in the store. Many users also praise the app as easy to use. This positive feedback was noted in 9 of 398 Google Play reviews and 10 of 300 App Store reviews.

How to check a broker's SEBI registration yourself

You can verify the active status of any broker directly with the regulator. If you are unsure about a platform's legitimacy, learn how to check if a stock broker is SEBI registered and spot fake trading apps before you deposit funds.

  1. Go to the official SEBI website at sebi.gov.in.
  2. Scroll to the Intermediaries section and click Recognised Intermediaries.
  3. Select Stock Brokers or Depository Participants from the drop down menu.
  4. Search for Angel One Limited or enter the registration number INZ000161534 to verify the current active status.

FAQs

Is my money safe in an Angel One demat account?

Yes, your shares are held by the central depository rather than the broker. Uninvested funds are kept in segregated bank accounts as per SEBI rules. You can also compare money apps side by side to see how Angel One stacks up against other popular platforms.

What are the hidden charges in Angel One?

Users frequently report unexpected fees in app reviews. You should check the official tariff sheet for depository participant charges, pledge fees, and annual maintenance charges.

Can Angel One steal my shares?

No, a broker cannot move or pledge your shares without your permission. SEBI margin pledge rules require your explicit OTP authorization for such actions.

Angel One safe hai ya nahi?

It is a legally registered and regulated broker in India. It holds five active SEBI licences, making it a legitimate platform for trading and investing. For a broader perspective, you can read our Angel One vs Groww vs Investing.com: Stock Broking and Trading Apps Compared analysis.

The short version

  • Angel One is a legitimate stock broker with five active SEBI licences, including stock broker (INZ000161534) and depository participant (IN-DP-384-2018).
  • The app has over 10 crore installs and a lifetime Google Play rating of 4.40.
  • Recent reviews average 3.23, with users complaining about the app freezing during market moves and unexpected charges.
  • SEBI rules mandate that your shares are held by CDSL or NSDL, and your uninvested funds are kept in segregated bank accounts.
  • The app requests phone permissions to read text messages, record audio, see your location, and read phone identity.

Sources

Disclaimer

Qrates is an information directory. It takes no commission from any company listed and does not recommend products. Figures are taken from the sources named and dated, and they change; check the company's own page before you decide. This is not investment, credit, insurance or tax advice for your situation. A licence or a clean record today does not guarantee how a company behaves later. To complain, use the regulator's own portal (RBI CMS, SEBI SCORES or IRDAI Bima Bharosa).

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