Short answer: Upstox API access is free— there's no monthly subscription to use the trading and data APIs anymore. The one cost to know about is a per-order fee on orders placed through the API. This guide explains what's free, what isn't, and why journaling your Upstox trades effectively costs nothing. (Verified 13 July 2026 — per-order pricing is promotional and changes; confirm with Upstox.)

Is the Upstox API free?

Yes, to access.Upstox states its trading and data APIs are available free of cost — the developer site literally headlines them “Fast, Secure, Free.” Upstox used to charge a monthly API subscription; that was removed. Reference: Upstox Developer API.

The one real cost: a per-order API fee

There is a flat fee per executed order placed via the API, applied in the contract note. Key points:

It applies only to orders placed through the API — not to trades you place manually in the Upstox web or mobile app.
It was introduced as a promotional rate (originally around ₹10 per order) and has been extended and revised over time.
Some users have reported different rates at different periods, so do not treat any single number as the current 2026 rate — check the live figure on Upstox before you rely on it.

Does a trading journal cost anything on Upstox?

Effectively no. The per-order fee is tied to placing orders through the API. A journal only readsthe trades you already made — it never places orders — so the per-order API fee simply doesn't apply. Reading your order/trade history and portfolio through the free API is enough to build a complete journal.

A note on v2 vs v3

The version difference (v2 / v3) is technical, not a pricing tier — fees are set at the account/plan level, not per API version. Pick the version your integration supports; it doesn't change what you pay.

How CernoQuant connects to Upstox

CernoQuant uses read-onlyaccess to your Upstox account — it reads executed trades to build your journal and cannot place, modify or cancel orders (so no per-order API fee is ever triggered on your behalf). Every trade lands with STT decomposition, expiry-day analytics, Greeks at entry, and tilt detection for your NSE F&O activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Upstox API cost money?

Accessing the API is free — there is no monthly subscription. Upstox charges a per-order fee only on orders placed through the API (not on manual app trades). That rate is promotional and changes, so confirm it with Upstox.

Did Upstox used to charge for API access?

Yes. Upstox previously had a monthly API subscription, which was later removed. Access is now free; the cost moved to a per-API-order fee.

Will a trading journal trigger the per-order fee?

No. The fee applies to placing orders via the API. A journal only reads your existing trades, so it never incurs the per-order charge.

Is v3 more expensive than v2?

No. The version is a technical distinction, not a pricing tier — fees are account/plan-level, not per version.

Journal your Upstox trades — no per-order fee

Read-only connection. Full NSE F&O analytics included.

Connect Upstox Free →

Upstox pricing was verified on 13 July 2026; the per-order API fee is promotional and changes — confirm the current rate with Upstox. Figures are informational only. CernoQuant is a trading journal and analytics platform, not a SEBI-registered investment advisor. Trading decisions are your sole responsibility.

Upstox API Charges Explained (2026): Is the API Free?