Indian F&O traders have very few tools that automatically enforce risk rules via broker API. Broker apps show your P&L but don't halt trading. Here's what's available, what the gaps are, and what actually works.
| Feature | Broker App | Spreadsheet | TradeGuard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily loss limit (auto) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ Auto-fires KS |
| Max trades per day (auto) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ Auto-fires KS |
| Profit target exit (auto) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ Auto-fires KS |
| Time-based kill switch | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ At set IST time |
| Works during market hours | ✓ | Manual only | ✓ Every 5 seconds |
| Cannot be overridden mid-session | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ Blocked in market hours |
| 30-day P&L history | ✓ Basic | Manual | ✓ With KS log |
| Brokers supported | One each | Manual | Dhan, Upstox, Zerodha, Angel One |
Broker apps are order-execution and portfolio-viewing tools. They show your current P&L, your positions, your order history. But they do not enforce rules. When you hit ₹8,000 in losses on Dhan or Zerodha, nothing stops you from placing the next trade.
This is by design — brokers earn brokerage on every trade. More trades = more revenue for them. Risk management tools that automatically halt trading are not aligned with brokerage revenue, which is why no Indian broker has built a serious kill switch feature for retail F&O traders.
TradeGuard fills this gap by connecting to the broker API as a third-party tool and enforcing your pre-set rules regardless of what the broker app shows or allows.
Automatic enforcement: The tool must not rely on your attention to notice a breach. It must check your account on its own and fire the kill switch without any action from you.
Non-overridable during market hours: If you can disable the kill switch while markets are open, it provides no psychological protection. The inability to override is the feature, not a limitation.
Multiple rule types: A daily loss limit alone is insufficient. You also need trade count limits, time stops, and date/day rules to cover different risk scenarios.
P&L tracking: A 30-day history of P&L with kill switch events lets you review your worst days and refine your rules over time.
Works with Dhan, Upstox, Zerodha and Angel One. Free with Dhan · ₹999/mo for Zerodha, Upstox & Angel One