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Direct vs Regular Calculator
See how the extra annual cost of a regular plan could change the final value of the same monthly SIP. Both plans are estimated with the SIP engine.
Compare direct and regular mutual fund plan returns.
Free to run · to save projections to your live dashboard
Enter values and click Calculate to see results
Worked example
Calculated by the same engine as the calculator above.
- Inputs
- Monthly SIP
- ₹10,000
- Investment Period (Years)
- 15
- Gross Return (% p.a.)
- 12
- Regular Plan Fee (% p.a.)
- 1
- Result
- Direct Plan Corpus
- ₹50,45,760
- Regular Plan Corpus
- ₹45,88,576
- Extra Cost (Regular)
- ₹4,57,184
Formula
Extra cost = SIP(P, r, n) - SIP(P, r - f, n)
- SIP(P, r, n) = start-of-month SIP future value with monthly compounding
- P = monthly SIP amount
- r = gross annual return used for the direct plan
- f = extra annual fee of the regular plan, subtracted from r
- n = investment period in months
Assumptions
- The regular plan return is approximated as the gross return minus the fee you enter; the direct plan earns the full gross return.
- Both plans use the same start-of-month, monthly-compounding SIP formula.
- The fee difference is constant for the whole period.
- Taxes and exit loads are ignored for both plans.
- Educational estimate only, not financial advice. Capitallytics does not execute transactions.
Direct vs Regular Calculator FAQ
Answers about how this calculator works.
What is the difference between direct and regular mutual fund plans?
Both invest in the same portfolio, but a regular plan includes distributor commission in its expense ratio, so its annual cost is higher. A direct plan is bought without a distributor.
What should I enter as the regular plan fee?
Enter the difference between the two plans' expense ratios, in % per year. The calculator subtracts it from the gross return for the regular plan.
Why does a small fee difference create a large gap?
The fee reduces the return every year, and that lost return also stops compounding. Over long SIP periods the gap widens.
Does this account for the value of advice in a regular plan?
No. It only compares costs. Whether advice is worth the extra fee is a personal decision the calculator does not assess.