Which one is best, a 3-in-1 account or a 2-in-1 account?

From trading convenience point of view, a 3-in-1 account works better than a 2-in-1 account. You need 3 things to trade in a financial instrument-

• Money or Funds
• A trading account that gives you access to a trading platform (web-based, installable platform or a mobile app) to help you make buy and sell transactions.
• A demat account from either of the central depositories, CSDL (Central Depository Services Ltd) or NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited), where the certificates of your holdings will be stored in the dematerialized or electronic form.

If you open a 3-in-1 account then it is easy and fast for you to move funds between your bank and trading account. The transfer of funds happen in real-time. So if you see a trading opportunity, and there aren't enough funds in your trading account, then you can quickly transfer the funds and execute your trade.

If you open a 2-in-1 account then you have to transfer your funds from other bank account to your trading account. This transfer can take time between a few hours to a day depending on whether you are transferring funds via IMPS, NEFT or a cheque. The broker or the bank may also charge you a fee for fund transfer.

So the choice between a 2-in-1 account or a 3-in-1 account comes down to your convenience.