Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Why Direct and Regular Mutual Funds Earn Different Returns
Direct and regular plans are two ways to invest in the same mutual fund scheme.
Both usually own the same stocks, bonds or other assets.
A regular plan uses a distributor or adviser to help arrange the investment.
The fund company pays that intermediary a commission.
That commission makes the regular plan more expensive.
A direct plan is bought from the fund company without a distributor.
Because it costs less, a direct plan may earn slightly more over a long period.
The different costs also make the plans have different NAVs.
The fund manager and investment strategy usually remain the same.
Direct and regular plans generally invest in the same mutual fund portfolio and follow the same strategy.
Regular plans are bought through distributors, banks, brokers or financial advisers, while direct plans are bought from the AMC.
Regular plans usually have higher expense ratios because they include distributor commissions.
Direct plans generally have lower costs, which can produce marginally higher long-term returns through compounding.
Different expense structures cause direct and regular plans to have different NAVs despite belonging to the same scheme.
- Who
- Mutual fund investors, asset management companies and distributors or financial advisers are involved.
- What
- Direct and regular plans of the same mutual fund scheme can have different NAVs, costs and returns.
- When
- The return difference develops over the investment period and can become more significant over 10 or 20 years through compounding.
- Where
- Direct plans are purchased from the asset management company, while regular plans are purchased through intermediaries such as banks, brokers, distributors or financial advisers.
- Why
- Regular plans include distribution-related commissions in their expenses, while direct plans generally do not.
- Underlying portfolio
- Direct and regular plans generally invest in the same stocks, bonds or other assets.
- Regular plan purchase
- Investors typically buy regular plans through a distributor, bank, broker or financial adviser.
- Direct plan purchase
- Investors buy direct plans from the asset management company without a distributor or other intermediary.
- Expense ratio
- Regular plans generally have higher expense ratios because distributor commissions are included in scheme expenses.
- Cost difference
- The difference can often range from about 0.5% to 1% or more annually, depending on the mutual fund type.
- NAV difference
- Different expense structures generally result in different NAVs for direct and regular plans.
- Long-term effect
- Lower costs in direct plans can potentially produce marginally better returns over time through compounding.