If you’re exhausted by stock market volatility yet not happy with sub-7% bank FD returns, there’s a growing middle ground—alternative fixed income.
Platforms like Grip Invest are pioneering this space in India by allowing retail investors to earn 10–13% IRR from asset-backed investments.
The Grip Invest mobile app is now the easiest way to participate in such opportunities—from your phone—backed by SEBI regulation and exchange settlement.
We have also done a 5-year investment experience blog post on Grip Invest!
What Is Grip Invest and Why It Matters
Founded in 2020, Grip Invest is an Indian fintech platform bridging the gap between low-yield FDs and high-volatility equities.
It focuses on asset-backed and credit-linked products, offering predictable returns via leasing, loans, invoices, and bonds.
The platform is now SEBI-registered as an Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP)—a regulatory milestone that makes it one of the safest in India’s alternative space.
Key Stats (as of 2025)
-
₹1,200 crore+ investments facilitated
-
250,000+ investors
-
400+ deals closed across bonds, leases, and SDIs
-
Backed by exchange-based settlement through NSE/BSE
This evolution from a niche leasing portal to a full-fledged multi-product fixed-income marketplace is what makes Grip Invest stand out in 2025.
In 2025, Grip has evolved beyond traditional bond investing with two flagship offerings:
-
Grip Swap Marketplace – enabling investors to buy and sell their existing Grip investments before maturity.
-
Grip Infinite – offering a curated, AI-powered portfolio of fixed-income products for automated reinvestment and compounding.
The Grip Invest App – Your Gateway to High-Yield Debt
The Grip Invest app, available on Android and iOS, is designed with simplicity and trust at its core.
It gives you full control—from browsing deals and e-signing documents to tracking returns—all inside one smooth interface.
User Experience Highlights
-
Minimalist, intuitive UI (modern teal/white layout)
-
Fast onboarding (KYC + demat linking within 10 mins)
-
Clear deal categorization: LeaseX, LoanX, InvoiceX, BondX
-
Real-time payout tracker and in-app notifications
-
Inbuilt access to tax statements and credit ratings
“The app is clean and reliable—no clutter, just data and documents you actually need.”
— RandomDimes 2025 tester feedback
What You Can Invest In via Grip
Grip’s offerings are structured under five main categories, each accessible directly through the app’s “Live Deals” section.
| Product | Description | Typical Tenure | Expected IRR | Minimum Investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeaseX | Physical asset leasing to corporates (e.g., EV fleets, furniture, medical equipment) | 24–36 months | 11–13% | ₹20,000 |
| LoanX | Diversified securitized debt pools from NBFCs | 12–36 months | 10–12% | ₹10,000 |
| InvoiceX | Invoice discounting for large anchor corporates | 1–6 months | 11–15% | ₹10,000 |
| Corporate Bonds/NCDs | Listed and unlisted corporate bonds | 6–60 months | 9–11% | ₹1,000 |
| Baskets | Curated themes (EV leasing, NBFC bonds) | 12–24 months | 10–12% | ₹10,000 |
These deals are carefully underwritten, often backed by collateral or receivables, and settled through NSE/BSE—reducing counterparty risk.
New in 2025: Grip Swap Marketplace
One of the biggest drawbacks of fixed-income platforms was illiquidity — once you invested, you were locked in until maturity.
Grip has solved that with its new Swap Marketplace.
What Is the Swap Marketplace?
It’s a peer-to-peer exchange inside the app where investors can list and sell existing investments (bonds or SDIs) to other Grip users, before the tenure ends.
Example:
If you invested ₹1 lakh in a LeaseX deal maturing in 2026 and need funds in 2025, you can list your position on the Swap Marketplace. Another investor can buy it based on the remaining tenure and yield, giving you liquidity and them a shorter-duration entry point.
Benefits
✅ Liquidity without waiting till maturity
✅ Transparent pricing based on time to maturity and IRR
✅ Buyer and seller both verified within the Grip ecosystem
✅ No hidden fees — Grip earns a small facilitation charge
This feature has transformed Grip from a closed-end investment app to a real fixed-income marketplace, something rarely seen in Indian fintech.
Introducing Grip Infinite: Auto-Invest for Compounding
Another breakthrough feature in 2025 is Grip Infinite — a smart auto-invest module that builds and manages your fixed-income portfolio automatically.
How It Works
-
You set your target amount, investment horizon, and risk preference.
-
Grip’s AI engine allocates your funds across LeaseX, LoanX, and Bonds for optimal IRR.
-
As investments mature, payouts are reinvested automatically, creating a compounding effect.
Expected IRR: 10–12% pre-tax (similar to manual investments)
Lock-in: Rolling, depending on chosen portfolio settings
Why It Matters
Grip Infinite solves the biggest problem of fixed-income investing — idle capital between maturities.
Automating reinvestment helps maintain consistent returns, much like SIPs or recurring deposits, but with a higher yield and real-asset backing.
Step-by-Step: How to Use the Grip App
1️⃣ Download from Google Play or App Store
2️⃣ Sign up and verify via PAN, Aadhaar, and Bank details
3️⃣ Link your demat (CDSL/NSDL)
4️⃣ Browse Live Deals across LeaseX, LoanX, etc.
5️⃣ Select a Deal → view IRR, credit rating, and documents
6️⃣ Invest → e-sign via NSDL and pay via UPI/Netbanking
7️⃣ Track Payouts → real-time in-app alerts and payout calendar
The app’s “Portfolio” tab shows invested amount, IRR, and upcoming maturity, giving it a feel similar to large brokerage dashboards.
Returns and Real-World Performance
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Average IRR | 10–13% (pre-tax) |
| Default Rate | <1% (as disclosed by Grip) |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly / Quarterly |
| Tax Impact | ~8–9% post-tax for investors in 30% slab |
5-Year Investor Insight
RandomDimes has invested across multiple Grip deals since 2020, tracking actual returns.
Our observed average realized IRR (post delays, before tax) is around 11.6%—remarkably consistent given the market volatility during COVID and rate hikes.
How Grip Ensures Safety
1. Regulatory Oversight
SEBI OBPP license ensures only compliant issuers are listed on the platform.
2. Demat Settlement
Securities are credited directly to your demat account—no custody risk.
3. Escrow Mechanism
Investor money goes to a trustee-managed escrow account before disbursement.
4. Due Diligence
Every deal passes through credit rating, lessee background checks, and forensic reviews.
5. Transparency
Deal documents, repayment schedules, and risk summaries are available in-app before investing.
Risks to Keep in Mind
| Type | What Could Go Wrong | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Risk | Lessee’s default or delay | Collateral, escrow, insurance |
| Liquidity Risk | No early exits | Fixed-tenure clarity upfront |
| Operational Risk | Payout delays | Automated distribution, transparent status |
| Tax Risk | Taxed as income | App-provided reports simplify filing |
While Grip offers one of the safest structures in alt-debt, it’s not risk-free—users must plan their liquidity and diversify across issuers.
Taxation Overview
-
Monthly payouts are treated as Income from Other Sources and taxed at your slab rate.
-
No indexation benefits since most instruments are fixed-tenure.
-
TDS (10%) is applied on eligible payouts.
-
Tax statement PDFs are generated automatically at year-end within the app.
Community & App Reviews
“Smooth onboarding, easy investment flow, great support team.” – Play Store User
“Been investing for two years; payouts mostly on time, solid platform.” – Reddit review
Average user rating: 4.4★ on Google Play (as of Oct 2025), with most complaints limited to occasional deal unavailability due to high demand.
Competitor Comparison
| Platform | Regulation | Returns | Minimum | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grip Invest | SEBI OBPP | 10–13% | ₹1k–₹10k | Bonds, SDIs, Leasing |
| Jiraaf | SEBI Registered | 9–12% | ₹10k | Alt Debt & Bonds |
| TradeCred | NBFC Partner Model | 10–11% | ₹50k | Invoice Discounting |
| Tyke | Private Placement | Variable | ₹5k | Startup Debt & Equity |
Grip stands out for its exchange-settled model and low minimums, making it more accessible for retail users.
Who Should Invest via the Grip App
✅ Ideal for:
-
Investors seeking a stable monthly income
-
Retirees or conservative investors diversifying beyond FDs
-
Working professionals parking idle funds for 1–3 years
⚠ Avoid if:
-
You need liquidity before tenure ends
-
You prefer high-growth, equity-like upside
Pros and Cons
| ✅ Pros | ⚠ Cons |
|---|---|
| SEBI-regulated and demat-settled | Locked till maturity |
| Transparent and easy-to-use app | Credit & tax risks exist |
| 10–13% IRR potential | Limited deal supply |
| Low minimum investment | Requires understanding of product |
Final Verdict – Grip Invest App 2025
Grip Invest has grown into India’s leading fixed-income app, combining regulation, technology, and transparency.
For investors tired of market swings and looking to diversify with steady, asset-backed returns, this is one of the best tools available in 2025.
Our Verdict:
“Grip Invest is a bridge between bank FDs and bonds—simple, smart, and SEBI-safe.”
As long as you’re comfortable with fixed tenures and modest credit risk, the Grip app can be a powerful addition to your portfolio.
Quick Reference
-
App Rating: 4.4★ on Play Store
-
Typical Returns: 10–13% IRR
-
Regulation: SEBI OBPP
-
Settlement: NSE/BSE via demat
-
Tenure: 1–36 months
-
Minimum: ₹1,000
