Short answer: Sometimes — but only if the service matches your needs, you verify performance, and the fees are justified by time saved or better returns. For many retail investors in India, low-cost tools or disciplined DIY approaches can be as good or better than paid AI advisories.

Why (and when) AI stock advisory services can be worth it

• Saves time and scales research: AI screeners, natural‑language queries, automated alerts and backtests can replace hours of manual scanning. (Example: Trendlyne offers AI screeners and automated alerts across paid tiers.) (Trendlyne.com)
• Helps generate ideas / systematic signals: If you lack a strategy, an AI model can suggest watchlists, factor-based screens or rules you can backtest and refine. (Trendlyne.com)
• Useful for active traders who need fast signals, backtesting and automation (algo builders / scanners). Streak/Zerodha-style platforms target this crowd. (help.Streak.tech)
• Helpful if you value curated portfolios managed by professionals (paid Smallcase managers charge subscription fees for managed thematic portfolios). Smallcase documents how subscription fees and transaction fees work. (Smallcase.com)

When they’re NOT worth it

• If you’re a long‑term passive investor (index or broad mutual funds), advisory signals rarely beat costs and taxes.
• If fees are high relative to your capital: many retail investors with small portfolios pay a large % of returns in subscription fees. (Paid research platforms and premium advisory products can cost substantially more.) (stockedgeresearch.com)
• If the service lacks transparency: no verifiable track record, unclear methodology, or no regulatory registration (SEBI) — these are red flags.

Typical costs (India) — ballpark examples

• Basic AI/screener/subscription tools: ~₹200–₹2,000/month (Trendlyne lists plans in this range). (Trendlyne.com)
• Algo/advisory platforms: free-to-modest for some broker-integrated tools (Streak is free for Zerodha users; other brokers may charge). Paid plans for advanced users can be ₹700–₹1,400+/mo or more. (help.Streak.tech)
• Full-service research/advisory packages: can run much higher — StockEdge and similar professional packages show monthly/quarterly prices in the tens of thousands for specialized products. (Examples: StockEdge pricing pages list ranges up to many thousands/₹25k etc. depending on product.) (stockedgeresearch.com)
• Managed portfolio subscriptions (Smallcase): manager-set subscription fees + transaction/platform charges; many smallcases are free but premium ones carry recurring fees. (Smallcase.com)

How to evaluate whether a particular AI advisory is worth it

1. Match to your goal: Are you a swing trader, day trader, systematic quant, or long-term investor? Only pay for tools that solve your specific workflow.
2. Check verifiable track record: Ask for audited historical performance, understand look‑ahead bias and survivorship bias. If no credible track record, be skeptical.
3. Trial / paper‑trade first: Use free trials or paper‑trading for several weeks to compare signals vs. outcomes.
4. Calculate breakeven: Estimate how much extra annual return you’d need to justify the fees after taxes and brokerage (e.g., if fee = ₹10,000/yr and you have ₹2,00,000 invested, you need 5% extra return just to break even).
5. Transparency & conflicts: Prefer services that explain methodology, signal frequency, drawdown behavior and whether they take positions themselves. Check SEBI registration for advisory services where applicable.
6. Customer support & data latency: For active trading, real‑time data and execution connectivity matter — slower or delayed signals reduce value.
7. Beware of overfitting / hype: AI = tool, not guarantee. Many platforms market “AI” but deliver rule-based or heuristic models; demand specifics.

Practical checklist before paying

• Start with a free trial or monthly plan. (Many platforms offer monthly/annual options.) (Trendlyne.com)
• Run a short paper test and track signal hit‑rate, average return, max drawdown.
• Confirm fees (subscription + transaction/brokerage + GST). Smallcase and brokers outline combined fee structures. (Smallcase.com)
• Read user reviews and look for independent writeups.
• Only scale up if net returns (after fees and taxes) outperform your baseline strategy.

Bottom line AI advisory services can be worthwhile for investors who (a) need automation and high-frequency signals, (b) cannot or prefer not to build their own tools, or (c) are paying for genuinely differentiated research that demonstrably improves returns. For many long-term retail investors in India, relatively low-cost DIY tools, index funds, or selective one-off paid reports may deliver better net value. Always test, quantify the fee breakeven, and demand transparency before committing to an annual plan.

If you’d like, I can:

• Compare 2–3 specific India AI advisory products side‑by‑side (cost, features, trial availability) based on current pricing; or
• Help you compute a breakeven analysis for a specific subscription fee and portfolio size.