Let me guess-you’ve watched a few YouTube videos about trading, and now you’re confused.
One guru swears by intraday trading: “Make quick profits every single day!” Another says swing trading is the only way: “Less stress, better returns!” Meanwhile, you’re sitting there wondering which one you should actually do.
Here’s the truth nobody wants to tell you: there is no “better” style. There’s only what fits your life, your personality, and your goals.
Let’s break down both approaches honestly-no hype, no BS-so you can figure out which one actually makes sense for you.
What is Intraday Trading?
Intraday trading means buying and selling stocks within the same day. You open a position in the morning, and you close it before the market shuts at 3:30 PM. No overnight risk, no carrying positions forward.
A typical intraday trade looks like this:
You spot a bullish pattern on Reliance at 10:15 AM. Stock is at ₹2,850. You buy 100 shares. By 2:00 PM, it hits ₹2,870. You book your profit of ₹2,000 and you’re done for the day.
Simple, right? Well, sort of.
The Reality of Intraday Trading
Here’s what the YouTube videos don’t show you:
You need to be glued to your screen. We’re talking 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM, watching charts, monitoring positions, ready to act within seconds. Miss a crucial movement because you were in a meeting? That’s a potential loss.
The stress is real. When you’re in a losing trade and it’s 3:15 PM, you have 15 minutes to decide: cut the loss now or hope for a miracle? That pressure gets to people.
You’re fighting against professional traders. The people on the other side of your trade? Many of them have been doing this for years, with better tools, faster execution, and algorithms you can’t compete with.
But here’s the upside: when you close your laptop at 3:30 PM, you’re completely out. No worrying about what happens overnight. No waking up to gap-down openings that wipe out your profits.
What is Swing Trading?
Swing trading means holding positions for days or weeks to catch larger price movements. You’re not trying to make money every day-you’re waiting for the right setup, entering, and letting the trade play out over time.
A typical swing trade looks like this:
You analyze TCS and spot a potential breakout setup. On Monday, you buy at ₹3,500. You hold through the week. By next Monday, it’s at ₹3,650. You exit with a ₹15,000 profit on 100 shares.
The Reality of Swing Trading
Swing trading sounds relaxed, but it has its own challenges.
You carry overnight risk. Markets can gap down due to global events, policy changes, or company news. You might go to sleep with a 2% profit and wake up to a 5% loss.
You need patience. A lot of it. Your trade setup might take 5-7 days to play out. During that time, the stock might go against you before moving in your favor. Can you handle watching your position in the red for three days straight?
Capital gets locked. If you put ₹1,00,000 in a swing trade, that money is tied up for days or weeks. You can’t use it for other opportunities until you exit.
But here’s the benefit: you’re not watching charts all day. You check your positions morning and evening, set your stop-losses, and go about your life. You can have a full-time job and still swing trade effectively.
The Honest Comparison: What Nobody Tells You
Let me break down the real differences that matter:
Time Commitment
Intraday: You need 6+ hours of focused screen time daily. If you have a 9-to-5 job, intraday trading is nearly impossible unless you’re willing to trade during work hours (not recommended).
Swing Trading: 30-60 minutes daily for analysis and monitoring. You can easily do this before work or in the evening.
Winner for working professionals: Swing trading, hands down.
Stress Levels
Intraday: High stress. Every minute matters. You’re making quick decisions under pressure multiple times a day.
Swing Trading: Moderate stress. The anxiety comes from overnight gaps and waiting for your setup to play out, but you’re not making split-second decisions.
Winner for peace of mind: Swing trading.
Capital Requirements
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Intraday: Brokers give you margin (leverage). With ₹25,000, you can take positions worth ₹1,00,000 or more. Sounds great until you realize that leverage magnifies losses too.
Swing Trading: No intraday margin. You need the full capital for your positions. However, you’re not using risky leverage.
Winner: Depends on your risk tolerance. Intraday offers more buying power, but swing trading is safer.
Profit Potential
This is where people get it completely wrong.
Intraday traders aim for: 0.5% to 2% per trade. On a ₹50,000 position, that’s ₹250 to ₹1,000 per trade. Do this successfully 15-20 times a month, and you’re looking at ₹15,000-20,000.
Swing traders aim for: 3% to 8% per trade. On a ₹50,000 position, that’s ₹1,500 to ₹4,000 per trade. Catch 3-4 good trades a month, and you’re also at ₹15,000-20,000.
See the point? Both can make similar returns. The difference is how you get there-many small wins vs. fewer larger wins.
Win Rate Reality
Intraday: You might win 40-50% of your trades. Yes, less than half. But your winners are managed with tight risk-reward ratios (risk ₹500 to make ₹1,000).
Swing Trading: Win rates can be 50-60% because you’re waiting for clearer setups. But when you’re wrong, you might lose more per trade.
Which Trading Style Fits Your Life?
Stop thinking about which is “better” and start thinking about which fits YOU.
You Should Consider Intraday Trading If:
- You can dedicate full trading hours (9:15 AM – 3:30 PM)
- You thrive under pressure and can make quick decisions
- You want to sleep peacefully without positions overnight
- You have good emotional control (can take multiple losses without revenge trading)
- You’re okay with smaller profit targets per trade
- You genuinely enjoy watching charts and market action
You Should Consider Swing Trading If:
- You have a full-time job or business
- You prefer analysis over rapid execution
- You can handle overnight market risk
- You have the patience to let trades develop over days
- You want a trading style that doesn’t consume your entire day
- You’re comfortable with capital being locked for longer periods
The Biggest Mistake Beginners Make
Here’s what happens to most new traders:
They start with intraday because it sounds exciting. “Make money every day!” They watch videos of traders showing ₹5,000 profit in 30 minutes. It looks easy.
Then reality hits. They’re staring at charts all day, missing entries, exiting too early, holding losers too long. Within a month, they’ve made 20 trades, won 6, and lost more money than they made.
So they switch to swing trading. “I need to be more patient,” they think. They enter a trade, and it goes against them the next day. They panic and exit. Then the stock does exactly what they predicted-just after they got out.
The real problem? They never gave either style a fair chance. They kept switching strategies instead of mastering one.
My Honest Recommendation for Beginners
Start with swing trading. Here’s why:
1. It’s more forgiving. You have time to think, analyze, and make decisions. Intraday trading punishes hesitation instantly.
2. You can learn while working. Most beginners can’t quit their jobs to trade full-time. Swing trading lets you learn without sacrificing income.
3. Better for building discipline. Swing trading teaches you patience, proper analysis, and risk management-skills that work in any trading style.
4. Lower transaction costs. Fewer trades mean lower brokerage and taxes. This matters more than you think.
5. Less emotional damage. Taking 10 losses in a day (intraday) is psychologically harder than taking 2 losses in a month (swing).
Once you’re consistently profitable with swing trading for 6-12 months, then consider if intraday fits your personality and schedule.
Can You Do Both?
Yes, but not when you’re starting out.
Some experienced traders use swing trading for their core positions and do selective intraday trades for extra income. But this requires mastering both styles separately first.
Trying to do both as a beginner is like learning to drive a car and a motorcycle simultaneously. You’ll probably crash both.
What You Should Actually Do Right Now
Forget about which is “better.” Here’s your action plan:
Step 1: Be honest about your availability. Can you watch markets for 6 hours daily? If no, swing trading is your answer.
Step 2: Paper trade (demo trade) your chosen style for at least 2-3 months. Track every trade, note what works, what doesn’t.
Step 3: Start with real money using the smallest position size possible. If you’re swing trading, maybe 10-20 shares per trade. If intraday, the minimum lot size.
Step 4: Master one strategy within your chosen style. Don’t jump around. Stick with one approach for at least 50 trades.
Step 5: Review monthly. Are you following your rules? Are you improving? Is this style truly sustainable for your lifestyle?
The Real Success Formula
Here’s what separates profitable traders from everyone else-and it has nothing to do with intraday vs. swing:
Consistency beats intensity. A swing trader who makes 5% monthly for 12 months (60% annually) will massively outperform an intraday trader who makes 15% some months and loses 10% others.
Risk management is everything. Whether you’re trading intraday or swing, if you risk more than 1-2% per trade, you’ll eventually blow up your account.
Your personality matters more than the strategy. An anxious person trying intraday trading will suffer. An impatient person trying swing trading will sabotage their own trades.
The Bottom Line
Intraday trading isn’t more profitable than swing trading. Swing trading isn’t easier than intraday. They’re different tools for different people.
The question isn’t “Which is better?” It’s “Which matches my life, my temperament, and my goals?”
If you’re working full-time, swing trading makes sense. If you can dedicate full market hours and handle pressure well, intraday might work. If you’re still not sure, start with swing trading—it’s the safer path for beginners.
But whatever you choose, commit to it. Give it a real chance. Track your trades, follow your rules, and give yourself at least 100 trades before judging if it works.
Trading success isn’t about finding the perfect style. It’s about mastering whichever style fits your life and sticking with it long enough to see results.
The markets will be here tomorrow, next month, next year. Take your time, choose wisely, and build skills that last.
Learn to Trade the Right Way
At Vaishvik Trader, we teach both intraday and swing trading strategies based on what fits YOUR goals and lifestyle. Our programs include live market sessions, practical risk management techniques, and personalized guidance to help you become a consistently profitable trader.
Whether you’re a working professional looking to swing trade or someone ready to commit to intraday trading full-time, we’ll help you build the skills and discipline you need.
Visit our institute in Jaipur or explore our online programs to start your trading journey with the right foundation.https://vaishviktrader.com/
