Top Direct vs Regular Funds in 10 Years: Mutual funds are of two types—direct and regular. In a direct mutual fund, an investor invests directly, and there is no intermediary, while in a regular fund, you invest through a distributor, financial advisor, or an investment firm. A regular fund results in a higher expense ratio and fewer returns compared to a direct fund. Direct funds were launched on January 1, 2013, while regular funds have been in existence for many decades.
A mutual fund mostly offers a direct and a regular fund in the same category.
Investors with sound knowledge of a mutual fund’s portfolio, fund manager, and past record may invest in direct funds, while investors with less knowledge about mutual funds or who have a lack of time to follow their investments may invest in regular funds.
In this write-up, we take you through the top 3 regular and direct funds each in terms of highest annualised returns (CAGR) and let you know which of them has produced the highest capital gains on an investment of Rs 2,00,000.
Top 3 direct mutual funds in 10 years
Nippon India Small Cap Fund – Direct Plan
The small cap fund has given a 21.39 per cent annualised return in the 10-year time frame.
It has assets under management (AUM) of Rs 66,602 crore, while its net asset value (NAV) as on August 4, 2025, was Rs 189.2208.
Benchmarked against NIFTY Smallcap 250 TRI, the fund has given a 25.33 per cent annualised return since its inception in January 2013.
With an expense ratio of 0.64 per cent, the fund has Rs 100 as the minimum SIP investment and Rs 5,000 as the minimum lump sum investment.
A Rs 200,000 lump sum investment in the fund in 10 years has converted into Rs 13,89,501.79.
Quant Small Cap Fund – Direct Plan
The fund has given a 20.41 per cent annualised return in the 10-year period.
It has AUM of Rs 29,629 crore, while its NAV as on August 4, 2025, was Rs 277.3773.
Benchmarked against NIFTY Smallcap 250 TRI, the fund has given a 18.13 per cent annualised return since its launch in January 2013.
At an expense ratio of 0.71 per cent, the fund has Rs 1,000 as the minimum SIP investment and Rs 5,000 as the minimum lump sum investment.
A Rs 200,000 lump sum investment in the fund in the 10-year time frame has swelled to Rs 12,81,313.97.
Invesco India Mid Cap Fund – Direct Plan
The fund has given a 19.12 per cent annualised return in 10 years.
It has an asset base of Rs 7,406 crore, while its unit price as on August 4, 2025, was Rs 215.2200.
Benchmarked against BSE 150 MidCap TRI, the fund has given a 21.93 per cent annualised return since its debut in January 2013.
With an expense ratio of 0.55 per cent, the fund has Rs 500 as the minimum SIP investment and Rs 1,000 as the minimum lump sum investment.
A Rs 200,000 lump sum investment in the fund in the 10-year period has grown to Rs 11,50,474.09.
Top 3 regular mutual funds in 10 years
Nippon India Small Cap Fund
The fund has given a 20.24 per cent annualised return in the 10-year time frame.
It has a fund size of Rs 66,602 crore, while its unit price as on August 4, 2025, was Rs 168.8079.
Benchmarked against NIFTY Smallcap 250 TRI, the fund has given a 20.90 per cent annualised return since its starting in September 2010.
At an expense ratio of 1.40 per cent, the fund has Rs 100 as the minimum SIP investment and Rs 5,000 as the minimum lump sum investment.
A Rs 200,000 lump sum investment in the fund in 10 years has sprung to Rs 12,63,338.33.
Quant Small Cap Fund
The fund has given a 19.52 per cent annualised return in the 10-year period.
It has a fund size of Rs 29,629 crore, while its unit price as on August 4, 2025, was Rs 255.2080.
Benchmarked against NIFTY Smallcap 250 TRI, the fund has given a 12.86 per cent annualised return since its inception in November 1996.
With an expense ratio of 1.59 per cent, the fund has Rs 1,000 as the minimum SIP investment and Rs 5,000 as the minimum lump sum investment.
A Rs 200,000 monthly SIP investment in the 10-year time frame has grown to Rs 11,89,695.56.
HDFC Small Cap Fund – Regular Plan
The fund has given a 17.84 per cent annualised return in 10 years.
Its AUM is Rs 35,781 crore, while its NAV as on August 4, 2025, was Rs 140.6770.
Benchmarked against BSE 250 SmallCap TRI, the fund has given a 16.46 per cent annualised return since its beginning in April 2008.
At an expense ratio of 1.57 per cent, the fund has Rs 100 as the minimum SIP and lump sum investment each.
A Rs 200,000 lump sum investment in the fund in the 10-year period has swelled to Rs 10,32,659.95.