It's one of the most argued-about questions in investing: if you have money to invest, should you drip it in monthly (SIP) or put it all in at once (lumpsum)? We ran the numbers across multiple market cycles.
What the maths actually says
In a rising market, a lumpsum usually wins, because your full amount is working for longer. But markets don't only rise — and that's where the SIP's real advantage shows up: it removes the pressure of timing and smooths your entry price through rupee-cost averaging.
The factor that decides it
The honest answer depends on one thing: whether you already have the money. If a large sum is sitting idle, staggering it over 6–12 months balances growth and risk. If you're investing from monthly income — which is most people — a SIP isn't just optimal, it's the only option, and a very good one.
Try both scenarios in our SIP calculator to see the difference for your own numbers.