Coinbase vs. Wealthsimple: Which crypto exchange is better?

How does Canada’s Wealthsimple match up to crypto giant Coinbase when it comes to fees, coins and security? Coinbase is known for its educational approach and beginner-friendly platform, but its fees can be on the high side. While Wealthsimple is newer to the crypto world, it is already using its expertise in stock trading to create an easily accessible platform for Canadians to buy and sell digital assets. Here’s our Coinbase vs. Wealthsimple breakdown to help you choose the platform that’s right for you.

Round 1: Coinbase vs Wealthsimple on vital statistics

In terms of vital statistics, Coinbase and Wealthsimple are relatively matched. Although not registered, Coinbase is one of the most used platforms with over 98 million verified users. In contrast, Wealthsimple’s crypto services are offered under a time-limited registration through the Canadian Securities Administrators’ Regulatory Sandbox, showing that it is committed to working with regulators.

Both exchanges adopt a beginner-friendly approach and have easy-to-use platforms. Coinbase goes one step further and gives users the opportunity to earn free crypto when they complete learning modules on its platform. But Wealthsimple is Canada’s first-ever regulated crypto platform. And Coinbase is not currently available to residents of Ontario.

Overall rating	★★★★★	★★★★★
Costs rating	★★★★★	★★★★★
Registered
Exchange location	USA	Canada
Offers a debit card
	More Info	More Info

Winner: Draw

Round 2: Supported coins

If it’s how many coins are supported, then Coinbase wins hands down with a far greater variety available. But if you aren’t particularly concerned about obscure altcoins, then Wealthsimple has a solid variety and includes the major coins of BTC and ETH.

Number of tradeable crypto assets	257	65
	More Info	More Info

Winner: Coinbase

Round 3: Supported fiat currencies

Wealthsimple is purely a platform for Canadians, so it is understandable that its only supported fiat currency is Canadian Dollars. While this may well fit with your crypto trading needs, it can be useful to have options – and Coinbase certainly can offer that.

Number of supported fiat currencies	23	2
	More Info	More Info

Winner: Coinbase

Round 4: Fees

Fees on Coinbase’s basic platform can be confusing and sometimes costly, often varying depending on payment method, cryptocurrency or location. In contrast, Wealthsimple has no fees for fiat deposits or withdrawals. There are no trading fees, but it does roll an operations fee into the prices it displays.

Deposit Fees	Wire transfer: US$10 Cryptocurrency: Free ACH: Free	None
Trading Fee	Maker fee: 0.00-0.4% Taker fee: 0.05-0.6%	0.5-2%
Withdrawal Fees	Wire transfer: US$25 Cryptocurrency: Price varies depending on the asset ACH: Free	None
Deposit methods	Debit card, PayPal	Cryptocurrency, Interac e-Transfer, Wire transfer, Linked bank account, Bank transfer (EFT), Online wallet, Debit/credit cards
	More Info	More Info

Winner: Wealthsimple

Round 5: Wallets

Wealthsimple’s custodial wallet allows users to move digital assets outside exchanges and platforms as well as transfer crypto in to host it all in one place. However, it is relatively limited in the number of coins you can withdraw. Coinbase’s wallet has a wider reach, supporting every ERC-20 token as well as a host of decentralized apps. It is also a self-custody wallet, which means you retain control over your crypto assets.

Winner: Coinbase

Round 6: Security

Coinbase’s size and popularity mean that it has in place insurance and undertakes regular security audits to ensure its customers’ assets are safe. It has experience hacks in the past but reimbursed all affected customers. Wealthsimple’s crypto trading is offered by Wealthsimple Digital Assets (WDA), a registered derivatives dealer. Cash is also held with a custodial broker, ShareOwner, and crypto is held with Gemini Trust Company, a qualified custodian under Canadian securities regulations.

Winner: Wealthsimple

Round 7: Ease of Use

Both Coinbase and Wealthsimple have user-friendly interfaces and features designed to help crypto newcomers on the first steps of their journey. Coinbase is known for its learning resources that look to educate users on the crypto basics. On the other hand, Wealthsimple’s app allows access to both crypto and traditional stock trading and is designed to make it easy to track your portfolio.

Winner: Draw

Wealthsimple vs. Coinbase Winner: Wealthsimple

It was extremely close between the two platforms, but if you are a new crypto investor in Canada looking for a simple and easy-to-use platform, then Wealthsimple could be a good choice. It supports a many core cryptocurrencies and keeps its pricing transparent and simple. While Coinbase is bigger and supports a wider variety of coins, it is not available to residents of Ontario. If what you are looking for is a slick, beginner-friendly experience, then Wealthsimple has all you need.

Written by

Kate Steere

Editor

Kate Steere is an editor at Finder, specialising in fintech, banking and cryptocurrency. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run. See full bio

Kate's expertise

Kate has written 12 Finder guides across topics including:

• Fintech
• Banking
• Cryptocurrency
• Mortgages
• Payments