Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

Coinbase vs. Kraken: Which crypto exchange is better?

Kraken and Coinbase both offer users a seamless experience, but one stands out. Discover which crypto exchange comes out on top.

Disclaimer: This page is not financial advice or an endorsement of digital assets, providers or services. Digital assets are volatile and risky, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Potential regulations or policies can affect their availability and services provided. Talk with a financial professional before making a decision. Finder or the author may own cryptocurrency discussed on this page.

Coinbase and Kraken are two of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges on the market today.

Both trading platforms offer great experiences for both new and experienced users, with easy signup processes and a wide asset and feature selection. Coinbase offers users a Visa debit card and more currency choices, while Kraken has lower fees.

In this guide, we compare Coinbase against Kraken to determine which exchange is better for your needs.

Round 1: Kraken vs. Coinbase on vital statistics

Coinbase and Kraken are both US-based crypto exchanges, and each offers a decent selection of digital assets for users. They also both have a variety of deposit and withdrawal alternatives, earning opportunities and trading options.

Coinbase offers a proprietary wallet that users have full control over, plus a Visa debit card and interesting withdrawal options like PayPal. Kraken also offers a proprietary wallet and more earning options with higher rates, in addition to having lower trading fees.

Coinbase logoKraken logo
Overall rating★★★★★★★★★★
Costs rating★★★★★★★★★★
Registered
Exchange locationUSAUSA
Offers a debit card
Go to site
More info
Go to site
More info

Winner: Kraken


Round 2: Supported coins

Kraken and Coinbase both offer extensive cryptocurrency selections, with Coinbase supporting approximately 277 cryptocurrencies and Kraken supporting over 400. Both platforms provide hundreds of spot trading pairs, including USDC pairs and stablecoin pairs.

Overall, Kraken supports a wider range of coins for users interested in diversifying their crypto investments.

Coinbase logoKraken logo
Number of tradeable crypto assets271403
Go to site
More info
Go to site
More info

Winner: Kraken


Round 3: Supported fiat currencies

Coinbase supports over 60 fiat currencies, including major ones like USD, EUR, and GBP. This extensive number makes Coinbase a strong option for users across various regions or those who want to trade in multiple currencies. In comparison, Kraken only offers fiat support for seven currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, CHF and JPY.

Overall, Coinbase is clearly the better choice for fiat support by number.

Coinbase logoKraken logo
Number of supported fiat currencies237
Go to site
More info
Go to site
More info

Winner: Coinbase


Round 4: Fees and costs

When comparing trading fees between Coinbase and Kraken, Kraken comes out slightly ahead. Its maker and taker fees top out at 0.25% and 0.40%, respectively, whereas Coinbase fees reach up to 0.40% for maker and 0.60% for taker.

Coinbase has no crypto or fiat deposit minimums, while Kraken has crypto deposit minimums but no fiat ones. Coinbase doesn’t charge a withdrawal fee apart from network fees. Both Kraken and Coinbase have withdrawal minimums for crypto and fiat.

Overall, Kraken’s fees are a tad cheaper and a bit more straightforward than Coinbase’s.

Coinbase logoKraken logo
Deposit FeesACH: $0
Wire (USD): $10
ACH deposit - Fees vary ($10 minimum deposit)
Credit and debit card - Fees vary ($10 minimum deposit)
Apple Pay or Google Pay - Fees vary ($10 minimum deposit)
Crypto - Free
Trading FeeTrading:
Maker: 0.40% - 0.00%
Taker: 0.60% - 0.05%
Spread: Average of 0.5%
Trading:
Maker: 0.25% - 0.00%
Taker: 0.40% - 0.01%
Spread: Variable spread included in the price, calculated before orders are executed
Withdrawal FeesACH: $0
Wire: $25
FedWire withdrawal - $4–$35
Crypto - Fees vary depending on coin or token
Deposit methodsBank transfer (ACH), Debit card, PayPal, Wire transfer, Apple Pay, Google PayBank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, SEPA, Instant SEPA, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SWIFT, ACH online banking
Go to site
More info
Go to site
More info

Winner: Kraken


Round 5: Wallets

The Coinbase Wallet can store assets from multiple blockchain networks such as Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Solana and Avalanche. It’s self-custodial, meaning you hold the private keys. It can also be connected to decentralized exchanges and applications for easy DeFi interaction.

The Kraken Wallet is also a self-custodial wallet that supports multiple networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and Polygon. Like the Coinbase Wallet, it gives you full control of your private keys. The Wallet also integrates with WalletConnect for access to decentralized apps and services. Its open-source design emphasizes security and simplicity for managing crypto and NFTs.

Winner: Tie


Round 6: Ease of use

Both Coinbase and Kraken are fairly easy-to-use platforms, with Coinbase being more beginner-friendly. However, Coinbase also has a more confusing fee structure, leading new users to higher-fee buying and selling options.

That being said, it’s certainly easier for US residents to open and fund an account with Coinbase due to the many instant funding options available. Both platforms offer learning guides for users.

Winner: Coinbase


Round 7: Security

In 2021, hackers stole funds from over 6,000 Coinbase accounts. They used a vulnerability in Coinbase’s SMS-based two-factor authentication system to breach the accounts. In response, Coinbase updated its SMS Account Recovery protocols to prevent hackers from further exploiting the vulnerability in the authentication process. It also reimbursed the affected users.

In 2024, a third-party security researcher targeted a zero-day flaw in its platform and stole over $3 million from its treasury. However, no users were directly impacted by the breach.

While both offer significant cold storage, Kraken goes above and beyond with its security. Kraken has bug bounty programs, reserve audits and constant penetration testing of its systems.

Winner: Kraken


Coinbase vs. Kraken winner: Kraken

Taking four out of seven categories, Kraken is our winner when compared to Coinbase. Coinbase has an easy-to-use platform, with its own wallet and a Visa debit card, in addition to support for many fiat currencies.

But Kraken has much lower fees, better security, more trading pairs and better earning opportunities than Coinbase. This was a close contest, with neither exchange being a bad option for new users.

Go to Kraken's website

Disclaimer: This page is not financial advice or an endorsement of digital assets, providers or services. Digital assets are volatile and risky, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Potential regulations or policies can affect their availability and services provided. Talk with a financial professional before making a decision. Finder or the author may own cryptocurrency discussed on this page.

Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.

Product
Finder Score
Fiat currencies
Cryptocurrencies
Deposit methods
Offer
Disclaimer
eToro Cryptocurrency Trading
eToro logo

18

79

Bank transfer, Credit card, Debit card, Neteller, Skrill
Disclaimer: Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Binance logo
Not scored yet

1

369

Bank transfer, Cryptocurrency
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
KuCoin Cryptocurrency Exchange
KuCoin logo

50

743

Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayPal, P2P
Not available for US citizens
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Bybit Cryptocurrency Exchange
Bybit logo

73

281

Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, P2P
Disclaimer: Highly volatile investment product. Your capital is at risk. Not available for US citizens
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Gate.io logo

8

1609

Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card
Complete beginners tasks and receive $50 - $100 in rewards.
Not available for US citizens
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Kraken logo
Not scored yet

8

222

Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SWIFT
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Paybis logo

42

55

Bank transfer, Credit card, Debit card, Neteller
Finder Exclusive: Get 25% discount on all commission for 1 transaction when using promocode Finder25. There is no time limit on the validity of the promo code.
US residents: Restricted in the following states - NY, CT, NM, WA, HI, AL, VT, FL, AK, NV.
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Gemini logo

7

81

Bank transfer (ACH), PayPal, Wire transfer (USD), Bank transfer (EUR and GBP), FAST transfer (SGD), Cubix, Plaid Direct Payments (UK)
Get $25 in Bitcoin when you trade $100 with code Finder25
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
loading

Are you visiting from outside the US?

Select an option to continue

Bybit Cryptocurrency Exchange

Bybit Cryptocurrency Exchange logo
  • Offers leverage and derivative trading
  • Supports EUR, GBP and CHF
  • Licensed to operate in all European countries
Go to site
Disclaimer: Highly volatile investment product. Your capital is at risk. Not available for US citizens

KuCoin Cryptocurrency Exchange

KuCoin Cryptocurrency Exchange logo
  • Buy, sell and trade over 700 crypto assets
  • Supports 10 Asian fiat currencies
  • Offers crypto futures trading
Go to site
Not available for US citizens

Kraken Cryptocurrency Exchange

Kraken Cryptocurrency Exchange logo
  • Buy, sell and trade over 200 crypto assets
  • Licensed to operate in 17 jurisdictions in Oceania
  • Supports AUD
Go to site

Binance Cryptocurrency Exchange (Not available to US users)

Binance Cryptocurrency Exchange (Not available to US users) logo
  • Supports over 300 crypto assets
  • Binance Pay enables users spend their crypto
  • Binance P2P supports multiple African fiat currencies
Go to site

Binance Cryptocurrency Exchange (Not available to US users)

Binance Cryptocurrency Exchange (Not available to US users) logo
  • Supports over 300 crypto assets
  • Binance Pay works with Credencial Payments to support crypto payments
  • Binance P2P supports five Latin American fiat currencies
Go to site

Bybit Cryptocurrency Exchange

Bybit Cryptocurrency Exchange logo
  • Supports leverage and derivative trading
  • Supports 300 spot trading pairs
  • Low-to-non-existent trading fees
Go to site
Disclaimer: Highly volatile investment product. Your capital is at risk. Not available for US citizens
Holly Jennings's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Keegan Francis's headshot
Written by

Writer

Keegan Francis was a cryptocurrency writer for Finder. He has been invested in cryptocurrencies since 2013 and writing about them since 2018. He has written and edited for CryptoVantage. In 2020 he and his wife Mrugakshee Palwe opted entirely out of the world of traditional finance and went "full crypto", covering their experience in the Go Full Crypto podcast and via a Substack newsletter. Keegan holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from Acadia University, and has attained graduate certificates from Ivan On Tech's lightning network course and the Consensys Academy Ethereum bootcamp. When Keegan is not working on cryptocurrency, he enjoys travelling, rock climbing and playing piano. See full bio

Ask a question

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

More guides on Finder

  • Figure Markets Review

    Figure Markets may have limited crypto offerings, but it makes an attractive offer with cash yields and crypto-backed loans.

  • How to buy cryptocurrency – a beginner’s guide

    Learn how to buy and store crypto with a few checklists to keep in mind.

  • Bybit review

    We reviewed Bybit, a crypto exchange that offers an array of derivatives products

  • Kraken vs. Binance.US: Which exchange is better?

    Learn what you need to know to help determine whether Binance.US or Kraken is right for you.

  • eToro Cryptocurrency Review

    If you’re thinking of trading cryptocurrency on eToro, make sure you check out our comprehensive eToro Crypto review first.

  • Uphold Crypto Review

    Learn how to sell, trade and buy crypto on Uphold’s trading app, plus see pros, cons, fees, user reviews and more.

  • Gemini Exchange Review

    Gemini’s user-friendly platform and strong security measures make it appealing for beginner traders.

  • Kraken Review

    Kraken is one of the best exchanges for advanced traders, offering a wide range of useful features and gaining many positive user reviews.

  • Coinbase Review

    Coinbase is easy to use with diverse features, but high fees and limited transparency may deter traders.

Go to site