Kraken vs Coinbase: Fee Calculator, Tiers and Side by Side
Kraken is cheaper at the entry tier: Kraken Pro charges 0.40% for a limit order and 0.80% for a market order, Coinbase Advanced 0.60% and 1.20%, so the same $1,000 market order costs $8 on Kraken and $12 on Coinbase. In the apps the gap is harder to see — Kraken's instant buy charges 1% plus a spread, and Coinbase's simple buy adds a fee and a spread it shows only at checkout. Both exchanges are regulated and serve the US, the UK and the EU; Coinbase covers all 50 US states, Kraken 48. New Kraken users also get $10 in Bitcoin after a $100 bank or crypto deposit plus $100 traded.
I want to
Coin
Order type
Market orders pay the taker fee, limit orders that wait in the book pay the lower maker fee.
Kraken
Lowest cost hereAvailableKraken Pro: 0.8% taker
+$6.00
back after the bonus, on $500
- Trading fee
- $4.00
- New-user bonus
- −$10.00
- Kraken app (Instant Buy/Sell)
- $5.00 + spread
App de Kraken — lo más fácil
La misma cuenta · un toque · 1 % + spread
Deposita 100 $, compra 100 $ en cripto — recupera 10 $
Coinbase
AvailableCoinbase Advanced: 1.2% taker (reported)
$6.00
est. cost on $500
- Trading fee
- $6.00
- Coinbase app (simple buy/sell)
- Coinbase fee plus a spread, shown only at checkout
Coinbase shows Advanced rates only after sign-in; 0.60% / 1.20% is the widely reported entry tier.
How this is calculated: one buy order of $500 at each exchange's entry fee tier on its order book (taker fee for a market order). App and convert buttons add a spread that exchanges don't publish, so they are listed separately. Card purchases add a card fee shown at checkout; Kraken charges nothing for crypto deposits. Kraken's $10 bonus is counted once: it needs a $100 bank or crypto deposit plus $100 traded, cards don't count.
Fees checked 2026-10-08: Kraken fee schedule, Kraken crypto withdrawal fees · Coinbase pricing and fees disclosures, Coinbase Advanced fees
Estimates for information only, not financial advice. Fees fall at higher volume tiers; check the exchange before you trade.
Kraken vs Coinbase: Side by Side
| Feature | Kraken | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| Spot fee, limit / market (in the United States) | 0.40% / 0.80% Kraken Pro | 0.60% / 1.20% Coinbase Advanced, as reported |
| $1,000 market buy | $8 | $12 |
| One-tap app buy | 1% + spread | Coinbase fee plus a spread, shown only at checkout |
| United States | Yes — every state except New York and Maine | Yes — state licenses in 45 states, DC and Puerto Rico; the other states require none |
| European Union | Yes — MiCA license from the Central Bank of Ireland | Yes — MiCA via Coinbase Luxembourg (CSSF) |
| United Kingdom | Yes — but no $10 new-user bonus | Yes — CB Payments Ltd, registered with the FCA for crypto |
| Proof of reserves | Published since 2014; BTC 102.9%, ETH 100.5% on 30 Jun 2026 | No published proof of reserves; says it holds customer assets 1:1 |
| Security record | No customer funds lost to a hack; a 2024 bug cost Kraken about $3M of its own money, returned | May 2025: bribed support agents leaked data of under 1% of monthly users; no passwords, keys or funds exposed |
| Licenses | MiCA (Central Bank of Ireland); MiFID (CySEC) for derivatives; FinCEN and US state licenses | US state licenses; MiCA (Luxembourg); listed on NASDAQ (COIN) |
| P2P market | No | No |
| Debit card | Krak debit card in the EEA, UK and US | Coinbase Card (Visa) in the US, except Hawaii |
| App Store rating (US) | 4.7 from 36,052 | 4.7 from 1,797,975 |
| Founded | 2011 | — |
Pick Kraken if you want lower order-book fees (0.40% / 0.80% against the 0.60% / 1.20% reported for Coinbase Advanced), published proof of reserves, or the $10 new-user bonus — and you don't live in New York or Maine.
Pick Coinbase if you live in New York or Maine, where Kraken doesn't operate, want the largest US-listed crypto company (NASDAQ: COIN), or the Coinbase Card in the US.
Fees: each exchange's entry tier, checked 8 Oct 2026 (EU and UK platforms 25 Oct 2026, OKX US and MEXC 29 Oct 2026); compare your own amount in the fee calculator. App ratings from Apple's App Store, checked 30 Oct 2026. Other facts: Kraken: where it is licensed or regulated (no services in Maine or New York) (28 Oct 2026) · Kraken Proof of Reserves (25 Oct 2026) · Kraken referral terms (Krak card regions) (28 Oct 2026) · Kraken: SEC agrees to dismiss its lawsuit with prejudice, 3 Mar 2025 (29 Oct 2026) · Kraken and MEXC partner to migrate Netherlands clients (Kraken's MiCA and MiFID authorizations), 12 Aug 2026 (29 Oct 2026) · Coinbase licenses (29 Oct 2026) · Coinbase regulatory compliance (where no license is required) (29 Oct 2026) · Coinbase MiCA authorization (CSSF) (29 Oct 2026) · What Coinbase does with your digital assets (held 1:1) (29 Oct 2026) · Coinbase Card (29 Oct 2026) · Coinbase UK user agreement (FCA registration; updated 16 Oct 2026) (29 Oct 2026) · Coinbase: standing up to extortionists, 15 May 2025 (29 Oct 2026)
Fee Tiers Side by Side (maker / taker)
| 30-day volume | Kraken Pro | Coinbase Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| $0+ | 0.40% / 0.80% | 0.60% / 1.20% (reported) |
| $1,000+ | 0.40% / 0.80% | 0.35% / 0.75% (reported) |
| $2,500+ | 0.30% / 0.60% | shown after sign-in |
| $10,000+ | 0.22% / 0.38% | shown after sign-in |
| $50,000+ | 0.15% / 0.30% | shown after sign-in |
| $100,000+ | 0.12% / 0.25% | shown after sign-in |
Kraken: kraken.com/features/fee-schedule, checked 2026-10-08. Coinbase publishes Advanced rates only after sign-in; the two lowest tiers are as widely reported.
App vs Pro on Each Exchange
Both exchanges run two products on one account. Kraken's app charges a 1% fee on instant and recurring buys plus a spread; Kraken Pro is the order book with the tiers above. Coinbase's simple buy includes a spread and a Coinbase fee that depends on how you pay; Coinbase Advanced is its order book. On both, switching to the order book is the single biggest saving.
Verdict
For most people buying or selling a few hundred to a few thousand dollars at a time, Kraken costs less: lower entry-tier fees on the order book, and a $10 bonus that more than covers the fee on a first purchase. Coinbase's advantages are reach — all 50 US states — and familiarity. If you trade six figures a month, compare your own Coinbase tier against Kraken's published ladder before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kraken cheaper than Coinbase?
At the entry tier, yes: Kraken Pro charges 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker against Coinbase Advanced's 0.60% / 1.20%, so a $1,000 market order costs $8 on Kraken and $12 on Coinbase. In the apps, Kraken's instant buy charges 1% plus a spread; Coinbase's simple buy adds a fee and a spread it shows only at checkout.
What are Kraken Pro fees?
Kraken Pro uses cross-platform tiers based on 30-day volume: 0.40% / 0.80% from $0, 0.30% / 0.60% from $2,500, 0.22% / 0.38% from $10,000, 0.15% / 0.30% from $50,000 and 0.12% / 0.25% from $100,000 (maker / taker).
What are Coinbase Advanced fees?
Coinbase shows its Advanced rates only after you sign in. The entry tier, under $1,000 of 30-day volume, is widely reported as 0.60% maker / 1.20% taker, and 0.35% / 0.75% above $1,000.
Which is better for a first purchase?
Both are regulated and serve the US, UK and EU. For a first purchase Kraken has two advantages: lower entry-tier fees and a $10 Bitcoin bonus for new users after a $100 bank or crypto deposit plus $100 traded. Coinbase is available in all 50 US states; Kraken in 48.
Do both exchanges support TON?
Kraken lists TON with TON/USD, TON/EUR and TON/USDT markets and free TON deposits with a 1 TON minimum. Check Coinbase's asset list for your region before sending TON there.