How our crypto exchange comparison works
Our goal is to help you find the best crypto exchange for your needs. While many platforms may look similar at first glance, a closer look often reveals significant differences in focus, functionality, and ease of use. We highlight these strengths and weaknesses directly in our comparison table.
Key strengths highlighted in our comparison
Regulated exchange: Licensed in a major jurisdiction such as the EU (MiCA), US (FinCEN, BitLicense, SEC), UK (FCA), Singapore (MAS), or Japan (FSA). Offshore registrations do not qualify.
For active traders: The exchange meets the needs of active traders through features such as deep liquidity, competitive trading fees, advanced order types, charting tools, or products like futures, perpetuals, and margin trading.
Low fees: The platform scored 9 out of 10 or higher in our fee rating.
High security: The platform scored 9 out of 10 or higher in our security rating.
Easy to use: The platform scored 8 out of 10 or higher in our usability rating.
Many features: The platform scored 8 out of 10 or higher in our features rating.
Key weaknesses highlighted in our comparison
No US access: Not available to US users due to regulatory restrictions. Some platforms offer a limited US version.
No real crypto: Only offers financial products (CFDs, ETPs, ETNs) instead of actual cryptocurrencies.
No wallet transfer: Crypto cannot be withdrawn to an external wallet.
High fees: The platform scored 6 out of 10 or lower in our fee rating.
Poor customer support: The platform scored 6 out of 10 or lower in our support rating.
Not for beginners: The platform scored 6 out of 10 or lower in our beginner-friendliness rating.
Limited coin selection: The platform offers 50 cryptocurrencies or fewer.
Low review count: The platform has fewer than 1,000 external user reviews across Trustpilot, Apple App Store and Google Play.
Popular crypto exchange features compared
Recurring purchase (DCA plan)
Staking
Real crypto
Self-custody
Our evaluation criteria
Usability: Simple onboarding, intuitive interface, easy access to key features.
Features: Breadth of tools and functions; note that more features can mean more complexity.
Fees: Includes maker/taker fees, spreads, and any hidden charges (e.g., deposits, withdrawals).
Security & trust: Jurisdiction, licenses, audits, transparency, reputation, and track record.
Beginner-friendliness: How accessible the platform is for newcomers.
Support: Quality and responsiveness of customer service, based on our tests and user feedback.
Since 2017, Philipp Duringer has been deeply involved in Bitcoin, crypto assets and digital financial markets. As the founder of Coinbird, he combines years of crypto experience with more than 15 years of technical experience in IT and digital products. His goal is to make crypto easier to understand, more transparent and easier to compare.
About the author