60% of the community prefer Coinbase.

Coinbase vs Kraken

General

Description

Coinbase Logo
Coinbase

Coinbase is the world’s most well-known cryptocurrency exchange and is especially popular for its user-friendly interface, making it ideal for beginners. As you progress, consider switching to Coinbase Advanced to lower your trading fees. The company is listed on the US stock exchange Nasdaq and is therefore subject to strict regulations.

Coinbase review
Kraken Logo
Kraken

Kraken is one of the most established crypto platforms globally, founded in 2011. It has a strong track record of security and regulatory compliance and is known for a clean, user-friendly app and fair fees. Alongside simple instant buys for beginners, Kraken Pro offers advanced order types and tools for more experienced traders.

Kraken review

Pros and cons

Coinbase Logo
Coinbase

What we like:

  • Very easy to use
  • Beginner-friendly
  • High security standards
  • Publicly listed company

What we don't like:

  • Higher fees on standard buys
Kraken Logo
Kraken

What we like:

  • Easy to use
  • High reputation and trust
  • Low fees on Kraken Pro
  • Robust regulatory compliance
  • Helpful customer support

What we don't like:

  • Higher fees for instant purchases in the app

Preview

Coinbase Logo
Coinbase
Kraken Logo
Kraken

Details

Details
CoinbaseKraken
Fees
1.49%
very high
0.99%
average
Low-fee crypto exchanges
Number of cryptocurrencies
260+
large selection
450+
large selection
Payment methods
  • Bank
  • Credit card
  • PayPal
  • Klarna
  • Apple Pay
  • Bank
  • Credit card
  • PayPal
  • Apple Pay
Current BTC price
$114,733.93
including fees
$114,175.86
including fees
Compare Bitcoin prices
Tradeable assets
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Derivatives
Best suited for
Beginners
Beginners
Company headquarters
USA
USA
Founding year
2012
2011
Social media
6.41M followers
1.63M followers
Own token

Features

Features
CoinbaseKraken
Real crypto
Yes
Yes
Transferable to own wallet
Yes
Yes
Recurring buys (DCA)
Yes
Yes
Staking
Yes
Yes
NFT marketplace
Yes
No
Trading tools
Yes
Yes
Trading options
  • Coinbase Advanced for trading
  • Trading API
  • Kraken Pro for trading
  • Derivatives
  • Margin trading (leverage)
  • Short/long positions
Crypto trading platforms
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Yes
Special features
  • Coinbase Wallet
  • Coinbase Card
  • Coinbase Vault
  • NFT marketplace
iOS App
Yes
Yes
Android App
Yes
Yes

Our rating

Our rating
CoinbaseKraken
Our overall rating
Coinbase
Kraken

Our individual ratings

Ease of use
Coinbase: 10 of 10
Ease of use (Coinbase)
Kraken: 10 of 10
Ease of use (Kraken)
Coinbase Logo
Kraken Logo
complexsimple
Features
Coinbase: 8 of 10
Features (Coinbase)
Kraken: 9 of 10
Features (Kraken)
Coinbase Logo
Kraken Logo
basiccomprehensive
Fees
Coinbase: 6 of 10
Fees (Coinbase)
Kraken: 7 of 10
Fees (Kraken)
Coinbase Logo
Kraken Logo
highlow
Security & trust
Coinbase: 10 of 10
Security & trust (Coinbase)
Kraken: 9 of 10
Security & trust (Kraken)
Coinbase Logo
Kraken Logo
weakstrong
Beginner-friendliness
Coinbase: 10 of 10
Beginner-friendliness (Coinbase)
Kraken: 9 of 10
Beginner-friendliness (Kraken)
Coinbase Logo
Kraken Logo
unsuitableideal
Support
Coinbase: 6 of 10
Support (Coinbase)
Kraken: 9 of 10
Support (Kraken)
Coinbase Logo
Kraken Logo
poorexcellent

Our opinion

Coinbase Logo
Coinbase
Coinbase is one of the most popular entry points for beginners entering the world of cryptocurrency—and for good reason. It has a unique way of simplifying this complex topic in a playful and accessible manner, making investing enjoyable and straightforward. However, this simplicity comes at a cost: its fees are on the higher side of the industry average and, in our view, somewhat expensive. That said, Coinbase Advanced provides a more advanced option for users who have outgrown the beginner-friendly interface. Overall, we mainly recommend Coinbase to newcomers who don’t mind paying a bit more in fees in exchange for using the easiest platform on the market.
Coinbase review
Kraken Logo
Kraken
Kraken is a reliable choice for users who value security, clear regulation and a polished user experience. The platform is regulated in multiple jurisdictions and has earned a strong reputation over many years. It is known for consistent compliance and a strong focus on safeguarding client assets, from custody practices through to resilient infrastructure. On pricing, Kraken Pro is usually the more cost effective way to trade, while instant buys via certain payment methods are convenient but can carry higher fees. The app feels modern, fast and stable, which makes day to day use straightforward. What stood out in our own testing is customer support. Responses were fast, helpful and solution oriented, which is not something you can take for granted with a platform of this size. We also use Kraken ourselves because of its dependable infrastructure, sensible Pro pricing and solid security setup. For newcomers, the standard app keeps things simple without feeling limiting. Kraken Pro is better suited to experienced users who want deeper tools, advanced order types and more control over execution.
Kraken review

User reviews

User reviews
CoinbaseKraken
Overall rating
4.1/5
3.1/5
App Store
4.7/5

around 1.8M ratings

4.7/5

around 14,600 ratings

Google Play Store
3.6/5

around 901,000 ratings

3.3/5

around 36,700 ratings

Trustpilot
4.0/5

around 17,900 ratings

1.4/5

around 2,900 ratings

User rating

Powered by AI
Coinbase Logo
Coinbase
Overall, users seem to have mixed experiences with Coinbase. The platform is often praised for its user-friendliness, wide range of cryptocurrencies, and security measures. However, the fee structure and customer support are common points of criticism.
Kraken Logo
Kraken
Overall, users have had mostly positive experiences with Kraken. The platform is praised for its wide range of cryptocurrencies, advanced trading options, and security measures. However, some users have expressed a desire for improvements in customer service and platform stability.

Company

Company
CoinbaseKraken
Company
Coinbase, Inc.
Payward, Inc.
Headquarters
USA
USA
Company size
Large
Large
Regulation
MiCA, BaFin, FCA, FinCEN
MiCA (PESL), FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC
Founder
Brian Armstrong, Fred Ehrsam
Jesse Powell
Founding year
2012
2011

How does our comparison work?

Data & Interfaces

Our market data is automatically updated every 15 minutes. This means you can always use the latest data for your comparisons. We obtain the data through web interfaces (API) from CoinGecko, DefiLlama, CoinCodex and many more

Research & Deepdive

We regularly sift through a jungle of technical whitepapers, websites, social media and forums for you. In doing so, we filter out essential and relevant information in order to present it to you clearly and comprehensibly in our comparison

Analysis & Valuation

We research and use analysis tools for blockchains and their networks, to form a fact-based foundation for our valuation. Please note that this is not an investment recommendation, but merely our personal opinion.

Community & Feedback

We check our information every 1-2 months to ensure it is up to date and correct. With the help of our community, we can find outdated or incorrect data even faster. Of course, we also welcome your feedback or suggestions for improvement!

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