85% of the community prefer Coinbase.

Coinbase vs KuCoin

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
KuCoin Logo
KuCoin

The trading platform KuCoin operates under the motto “The People’s Exchange” and is among the largest exchanges worldwide. The platform impresses with a vast selection of cryptocurrencies and low fees. New coins are often available for trading long before they are listed on more well-known exchanges.

KuCoin 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
KuCoin Logo
KuCoin

What we like:

  • Large selection of cryptocurrencies
  • Low fees
  • Extensive platform features

What we don't like:

  • Complex for beginners
  • Mixed user reviews
  • Limited regulatory oversight
  • No US access

Preview

Coinbase Logo
Coinbase
KuCoin Logo
KuCoin

Details

Details
CoinbaseKuCoin
Fees
1.49%
very high
0.1%
very low
Low-fee crypto exchanges
Number of cryptocurrencies
260+
large selection
700+
large selection
Payment methods
  • Bank
  • Credit card
  • PayPal
  • Klarna
  • Apple Pay
  • Bank
  • Credit card
  • Apple Pay
Tradeable assets
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Cryptocurrencies
Best suited for
Beginners
Advanced users
Company headquarters
USA
Singapore, Seychelles
Founding year
2012
2017
Social media
6.41M followers
3.54M followers
Own token

KuCoin Token (KCS)

Benefits:

  • Discount on fees
  • Access to token sales
  • Faster support

Features

Features
CoinbaseKuCoin
Real crypto
Yes
Yes
Transferable to own wallet
Yes
Yes
Recurring buys (DCA)
Yes
Yes
Staking
Yes
Yes
NFT marketplace
Yes
Yes
Trading tools
Yes
Yes
Trading options
  • Coinbase Advanced for trading
  • Trading API
  • 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
  • Trading bots
  • Earn crypto interest through staking & lending
  • Features for professional traders
iOS App
Yes
Yes
Android App
Yes
Yes

Our rating

Our rating
CoinbaseKuCoin
Our overall rating
Coinbase
KuCoin

Our individual ratings

Ease of use
Coinbase: 10 of 10
Ease of use (Coinbase)
KuCoin: 7 of 10
Ease of use (KuCoin)
Coinbase Logo
KuCoin Logo
complexsimple
Features
Coinbase: 8 of 10
Features (Coinbase)
KuCoin: 7 of 10
Features (KuCoin)
Coinbase Logo
KuCoin Logo
basiccomprehensive
Fees
Coinbase: 6 of 10
Fees (Coinbase)
KuCoin: 10 of 10
Fees (KuCoin)
Coinbase Logo
KuCoin Logo
highlow
Security & trust
Coinbase: 10 of 10
Security & trust (Coinbase)
KuCoin: 6 of 10
Security & trust (KuCoin)
Coinbase Logo
KuCoin Logo
weakstrong
Beginner-friendliness
Coinbase: 10 of 10
Beginner-friendliness (Coinbase)
KuCoin: 6 of 10
Beginner-friendliness (KuCoin)
Coinbase Logo
KuCoin Logo
unsuitableideal
Support
Coinbase: 6 of 10
Support (Coinbase)
KuCoin: 6 of 10
Support (KuCoin)
Coinbase Logo
KuCoin 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
KuCoin Logo
KuCoin
KuCoin is particularly suitable for those interested in trading more “exotic” altcoins. Few exchanges offer such a vast and diverse selection of coins. The low fees are another major advantage. While the platform is relatively user-friendly, it may feel overwhelming for beginners, so we generally recommend KuCoin for more experienced investors. KuCoin offers various security features but does not inspire the highest level of trust due to a lack of regulation and an unclear corporate headquarters. Additionally, our research revealed mixed user reviews. We like to use KuCoin as a supplementary exchange for purchasing coins that are not yet listed on the most well-known platforms.
KuCoin review

User reviews

User reviews
CoinbaseKuCoin
Overall rating
4.1/5
3.5/5
App Store
4.7/5

around 1.8M ratings

4.7/5

around 2,700 ratings

Google Play Store
3.6/5

around 901,000 ratings

4.5/5

around 269,000 ratings

Trustpilot
4.0/5

around 17,900 ratings

1.4/5

around 1,400 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.
KuCoin Logo
KuCoin
Overall, users have had mostly positive experiences with KuCoin. 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
CoinbaseKuCoin
Company
Coinbase, Inc.
Mek Global Limited
Headquarters
USA
Singapore, Seychelles
Company size
Large
Medium
Regulation
MiCA, BaFin, FCA, FinCEN
Founder
Brian Armstrong, Fred Ehrsam
Kent Li
Founding year
2012
2017

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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