80% of the community prefer Kraken.

Kraken vs KuCoin

General

Description

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
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

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
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

Kraken Logo
Kraken
KuCoin Logo
KuCoin

Details

Details
KrakenKuCoin
Fees
0.99%
average
0.1%
very low
Low-fee crypto exchanges
Number of cryptocurrencies
450+
large selection
700+
large selection
Payment methods
  • Bank
  • Credit card
  • PayPal
  • Apple Pay
  • Bank
  • Credit card
  • Apple Pay
Tradeable assets
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Derivatives
  • Cryptocurrencies
Best suited for
Beginners
Advanced users
Company headquarters
USA
Singapore, Seychelles
Founding year
2011
2017
Social media
1.63M followers
3.54M followers
Own token

KuCoin Token (KCS)

Benefits:

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

Features

Features
KrakenKuCoin
Real crypto
Yes
Yes
Transferable to own wallet
Yes
Yes
Recurring buys (DCA)
Yes
Yes
Staking
Yes
Yes
NFT marketplace
No
Yes
Trading tools
Yes
Yes
Trading options
  • Kraken Pro for trading
  • Derivatives
  • Margin trading (leverage)
  • Short/long positions
  • Derivatives
  • Margin trading (leverage)
  • Short/long positions
Crypto trading platforms
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Yes
Special features
  • Trading bots
  • Earn crypto interest through staking & lending
  • Features for professional traders
iOS App
Yes
Yes
Android App
Yes
Yes

Our rating

Our rating
KrakenKuCoin
Our overall rating
Kraken
KuCoin

Our individual ratings

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

Our opinion

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
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
KrakenKuCoin
Overall rating
3.1/5
3.5/5
App Store
4.7/5

around 14,600 ratings

4.7/5

around 2,700 ratings

Google Play Store
3.3/5

around 36,700 ratings

4.5/5

around 269,000 ratings

Trustpilot
1.4/5

around 2,900 ratings

1.4/5

around 1,400 ratings

User rating

Powered by AI
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.
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
KrakenKuCoin
Company
Payward, Inc.
Mek Global Limited
Headquarters
USA
Singapore, Seychelles
Company size
Large
Medium
Regulation
MiCA (PESL), FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC
Founder
Jesse Powell
Kent Li
Founding year
2011
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, Santiment, 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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