Compare the best cryptocurrency exchanges to help you get started with crypto trading. You could make a profit from the rise and fall of the price of popular cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin, ethereum and Tether.
| Exchange/Platform | Supported Cryptocurrencies | Trading Fees | User Interface | Security | Get Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Coinbase |
260+ (1.30% of total currencies) | $0.99 to £2.99 $50+ (depending on time of trade, region and payment method) | Easy to use mobile app and website | Assets held 1:1, password encryption, 2 step verification, account lock, vault crypto wallet | Create Account |
| Coinbase charge fees based on transactions involving cryptocurrency trading. Fees are based on; order size, payment method, market conditions and jurisdictional location. There are no staking or unstaking fees. Spreads are charged but factored into the quoted prices. Coinbase Advanced offers no spreads and fee free transactions are available through the Coinbase One subscription service. Storage of your cryptocurrency is free, primary transfers to another user’s primary account balance is free. Network transaction fees, adding cash by credit cards and credit transactions are all chargeable. | |||||
 Bitstamp |
80+ (0.40% of total currencies) | from 0.30% – 0.40% for maker taker fees (0.06% – 0.08% for FX) | Simple button navigation and one press buy and sell | Supports Ledger wallet app to self store crypto. 2 factor authentication, whitelisting | Create Account |
| Bitstamp are a trusted cryptocurrency exchange who make crypto trading easy with high performance tools for pro traders and customer support and detailed security information. Bitstamp Fees start from 0.00% with 0.30% being the largest fee. Maker Taker pricing and trading fees, at the best available price, can cost a little more than equivalent Maker Trades which are orders that add volume to the order book and set to a specific price. | |||||
 Kraken |
246+ (1.23% of total currencies) | 0.25% – 0.40% (Maker-Taker model), 0.02% margin all opening and closing positions | Custom interface to suit your needs including P&L reports, open orders, order book and performance | Master Key support, 2FA, Hardware support and authenticator app, Full user ID verificaiton | Create Account |
| Kraken let you trade cryptocurrency with as little as £10. Trade crypto through the Kraken mobile app or desktop UI. Kraken charge low fees, offer high liquidity and 24/7 customer support. | |||||
 Gemini |
80+ (0.40% of total currencies) | 0.20% – 0.40% maker taker fees (discounted with greater trade volume) | Suits beginners and easy-to-use | 2 factor authentication, security device hardware supported, address whitelisting, security tested by third party pen testers | Create Account |
| Owned by the Winklevoss twins Gemini offers varying fees based on the technology used to make the trade and gross trading volume. API fees are 0.40% to 0.20% but as low as 0.03% with frequent trades. Website trading fees begin at $0.99 or 1.49% of value for trades over $200.00. Gemini were caught up in the “earn scandal” where alongside Genesis they offered investors interest on their crypto assets, which never materialised. | |||||
Compare Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Cryptocurrency is extremely popular and has become globally recognised financial investment.
Many thousands of trades are executed daily across 20,000 or more global cryptocurrencies.
To access these cryptocurrencies, you’ll need a cryptocurrency broker or cryptocurrency exchange to help facilitate your trading and buy and sell cryptocurrencies.
You’ll also need an online bank account with a provider who allows you to make payments to a cryptocurrency exchange service, because many high street banks don’t allow this.
There are many cryptocurrency trading platforms to choose from, so we’ve compiled a few of our favourite cryptocurrency exchanges to help you determine which is the best cryptocurrency broker for your needs.
Here are the most important steps to follow to help you improve your chances of success with cryptocurrency trading.
Choose a reliable account with access to comprehensive information
Reliability and cryptocurrency is somewhat of a misnomer, typically, nothing is more unreliable than the price of cryptocurrency.
This means that even the most stable, successful and well presented cryptocurrency brokers and exchanges are not immune from issues caused by a rapidly changing market.
Examples of cryptocurrencies rapidly climbing in value before plummeting back to nothing as well as the tale of FTX should warn you of the perils of cryptocurrency trading.
While not immune from the market, the cryptocurrency exchanges included in our comparison are good choice for beginners, new to cryptocurrency and those with experience because:
- they are regulated in various markets or geographic locations, meaning they adhere to rules and regulations
- they can help you access cryptocurrencies
- they offer access to a large number of cryptocurrencies
- they offer APIs and technology to help you make and manage trades quickly
- high liquidity essentially meaning money moves through them quickly and regularly so there’s always currency available for you to trade
- security while not top of everyone’s list and not always fully explained, choosing a broker that offers great security is essential for protecting your money, whether it is in cryptocurrency or government backed currency
The Cryptocurrency brokers in our comparison have the expertise and experience to let you trade cryptocurrencies that are established while also allowing you to discover new currencies.
With over 20,000 cryptocurrencies available around the World, few brokers try to offer 100% market coverage.
Not just because total market coverage be very difficult to maintain, but also because so many cryptocurrencies are scams, fake or so devastatingly volatile that to offer them to clients would be foolish to brokers who’ve spent many years trying to build a positive reputation.
They have processes in place to allow you to discover new and growing cryptocurrencies without falling for a cryptocurrency scam.
The best cryptocurrency comparison platform will check and vet cryptocurrencies it allows its users to access, as much as it can, to help ensure there’s a thriving community of interested and engaged traders.
This will help you to trade more quickly, more profitably and get a better understanding of the different cryptocurrencies, their markets, the exchanges powering your trades and the essential strategies you need to help ensure your trades will be profitable.
Beginners and Cryptocurrency Trading
If you’re new to Cryptocurrency trading, you’ll want to choose a broker with the easiest platform to manage and understand because getting used to a fast-paced market like cryptocurrency is very important so you don’t lose all of your money very quickly when starting to trade.
Very few cryptocurrency exchanges, other than etoro, offer demo accounts to help you get used to trading, so if you want to buy and sell cryptocurrency, then you’ll need to:
- make sure you understand how the process of buying and selling works
- make sure it is clear how you can sell your cryptocurrency when you’ve made a profit
- use all account protections and features to prevent your account being accessed by hackers or scammers
What to Consider when Choosing a Cryptocurrency Broker
Here are some essential considerations you need to factor in when choosing a cryptocurrency exchange and how our comparison can help you:
Importance of comprehensive Information: Cryptocurrency brokers which display detailed information about the cryptocurrencies they list and the current trends in the markets will be easier for you to understand and engage with.
Equipped with clear data around market shifts, the value trends seen in cryptocurrency and transparent fees will make your trading simpler to manage, cost out and hopefully make profitable trades more likely.
Ultimately, the more comprehensive the information available to you as a trader, the more likely you are to be successful as a cryptocurrency broker because you can make informed decisions before you make a trade at a time that best suits your requirements.
Pricing Clarity: Cryptocurrency brokers can use differing pricing models like maker taker trading or varied pricing models depending on the time of your trade, the market price, the payment method you use
User Reviews and Ratings: Find detailed reviews of each broker on your shortlist. Reviews can help you get valuable insights based on the experiences of other users when using the platforms. By checking authentic reviews, you can gain a better understanding of an exchange’s reputation, customer support, and overall user satisfaction. This information is critical in helping make sure you settle on a reliable broker for your trading and can help you be confident of the reliability and credibility of the exchange.
Security and Trustworthiness: We’ve included as much detail around the security offered for cyptocurrency brokers listed in the table because it is so important to consider when choosing a cryptocurrency exchange.
Taking the time to understand the steps you can take to secure your account is worthwhile because it will help keep your money safe. We’ve included details like whether or not brokers offer two-factor authentication, IP whitelisting, ledger storage and penetration tests on infrastructure because it will help you understand which brokers take security seriously.
Factor your security preferences into the choice you make so that the protection of your assets invested in cryptocurrency are protected and your personal information is kept safe.
Cost Efficiency: Fees will vary across cryptocurrency exchanges, so we’ve included a indication of the types of fees you can expect to pay for trading with a cryptocurrency broker.
While our comparison does allow you to understand at high level indication of the fees you’ll likely end up paying, the overall charges you’ll end up paying will differ based on:
- the number and value of trades you’ll make – many brokers offer cheaper fees if you trade more often or make higher value trades
- the fee structures each exchange broker uses – including funding fees (fees to move money into your trading account), trading and transaction fees (often referred to as spot fees which are charged when you make a trade), withdrawal fees (for withdrawing your returns). Some brokers even charge mining fees (which relate to the “mining” of cryptocurrency from the blockchain).
- spreads – which is the difference of the price you’re buying, or selling, the cryptocurrency at and the market value of the currency. Cryptocurrency brokers like Coinbase generally include this as part of the buy and sell transaction and don’t charge this separately.
Some cryptocurrency exchanges also offer tiered accounts or premium subscription services which, in exchange for a monthly subscription fee, can reduce your spot fees you’ll pay whenever you make a trade.
You’ll want to consider how much you plan to invest into cryptocurrency and how long you’ll be buying cryptocurrency for before you decide if a premium account is right for you.
If you’re making a single trade you’ll likely be better off using a free account. If you’re buying cryptocurrency in large quantities or plan to invest regularly, calculate how much you’ll save with the cheaper fees vs the price of the monthly subscription before you commit, to see if you’ll save overall.
Ultimately, choosing an exchange with lower fees for the type of trading you want to carry out can help you optimise your trading and investment strategies to potentially increase your overall returns and make a profit faster.
However, you’ll definitely want a clear picture of these fees from start to finish before you commit.
Tools and Features
You’ll need data when you’re trading cryptocurrencies to help you understand what has happened before if you’re ever going to make money.
The best crypto brokers will provide you with a complete set of tools, data resources, charts and graphs to help you compare cryptocurrency trading options and understand your options.
Most cryptocurrency platforms offer charting, graphs and tools to help visualise and track the prices of various crypto assets.
You’ll want:
- real-time market data,
- price charts
- order book analysis
- tools to help you manage your portfolio
Make sure you familiarise yourselves with these tools and understand what the data is showing you and how they work, so you can be sure you’re making trades at the right time, when the prices are likely to move in a way that benefits your positions.
Access to New Opportunities
New Cryptocurrencies are created frequently and the markets are constantly changing.
You’ll want a broker that keeps pace with and adds new cryptocurrencies often, so you can assess new opportunities in the cryptocurrency space.
Especially if you’re hoping to trade more than just bitcoin.
Discovering emerging cryptocurrencies early can be an effective way to help improve your profits overtime, so consider this when weighing up your cryptocurrency broker.
Want more?
Our cryptocurrency comparison platform can help you understand the benefits and features of different cryptocurrency exchanges.
All of the brokers we list are;
- reliable
- established
- offer comprehensive cryptocurrencies (make sure your broker offers access to Bitcoin, you’ll likely be disappointed if the World’s biggest cryptocurrency is absent)
- have the potential to support beginners, new to cryptocurrency trading
However, you will also need to check that your chosen broker can offer an account to you based on your geographic location and that you’re able to pass their:
- ID checks; most request visual identification, national insurance or tax IDs.
- Experience tests; most brokers try to gauge your experience levels so they can understand your experience with trading and investing to date. If you’re in-experienced, you may be offered more assistance, an account manager or a limited account for sometime.
Cryptocurrency platforms can give you access to the markets and you could save money if you choose a broker which offers deals, offers and incentives to facilitate trading.
However, never choose a broker which makes outlandish claims or promises big profits, these are unsubstantiated claims. If something sounds too good to be true, it is.
Research your broker is thoroughly to make sure you are completely comfortable that the broker is genuine and you know how you deposit funds before you commit any money to the broker.
With a reliable broker, you can be more confident that the cryptocurrencies you are trading are widely supported and will always have the potential to retain some value.