Looking for an alternative to Coinbase? While the best exchange for you may vary based on your unique situation, here are 10 options based on factors like low fees, security, and more!
Quick Look: The 10 Best Coinbase Alternatives
- Kraken: Best overall
- Gemini: Best for security and availability
- Binance: Best for non-US investors
- Robinhood: Best for stocks and crypto
- Crypto.com: Best for debit card rewards
- iTrustCapital: Best for crypto IRAs
- eToro: Best for social trading
- Uphold: Best for cryptocurrencies and precious metals
- Swan Bitcoin: Best for Bitcoin
- PayPal: Best for existing users
Kraken
Best overall
Kraken is one of the top Coinbase alternatives based in the United States! The exchange is well-known for offering low fees and quality customer support to customers — as well as advanced transaction types like margin and derivative trading.
Unfortunately, Kraken does not have an equivalent to Coinbase Learn — which allows users to earn crypto for free after watching short modules!
Why should I choose Kraken?
- Low fees (0.00 - 0.26% on Kraken Pro)
- Quality customer service
- Margin and derivative trading
Kraken cons
- No equivalent to Coinbase Learn
Gemini
Best for security and availability
Gemini is considered one of the best exchanges in the world when it comes to security and regulatory compliance. Gemini takes steps to abide by regulations in each state, which is why it is one of the few American crypto exchanges available in all 50 states!
Gemini has faced criticism for its high fees. Gemini’s standard platform has higher fees than Coinbase.
Why should I choose Gemini?
- Available in all 50 states!
- Customer support available on chat and telephone
- Gemini credit card offers 3% cashback on dining!
Gemini cons
- Higher fees (1.49% for trades over $200) than Coinbase and other exchanges on this list!
Binance
Best for non-US investors
Binance is the world’s largest exchange by volume, and is a great option for investors based outside of the US! Binance offers 0.1% fees on spot trading, which makes it one of the cheapest options on the market!
Binance is no longer available in the United States. While US investors can use Binance.US, it has fewer features and different fee structures than the standard Binance platform.
Why should I choose Binance?
- Low fees (0.009 - 0.1%)
- Margin and derivative trading
- Larger variety of cryptocurrencies
Binance cons
- Not available in the US
- In recent years, Binance has pulled out of additional markets like Canada due to regulatory scrutiny.
Robinhood
Best for stocks and crypto
Robinhood is a stocks and crypto investing platform designed for beginner investors. Robinhood offers 15+ cryptocurrencies with no fees on crypto trades!
While Robinhood can be a great option for new investors, it’s important to remember that it isn't a crypto-first platform. As a result, Robinhood has less cryptocurrencies and fewer features than other exchanges.
Why should I choose Robinhood?
- Stocks and crypto trading
- No fees on crypto!
- Interest on uninvested cash!
- Educational resources on investing!
Robinhood cons
- Limited crypto features
- No staking and earning support
- Less cryptocurrencies available than other platforms
Crypto.com
Best for debit card rewards
Crypto.com is one of the world’s most famous cryptocurrency exchanges. The platform is famous for offering generous debit card rewards — which offers users who stake CRO (Crypto.com’s cryptocurrency) up to 5% in crypto cashback rewards.
In the past, Crypto.com has faced criticism due to unresponsive customer support.
Why should I choose Crypto.com?
- Best debit card rewards
- Benefits for staking CRO
- Strong mobile application
Crypto.com cons
- No equivalent to Coinbase Learn
- Slow customer support
iTrustCapital
Best for IRAs
Want to hold your cryptocurrency in a tax-advantaged retirement account? With iTrustCapital, you can invest your retirement savings directly into cryptocurrency — as well as other assets like gold and silver!
While iTrustCapital is a great option for crypto IRAs, the platform has higher fees and less cryptocurrencies available than some of the other Coinbase alternatives on this list!
Why should I choose iTrustCapital?
- Hold cryptocurrency in a self-directed IRA — and take advantage of tax benefits!
- Easy user interface for trading crypto within your retirement account!
- Quality customer support
iTrustCapital cons
- 1% fees on crypto transactions — higher than other exchanges!
- Only 28 cryptocurrencies available
eToro
Best for social trading
eToro is a stocks and crypto trading platform that is famous for its ‘social trading’ features that allow investors to copy the trades of the platform's most successful users!
Because eToro is not a cryptocurrency-first platform, its features are relatively limited when it comes to crypto. Only 21 cryptocurrencies are supported by the platform and features like staking are not available!
Why should I choose eToro?
- ‘Social trading’ allows you to copy the trading strategies of successful traders!
- Cryptocurrencies and stocks available!
- Beginner friendly interface with features for experienced traders like advanced charting!
eToro cons
- Not available in some US states such as Hawaii, Nevada, Minnesota, and New York.
- Fees for cryptocurrency transactions are 1% — higher than some of the other exchanges on this list!
- Only 21 cryptocurrencies available!
Uphold
Best for cryptocurrency and precious metals
Uphold is a cryptocurrency exchange that also supports precious metals like gold and silver. The platform is a great option for traders looking to diversify their investments into alternative assets.
- Cryptocurrency and precious metal investing!
- Anything-to-anything trades (ex. trade gold for BTC)
- No deposit or withdrawal fees!
Uphold cons
- Hidden spread fees for transactions (which can be higher than Coinbase’s transaction fees!)
- A class action lawsuit has been filed against Uphold because of customer assets stolen from the platform.
Swan Bitcoin
Best for Bitcoin
If you’re only interested in investing in Bitcoin, Swan Bitcoin may be a great option for you. The platform allows you to set up recurring Bitcoin buys — allowing you to slowly accumulate your BTC holdings!
- Recurring Bitcoin buys — buy BTC on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis
- Financial advisor services and personalized consultations!
- Quality customer support
Swan Bitcoin cons
- Support for Bitcoin only — no other cryptocurrencies!
- 0.99% flat fees — higher than some of the other exchanges listed!
PayPal
Best for existing users
If you already have a PayPal account, PayPal can be an easy way to buy and sell cryptocurrency. The platform allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash!
Unfortunately, PayPal has relatively high fees. Fees vary based on your transaction amount, but can be high as 1.8% plus a 0.5% spread markup!
Why should I choose PayPal?
- Easy-to-use platform
- Easy way to get started with crypto
- Use your existing PayPal account
PayPal cons
- Only 4 cryptocurrencies available
- High transaction fees (as high as 1.8% plus spread markup)
What are the advantages of Coinbase?
While we’ve been focused on some of the disadvantages of Coinbase, the exchange is one of the most popular cryptocurrency platforms in the world for a reason! Let’s walk through some of the benefits that Coinbase has to offer.
Beginner-friendly: Coinbase is one of the user-friendly exchanges on the market, which makes it perfect for new investors! Features like Coinbase Learn are a great way to help introduce you to the cryptocurrency ecosystem and earn crypto for free.
Reputation: Coinbase has a stellar reputation for trust and security. The platform works with regulators all over the world to ensure compliance with cryptocurrency laws.
Insurance: Worried about losing access to your crypto in the case of a hack? Some assets on Coinbase are fully insured!
What should I look for in a Coinbase alternative?
Here are a few features you should keep in mind when searching for a Coinbase alternative.
Low fees: Coinbase is known for having relatively high transaction fees. If you’re looking for an alternative, you should choose an exchange that offers low fees.
Advanced transaction types: If you’re an experienced trader, you should consider choosing an exchange that offers support for margin and derivative trading. At this time, Coinbase does not offer support for these advanced transaction types.
Reputation: Unfortunately, the cryptocurrency ecosystem is rife with frauds and scams. Before you choose a Coinbase alternative, do your research on the platform.
