9 lowest-fee crypto exchanges in 2026: Balancing fees with features

When comparing cryptocurrency exchanges, cost often dominates the conversation. While this is an important consideration, rock-bottom fees can come at the expense of overall functionality. 

Experienced traders understand that choosing between the best crypto exchanges means balancing competitive fees with user experience. Finding this sweet spot can be challenging, but the following platforms show that it's possible. 

Fee structures can vary across crypto exchanges. Factors like monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, and more can affect fees.

When you're comparing crypto exchanges, it helps to know what fees to watch out for and how they apply. Here are the main crypto fees traders see:

• Trading fees (maker/taker): Charged when you buy or sell crypto. Maker fees apply when you add liquidity to the order book by placing a limit order that doesn't immediately execute. Taker fees apply when you remove liquidity by placing orders that execute immediately against existing orders.
• Deposit fees: Some exchanges charge fees when you transfer fiat currency or cryptocurrency into your account. Many exchanges, like Kraken, offer free deposits for certain payment methods or crypto types.
• Withdrawal fees: Fees for moving your crypto or fiat currency off the exchange to an external wallet or bank account. These often vary significantly between different cryptocurrencies and can include network transaction fees.
• Spread: Most cryptocurrency exchanges operate with a spread, the difference between an asset's buy and sell price. Spreads represent an indirect cost that affects your overall trading expenses.
• Payment processing fees: Additional charges for using specific payment methods, like credit cards, debit cards or bank transfers, when funding your account.
• Conversion fees: What you pay when you trade one crypto for another (like swapping Bitcoin for Ethereum) or convert your crypto into a fiat currency.

Built on a security-first foundation, Kraken is known as one of the most trusted crypto exchanges on the market. Our trading fees fund the infrastructure, innovation and safeguards our customers rely on to help keep their portfolios healthy and assets secure.

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

Combined with deep liquidity and minimal slippage, the Kraken platform gives users the right balance of low fees and innovative tools to support their trading strategy. We also offer access to more than 500 digital assets, paired with advanced trading features and staking options, all built on an exchange that prioritizes long-term security.

This security foundation doesn't happen by accident. We reinvest trading fee revenue directly into building reliable infrastructure with strict security measures. 

Beyond simply covering order execution, our fees support the comprehensive security measures and ongoing innovations that have made us a trusted exchange for over a decade. 

Since launching in 2011, Kraken has never suffered a major security breach resulting in the loss of user funds. This security-first mindset has also consistently earned top marks from independent review sites. Kaiko ranks Kraken in the top three global crypto exchanges, while CoinGecko awards it a perfect 10/10 trust score.

For traders, those ratings add further proof that Kraken is designed to help them safely and reliably access the crypto ecosystem while also keeping their costs competitive.

Binance is one of the largest crypto exchanges by trading volume. It’s known for its broad selection of digital assets and wide range of trading products.

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

Kraken and Binance are go-to names in the crypto industry. Both platforms offer hundreds of assets — Kraken with more than 500 and Binance with over 350 — and they provide easy-to-use trading platforms for a wide range of users. 

That said, Binance is built around scale and is known for its high trading volumes and global market activity, while Kraken focuses on building trust through strict security, compliance and transparency practices.

The Gemini platform has a reputation for serving both retail investors seeking simplicity and institutions that require strict compliance frameworks. 

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

For professional traders, Kraken Pro and Gemini ActiveTrader have comparable trading costs. Both platforms offer a tiered fee structure that decreases as a trader's monthly volume increases, and both have costs as low as 0.00% for high-volume traders.

Kraken also appeals to users with simpler trading strategies, offering Kraken+ subscribers zero fees on volumes up to $20,000. That means users who don’t trade professional-level volumes can still enjoy savings on exchange fees.

Coinbase is one of the most widely recognized cryptocurrency exchanges, known for its user-friendly interface and onboarding process.

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

Kraken appeals to experienced traders who prioritize cost efficiency and advanced functionality. The platform offers sophisticated trading tools and account management features that give experienced investors more control over their portfolios. 

While these advanced features make it particularly attractive to seasoned traders, Kraken is also easy to use for casual investors who want access to professional-grade tools without sacrificing usability.

OKX is a global cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 technology company. It offers a range of digital asset services, including spot trading, futures, margin, derivatives and a self-custody wallet.

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

While both platforms offer high-quality trading solutions, Kraken stands out with a larger asset selection. Kraken offers 500+ digital assets compared to OKX’s ~297, giving traders more coin opportunities to help diversify their portfolios.

Kraken Pro users also have access to professional-grade order types and advanced services, including margin, futures and stock trading. This positions Kraken as a preferred platform for experienced traders.

On top of these features, Kraken has processed over 2.5 billion trades while maintaining 99.9% uptime and sub-2ms latency. This reflects a long history of providing users with fast, reliable execution even during volatile markets.

Launched in 2018, Bybit has built its reputation as a derivatives-focused exchange before expanding into spot markets. 

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

While Bybit has gained recognition as a top crypto exchange, traders may prefer Kraken for several reasons. Accessibility is one factor users have to consider. 

KuCoin positions itself as a trading hub with a variety of diverse assets, listing over 750 available coins. 

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

Designed for traders who value stability and security, Kraken offers over 480 crypto assets and a platform that supports both large-volume traders and casual users. It equips users at any experience level with the tools they need to trade effectively.

Accessibility is another key difference. KuCoin is not available to users in certain jurisdictions, including the United States. Kraken operates globally, supporting clients in the U.S. and many other countries. 

Robinhood is primarily a stock and investment platform that also provides access to crypto trading, rather than a dedicated crypto exchange. 

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

Crypto trades on Robinhood do not have traditional maker or taker fees; instead, users pay a spread on each trade. This fee varies by asset and market conditions. 

Robinhood also states it is a commission-free platform, but there are 0.10%-0.85% fees listed for crypto trades routed through its Smart Exchange. This fee decreases for higher-volume traders.

The platform is best known for its simple, mobile-first interface. This could appeal to beginner traders seeking casual exposure to crypto alongside traditional investments. 

Robinhood offers a streamlined approach to investing that can appeal to very casual crypto traders looking to invest only in the most common assets. This typically includes those who only want basic buy-and-hold functionality from their exchange.

Kraken, on the other hand, offers a wide selection of cryptocurrencies and offers more advanced trading features like margin trading, futures and staking rewards. Kraken Pro's tiered fee structure can allow traders to retain more of their profits and pay less in fees than they might expeirence on Robinhood.

Additionally, Kraken is a dedicated cryptocurrency exchange with deeper liquidity and more sophisticated order types. While Robinhood approaches crypto as more of a secondary feature alongside their other financial services, Kraken offers hundreds of cryptocurrencies as well as tens of thousands of stocks and ETFs from the platform.

Bitvavo is a leading European crypto exchange, operating in the Netherlands. Despite its wide reach in the UK, EU and EEA countries, Bitvavo is not available in some regions, including the United States.

Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.

Bitvavo offers a streamlined approach to crypto trading that can appeal to European users who want straightforward crypto investing with euro liquidity and competitive fees.

Kraken, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive trading ecosystem with global reach across 190+ countries and licensing across Europe. Kraken offers more advanced trading features, including futures and margin for those looking for more advanced strategies.

While finding low-fee crypto exchanges is crucial for maximizing your returns, it's equally important to consider the broader features that will help you build a diversified portfolio over time.

Ready to start trading with one of the world's most trusted crypto exchanges? Sign up for Kraken today and discover why millions of users choose Kraken.

Maker fees apply when you place a limit order that adds liquidity to the order book, meaning your order doesn't execute immediately. 

Taker fees apply when you place an order that removes liquidity by immediately matching with existing orders on the book. Maker fees are generally lower than taker fees across most exchanges.

Exchanges may charge deposit fees when users add funds to their accounts. Crypto deposits are typically free, but fiat deposits may incur fees based on the method used to transfer the funds, like wire transfers, ACH or other methods.

Withdrawal fees typically apply when transferring cryptocurrency from an exchange to an external wallet or another exchange. These fees can differ depending on the asset type, blockchain network conditions and exchange-specific policies. 

Gas fees are transaction costs paid directly to the blockchain network, not to the crypto exchange. These fees compensate miners or validators for processing and confirming transactions, ensuring the network's security and functionality. Typically paid in the network's native token (e.g., ETH on Ethereum), gas fees vary based on network congestion and demand.

Besides the common fees, there are several other types of fees that exchanges may charge. A "spread" is the difference between the bid and ask price of an asset, which acts as an implicit cost. Other fees may include fiat conversion fees for converting regular currency to crypto, inactivity fees for dormant accounts, and margin interest or liquidation fees if you use leverage for trading.

Some traders reduce fees by using limit orders instead of market orders to qualify for maker pricing. This can be lower than taker fees, depending on the exchange and its fee structure. Higher trading volumes may also qualify you for reduced fee tiers, like with Kraken Pro.

Some common approaches traders use to keep costs down include placing limit orders to avoid higher taker fees, consolidating trades to reduce repeated charges and comparing fee schedules across exchanges before making a purchase. Many also factor in costs like spreads and withdrawal fees, since those can affect the total price of buying Bitcoin.

Crypto exchange fees can affect taxes by reducing tax liability. Users can either deduct fees from their proceeds when they sell an asset or include them as part of the asset's cost basis. 

By doing so, they can either lower their capital gains or increase their capital losses, ultimately resulting in a smaller tax bill. This also applies to blockchain processing fees, commonly known as "gas fees," which should also be factored into cost basis calculations.