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Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team

Coinbase vs Kraken

Coinbase scores 9.0 and Kraken 9.4 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
Coinbase

Coinbase

9.0/10
Visit
Kraken

Kraken

Higher score in this comparison

9.4/10
Visit

Where Coinbase and Kraken differ

Coinbase vs Kraken
CompareCoinbaseCoinbaseReviewVisitVisitKrakenKrakenReviewVisitVisit
Monthly fee$0€0
Free ATM withdrawals$0€0
Card typePrepaidDebit
Card networkVisaMastercard
CustodyCustodialSelf custody
Currency conversion feeNot confirmed0%
Top-up feefree for direct depositNot confirmed
Cashback rateNot confirmed0.5% to 2%
CurrenciesNot confirmed600

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • Kraken scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
  • Coinbase is licensed in 2 more countries.
  • Features: only Coinbase offers Custodial.
  • Features: only Kraken offers Multi currency, Travel.

Our verdict on each

Coinbase

Coinbase suits buyers who want a free card attached to a large custodial exchange rather than a plain spending account. The monthly fee is $0, the free ATM allowance is $0 and the coin list is far wider than the site median of 62.

Read the full Coinbase review

Kraken

Kraken suits frequent crypto users who keep trading balances on exchange and want those balances spendable through a card without added card upkeep. It pairs a debit card on Mastercard with a monthly fee of €0 and conversion fees of 0%, which keeps routine spend predictable for cardholders.

Read the full Kraken review

Score breakdown

Coinbase vs Kraken
AreaCoinbaseKraken
Cost9.2Monthly fee is $0, loading is free for direct deposit and free ATM withdrawals are $0.9.3HigherMonthly charge of €0 with conversion fees of 0% keeps routine card costs contained.
Offer9.1Higher9.0Card access to 728 with staking on ATOM, SCRT and KSM widens use beyond payments.
Trust8.89.7HigherSupervision linked to Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network supports confidence in handling.

How they place

Coinbase vs Kraken
RankingCoinbaseKraken
Crypto exchanges21 of 2979 of 297
Crypto futures exchanges14 of 786 of 78
Crypto wallets11 of 1566 of 156
Crypto debit cards16 of 1459 of 145

Sources behind this comparison

Coinbase

  • coinbase.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • coingecko.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
  • help.coinbase.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

Kraken

  • support.kraken.com: 6 facts, checked September 28, 2026
  • kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
  • krak.app: 1 fact, checked September 29, 2026

Every fact side by side

Coinbase vs Kraken
FactCoinbaseKraken
FeaturesCrypto, Custodial, Virtual cardMulti currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Travel
Legal entityCoinbase Luxembourg S.A.Not confirmed
HeadquartersLuxembourgNot confirmed
Founded2012Not confirmed
Support channelsPhone, Email, Help centreNot confirmed

Crypto exchanges

Coinbase vs Kraken
FactCoinbaseKraken
Taker feeNot confirmed0.05% to 0.8%
Coins listed405728Higher
RegulatorsCommission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF)Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)
Fiat deposit methodsNot confirmedCard, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple pay
Maker feeNot confirmed0% to 0.4%
Proof of reservesNot confirmedYes
DerivativesYesYes
Exchange typeCexCex

Crypto wallets

Coinbase vs Kraken
FactCoinbaseKraken
Wallet typeMobileMobile
PriceNot confirmed$0
Coins supported405728Higher
Backup optionsNot confirmedSeed

Where each stands against the rest

Coinbase vs Kraken
FactCoinbaseKrakenMedian
Currency conversion feeNot confirmed0%below the median0.25%
Cashback rateNot confirmed0.5% to 2%at the median2
CurrenciesNot confirmed600highest quarter30

Median across 58 listed providers.

Pros and cons

Coinbase

Pros

  • No monthly cost: fees are $0 and free for direct deposit
  • The exchange lists 405 coins, well past the site median of 62
  • The card runs on visa, the most common card network in this ranking at 57.4%

Cons

  • Custody is custodial, so keys sit with the provider rather than with you
  • Free ATM withdrawals are $0, which is lower than most cards here
  • The card is prepaid rather than a debit card, so it draws on a balance you fund first

Kraken

Pros

  • Monthly fee of €0 keeps ongoing card costs low for regular spenders
  • Conversion fees of 0% favour cross border card use versus Bit2Me at 0.95%
  • Cashback of 0.5% to 2% adds value on eligible card spending

Cons

  • Free ATM allowance of €0 restricts cash withdrawals for frequent ATM users
  • Support runs on chat and help centre only, which limits choice for people who prefer phone help
  • Cashback of 0.5% to 2% varies by activity, so returns depend on card use

Who each suits

Coinbase

Who it suits

  • Buyers who already hold a balance on the exchange and want to spend it directly
  • People who want one app for buying, holding and card spending
  • Traders who value a long coin list over holding keys themselves

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone who wants a debit card that draws straight from a bank balance, where Monzo Flex is the better fit
  • Self-custody holders who will not leave keys with a provider, where Bitpanda suits comparing self-custody options
  • People who want free cash machine withdrawals, where Wise is the stronger alternative

Kraken

Who it suits

  • Exchange holders who want trading balances spendable by card rather than moved off venue
  • Card payers who value low upkeep and who accept eToro instead where ATM needs dominate

Who should look elsewhere

  • Cash heavy users who may prefer eToro for its free ATM range of €2,500 to €12,000 over €0
  • Phone support seekers who may prefer bunq if assisted channels matter more than chat and help centre

Current offers

Coinbase

Current offer

  • Bonus

    Crypto rewards on every purchase with the Coinbase Card (rotating reward selection)

    US Card users only, excluding Hawaii; reward rate is variable; reward offers expire and a new reward can be chosen monthly

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Questions about each

Coinbase

What does the Coinbase card cost to hold?+

The monthly fee is $0, and free for direct deposit for direct deposit. That puts it at the joint top of the field on monthly fee, 1 of 379 brands compared. The cost of using it is really in currency conversion and cash machine withdrawals.

Are there free ATM withdrawals with the card?+

Free ATM withdrawals are $0, so cash machine use is charged rather than included. That sits low in this ranking, 38 of 104 brands compared. Readers who take out cash often should weigh the site allowance median of €0 against other cards.

Kraken

What does the Kraken card cost to keep and use?+

The card carries a monthly fee of €0 and conversion fees of 0%. Cashback of 0.5% to 2% applies to eligible spend. Exchange trading uses maker fees of 0% to 0.4% and taker fees of 0.05% to 0.8%, so card costs stay distinct from trading costs.

Who regulates Kraken for this product?+

Kraken lists oversight connected to Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and holds registrations including MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458. The legal entity named is Payward Europe Solutions Limited. These permissions relate to crypto and payment services and vary by product and domicile.

Other options to compare

Coinbase

Visit

Kraken

Visit