Best Exchange to Buy Ethereum in the US: Kraken vs. Coinbase vs. Gemini on Fees

If your main goal is paying as little as possible per ether, Kraken Pro has the lowest published starting fees of the three biggest US exchanges, at 0.25% for maker orders and 0.40% for taker orders. Coinbase is the most familiar name and has a polished app, but its advanced trading fees start higher. Gemini's exchange fees start highest of the three at small volumes. Which one is "best" also depends on how you buy: tapping a Buy button in any app costs noticeably more than placing an order on the platform's trading screen.

Fees below come from each exchange's own fee pages where we could read them on October 29, 2026. Coinbase's fee pages blocked our access during research, so its figures come from recent independent reviews and are flagged as such. Always check the confirmation screen before you buy.

The quick comparison

A quick note on terms. A maker order is a limit order that sits on the order book until someone fills it. A taker order fills immediately against an existing order, which includes every market order. Our maker vs. taker guide explains how to use limit orders to pay the lower rate.

Kraken: lowest published starting fees

Funding Kraken from a US bank

Kraken's funding guide lists ACH via Plaid with no Kraken fee, a $1 minimum, and arrival in up to about five minutes, though it isn't available to accounts located in Texas. US wire deposits carry no Kraken fee either. Debit card purchases are also supported, with a $10 USD minimum and a seven-day limit of $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the account.

Watch the holds: Kraken keeps a 7-day withdrawal hold on funds from a Plaid ACH deposit, and a 72-hour hold after card, PayPal and first-time ACH purchases. You can trade during a hold, but you can't move that amount off the platform.

Staking ETH on Kraken

Kraken lists ETH as bonded-only staking, with no flexible option. On October 29, 2026, Kraken's staking page showed an estimated 2.98% for ETH, before Kraken's commission of 25% on bonded balances under $1 million. Bonded coins have an unbonding wait before you can sell or withdraw them. Our staking platforms comparison covers the trade-offs.

Coinbase: the easiest on-ramp, higher entry fees

Coinbase is one of the best-known US exchanges and the one many people already have an account with. For buying ETH, its main draw is simplicity and broad payment support.

On cost, recent independent reviews list Coinbase Advanced at 0.40% maker and 0.60% taker for traders under $10,000 in 30-day volume. That's 0.15 percentage points more than Kraken Pro on maker orders and 0.20 more on taker orders. Coinbase's simple Buy button includes a spread in the price, and reviews describe it as typically somewhere around 0.5% to 1.5% depending on the asset and market, with a fee on top.

• Good fit if: you value a familiar app, you already hold an account, or you want features tied to Coinbase's wider ecosystem.
• Less ideal if: you're fee-sensitive and buying regularly, where the gap compounds over time.

See the full breakdown in our Coinbase fees explained guide, or the head-to-head in Coinbase vs. Kraken. Coinbase's current pricing is on its official site.

Gemini: strong compliance reputation, highest small-trade fees

Gemini's ActiveTrader fee schedule, last updated September 1, 2026, starts at 0.60% maker and 1.20% taker for accounts with under $10,000 in 30-day volume. The next tier, at $10,000, drops to 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker. Fees keep falling at higher volumes and, at some tiers, with larger asset balances on the platform.

Gemini's mobile and web app uses a spread plus a transaction fee that it says depends on payment method, order size, market conditions and asset. It doesn't publish a single number. The exact fee shows on the trade review screen before you confirm.

• Good fit if: you trade at higher volume, or you want stablecoin trading. Gemini lists zero fees on RLUSD/USD, USDC/GUSD and GUSD/USD pairs.
• Less ideal if: you're buying small amounts of ETH occasionally, where the entry-tier taker fee is steep.

More in our Gemini fees guide, or go straight to Gemini's fee schedule.

What $1,000 of ETH costs on each trading screen

Here's simple math on each exchange's entry-tier rate for a $1,000 purchase. It leaves out spread on simple-buy screens, network fees if you withdraw, and any card processing fees.

The gap looks small on one purchase. On $1,000 a month for a year, the difference between Kraken Pro maker orders and Gemini ActiveTrader taker orders is about $114 before spread.

Things that matter besides the trading fee

Withdrawing ETH to your own wallet

If you plan to move ETH into self-custody, check each exchange's ETH withdrawal fee and which networks it supports. Withdrawal fees change with network conditions, so look them up on the day you move coins. Our withdrawal fees guide covers how to compare them.

Your state

Exchanges don't serve every state equally. Kraken doesn't serve New York or Maine at all, and limits Plaid ACH deposits in Texas and staking to its eligible list. Check our state-by-state exchange guide if you're in a state with tighter rules.

Buying on a schedule

If you'd rather buy a fixed dollar amount every week or month, recurring buys remove the timing decision. On Kraken, recurring orders run through the app at the same 1% fee as instant buys, so you're paying for convenience compared with placing Pro orders yourself. Our roundup of the best exchanges for recurring buys compares the options.

Limit orders on volatile days

A market order fills at whatever price is available, which on a fast-moving day can be worse than the price you saw a second earlier. A limit order sets the most you'll pay. It may not fill if the price runs away from you, but it also won't surprise you, and on Kraken Pro, Coinbase Advanced and Gemini ActiveTrader it can qualify for the lower maker rate.

Security habits

Whichever platform you pick, turn on app-based two-factor authentication, set a withdrawal address allowlist if the exchange offers one, and never buy ETH through a link someone sent you in a message.

How to choose: a quick decision guide

• Lowest cost per trade and you'll use limit orders: Kraken Pro.
• You want the simplest possible app and don't mind paying more: Coinbase or the Kraken app.
• You trade large volumes or want fee-free stablecoin pairs: look at Gemini's higher tiers.
• You want to stake ETH on the same platform: Kraken, if your state is eligible.
• You live in New York or Maine: Kraken isn't an option; compare Coinbase and Gemini directly.

1. Open and verify an account. Expect to provide ID and basic personal details.
2. Fund by ACH to avoid card fees, and note any withdrawal hold.
3. Place a limit order on the trading screen (Kraken Pro, Coinbase Advanced or Gemini ActiveTrader) instead of tapping Buy.
4. Decide on custody. Leave ETH on the exchange, stake it, or move it to your own wallet.

This comparison is educational, not a recommendation to buy ether. ETH's price can swing sharply, so only buy what you can afford to hold through a drop.