Fee data checked October 19, 2026
Every number here comes from the exchange's own fee schedule, with the date we checked it and a link to the source. No invented ratings, no bonuses we can't confirm.
Starting-tier spot fees · maker / taker
Lowest volume tier on each exchange's advanced trading screen. Simple "buy" buttons cost more. Sources are in the table below.
Our pick for most US buyers
Not the cheapest posted fees. Binance.US is lower right now, and we say so in the table. We pick Kraken because it combines a long track record with published reserves, a full Pro order book included with every account, and wide coin coverage.
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The comparison
Starting-tier rates for a new account. "Maker" means a limit order that waits on the book; "taker" means an order that fills right away. If a number isn't public, we say so instead of guessing.
Advanced screen
0.40% / 0.80%
Kraken Pro. Stablecoin pairs 0.20% / 0.20%.
Simple buy
1% + spread
Instant & recurring buys in the app; 1.5% on custom orders. Card or Apple/Google Pay fees may apply.
Not available to residents of New York or Maine. Pesos (COP) deposits available in Colombia.
Source: Kraken fee schedule · checked Oct 19, 2026
Advanced screen
0% / 0.02%
All spot pairs, since April 22, 2026.
Simple buy
Not checked yet
The cheapest posted spot rates of the four. Check that it serves your state before you deposit.
Advanced screen
0.60% / 1.20%
ActiveTrader, $0 volume tier.
Simple buy
Not checked yet
The highest starting rates here. Fees drop with 30-day volume and balance.
Source: Gemini ActiveTrader schedule · checked Oct 19, 2026
Advanced screen
Shown after sign-in
Coinbase Advanced lists your tier in the Fees tab once logged in.
Simple buy
Not checked yet
Retail rates aren't on a public page, so we don't print a number we can't verify.
Source: Coinbase Help · checked Oct 19, 2026
Fees change. The exchange's own fee page is always the final word. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
On any exchange
Simple buy screens charge a convenience fee plus a spread. On Kraken that's 1% + spread in the app, versus 0.40–0.80% on Kraken Pro, which is the same account.
Hidden fees explained →A limit order that rests on the book pays the maker rate. On Kraken Pro's starting tier that's half the taker rate: 0.40% instead of 0.80%.
Maker vs taker →Withdrawal and network fees vary by coin and exchange. Look them up before you buy, especially if you plan to move coins to your own wallet.
Avoiding fees →Kraken accepts Colombian pesos through local payment rails. Pesos are converted to US dollars on deposit, and COP withdrawals to a Colombian bank come out of your USD balance. The catch: if you deposit pesos and later withdraw pesos, you pay the currency conversion twice.
Guides
Of the four we checked on October 19, 2026, Binance.US posts the lowest spot fees: 0% maker and 0.02% taker on all spot pairs. Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% / 0.80%, and Gemini ActiveTrader starts at 0.60% / 1.20%.
Simple buy screens bundle a convenience fee and a spread into the price. On Kraken, instant and recurring buys in the app carry a 1% fee plus a variable spread. Kraken Pro, part of the same account, charges 0.40% for maker orders and 0.80% for taker orders at the starting tier.
No. Kraken doesn't open accounts for residents of New York or Maine, and some funding options are limited in a handful of other states. Check Kraken's own availability page for your state before signing up.
Some links are affiliate links. If you open an account through one, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It never changes the fee numbers we publish, and we show cheaper competitors when they're cheaper. Full disclosure.
No. We compare exchanges; we don't tell you what to buy or when. Crypto prices are volatile and you can lose money.
Kraken is our pick for most US buyers. Use Kraken Pro for buys and you'll pay a fraction of the app's fee.
Affiliate link · not available in NY or ME · crypto is volatile and you can lose money