Binance vs Coinbase
The cheapest large venue against the most regulated one.
Binance
The deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range.
Coinbase
The most regulated, most beginner-friendly and most expensive way in.
These two are rarely a real choice, because they mostly serve different people: Coinbase is open to US residents and Binance is not. Where both are available, the decision is a straight trade of cost against simplicity and disclosure.
Side by side
| Binance | Coinbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5 | 8.2 |
| Spot maker | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Spot taker | 0.1% | 1.2% |
| Futures maker | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Futures taker | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Assets listed | 400+ | 280+ |
| Founded | 2017 | 2012 |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | No |
| Copy trading | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Restricted in | US | None tracked |
Which one, for whom
US residents
Coinbase
Binance.com does not accept US retail traders at all.
Cost-sensitive traders outside the US
Binance
Spot at 0.075% with BNB against Coinbase’s 1.20% entry-tier taker is a twelvefold difference.
Anyone prioritising regulatory clarity
Coinbase
A Nasdaq-listed company with audited financials is a higher disclosure standard than any proof-of-reserves attestation.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Coinbase so much more expensive?
It is priced for a mainstream user who values a frictionless experience over basis points, and it carries the compliance cost of a listed US company. Coinbase One or higher volume tiers narrow the gap.
Keep researching
Full reviews
- Binance review
The deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range.
- Coinbase review
The most regulated, most beginner-friendly and most expensive way in.
Other comparisons
Still deciding? Compare the cost on your own trade size with the fee calculator.