Kraken alternatives
Ranked by the reason you are leaving. Every list below is computed from the same published sub-scores as the rest of the site, with Kraken removed.
Kraken is the exchange people leave over one number. Since the cross-platform fee-tier change on 9 July 2026, Kraken Pro Tier 1 charges 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker — four to eight times what Binance, OKX or Bybit charge a new account. A trader doing a few thousand dollars a month pays noticeably more here than anywhere offshore, and the simple Instant Buy flow is more expensive again. That is the whole case for switching: not safety, not support, not fiat rails, all of which Kraken does better than the venues that undercut it.
Two things temper that, and a US resident should read them before opening anything. Kraken now sets your tier by the better of 30-day volume and Assets on Platform, so a holder with a meaningful balance may already be below Tier 1 without knowing it — check before you move. And Kraken has operated since 2011 with no customer-fund breach, which is a record none of the cheaper venues can match. Leaving Kraken for fees is trading the best custody record in the sector for basis points.
- Kraken spot taker
- 0.8%
- Kraken futures taker
- 0.05%
- Blocked in
- No market we track
- Incidents on record
- 0
If you are leaving over fees and can go offshore
All venues, fees at 4× weight. Availability by country is on each hub page. Weighting: low fees.
| Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Futures taker | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1BinanceThe deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range. | 8.7 | 0.075%after discount | 0.05% | altcoins, futures | Open account |
2OKXA trading platform and a self-custody wallet in one product. | 8.6 | 0.1% | 0.05% | futures, defi | Open account |
3BybitA derivatives-first exchange that grew into a full-service platform. | 8.4 | 0.1% | 0.055% | futures, copy-trading | Open account |
4MEXCThe cheapest fees and the longest listing tail, with the trade-offs that implies. | 8.1 | 0.05% | 0.02% | low-fees, altcoins | Open account |
If you want options or copy trading
Kraken offers neither; this shortlist is filtered to venues with copy trading. Weighting: copy trading.
| Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Futures taker | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1BinanceThe deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range. | 8.7 | 0.075%after discount | 0.05% | altcoins, futures | Open account |
2OKXA trading platform and a self-custody wallet in one product. | 8.5 | 0.1% | 0.05% | futures, defi | Open account |
3BybitA derivatives-first exchange that grew into a full-service platform. | 8.4 | 0.1% | 0.055% | futures, copy-trading | Open account |
4BitgetThe copy-trading specialist with a large protection fund. | 8.0 | 0.1% | 0.06% | copy-trading, altcoins | Open account |
If you still want a regulated, beginner-safe venue
Ranked on ease of use, support and security — the things Kraken is good at. Filtered to exchanges that serve the United States. Weighting: beginners.
| Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Futures taker | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1CoinbaseThe most regulated, most beginner-friendly and most expensive way in. | 8.8 | 1.2% | 0.05% | beginners, usa | Open account |
When you should stay on Kraken
You value the custody record over the fee line, you move fiat in and out often, or you hold enough on the platform to have already left Tier 1. For a first exchange or a large fiat on-ramp, Kraken is still the safest large venue with the fewest surprises.
Frequently asked questions
How much more does Kraken cost than the alternatives?
At Tier 1, 0.80% taker versus 0.10% at Binance, Bybit, Bitget and KuCoin, and 0.05% at MEXC. On a $1,000 market buy that is $8.00 against $1.00. Coinbase Advanced is the one major venue more expensive than Kraken at entry tier, at 1.20%.
Is there a cheaper alternative that is also available in the US?
Not on our list. Coinbase is the only other US-available venue we cover and it is more expensive at entry tier, at 1.20% taker. Every venue that undercuts Kraken blocks US residents, so for a US resident the practical way to pay less is Kraken's own tier system — see the next question.
Can I lower Kraken's fee without leaving?
Since July 2026, yes: your tier is the better of your 30-day spot volume and the assets you hold on Kraken. A large enough balance moves you to a cheaper tier with no trading required. Check your current tier in the account settings before switching.
Keep researching
About Kraken
- Kraken review
The security-first veteran, and the safest on-ramp for large fiat amounts.
- Kraken fees, features and availability
Head-to-head
- Kraken vs Coinbase
The two big regulated US venues. One is easier, one is cheaper and older.
- Kraken vs Binance
Safety record against cost and depth.
Other alternatives pages