21bitcoin vs Kraken Comparison
| 1.29 to 1.49 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 12.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| 1 | Cryptos | 629 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
| Licensed as a virtual currency service provider according to FM-GwG §32a Para. 2 by the Financial Market Authority of Austria | Regulation | EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, calculated from the disclosed trading fee. A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 12.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| 1.29 to 1.49 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 0.75 | Wallet transfer | € 1.49 |
| Yes | Cost transparency | Limited |
| € 15 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
On disclosed fees you pay €3.00 less at Kraken per €1,000 purchase.
Pros & Cons
- Transparent service fee of 1.29% to 1.49% on one-off purchases, 0% in the savings plan from day 8, with no ongoing account charges
- Withdrawals to your own wallet at a flat fee of 0.00001 BTC
- Automatic transfer to your own wallet above defined thresholds
- Savings-plan standing orders are invested in Bitcoin as soon as they arrive
- FMA-licensed as a virtual asset service provider in Austria
- Bitcoin only – the lack of altcoins is criticised by some users
- Two-factor authentication needs work, according to users
- The €15 minimum order is higher than at some competitors
- 629 cryptocurrencies tradable, 516 of them directly against the euro (measured on 3 September 2026 via Kraken's public API)
- MiCA authorisation in the EEA through Payward Europe Solutions Limited, Ireland, supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland
- Savings plan and staking are offered
- On the market since 2011, one of the oldest crypto exchanges
- Kraken Pro at 0.40 % maker and 0.80 % taker is far cheaper than the simple buy route
- The simple buy route costs 1 % for instant and recurring trades, 1.5 % for custom orders
- The cheaper Pro rates require getting to grips with an order book interface
- Since 9 July 2026 volume tiers apply across products; the tier follows the highest of three values
- Kraken itself gives no consistent coin count, its own pages range from 200+ to 600+
Score Comparison
User Experiences
AI AnalysisUser reviews paint a broadly positive picture of 21bitcoin. What owners value most is the clean, intuitive app and how easy it is to use, while individual voices see room for improvement on fees and on the feature set.
According to the analyzed user reviews, Kraken is often described as simple and easy to understand, especially with regard to the app and basic usability. At the same time, users mainly report criticism of support-related topics and costs, so the overall picture from a user perspective is mixed.
This analysis is based on 608 user reviews analysed by AI from the Apple App Store, Trustpilot and the Google Play Store. The total number of reviews on each platform may be higher — the platform ratings (star ratings) shown refer to all reviews available there. The ratings displayed reflect users' experiences and do not represent the site operator's own assessment. All information without guarantee. As of: March 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Automatic wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | FMA regulation (Austria) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA instant transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cost transparency | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA security | ✓ |
| ✓ | Account lock | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA instant bank transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | PayPal | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card | ✓ |
- Automatic transfer to your own wallet above set amounts
- FMA-regulated and based in Austria
- Service fee of 1.29% to 1.49% on one-off purchases, 0% in the savings plan from day 8
- Deposits via SEPA and SEPA instant transfer
- On the market since 2011 with a significant market presence
- Comprehensive security protocols incl. 2FA and account lock
- 380+ cryptocurrencies tradable
- Savings plan and staking on one platform
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
On fees and costs the picture is mixed. Users describe the pricing as fair, though some point to costs they consider high. A few also note that the tax side has to be organised by the user, and that the resulting tax burden feels heavy.
The reviews present a mixed picture when it comes to fees and costs: on the one hand, low fees are mentioned positively several times; on the other hand, users criticize high fees. According to user reviews, the perception of costs is therefore not consistent.
Usability & User Experience
Reviewers frequently describe the app as intuitive, uncluttered and self-explanatory, and ease of use is the single most praised aspect. A few users report problems getting into their account, but overall usability comes across positively.
Users particularly appreciate Kraken’s intuitive app and clear design, which are repeatedly described in reviews as easy to use. According to the reviews, getting started is quick for many users, and overall navigation is also mentioned positively. Some users report that the app does not open immediately, which makes usability appear limited from the perspective of individual reviews.
Features & Offering
The savings plan is the feature users appreciate most. At the same time they ask for more in several places: additional coins, more savings-plan options, price notifications, a wallet inside the account and limit orders. Weekly DCA is mentioned occasionally as well.
In the analyzed user reviews, there are only a few recurring statements about features and the offering, which is why this area mainly reveals individual requests. Among other things, users want a candlestick chart, a prediction market, an auto-sell function, a 72-hour timer, and a widget for the app. In addition, some users would like more support for beginners and a calendar. Overall, the feedback mainly shows additional feature requests.
Stability & Security
On stability and reliability, users mostly report trouble-free day-to-day use and describe the app as dependable. Access issues come up occasionally and are the one area some users would like to see improved.
Regarding stability and reliability, the analyzed user data mainly contains individual critical feedback. Some users report that the app cannot be opened immediately or that withdrawals are perceived as delayed. Overall, however, the available data is not sufficient, according to the reviews, to derive a clearly reliable user picture for this area.
Customer Support
Support is frequently described as fast, with users reporting prompt replies. Individual contact channels are occasionally seen as having room for improvement.
When it comes to support, users comparatively often report longer waiting times or no response at all. According to the reviews, missing help and slow reactions are repeatedly criticized, making this area clearly viewed critically from a user perspective. Individual feedback also suggests that issues are not always resolved promptly.
Details
| FIOR Digital GmbH | Company | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| 2021 | Founded | 2011 |
| Licensed as a virtual currency service provider according to FM-GwG §32a Para. 2 by the Financial Market Authority of Austria | Regulation | EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA |
| € 15 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Photo ID | KYC | Photo ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating Kraken leads with 4.2 against 4.0 for 21bitcoin.
On disclosed fees you pay €3.00 less at Kraken per €1,000 purchase.
For most investors Kraken is therefore the better choice.
21bitcoin has established itself as an Austrian Bitcoin app across German-speaking Europe, valued above all for a transparent fee structure. On one-off purchases the provider charges a service fee of 1.29% to 1.49%, and in the savings plan no service fee applies from day 8. The provider is licensed by Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA) as a virtual asset service provider and deals exclusively in Bitcoin. Users single out the automatic transfer to a personal wallet above defined thresholds as a genuinely useful security feature.
The savings-plan approach is refreshingly uncomplicated: standing orders are invested in Bitcoin as soon as the money arrives, and the flat wallet-transfer fee of 0.00001 BTC is widely seen as fair. For investors in Austria, Germany and Switzerland looking for an FMA-regulated alternative to the Swiss Bitcoin apps, 21bitcoin reads as a solid option. Total costs of €7.90 on a €1,000 trade sit in the middle of the field.
Because Bitcoin is the only asset on offer, 21bitcoin is not aimed at investors who want a broad crypto portfolio – a limitation some users do point out. The absence of two-factor authentication in the app and the €15 minimum order also leave room for improvement. That makes 21bitcoin a good fit for Bitcoin-focused investors in German-speaking Europe who care about cost transparency, automatic wallet transfers and Austrian regulation.
Kraken is considered one of the oldest and most established crypto exchanges and has been active in the market since 2011. With over 380 tradable cryptocurrencies as well as savings plan and staking features, the platform is appreciated by long-term investors. The extensive security protocols, including 2FA and account lock, are rated positively.
The trading fees of 0.99% and total costs of €9.90 per trade are in the middle range compared with cheaper providers. The lack of EU regulation or a BaFin license is occasionally criticized. Cost transparency is regarded as limited, which some users see as room for improvement.
Kraken is considered particularly suitable for investors who value a long-established platform with a wide coin selection and want to use savings plans and staking — even without EU regulation.