Binance vs Kraken Comparison
Binance and Kraken are practically level in our overall rating, 4.3 to 4.2 out of 5 points. On disclosed fees Binance is cheaper: € 1.00 instead of € 10.00 per €1,000 purchase. If you care most about usability and features, Kraken has the better sub-scores, and the two are level in the other areas. Kraken lists more cryptocurrencies (629) than Binance (482).
| 0.1% spot, up to 2% instant buy | Fees | 1 % |
| € 1.00 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 482 | Cryptos | 629 |
| SEPA Transfer, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
| License in Germany refused by BaFin | 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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 1.00 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 0.1% spot, up to 2% instant buy | Fees | 1 % |
| € 7.47 | Wallet transfer | € 1.49 |
| Limited | Cost transparency | Limited |
| ~$10 USD | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| SEPA Transfer, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
On disclosed fees you pay €9.00 less at Binance per €1,000 purchase.
Binance separates order book trading from direct purchases: regular users pay 0.1% on spot trades, while buying by card or wallet payment costs 2%.
| Transaction | Cost at Binance |
|---|---|
| Spot trading, regular user | 0.1% maker, 0.1% taker |
| Spot trading paying fees in BNB | 0.075% maker and taker (25% discount) |
| Direct buy and sell by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay | 2% |
| Direct buy and sell via PayPal | 1.5% |
| Direct buy via Revolut | 1.1% |
| Buy and sell via SEPA | EUR 1 |
| Crypto withdrawals | network fee per coin |
How to save: Going through the order book pays off: EUR 1,000 costs EUR 1 in spot trading fees, but EUR 20 by card. Paying fees in BNB saves another 25%. See how Binance compares with MiCA-licensed providers in our crypto exchange comparison.
Fees as of 21 October 2026 according to the Binance fee overview.
At Kraken the route sets the price: simple buys in the app and on the web cost a fixed fee plus a spread, while Kraken Pro charges maker and taker rates based on your volume over the last 30 days.
| Transaction | Cost at Kraken |
|---|---|
| Instant buy, instant sell and recurring buys | 1% plus spread in the price |
| Custom orders in simple mode | 1.5% plus spread |
| Kraken+ (subscription) | no trading fee up to USD 10,000 volume per month, spread and card fees still apply |
| Converting small balances | 3% below the minimum order size |
| Kraken Pro, tier 1 (up to USD 2,500 in 30 days) | 0.40% maker, 0.80% taker |
| Kraken Pro, tier 3 (from USD 10,000) | 0.22% maker, 0.38% taker |
| Kraken Pro, tier 5 (from USD 50,000) | 0.15% maker, 0.30% taker |
| Deposits and withdrawals | depending on method and currency, shown before you confirm |
How to save: Even in tier 1, Kraken Pro at 0.80% taker is cheaper than an instant buy at 1% plus spread, and limit orders as a maker cost 0.40%. If you buy less than USD 10,000 a month, look at Kraken+. See how Kraken compares in our crypto exchange comparison.
Fees as of 21 October 2026 according to the Kraken fee schedule.
Pros & Cons
- 482 cryptocurrencies tradable, the widest selection among established exchanges (measured on 3 September 2026 via Binance's public API)
- Savings plan and staking are offered
- Largest crypto exchange worldwide with low spreads
- Wallet transfer possible
- No granted MiCA authorisation. Binance appears in no EU register and, by its own announcement, withdrew its application with the Greek regulator on 24 June 2026. A new host state has been announced but not confirmed.
- Only 29 of the 482 coins trade directly against the euro. Everything else goes through another currency, usually a stablecoin, which adds cost and exchange rate risk.
- Direct purchases by card cost 2%
- Cost transparency is rated as limited
- 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 AnalysisAccording to reviews, Binance is often praised overall for its ease of use, the large selection of coins, and fees that are generally perceived as low. At the same time, users occasionally report criticism regarding support, verification, and language options, especially with regard to a German app version.
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 1002 user reviews evaluated by AI from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The total number of reviews on the respective platforms may be higher — the platform ratings (star ratings) shown refer to all reviews available there. The reviews shown reflect user experiences and do not represent the site operator’s own assessment. All information is provided without guarantee. As of: March 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| available | Savings plan | available |
| available | Staking | available |
| not available | Wallet transfer | not available |
| not available | Cost transparency | not available |
| not available | 2FA security | not available |
| available | Whitelist | not specified |
| available | SEPA transfer | not specified |
| available | Credit card | available |
| not available | Minimum amount | not specified |
| available | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| not specified | Account lock | available |
| not specified | SEPA instant bank transfer | available |
| not specified | PayPal | available |
- Largest crypto exchange worldwide by trading volume
- Low spreads in order book trading
- Savings plan and staking available
- On the market since 2017
- On the market since 2011 with a significant market presence
- Comprehensive security protocols incl. 2FA and account lock
- 629 cryptocurrencies tradable
- Savings plan and staking on one platform
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
Users often cite Binance’s fees as a positive point and frequently describe them as low compared with other providers. At the same time, some reviews perceive the fees as too high. Overall, user data suggests a predominantly positive view of the fees.
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
According to reviews, users particularly appreciate the intuitive app and ease of use at Binance, which appeals to both beginners and more experienced users. However, the interface is occasionally described as confusing or too complicated. Many users also want a German language option to make everyday use even more convenient.
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
According to reviews, users mainly praise the large selection of coins. Users also report that Binance is suitable for beginners and appears easy to use. Occasionally, users would like additional language options as well as an iPad app to better adapt the offering to their usage.
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
According to reviews, Binance is perceived by many users as reliable. Overall, the opinion on stability and reliability is predominantly positive.
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
User data paints a rather critical picture of support: users report a lack of support. Verification is also described as time-consuming in some reviews. In addition, users would like better assistance with account-related issues and withdrawals.
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
| Binance Holdings Ltd. | Company | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| 2017 | Founded | 2011 |
| License in Germany refused by BaFin | Regulation | EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA |
| ~$10 USD | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Photo ID | KYC | Photo ID |
Verdict
Both providers are practically level in our overall rating (4.3 to 4.2).
On disclosed fees you pay €9.00 less at Binance per €1,000 purchase.
Binance is considered the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume and is valued for its low spreads in order book trading. With over 370 tradable cryptocurrencies, savings plans and staking, the platform offers a broad range of services. On the market since 2017, Binance has established itself as a major player in crypto trading.
For the German market, however, it should be noted that Binance does not have a BaFin license. The direct-buy fee of 2% by card, i.e. €20 per €1,000, is occasionally criticized, as is the limited cost transparency for direct purchases. The minimum amount of 15 € is also higher than at some competitors.
Binance is seen especially as suitable for experienced traders who want to benefit from the low spreads in order book trading and for whom a missing BaFin license matters less than the platform’s global market presence and liquidity.
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 1% and total costs of €10.00 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.