Bitvavo vs Kraken Comparison
In our overall rating Kraken leads with 4.2 out of 5 points, ahead of Bitvavo with 3.3. On disclosed fees Bitvavo is cheaper: 0.25 % instead of 1 % trading fee, which means € 2.50 instead of € 10.00 per €1,000 purchase. If you care most about usability, features, stability, and support, Kraken has the better sub-scores.
| 0.25 % | Fees | 1 % |
| € 2.50 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 428 | Cryptos | 629 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
| MiCA license via Netherlands AFM | 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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 2.50 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 0.25 % | Fees | 1 % |
| € 1.31 | Wallet transfer | € 1.49 |
| Yes | Cost transparency | Limited |
| € 5 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
On disclosed fees you pay €7.50 less at Bitvavo per €1,000 purchase.
Bitvavo charges maker and taker fees that fall with your trading volume over the last 30 days. SEPA deposits and crypto deposits are free, and all 428 coins trade directly against the euro.
| Transaction | Cost at Bitvavo |
|---|---|
| Crypto against euro, entry tier | 0.15% maker, 0.25% taker |
| Trading from EUR 100,000 volume in 30 days | 0.10% maker, 0.20% taker, falling further to 0.00% and 0.02% from EUR 100 million |
| Trading on USDC markets | 0.05% maker and taker |
| Stablecoin pairs such as USDC/EUR | 0.10% maker and taker, EURC/EUR 0.00% maker and 0.01% taker |
| Deposit via SEPA, iDEAL or Bancontact | free |
| Deposit via credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal | 1% |
| Deposit via EPS transfer | 1.75%, up to EUR 1,000 |
| EUR withdrawal via SEPA | free |
| Crypto deposit | free |
| Crypto withdrawal | fixed fee per coin, e.g. 0.000018 BTC (about EUR 1.31) or 0.00033 ETH (about EUR 0.71) |
| Margin trading | borrowing fee 0.0023% per hour, liquidation fee 2% |
| Recovery of crypto deposited incorrectly | EUR 50 administration fee |
How to save: Trading as a maker, i.e. placing a limit order on the order book, costs EUR 1.50 instead of EUR 2.50 as a taker on EUR 1,000. Deposit via SEPA instead of by card, which saves EUR 10 on EUR 1,000. Bundle crypto withdrawals, since the fee applies per withdrawal. We compare other exchanges with maker and taker fees in our crypto exchange comparison.
As of 22 October 2026 according to the Bitvavo fee page (accessed from Germany, deposit fees may differ by country) and the Bitvavo API (coin count, withdrawal fees; euro values at the 22 October 2026 rate).
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
- All 428 tradable coins trade directly against the euro, with no detour through a stablecoin (measured on 22 October 2026 via Bitvavo's public API)
- MiCA authorisation since June 2025, supervised by the Dutch AFM, registration number 41000010
- Low trading fees: 0.15 % maker and 0.25 % taker at the entry tier
- SEPA, iDEAL and Bancontact deposits are free, as are EUR withdrawals
- Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal cost 1% each, EPS 1.75%
- Bitvavo Custody B.V. is, by its own user agreement, not supervised by any authority
- Lending, margin trading and staking are explicitly not MiCA-regulated
- Crypto withdrawals carry a fixed fee per coin, 0.000018 BTC for Bitcoin
- 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 AnalysisUsers generally report mostly positive experiences with Bitvavo, especially regarding usability and costs. In the reviews, the clear app and low fees are often praised, while support and technical reliability are also mentioned more critically.
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 606 user reviews from Apple App Store, Trustpilot, and Google Play Store evaluated with AI. The total number of reviews on the respective platforms may be higher; the platform ratings shown (star ratings) refer to all reviews available there. The reviews presented reflect user experiences and do not represent the site operator’s own assessment. All information is provided without guarantee. Status: April 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| available | Savings plan | available |
| available | Staking | available |
| available | Wallet transfer | not available |
| available | Cost transparency | not available |
| available | 2FA security | not available |
| available | Anti-phishing code | not specified |
| available | SEPA instant transfer | available |
| available | Credit card | available |
| available | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| available | Web platform | not specified |
| not specified | Account lock | available |
| not specified | PayPal | available |
- MiCA-licensed by the Dutch AFM, active in Germany via the EU passport (as of October 2026)
- Taker fee 0.25%, 0.20% from EUR 100,000 volume in 30 days
- Transparent fee structure without hidden costs
- SEPA deposits and crypto deposits are free
- Minimum investment from EUR 5
- 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 particularly highlight Bitvavo's low and affordable fees. According to reviews, the costs are often mentioned positively. Critical remarks about fees play only a minor role in the available user opinions.
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
Users particularly praise Bitvavo for its clear design and intuitive app. According to reviews, the platform is often described as easy to use, which makes getting started especially simple. In some cases, users also report errors when launching the app or problems while using it.
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
When it comes to features and the offering, users especially want a profit/loss display in percentages, portfolio analysis, and information on the average purchase price or buy-in at Bitvavo. A larger selection of coins and a dollar view are also occasionally requested in the reviews.
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
When it comes to stability and reliability, users report connection issues, technical problems, and an app that occasionally crashes according to reviews. Errors on startup are also mentioned, which is why some users view this area critically.
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
Experiences with support are mixed according to reviews. Some users report fast support, while other feedback describes customer service as less easy to reach or notes that replies can take some time. Overall, users perceive support differently.
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
| Bitvavo B.V. | Company | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| 2018 | Founded | 2011 |
| MiCA license via Netherlands AFM | Regulation | EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA |
| € 5 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Photo ID | KYC | Photo ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating Kraken leads with 4.2 against 3.3 for Bitvavo.
On disclosed fees you pay €7.50 less at Bitvavo per €1,000 purchase.
For most investors Kraken is therefore the better choice.
Bitvavo is valued for combining a MiCA licence with low trading fees of 0.15% maker and 0.25% taker. With 428 cryptocurrencies, all tradable directly against the euro, and EUR 2.50 for a EUR 1,000 purchase as a taker, the platform is in the lower fee range among the providers compared. The transparent fee structure without hidden costs is viewed positively by users.
The contracting party is Bitvavo B.V. in Amsterdam, authorised under MiCA by the Dutch AFM since 26 June 2025 and active in Germany and other EU countries via the EU passport. SEPA deposits are free, while credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal cost 1% each. Crypto withdrawals carry a fixed fee per coin, currently 0.000018 BTC for Bitcoin. There is room for improvement in that the savings plan is only available in the app.
Bitvavo is considered particularly suitable for cost-conscious investors who prefer a MiCA-regulated platform with low fees and a transparent cost structure and deposit via SEPA.
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.