Coinbase vs Scalable Capital Comparison
| 1.49 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 14.90 | Cost for €1,000 | € 10.89 |
| 404 | Cryptos | 13 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal | Payment Methods | SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Transfer |
| First company with BaFin crypto license. Deficiencies flagged in 2022, since remediated. MiCA via Luxembourg. | Regulation | BaFin license as a securities institution |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, including all fees and spreads.
| € 14.90 | Cost for €1,000 | € 10.89 |
| 1.49 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 0.24 | Wallet transfer | – |
| No | Cost transparency | Yes |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal | Payment Methods | SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Transfer |
On a €1,000 purchase you pay €4.01 less at Scalable Capital.
Pros & Cons
- Savings plan from a one euro minimum
- More than 260 cryptocurrencies available
- First company with a BaFin crypto custody licence, MiCA authorisation via Luxembourg
- Broad choice of payment routes including PayPal
- Staking and wallet transfers available
- Trading fee of around 1.49% — high in this comparison
- Costs compound across many small instalments
- Limited cost transparency on direct purchases
- Withdrawal fees only visible when withdrawing the respective cryptocurrency
- BaFin license as an investment firm headquartered in Germany
- Savings plans for crypto and ETFs possible from just €1
- Staking for crypto ETPs is offered
- Device-bound 2FA is considered a solid security solution
- Broad range of stocks and ETFs in addition to crypto
- Wallet transfers to personal wallets not possible — occasionally criticized by users
- Crypto selection with 13 coins is room for improvement compared with specialized providers
- Deposit methods limited to SEPA bank transfer and SEPA direct debit — additional options are room for improvement
Score Comparison
User Experiences
AI AnalysisNot enough reviews available.
According to reviews, Scalable Capital presents a mixed user picture: some users appreciate the clear and intuitive app as well as everyday use that is perceived as reliable. At the same time, users report login and 2FA issues, as well as occasional delays with withdrawals and support.
Editorial assessment based on publicly documented provider information and independent industry sources. As of August 2026. This comparison is not investment or tax advice. All information without guarantee.
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking (via ETPs) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | BaFin regulation | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Stocks & ETFs | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA direct debit | ✓ |
- Savings plan from one euro
- 260+ cryptocurrencies
- BaFin licence and MiCA authorisation
- Payment by PayPal supported
- Neobroker with stocks, ETFs, and crypto in one place
- BaFin-regulated with headquarters in Germany
- Crypto savings plans from €1 for regular investing
- Staking available via crypto ETPs
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
The trading fee is around 1.49%; on a 1,000 euro purchase that comes to roughly 14.90 euro. That is high in this comparison, particularly for a savings plan with many small instalments. Withdrawal fees apply on top; they are calculated dynamically and only become visible when withdrawing the respective cryptocurrency, which limits cost transparency. As of August 2026.
There is only limited concrete feedback in the user data regarding fees and costs. According to reviews, users mainly comment on usability, login, and features in comparison, while pricing questions are mentioned less often.
Usability & User Experience
Setup is straightforward and manageable for newcomers without prior experience. An education programme awards crypto rewards for completed learning modules. As of August 2026.
According to reviews, users particularly appreciate Scalable Capital for its clear and partly intuitive app, which some also describe as easy to learn. At the same time, users also report a confusing interface and login problems. From the user perspective, usability is therefore perceived differently.
Features & Offering
The savings plan can be set up from one euro and covers more than 260 cryptocurrencies. Staking products and transfers to external wallets round out the offering. Payment routes include SEPA transfer, SEPA instant transfer, card and PayPal. Identity verification runs through eID or video identification. As of August 2026.
According to reviews, Scalable Capital is used by users primarily for long-term investing, and some also highlight the cash account positively. At the same time, users express several wishes, including a trailing stop-loss, an overall profit and loss overview, more ELTIFs, and more savings plans. Users also want changes to the dark design and the YTD view, as well as a group watchlist and less analysis in the free area.
Stability & Security
Not enough reviews available.
According to reviews, users describe Scalable Capital as reliable in part. At the same time, users report technical issues such as a black screen, OTP codes not being sent, as well as app problems and crashes. Stability is therefore perceived differently by users.
Customer Support
Not enough reviews available.
According to reviews, users occasionally report rather negative experiences with support, especially in connection with login or 2FA topics. Some feedback describes customer service as slow or not very helpful.
Details
| Coinbase Global, Inc. | Company | Scalable Capital GmbH |
| 2012 | Founded | 2014 |
| First company with BaFin crypto license. Deficiencies flagged in 2022, since remediated. MiCA via Luxembourg. | Regulation | BaFin license as a securities institution |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| eID, VideoIdent | KYC | eID, Video-ID, PostIdent |
Verdict
In our overall rating Coinbase leads with 4.2 against 2.9 for Scalable Capital.
On a €1,000 purchase you pay €4.01 less at Scalable Capital.
For most investors Coinbase is therefore the better choice.
The Coinbase savings plan targets investors who want to buy regularly and automatically rather than trying to time an entry. The barrier is as low as it gets at a one euro minimum, the range covers more than 260 cryptocurrencies, and execution runs without further intervention.
On regulation Coinbase stands well in Europe: it was the first company to hold a BaFin crypto custody licence, deficiencies identified in 2022 have been remedied according to the company, and MiCA authorisation runs through Luxembourg. Payment routes include SEPA transfer, SEPA instant transfer, card and PayPal — an unusually broad selection for the European market.
The sore point is price: around 1.49% per purchase is high in this comparison, so roughly 14.90 euro on 1,000 euro. Across a savings plan with many small instalments that compounds noticeably over the years. Investors who value convenience and regulatory footing above the last fraction of a percent are well served; anyone watching costs should weigh the fees against cheaper savings plan providers.
Scalable Capital has made a name for itself in the DACH region primarily as a robo-advisor and ETF broker and has also offered cryptocurrency trading for some time now. With a BaFin license as an investment firm and a headquarters in Germany, the provider is considered well positioned from a regulatory standpoint. The crypto offering currently includes 13 coins traded via crypto ETPs — an approach that is appreciated by security-conscious investors.
The savings plans starting from €1 enable an especially low-threshold entry, and staking via ETPs is seen as a meaningful addition. The device-bound two-factor authentication is considered a solid security solution. For investors who primarily invest in stocks and ETFs and want to hold crypto as an allocation in the same portfolio, Scalable Capital is seen as a practical solution.
However, the crypto selection with 13 coins is considered room for improvement compared with specialized providers. Wallet transfers to personal wallets are also not possible, which is occasionally criticized by users. Scalable Capital is therefore primarily suitable for mainstream investors who are looking for a regulated German broker with a broad securities offering and want to use crypto as a supplementary component.