Coinbase vs Scalable Capital Comparison
| 1.49 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 14.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| 404 | Cryptos | 32 (as ETPs) |
| 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, calculated from the disclosed trading fee. A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 14.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| 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 disclosed fees you pay €5.00 less at Scalable Capital per €1,000 purchase.
Pros & Cons
- MiCA authorisation via Luxembourg, regulated EU-wide
- In 2021 the first company with a BaFin crypto custody licence in Germany
- Over 400 cryptocurrencies in the catalogue
- Savings plan and staking are offered
- Payment methods: SEPA instant transfer, credit card and PayPal
- Educational program with cryptocurrency rewards
- Minimum investment from 1 €
- No fixed fee rate is published any more: the Coinbase fee depends on payment method, order size and market conditions and only becomes visible in the order preview
- For simple purchases Coinbase states 1.875 %, for limit orders 1 %, both above the market average
- Cost transparency is rated as limited by users
- Coinbase itself no longer publishes a number of tradable coins
- 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 32 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 AnalysisAccording to the analyzed user data, Coinbase is described by many users as intuitive, clear, and particularly suitable for a quick start. At the same time, users repeatedly report high fees as well as support and access issues.
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.
This analysis is based on 1317 user reviews analyzed by AI from the Apple App Store, Trustpilot, Google Play Store. 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 ratings shown reflect user reviews and do not constitute our own assessment by the website operator. All information without guarantee. Status: March 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cost transparency | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA security | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA instant transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card | ✓ |
| ✓ | PayPal | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking (via ETPs) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | BaFin regulation | ✓ |
| ✓ | Stocks & ETFs | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA direct debit | ✓ |
- MiCA-licensed through Coinbase Luxembourg S.A. under CSSF supervision, regulated EU-wide (register as of 21 August 2026)
- In 2021 the first company to hold a BaFin crypto custody licence; since 2026 the EU business runs on the MiCA authorisation
- Educational program with crypto rewards for completed learning modules
- Low wallet transfer fees of approx. 0.24 €
- On the market since 2012, one of the oldest crypto companies
- 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
When it comes to fees, many users report high costs. In the reviews, this point is repeatedly criticized.
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
Users especially appreciate Coinbase for its intuitive app as well as its simple and clear experience. According to reviews, beginners in particular find the interface easy to use, as many processes are described as fast and user-friendly. However, some users occasionally report login issues.
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
According to reviews, many users describe the basic offering as easy to access. At the same time, users want more exchange features, candlestick charts, and a larger selection of smaller coins. Additional functions such as customizable notifications, adding a beneficiary, Cash App/Apple Pay, more crypto services, and a dust button are also mentioned.
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
Regarding stability, users occasionally report that the app does not start, freezes, or cannot be opened. Login issues are also mentioned in the reviews.
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
Regarding support, users repeatedly report difficulty reaching customer service in the reviews. According to user data, it is also mentioned that help does not come in a timely manner or that responses are missing.
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 4.8 against 2.9 for Scalable Capital.
On disclosed fees you pay €5.00 less at Scalable Capital per €1,000 purchase.
For most investors Coinbase is therefore the better choice.
Coinbase is regarded as one of the best-known crypto exchanges worldwide and is valued for obtaining the first BaFin crypto license in Germany. With over 260 tradable cryptocurrencies, a savings plan, and staking, the platform offers a solid range of services. In particular, the educational program, in which users receive crypto rewards for completing learning modules, is viewed positively as an innovative addition.
The trading fees of 1.49 % and total costs of 14,90 € per trade are room for improvement compared with cheaper providers. The limited cost transparency is also occasionally criticized. On the other hand, the low wallet transfer fees of approx. 0,24 € and the variety of payment methods are seen as advantages.
Coinbase is especially considered suitable for beginners who prefer a BaFin-regulated platform with educational offerings and easy-to-use features and who can accept compromises on trading fees.
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 32 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 32 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.