crypto.com vs Kraken Comparison
crypto.com and Kraken are practically level in our overall rating, 4.2 to 4.2 out of 5 points. On disclosed fees crypto.com is cheaper: 0.8 % instead of 1 % trading fee, which means € 8.00 instead of € 10.00 per €1,000 purchase. If you care most about usability, features, stability, and support, Kraken has the better sub-scores.
| 0.8 % | Fees | 1 % |
| € 8.00 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 400+ | Cryptos | 629 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
| Fully MiCA Compliant | 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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 8.00 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 0.8 % | Fees | 1 % |
| € 44.81 | Wallet transfer | € 1.49 |
| No | Cost transparency | Limited |
| € 3 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
On disclosed fees you pay €2.00 less at crypto.com per €1,000 purchase.
In the Crypto.com App, users in the European Economic Area pay a fixed fee per purchase; the trade preview shows the exact fee before you confirm. EUR deposits by bank transfer are free.
| Transaction | Cost at Crypto.com |
|---|---|
| Purchase with EUR balance | 0.80% |
| Crypto-to-crypto exchange | 0.80% |
| Purchase by debit or credit card | up to 4% |
| EUR deposit by bank transfer | free |
| EUR withdrawal via SEPA | EUR 1 per withdrawal, minimum EUR 80 |
| Sending crypto to other Crypto.com users | free |
| Crypto withdrawal to an external address | network fee per coin and network |
| Level Up Plus subscription, no trading fee on up to US$20,000 a month | €3.99 a month or €39.90 a year |
| Level Up Pro subscription, no trading fee on up to US$50,000 a month | €24.99 a month or €249.90 a year |
| Visa card: payments in a foreign currency outside the EU and UK | 2% on Midnight, on Ruby above €400 and on Jade and Indigo above €800 a month (since 1 October 2026) |
| Visa card without spending after twelve months | €6 a month (since 1 October 2026) |
How to save: Deposit by bank transfer and buy with your EUR balance instead of a card: on EUR 1,000 that is EUR 8 instead of up to EUR 40. Bundle EUR withdrawals, since each costs EUR 1. Frequent traders should look at the Level Up subscription: Plus waives the 0.80% on up to US$20,000 of trading a month and pays for itself from roughly €500 of purchases a month; according to Crypto.com, spreads may still apply. We compare exchanges with maker and taker fees in our crypto exchange comparison.
As of 1 November 2026 according to the Crypto.com Help Center, Fees & Limits (EEA), the Visa card fee overview for Europe and the Level Up page for the EEA.
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. All Kraken fees for deposits, trading and withdrawals are listed in one table in our guide to Kraken fees.
| 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 1 November 2026 according to the Kraken fee schedule.
You can open a Kraken account through our partner link to Kraken; cryptoticker.io receives a commission when an account is opened. As of 1 November 2026.
Pros & Cons
- Over 400 cryptocurrencies available
- Own Visa prepaid card with crypto cashback: from the Plus tier (formerly Ruby) 1.5% on up to US$750 of card spending a month, up to 4.5% in the top tiers
- Savings plan and staking are offered
- Free EUR deposits by SEPA transfer, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Minimum investment possible from €3
- MiCA licence from Malta's MFSA since 27 January 2025, plus licences as an e-money institution and investment firm
- Card purchases cost up to 4%
- EUR withdrawals via SEPA cost EUR 1, minimum EUR 80
- Cost transparency is rated as limited
- 0.80% fee per purchase in the app
- Cashback only on paid tiers: the free Midnight card earns 0%, Level Up Plus costs €3.99 a month
- Higher card fees since 1 October 2026: a 2% foreign transaction fee outside the EU and UK now also applies to Ruby (above €400 a month) and Jade and Indigo (above €800), and an unused card costs €6 a month after twelve months
- MiCA licence from the Central Bank of Ireland since 25 June 2025, valid across the EU
- More than 600 coins, 490 of them directly against the euro (1 November 2026)
- Proof of reserves by auditors, latest Bitcoin coverage 102.9% (30 June 2026)
- Kraken Pro from 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker
- FIDO2 passkeys, Global Settings Lock, ISO/IEC 27001
- On the market since 2011, with savings plan and staking
- Simple buy at 1% plus spread, custom orders 1.5%
- Regular delistings with withdrawal deadlines, most recently 13 tokens on 23 October 2026
- A dust attack in August 2026 led to temporary account freezes
- The low Pro rates require getting used to an order-book interface
Score Comparison
User Experiences
AI AnalysisBased on the analyzed user data, crypto.com is especially valued for its intuitive and easy-to-navigate app. At the same time, user reviews more often report room for improvement regarding fees, support, and individual account or login issues, which means the overall picture varies noticeably depending on how it is used.
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.
Provider details (fees, licences, pros and cons) editorially reviewed: November 2026. This analysis is based on 1674 user reviews evaluated by AI from the Apple App Store, Trustpilot, 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 ratings shown reflect users' experiences and do not represent our own assessment by the site operator. All information without guarantee. Status: March 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| available | Savings plan | available |
| available | Staking | available |
| not available | Wallet transfer | available |
| not available | Cost transparency | not available |
| not available | 2FA security | available |
| available | Anti-phishing code | not specified |
| available | SEPA instant transfer | available |
| available | Credit card | available |
| available | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| not available | Web platform | not specified |
| not specified | Account lock | available |
| not specified | PayPal | available |
- Visa prepaid card with crypto cashback
- 400+ cryptocurrencies available
- Savings plan and staking on one platform
- On the market since 2016
- MiCA-licensed by the MFSA Malta since January 2025, valid across the EU
- MiCA licence via Ireland, valid in 30 EEA countries
- More than 600 coins, 490 directly against the euro
- Proof of reserves above 100% coverage
- Kraken Pro for low-cost order-book trading
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
According to reviews, the fees at crypto.com are viewed critically more often than average. Users report high costs and, in some cases, a high spread. Overall, this area is described critically in the user data.
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 appreciate crypto.com's intuitive app and simple operation. According to reviews, the interface is often described as clear and easy to understand, which stands out positively, especially for newcomers. However, frequent updates and the associated changes are occasionally described as room for improvement.
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
Overall, the user data contains only limited recurring statements about features and the offering. Individual users praise options such as Visa cashback and Learn-&-Earn features. In addition, users would like to see more coins, extra portfolio filters, a German language setting, an iPad version, and a tax tool.
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
Regarding stability and reliability, users primarily report login issues, being unable to log in, and in some cases blocked withdrawals. There are also individual comments about constant or mandatory updates in the user data. Overall, this results in a rather critical picture of reliability.
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
When it comes to support, the user reviews paint a predominantly critical picture. Users report comparatively often about poor support or that no support was reachable. Customer service is therefore clearly viewed critically in the analyzed user data.
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
| Foris DAX MT Limited | Company | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| 2016 | Founded | 2011 |
| Fully MiCA Compliant | Regulation | EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA |
| € 3 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Photo ID | KYC | Photo ID |
Verdict
Both providers are practically level in our overall rating (4.2 to 4.2).
On disclosed fees you pay €2.00 less at crypto.com per €1,000 purchase.
Crypto.com is especially valued for its own Visa card with cashback program, which is considered a unique selling point in the crypto market. With more than 400 tradable cryptocurrencies, savings plans, and staking, the platform, active since 2016, offers a broad range of services. The minimum investment starting at €3 is seen as particularly beginner-friendly.
In Germany, Crypto.com operates under the MiCA licence that the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) granted to Foris DAX MT Limited on 27 January 2025 and which applies across the EU, so no separate BaFin licence is required. According to Crypto.com, a purchase in the app costs 0.80%, up to 4% by card, and a EUR withdrawal via SEPA costs EUR 1. Users occasionally criticise the limited cost transparency.
The card terms changed in 2026: cashback is only paid on the paid tiers, with Level Up Plus at €3.99 a month earning 1.5% on up to US$750 of card spending a month and the top tiers up to 4.5%; the free Midnight card earns 0%. Since 1 October 2026, Ruby, Jade and Indigo also pay a 2% foreign transaction fee outside the EU and UK above a monthly allowance of €400 or €800, and a card without spending costs €6 a month after twelve months.
Crypto.com is mainly considered suitable for users who want to actively use the Visa card with cashback and are prepared to pay for a Level Up tier.
In short: Kraken is one of the oldest crypto exchanges in the world, active since 2011 and licensed under MiCA in the EEA. More than 600 coins, 490 of them directly against the euro, a regular proof of reserves and strong security features speak for the platform. The simple buy costs 1% plus spread; on the Kraken Pro order book you pay from 0.40% as a maker and 0.80% as a taker.
Is Kraken safe and licensed in the EU?
Yes, Kraken may serve customers across the EU. In the EEA, Kraken operates through Payward Europe Solutions Limited, based in Dublin, licensed under MiCA since 25 June 2025 and supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland. Through the EU passport the licence covers 30 EEA countries, including Germany, France and Spain (ESMA register, file of 30 October 2026). It covers custody, exchanging crypto for money and for other crypto, order execution and transfers, among other services. Kraken's parent Payward agreed on 14 October 2026 to buy Lithuania's Saldo Bank; closing is planned for 2027 and needs regulatory approval (our report on the deal).
Reserves and security: Kraken has its proof of reserves prepared regularly by auditors. The snapshot of 30 June 2026 shows coverage of 102.9% for Bitcoin, 100.5% for Ether, 100.6% for Solana and 102.3% for XRP, and 105% or more each for USDC and USDT. Kraken is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022, offers two-factor authentication with FIDO2 passkeys and a Global Settings Lock, and does not recover accounts by phone or SMS.
Account freezes and delistings: Between 17 and 24 August 2026, Kraken customers received almost 12,000 tiny deposits from wallets that analytics firms attribute to the sanctioned exchange HTX. Sanctions screening temporarily froze affected accounts; access has since been restored (our report on the dust attack). Kraken also removes tokens from trading regularly, most recently 13 tokens on 23 October 2026; withdrawal deadlines and steps are in our delisting report.
What you can do yourself: turn on a passkey or two-factor authentication and the Global Settings Lock, leave tiny deposits of unknown origin untouched and keep larger amounts on your own hardware wallet.
Who is Kraken for?
Kraken suits investors who want a long-established exchange with a wide choice of euro pairs, a savings plan and staking. Regular traders save with Kraken Pro. Since 26 October 2026, EEA customers with a derivatives account can also trade bitcoin and ether options there after an appropriateness assessment, provided by Cyprus-based Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CY) Limited under CySEC supervision. For simple euro trading, Bitvavo is cheaper, and Coinbase is an alternative with a listed parent company. All licensed providers are listed in our comparison of regulated crypto exchanges.