Gate.io vs Kraken Comparison
| 0.1% spot (maker and taker) | Fees | 0.99 % |
| — | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| — | Cryptos | 629 |
| — | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
| MiCA licence via MFSA (Malta) | 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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| — | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| 0.1% spot (maker and taker) | Fees | 0.99 % |
| — | Wallet transfer | € 1.49 |
| — | Cost transparency | Limited |
| ~$10 USD | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| — | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
Pros & Cons
- 1,700+ coins – one of the largest selections worldwide
- MiCA CASP and payment licences (MFSA Malta)
- Low fees from around 0.1%, with GT discounts
- Early access to new listings
- The interface is overwhelming for beginners
- Thin liquidity on very small coins
- Support is primarily in English
- 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 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.
Investing in crypto assets carries a high level of risk, up to and including total loss of capital. This is not investment advice. Figures as of July 2026, without guarantee – check current conditions with the provider.
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cost transparency | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA security | ✓ |
| ✓ | Account lock | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA instant bank transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | PayPal | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
- The altcoin-selection champion, now with a MiCA licence
- On the market since 2011 with a significant market presence
- Comprehensive security protocols incl. 2FA and account lock
- 380+ cryptocurrencies tradable
- Savings plan and staking on one platform
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
Spot: from around 0.1% maker/taker, with discounts when paying in GT. Futures fees are lower (as of July 2026).
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
Not enough reviews available.
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
Not enough reviews available.
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
Not enough reviews available.
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
Not enough reviews available.
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
| Gate Technology Ltd | Company | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| 2013 | Founded | 2011 |
| MiCA licence via MFSA (Malta) | Regulation | EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA |
| ~$10 USD | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| — | KYC | Photo ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating Kraken leads with 4.2 against 3.7 for Gate.io.
For most investors Kraken is therefore the better choice.
If you want early access to new and obscure coins, few venues come close to Gate.io – and it now has a genuine MiCA basis out of Malta. The platform is powerful but can feel overloaded for newcomers; for experienced altcoin traders it is one of the more interesting regulated options as of July 2026.
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 0.99% and total costs of €9.90 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.