Kraken vs Kraken Pro Comparison
| 0.99 % | Fees | 0.4 % |
| € 9.90 | Cost for €1,000 | € 4.10 |
| 629 | Cryptos | 629 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
| EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA | Regulation | - EU: MiCA - USA: CFTC - UK: FCA |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, including all fees and spreads.
| € 9.90 | Cost for €1,000 | € 4.10 |
| 0.99 % | Fees | 0.4 % |
| € 1.49 | Wallet transfer | € 1.49 |
| Limited | Cost transparency | Yes |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 5 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card |
On a €1,000 purchase you pay €5.80 less at Kraken Pro.
Pros & Cons
- 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+
- Volume-based maker/taker fees from 0.25% / 0.40%
- Pro order types: stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stop, iceberg, OCO
- Margin trading up to 5x (selected pairs up to 10x)
- Full-featured API: REST and WebSocket v2 incl. Level 3 order book
- Shared account with standard Kraken -- no transfer required
- Active in the market since 2011 with unchanged security record
- Learning curve compared to the standard interface has room for improvement
- Margin availability regionally restricted within the EEA
- Futures run on a separate derivatives platform with own onboarding
- Lowest fee tiers only reachable from high 30-day volume onward
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.
No separate analysis -- based on Kraken.
This analysis is based on 1184 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 reviews shown reflect users’ experiences and do not represent the site operator’s own assessment. All information without guarantee. Status: March 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cost transparency | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA security | ✓ |
| ✓ | Account lock | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA instant bank transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | PayPal | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Maker/Taker Model | ✓ |
| ✓ | Margin Trading | ✓ |
| ✓ | Futures/Derivatives | ✓ |
| ✓ | Order Types | ✓ |
| ✓ | API | ✓ |
| ✓ | Charts | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile App (Pro Mode) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Asset Selection | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA Security | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cold Storage | ✓ |
- 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
- Volume-based fee model from 0.25% maker / 0.40% taker
- Pro order types including iceberg and OCO bracket
- Margin trading with up to 5x leverage across 150+ markets
- API access for REST and WebSocket v2
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
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.
No separate analysis -- based on Kraken.
Usability & User Experience
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.
No separate analysis -- based on Kraken.
Features & Offering
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.
No separate analysis -- based on Kraken.
Stability & Security
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.
No separate analysis -- based on Kraken.
Customer Support
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.
No separate analysis -- based on Kraken.
Details
| Payward Europe Solutions Limited | Company | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| 2011 | Founded | 2011 |
| EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA | Regulation | - EU: MiCA - USA: CFTC - UK: FCA |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 5 |
| Photo ID | KYC | Photo ID, VideoIdent |
Verdict
In our overall rating Kraken Pro leads with 4.4 against 4.2 for Kraken.
On a €1,000 purchase you pay €5.80 less at Kraken Pro.
For most investors Kraken Pro is therefore the better choice.
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.
Kraken Pro is the separate trading interface from Kraken (pro.kraken.com and Pro mode in the mobile app) and is aimed at active traders. Unlike the standard platform with flat 0.99% fees, the volume-based maker/taker model applies here, starting at 0.25% maker and 0.40% taker, decreasing as 30-day volume rises. Account, verification, and asset balances are shared between both interfaces.
The order set covers market, limit, stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stop, iceberg orders, and bracket/OCO combinations. Margin trading is offered with up to 5x leverage depending on the pair, with selected assets reaching 10x. The availability of margin and derivatives is tied to MiFID II requirements in some EEA countries and is handled via Payward Europe Digital Solutions. Charts, order book, and API access (REST and WebSocket v2) are described in user reviews as sufficient for active strategies; the learning curve compared to the standard interface is occasionally criticized.
Kraken Pro is considered particularly suitable for active traders who value pro order types, lower volume-based fees, and margin features. Those primarily looking for savings plans or simple spot investing will find a more fitting setup on the standard interface. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.