Kraken vs OKX Comparison
In our overall rating OKX leads with 4.5 out of 5 points, ahead of Kraken with 4.2. On disclosed fees OKX is cheaper: 0.2 % instead of 1 % trading fee, which means € 2.00 instead of € 10.00 per €1,000 purchase. OKX has the better score in all five sub-ratings. Kraken lists 629 cryptocurrencies, OKX more than 280.
| 1 % | Fees | 0.2 % |
| € 10.00 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 2.00 |
| 629 | Cryptos | 280+ |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card | Payment Methods | Deposits: SEPA / SEPA Instant, Easy Transfer, Credit Card and PayPal Express purchases: PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay and Credit Card |
| EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA | Regulation | MiCA licence, MiFID II licence and payment institution (MFSA, Malta) |
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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 10.00 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 2.00 |
| 1 % | Fees | 0.2 % |
| € 1.49 | Wallet transfer | € 1.08 |
| Limited | Cost transparency | Yes |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | ~$10 USD |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card | Payment Methods | Deposits: SEPA / SEPA Instant, Easy Transfer, Credit Card and PayPal Express purchases: PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay and Credit Card |
On disclosed fees you pay €8.00 less at OKX per €1,000 purchase.
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.
| 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 21 October 2026 according to the Kraken fee schedule.
OKX Europe charges spot fees by account type: the spot-only account costs 0.10% maker and 0.20% taker in the base tier, the spot and derivatives account 0.08% and 0.10%.
| Transaction | Cost at OKX Europe |
|---|---|
| Spot trading, spot-only account, regular user | 0.10% maker, 0.20% taker |
| Spot trading, spot and derivatives account, regular user | 0.08% maker, 0.10% taker |
| VIP 1 in the spot and derivatives account (from EUR 100,000 assets or EUR 1m volume in 30 days) | 0.0675% maker, 0.08% taker |
| Zero-fee pairs | selected spot pairs at 0% maker and taker |
| Crypto withdrawals | network fee per coin |
How to save: On a EUR 1,000 buy as a taker, the spot-only account costs EUR 2 and the spot and derivatives account EUR 1. Limit orders as a maker are cheaper in both account types. See how OKX compares in our crypto exchange comparison.
Fees as of 21 October 2026 according to the OKX Europe fee page.
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+
- MiCA, MiFID II and payment institution licences via OKX Europe in Malta
- Spot fee of 0.20% taker on a spot-only account, 0.10% with a derivatives account
- Total costs of €2.00 per €1,000
- Proof of reserve is provided
- Wide range of payment methods: SEPA, PayPal, credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Savings plan via recurring buy (daily to monthly) and staking available
- Selection of 280+ cryptocurrencies is room for improvement compared with some competitors
- KYC process with eID and photo ID is occasionally criticized as time-consuming
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.
According to the analyzed user reviews, OKX is mentioned by many users for its intuitive app, easy usability, and wide range of coins. At the same time, users also report critical experiences with support, as well as occasionally with blocked accounts or blocked withdrawals.
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
| available | Savings plan | available |
| available | Staking | available |
| not available | Wallet transfer | available |
| not available | Cost transparency | available |
| not available | 2FA security | available |
| available | Account lock | not specified |
| available | SEPA instant bank transfer | not specified |
| available | PayPal | not specified |
| available | Credit card | not specified |
| available | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| not specified | Anti-phishing code | available |
| not specified | Passkey login | available |
| not specified | Wallet whitelist | available |
| not specified | Web platform | available |
- On the market since 2011 with a significant market presence
- Comprehensive security protocols incl. 2FA and account lock
- 629 cryptocurrencies tradable
- Savings plan and staking on one platform
- One of the first exchanges with a MiCA license in the EU
- Total costs of €2.00 per €1,000 on a spot-only account
- Proof of reserve available for transparency
- Express purchases via PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay possible
- Minimum investment from just 1 €
- Futures and spot margin up to 10x, tokenized stocks and ETFs
- OKX Shield: protection against third-party account takeovers, up to €500,000 depending on account tier
- OKX Card (Mastercard) with no monthly or annual card fee
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.
When it comes to fees, users report a mixed impression: on the one hand, low costs are mentioned; on the other hand, some users perceive the fees as high. According to reviews, the perception of costs from the user perspective apparently depends on usage and transaction type.
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.
According to reviews, users at OKX especially appreciate the intuitive app, the easy handling, and the clean interface. In everyday use, the platform is described by many as easy to understand. Occasionally, users also would like a German-language interface and a landscape mode.
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.
According to user reviews, the range of coins and features is viewed positively by many. Users report that the platform is experienced as versatile and offers different use cases. Occasionally, users would like more fiat options, additional bot options, and adjustments to the withdrawal whitelist.
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.
Regarding stability and reliability, users report in some cases smooth usage and in other cases problems related to accounts or withdrawals. In the reviews, blocked accounts and blocked withdrawals are occasionally mentioned. Overall, the user data does not present a uniform picture.
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.
The user reviews of support are mostly critical. Users report slow or unanswered replies, and occasionally describe customer service as not helpful or as not being perceived at all. In addition, several users would like better support in German.
Details
| Payward Europe Solutions Limited | Company | OKX Europe Ltd |
| 2011 | Founded | 2017 |
| EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA | Regulation | MiCA licence, MiFID II licence and payment institution (MFSA, Malta) |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | ~$10 USD |
| Photo ID | KYC | eID, Photo ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating OKX leads with 4.5 against 4.2 for Kraken.
On disclosed fees you pay €8.00 less at OKX per €1,000 purchase.
For most investors OKX 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 1% and total costs of €10.00 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.
OKX is considered one of the first crypto exchanges with a fully fledged MiCA license in the EU and is valued for combining regulatory compliance with low fees. With a 0.20% taker fee on a spot-only account, or €2.00 per €1,000, OKX is among the cheapest providers in the comparison. The availability of proof of reserves is positively viewed by security-conscious users. OKX's European offering now also includes futures up to 10x, tokenized stocks and ETFs, a recurring-buy savings plan and the OKX Card.
The selection of 280+ cryptocurrencies is room for improvement compared with some competitors with over 600 coins. The KYC process with eID and photo ID is also occasionally criticized as time-consuming. However, the extensive payment methods — including PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay — are seen as practical.
OKX is particularly suitable for cost-conscious investors who prefer an EU-regulated platform with a MiCA license and low trading fees and are willing to make compromises on coin selection.