Kraken vs Scalable Capital Comparison
| 0.99 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 9.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| 629 | Cryptos | 32 (as ETPs) |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Transfer |
| EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA | 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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 9.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| 0.99 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 1.49 | Wallet transfer | – |
| Limited | Cost transparency | Yes |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Transfer |
On disclosed fees there is nothing between the two providers.
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+
- 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 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 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 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) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking (via ETPs) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | BaFin regulation | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Stocks & ETFs | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA direct debit | ✓ |
- 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
- 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
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.
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 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 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
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 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 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.
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
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.
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
| Payward Europe Solutions Limited | Company | Scalable Capital GmbH |
| 2011 | Founded | 2014 |
| EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA | Regulation | BaFin license as a securities institution |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Photo ID | KYC | eID, Video-ID, PostIdent |
Verdict
In our overall rating Kraken leads with 4.2 against 2.9 for Scalable Capital.
On disclosed fees there is nothing between the two providers.
For most investors Kraken 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.
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.