Kraken vs Smartbroker+ Comparison
| 0.99 % | Fees | 0.9 % |
| € 9.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.00 |
| 629 | Cryptos | 39 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer |
| EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA | Regulation | Crypto custodian Tangany GmbH has a BaFin license |
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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.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 | € 9.00 |
| 0.99 % | Fees | 0.9 % |
| € 1.49 | Wallet transfer | – |
| Limited | Cost transparency | Limited |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 0.01 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer |
On disclosed fees you pay €0.90 less at Smartbroker+ per €1,000 purchase.
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+
- 39 cryptocurrencies tradable alongside stocks, ETFs, and derivatives
- Savings plans available for crypto and securities
- Crypto custodian Tangany GmbH with BaFin license
- Minimum investment possible from just 0.01 €
- App available for iOS, Android, and web use
- Wallet transfer to personal wallets not possible – occasionally criticized by users
- Staking features currently not available – room for improvement
- Deposits only via SEPA transfer – additional payment methods have room for improvement
- Waiting time after registration until first trade is occasionally criticized
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, Smartbroker+ is generally often described as clear and easy to understand. Users particularly appreciate the simple app experience as well as low fees and conditions, while support-related topics and individual technical points are perceived by some users as having room for improvement.
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) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | BaFin-regulated custodian | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Stocks & ETFs | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA transfer | ✓ |
- 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, derivatives, and crypto on one platform
- BaFin-licensed crypto custodian Tangany GmbH
- Savings plans from 0.01 € for accessible investing
- Trading fees of 0.9 % for crypto
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.
According to reviews, Smartbroker+ fees are often viewed positively. Users particularly appreciate the low fees and conditions, which are generally perceived as inexpensive. Overall, the pricing data gives a largely positive impression.
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.
Users particularly appreciate the clear and intuitive operation of the Smartbroker+ app. According to reviews, the application is often perceived as easy to use, which makes getting started easier. However, some users also report that the interface can be confusing, so this area is described in individual cases as having room for improvement.
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.
Some users would like additional convenience features such as direct debit for savings plans, instant or real-time transfers, and notes for the watchlist. According to reviews, the newsletter is also occasionally perceived as rather limited.
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 occasionally report technical issues or longer loading times. Overall, the available reviews in this area do not point to a clearly positive or negative 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.
When it comes to support, users in the reviews report mixed experiences comparatively often. In some cases, poor customer service, unanswered email requests, or a lack of support are mentioned, which is why this area is considered to have room for improvement from the users' perspective.
Details
| Payward Europe Solutions Limited | Company | Smartbroker AG |
| 2011 | Founded | 2019 |
| EU: MiCA USA: CFTC UK: FCA | Regulation | Crypto custodian Tangany GmbH has a BaFin license |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 0.01 |
| Photo ID | KYC | eID, Video-ID, PostIdent |
Verdict
In our overall rating Smartbroker+ leads with 4.4 against 4.2 for Kraken.
On disclosed fees you pay €0.90 less at Smartbroker+ per €1,000 purchase.
For most investors Smartbroker+ 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.
Smartbroker+ is perceived in the DACH region as a multi-asset broker that combines cryptocurrencies with stocks, ETFs, and derivatives on one platform. With 39 tradable cryptocurrencies and custody via the BaFin-licensed Tangany GmbH, the provider is considered to be on solid regulatory footing. Trading fees of 0.9 % for crypto are in the mid-range among German neobrokers.
The option to set up savings plans from as little as 0.01 € is appreciated, as it enables an especially accessible entry point. The platform is available via app and web and is aimed at investors who want to manage different asset classes centrally. For users who already invest in stocks and ETFs and want to add crypto as an additional component, Smartbroker+ is seen as a practical solution.
Wallet transfers to personal wallets are currently not possible, and staking features are not offered — both are occasionally criticized by users. The limited deposit methods, restricted to SEPA transfers, and the waiting time after registration are also considered to have room for improvement. Smartbroker+ is therefore particularly suitable for securities investors in the DACH region looking for a German broker with BaFin-regulated crypto custody and a broad product range.