KuCoin vs Trade Republic Comparison
In our overall rating KuCoin leads with 3.9 out of 5 points, ahead of Trade Republic with 2.9. Our table lists the trading fee as “0.1% maker/taker (spot)” for KuCoin and “0 %” for Trade Republic. KuCoin has the better score in all five sub-ratings. Trade Republic has been on the market longer, founded in 2015, while KuCoin followed in 2017.
| 0.1% maker/taker (spot) | Fees | 0 % |
| — | Minimum cost per €1,000 | no order fee, cost in the spread |
| — | Cryptos | 50+ |
| — | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card |
| MiCA licence from the FMA (Austria) since 27 Nov 2025, FMA does not yet permit commencement of operations | Regulation | Full banking licence from BaFin, crypto services notified under MiCA (Art. 60) |
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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.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 | no order fee, cost in the spread |
| 0.1% maker/taker (spot) | Fees | 0 % |
| — | Wallet transfer | € 0 |
| — | Cost transparency | Limited |
| €10 per order (BTC/EUR) | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| — | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card |
Note, as of 21 October 2026: KuCoin EU states on its website that trading and deposits have been suspended since 4 February 2026. The table shows the rates KuCoin EU lists in its fee schedule.
| Transaction | Cost at KuCoin EU |
|---|---|
| Spot trading, base tier VIP 0 | 0.1% maker, 0.1% taker |
| Spot trading, VIP 3 | 0.075% maker, 0.09% taker |
| Spot trading, VIP 6 | 0.025% maker, 0.05% taker |
| Spot trading, VIP 12 | 0% maker, 0.025% taker |
| EUR deposits and withdrawals | via SEPA and SEPA Instant, fee shown before the withdrawal |
| Crypto withdrawals | network fee per coin |
How to save: Rates fall as your VIP tier rises. Users who already hold VIP status at another exchange can apply at KuCoin EU for a tier two levels higher for 60 days. We compare MiCA-licensed exchanges that are open for trading in our crypto exchange comparison.
Fees as of 21 October 2026 according to KuCoin EU VIP tiers and fees.
Trade Republic charges no order commission for crypto trading. Each single order carries a flat fee of EUR 1, while savings plans run without it. Every purchase and sale also includes the spread, the gap between buy and sell price, which is built into the quoted price.
| Transaction | Cost at Trade Republic |
|---|---|
| Buying or selling a cryptocurrency (single order) | EUR 1 flat fee per order, no order commission, plus the spread |
| Crypto savings plan from EUR 1 | no flat fee, only the spread |
| Custody of your coins | free, most of it held in cold wallets at BitGo Europe GmbH |
| Sending to and receiving from external wallets | no Trade Republic fee, only the blockchain's network costs |
| Staking, including SOL, ETH and DOT | no additional fee, the app shows the net yield |
| Paying with crypto via the card | only the spread; 2% Crypto Saveback on up to EUR 1,500 card spending per month if at least EUR 50 goes into savings plans each month |
| Card: monthly fee and withdrawals | free, withdrawals under EUR 100 cost EUR 1 |
How to save: If you buy regularly, use the savings plan, since the EUR 1 flat fee does not apply there. For single orders, larger amounts pay off: on EUR 50 the flat fee is 2%, on EUR 1,000 only 0.1%. We compare exchanges with maker and taker fees in our crypto exchange comparison.
As of 22 October 2026 according to Trade Republic's crypto page and price overview and its help article on crypto fees (German price list).
Pros & Cons
- 700+ coins – a vast altcoin selection
- Spot fees from 0.1% maker and taker
- MiCA CASP licence (FMA Austria, November 2025)
- Wide feature set: spot, futures, bots, earn products
- Trading and deposits at KuCoin EU suspended since 4 February 2026 (as of 21 October 2026)
- Historically no local European support structures
- 2023 US settlement still weighs on its record
- MiCA authorisation from BaFin, listed in the French AMF's CASP register as “Licensed MICA” with Germany as the licensing country
- Savings plans for crypto, stocks and ETFs from €1
- Crypto transfers to and from external wallets with no transaction fee charged by Trade Republic
- Staking available, according to the provider for SOL, ETH and DOT among others, at no extra charge
- 2 % Crypto Saveback on card payments up to €1,500 per month
- No order commission on crypto: EUR 1 flat fee per single order, savings plans without it, plus the spread
- 50 cryptocurrencies tradable alongside stocks and ETFs
- Deposits via SEPA, SEPA instant transfer and credit card
- Trade Republic's own help pages contradict its product page: on 22 October 2026 they still stated that sending and receiving crypto was not possible
- Cost transparency on crypto spreads has room for improvement, according to users
- SMS-based two-factor authentication; stronger methods would be welcome
Score Comparison
User Experiences
AI AnalysisAccording to the evaluated user data, Trade Republic is especially appreciated for its intuitive and clear app. At the same time, users report room for improvement in support, while fees and individual aspects of the app are perceived in mixed ways according to reviews.
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 October 2026, without guarantee; check current conditions with the provider.
Features
| not specified | Savings plan | available |
| not specified | Staking | not available |
| not specified | Wallet transfer | not available |
| not specified | Credit card payment | available |
| not specified | BaFin regulation | available |
| not specified | Web platform | available |
| not specified | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| not specified | Stocks & ETFs | available |
| not specified | SEPA instant transfer | available |
- Altcoin heavyweight with 700+ coins
- MiCA licence in hand, trading at KuCoin EU suspended since February 2026
- Neobroker for crypto, stocks, ETFs, and derivatives from a single source
- Savings plans from €1 for long-term wealth building
- BaFin-regulated with a German bank account
- Over 50 tradable cryptocurrencies
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
Spot at KuCoin EU: 0.1% maker and 0.1% taker in the base tier, falling with the VIP tier to 0% maker and 0.025% taker. According to KuCoin EU, trading and deposits have been suspended since 4 February 2026 (as of 21 October 2026).
When it comes to fees and costs, user opinions are mixed. Some users describe Trade Republic as inexpensive, while according to reviews, higher fees are also occasionally criticized.
Usability & User Experience
Not enough reviews available.
Users particularly appreciate Trade Republic for its intuitive, clear, and easy-to-use app. According to reviews, the application is often described as beginner-friendly, which makes getting started easier. However, the app is also occasionally described as somewhat unclear.
Features & Offering
Not enough reviews available.
Users repeatedly wish for availability in Switzerland, an iPad version, and a CSV export. According to reviews, a simpler tax overview and the option for automatic dividend reinvestment are also mentioned occasionally. Wishes are also expressed in the available user data regarding the search function and stop-limit orders.
Stability & Security
Not enough reviews available.
Users report mixed experiences regarding stability and reliability. It is occasionally mentioned that the app crashes, while others describe the app as easy to use in everyday life.
Customer Support
Not enough reviews available.
When it comes to support, many users report room for improvement. According to reviews, it is often mentioned that customer service is difficult to reach or that responses take a while to arrive. In direct contact in particular, users therefore rate support critically.
Details
| KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH | Company | Trade Republic Bank GmbH |
| 2017 | Founded | 2015 |
| MiCA licence from the FMA (Austria) since 27 Nov 2025, FMA does not yet permit commencement of operations | Regulation | Full banking licence from BaFin, crypto services notified under MiCA (Art. 60) |
| €10 per order (BTC/EUR) | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| — | KYC | Video-ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating KuCoin leads with 3.9 against 2.9 for Trade Republic.
Neither provider reaches 4.0 out of 5 in our rating, so we do not give an unreserved recommendation here.
KuCoin has been a fixture for altcoin traders for years. Its EU position is difficult as of October 2026: the Austrian MiCA licence has been granted, but according to the company, trading and deposits at KuCoin EU have been suspended since 4 February 2026. If regulatory certainty inside the EU is your priority, fully operational MiCA venues such as Bitpanda, Bybit EU or Kraken are the safer bet for now.
Trade Republic is considered one of the best-known neobrokers in the DACH region and is used by many users as an entry point into the world of cryptocurrencies. Trade Republic is a bank supervised by BaFin and, in addition to 50 cryptocurrencies, also offers stocks, ETFs, and derivatives from a single source. Users appreciate that Trade Republic charges no order commission; each single order costs a flat EUR 1, savings plans run without it, and the remaining costs arise through the spread, whose transparency is occasionally rated as room for improvement.
Particularly appreciated are the savings plans from €1, which make it easy to get started with regular crypto investing. For investors who want to manage crypto, stocks, and ETFs in a single app, Trade Republic is considered one of the most accessible solutions on the German market. The app is described as intuitive and clearly geared toward beginners and occasional investors.
The Crypto Wallet lets you send cryptocurrencies to external wallets and receive them from there, according to Trade Republic without any transaction fees of its own. The SMS-based 2FA security is also considered room for improvement. Trade Republic is therefore especially suitable for investors looking for a regulated, uncomplicated way to access cryptocurrencies as part of a broad securities offering and who want to be able to move their coins to a wallet of their own.