Crypto Exchanges, Ranked by Someone Who Actually Uses Them

I've moved money through all of these. Here's which ones are worth your time.

Last updated: January 2026

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Quick note on how we make money: Some of the exchanges below are partners, which means we get a commission if you sign up through our links. This doesn't cost you anything extra—in fact, you often get a bonus you wouldn't get otherwise. We include non-partners too, and we're honest about the downsides of every exchange, partner or not.

TL;DR – Which Exchange Should You Use?

If you're new to crypto
Coinbase
Simple, safe, hard to mess up
If you want low trading fees
Kraken
0.26% vs 0.5% adds up fast
If you want a crypto debit card
Crypto.com
Up to 5% back in crypto rewards
If you're outside the US
Binance
Lowest fees, biggest selection

The Full Breakdown

Want to Compare Exact Fees?

Our calculator shows you the real cost to withdraw from any exchange, on any chain, with live network fees. No guessing.

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Common Questions

Which exchange has the lowest fees?

Depends what you mean by "fees." For trading, Binance (0.1%) beats everyone, but they're not available in the US. For US users, Kraken (0.26%) is the cheapest. For withdrawals, Coinbase has free withdrawals on Solana and Polygon. That's why we built the calculator—there's no single answer.

Is Coinbase safe?

As safe as any exchange can be. They're publicly traded on Nasdaq, regulated by the SEC, and your USD is FDIC insured up to $250k. That said, "not your keys, not your coins" still applies. Don't keep more on an exchange than you need to.

Why should I use your links instead of going direct?

Two reasons: First, you often get a bonus you wouldn't get otherwise (like $10 free on Coinbase or 20% off fees on Crypto.com). Second, it helps us keep this site running without charging you anything.

What if I already have an account?

The signup bonuses are for new accounts only. But you can still use our calculator to compare withdrawal fees across exchanges—it works whether you signed up through us or not.