Updated November 6, 2026
Coinbase vs Cash App in comparison
Coinbase
Centralized Exchange
Change exchangeCash App
Stock/ FX/ Crypto Brokers
Change exchange- Coinbase: 0.90%Taker feeThe fee for an order that fills at once against the order book, at the entry tier.Cash App: 2.00%
- Coinbase: $2Minimum depositCash App: $1
- Coinbase: 407Crypto assetsCash App: 1
- Coinbase: 0.50%Maker feeThe fee for an order that waits in the order book, at the entry tier.Cash App: 2.00%
Coinbase or Cash App?
In our view, Coinbase wins for anyone who wants coins other than Bitcoin or more control over trading costs, while Cash App suits readers who already use it and want small, automatic Bitcoin buys. We rate Coinbase higher overall and Cash App slightly higher for support.
Choose Coinbase if
- You want lower trading fees
- You place limit orders often
Choose Cash App if
- You want to start with less
- You want better support
Ranked lists: lowest fees, for beginners, for US customers.
Coinbase and Cash App compared
Every value we hold for both, grouped. The cup marks the side that is ahead where the data decides; ties and plain differences have no mark.
| Coinbase | What | Cash App |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| 0.90% | Taker feeThe fee for an order that fills at once against the order book, at the entry tier. | 2.00% |
| 0.50% | Maker feeThe fee for an order that waits in the order book, at the entry tier. | 2.00% |
| $2 | Minimum deposit | $1 |
| Coins and products | ||
| 407 | Crypto assets | 1 |
| Cryptocurrencies | What you can trade | Bitcoin |
| Yes | Real coinsMost exchanges and brokers offer the purchase and sale of "real" cryptocurrencies. However, some providers only offer the purchase of derivatives or ETPs (exchange traded products) that merely reflect the asset. In these cases, the underlying cryptocurrency is not purchased directly. | Yes |
| Yes | Withdraw to your own walletSelf-custody of cryptocurrencies plays an important role for many users who want to manage their cryptocurrencies and thus their "private keys" themselves and not leave them in the hands of the exchange. Most exchanges offer the option of sending the purchased cryptocurrencies to their own wallet. | Yes |
| Yes | Recurring buysAutomatic purchase of cryptocurrencies at a certain interval (e.g. monthly) for a predetermined amount. The savings plan function is familiar from traditional financial apps and is often also used to regularly buy shares or ETFs in order to achieve a cost average effect. | Yes |
| Yes | StakingInterest can be earned through "staking" by "freezing" a certain number of cryptocurrencies for a defined period of time. The interest is generated from the consensus algorithm (e.g. "proof of stake"), which is used to validate and secure the network. | |
| No | NFT marketplaceSome exchanges offer trading in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and provide their own marketplace or integrate external providers. | |
| Yes | Trading toolsOffering special tools and functions for professional traders. | |
| Coinbase Advanced Trade for Coinbase tradingAdvanced…Coinbase Advanced Trade for trading | Trading options | Market buys and sells; Auto Invest on a Market buys and schedulesellsMarket buys and sells; Auto Invest on a schedule; Round Ups and Paid in Bitcoin |
| Spot, futures trading options; Coinbase Spot, futures Cardtrading…Spot, futures trading options; Coinbase Card; Coinbase Wallet | Special features | Round Ups from card purchases and Paid in Round Ups from Bitcoin…card…Round Ups from card purchases and Paid in Bitcoin by direct deposit; Lightning payments with no fee from the bitcoin balance; Paying with bitcoin at Square businesses that accept it |
| US availability | ||
| Open in every US state | United States | Open in every US stateLightning is not available to New York residents |
| Security and trust | ||
| CSSF (EU, MiCA), FCA registration, CSSF (EU, NYDFS…MiCA)…CSSF (EU, MiCA), FCA registration, NYDFS, US state licences | RegulationSome exchanges and brokers are regulated by financial supervisory authorities in certain countries/states. This often entails strict financial regulatory requirements and compliance requirements to which the company must adhere. Regulatory clarity can contribute to greater transparency and thus also greater trustworthiness. | NYDFS virtual currency license, FinCEN NYDFS virtual MSB…currency…NYDFS virtual currency license, FinCEN MSB, US state money transmitter licenses |
| ID rule: Always. ID before you trade, deposit or withdraw.Always | When ID is asked | |
| Yes | Two-factor authenticationTwo-factor authentication (2FA) is an additional measure to improve the protection and security of user accounts: In addition to the password, a second security component must be entered when logging in, e.g. a PIN code. | |
| Yes | Deposit protectionDeposit protection describes how a provider safeguards customer assets if it becomes insolvent or loses funds in a hack. Government deposit insurance does not cover crypto held on an exchange: FDIC insurance in the US and EU deposit protection of up to €100,000 per depositor and bank cover money held at banks only. Some exchanges run their own insurance policy or protection fund instead, which covers part of customer assets on terms the exchange sets. | No |
| Apps and account | ||
| Yes | iPhone app | Yes |
| Yes | Android app | Yes |
| Fast | Account opening | |
| Beginners | Best suited for | |
| Company | ||
| Coinbase, Inc. | Company | Block, Inc. (Block of Delaware in New Block, York)Inc.Block, Inc. (Block of Delaware in New York) |
| USA | Headquarters | USA |
| 2012 | Founded | |
| Brian Armstrong, Fred Brian EhrsamArmstrong…Brian Armstrong, Fred Ehrsam | Founders | |
| Large | Company size | |
| 6.2 Million Followers | Followers on X | |
Show all 28 rows+10 moreShow fewer
Checked November 4, 2026
What a $1,000 buy costs
Entry tier, spot trading, from the fee pages of both exchanges.
| Coinbase | What | Cash App |
|---|---|---|
| Trading fees | ||
| 0.90%Coinbase Advanced spot entry tier for US residents. In the EU and UK the entry tier is 0.25% maker and 0.50% taker; in Brazil, India and other international markets it is 0.09% maker and 0.10% taker. | Taker feeThe fee for an order that fills at once against the order book, at the entry tier. | 2.00%Cash App charges 2.0% on market buys from $1 to $499, 1.5% from $500 to $999 and 0.9% from $1,000 to $1,999, with no fee above $2,000. A spread of up to 0.75% may apply, and recurring buys carry neither. |
| $9.00 | A $1,000 market buyThe taker fee applied to a $1,000 buy. Spreads and payment fees come on top. | $20.00 |
| 0.50%Coinbase Advanced spot entry tier for US residents. In the EU and UK the entry tier is 0.25% maker and 0.50% taker; in Brazil, India and other international markets it is 0.09% maker and 0.10% taker. | Maker feeThe fee for an order that waits in the order book, at the entry tier. | 2.00%Cash App charges 2.0% on market buys from $1 to $499, 1.5% from $500 to $999 and 0.9% from $1,000 to $1,999, with no fee above $2,000. A spread of up to 0.75% may apply, and recurring buys carry neither. |
| $5.00 | A $1,000 limit order | $20.00 |
| Deposits and withdrawals | ||
| VariesCoinbase sets this fee from its own estimate. Estimated Bitcoin network cost on 2026-10-03: about $0.36 (range $0.12 to $0.83 over the previous 24 hours, mempool.space). | BTC withdrawal | No feeStandard withdrawals within 24 hours are free from 100,000 sats; Rush and Priority add a share of the network fee plus up to $2 or $3. |
| $2 | Minimum deposit | $1 |
| Ways to pay | |
| US | Fee schedule | US |
Checked November 4, 2026
Both serve every US state
The answer for US customers and the states each one leaves out. The state pages have the details.
| Coinbase | What | Cash App |
|---|---|---|
| US availability | ||
| Open in every US state | United States | Open in every US stateLightning is not available to New York residents |
| None | States left out | None |
Checked November 4, 2026
Where they are not open
The countries and regions each exchange names in its terms.
| Coinbase | What | Cash App |
|---|---|---|
| Not open | ||
| Sanctioned countriesJurisdictions subject to sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Treasury and other governing bodies | Not offered in | |
Checked October 1, 2026
Coinbase 8.3, Cash App 7.0: six criteria
Our editors set every score out of 10, the same scores as in the two reviews. The method is on How we rate.
Operation
Our pick: Coinbase.
CoinbaseCash AppRead more
CoinbaseCoinbase splits its product into two distinct screens. The standard application handles buying, selling, sending, and recurring purchases. It provides a preview screen that displays the spread and the Coinbase fee prior to confirmation. Coinbase Advanced introduces TradingView charts alongside advanced order types. The Coinbase app holds an average rating of 4.68 on Apple's American App Store and 4.3 on Google Play. We believe that the dual-screen approach simplifies initial use but also represents a significant drawback: the more affordable trading option is located on a separate screen that a first-time user might not explore.
Cash App
We think buying bitcoin in Cash App takes only a few taps if you already have a balance there. Cash App says that if it charges a fee, the amount appears on the confirmation screen. In our view the app is built for one coin and a simple buy or sell button, with no charts or order types for traders.
Functions & Scope
Our pick: Coinbase.
CoinbaseCash AppRead more
CoinbaseCoinbase lists more than 400 crypto assets with live markets. In the US, the Coinbase app also provides commission-free stock trading 24 hours a day, five days a week, futures and perpetual-style futures with up to 10x leverage on Bitcoin and Ether, prediction markets managed by Kalshi, and USDC loans against crypto through Morpho on Base. Staking, recurring buys, the Coinbase Card, and DEX trading in the app round out the offerings, and the former Coinbase Wallet is now named Base App. Outside the US, Coinbase provides crypto options through Deribit, which it acquired in 2025. We believe this is a broad range for an app built around first purchases. For active trading, refer to the alternatives below.
Cash App
Cash App supports bitcoin only. You can buy on a schedule with Auto Invest, round up card purchases into bitcoin or have part of your paycheck paid in bitcoin. Lightning payments from the bitcoin balance carry no fee, and you can pay with bitcoin at businesses that use Square and accept it. In our view the habit features are the main strength.
Fees & costs
Level on this one.
CoinbaseCash AppRead more
CoinbaseIn our view cost is the main trade-off on Coinbase. On Coinbase Advanced, US customers pay 0.50% maker and 0.90% taker at the entry level, against 0.25% and 0.50% in the EU and UK and 0.09% and 0.10% in Brazil and India. Kraken Pro begins with fees of 0.40% for makers and 0.80% for takers, as detailed in our Coinbase vs Kraken comparison. The simple app involves a spread and a Coinbase fee, while simple limit orders incur a separate 1% fee. Coinbase also retains a 35% commission on staking rewards for assets such as ETH and SOL. The Coinbase One subscription removes the Coinbase fee on simple trades within monthly limits, but not the spread. We think the costs are acceptable for occasional buyers who use Coinbase Advanced and high for anyone who relies on the simple Buy button.
Cash App
Market buys and sells cost 2.0% from $1 to $499, 1.5% from $500 to $999, 0.9% from $1,000 to $1,999 and nothing above $2,000. A spread of 0% to 0.75% can come on top. Auto Invest, Round Ups and Paid in Bitcoin carry no fee and no spread. Standard withdrawals are free from 100,000 sats. In our view recurring buys are the cheap way to use Cash App.
Security & Trust
Our pick: Coinbase.
CoinbaseCash AppRead more
CoinbaseCoinbase's parent company is listed on Nasdaq, providing quarterly reports. The group is licensed or registered with US state regulators, NYDFS, the CFTC, Luxembourg's CSSF, and the FCA. Two-factor authentication is switched on by default, and Coinbase says it holds customer crypto 1:1 and does not lend it without permission. In our view that makes Coinbase easier to scrutinize than exchanges that publish no accounts. However, its record is not perfect: the FCA fined its UK e-money firm in July 2024, and crypto balances lack FDIC or SIPC protection.
Cash App
Block, Inc. holds a New York virtual currency license and is registered with FinCEN. Cash App says it holds bitcoin 1:1 and does not lend it out, but bitcoin is not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. In 2025 the CFPB ordered Block to pay redress and a penalty over fraud and dispute handling in Cash App. We would like a published reserve attestation.
Beginner friendliness
Our pick: Coinbase.
CoinbaseCash AppRead more
CoinbaseIn our view a first purchase on Coinbase is simple. Start by verifying your identity, then add a payment method like a bank account, debit card, or PayPal in the US, and proceed to buy. The catch, in our view, is cost. The simple Buy button includes a spread and a Coinbase fee, and on a purchase under $200 that fee can reach $10. Purchase limits vary based on account type, location, and chosen payment method, and Coinbase offers no fixed figures. In our view Coinbase is a good place to learn the basics, as long as you read the fee line on the preview screen before every order. If you're considering different options for your first account in the US, our list of exchanges for US customers compares Coinbase with other alternatives.
Cash App
In our view Cash App is one of the easiest starts for people who already use it for payments. You verify your identity in the app before you can buy bitcoin. We would begin with a small Auto Invest amount, because recurring buys carry no fee, and avoid frequent small one-off trades.
Support
Our pick: Cash App.
CoinbaseCash AppRead more
CoinbaseIn our view Coinbase's help center is one of its strengths, offering detailed documentation on fees, limits, and state rules. A significant portion of this review is based on that resource. Coinbase One members in the US, France and Singapore also get account takeover protection of up to $1K, $10K or $250K, depending on the tier. However, support was a notable weak point in May 2025 when criminals managed to bribe support staff outside the US, leading to the copying of customer data. In response, Coinbase has stated it would reimburse customers who were deceived into sending funds. In our view, any call or message that claims to come from Coinbase support deserves a second look before you act on it.
Cash App
Cash App says you can chat with support anytime, day or night, and call 1 (800) 969-1940 daily from 8AM to 9:30PM ET. We think phone support is a plus for a mass-market app, but never share codes with anyone who calls you.
What we like and what we don't
From our two reviews, side by side.
Coinbase
What we like
- Open in every US state, including New York under an NYDFS license
- Money transmitter licenses in 47 US jurisdictions, plus authorizations in Luxembourg, the UK and Canada
- Simple app for buying, plus Coinbase Advanced with TradingView charts and advanced order types
- More than 400 crypto assets with live markets, plus commission-free US stock trading 24/5
- Two-factor authentication switched on by default, with security key support
- Parent company listed on Nasdaq, with quarterly financial reports
What we don't
- Higher entry-level fees than Kraken Pro: 0.50% maker and 0.90% taker on Coinbase Advanced in the US, against 0.40% and 0.80%
- Simple buys include a spread, and simple limit orders add a 1% execution fee
- Bitcoin and Ether futures for US customers go up to 10x leverage, so traders who want more look elsewhere
- No proof-of-reserves report for exchange balances that we could find
Cash App
What we like
- No fee and no spread on Auto Invest, Round Ups and Paid in Bitcoin
- Free standard withdrawals from 100,000 sats to your own wallet
- Licensed for virtual currency in New York and available across the US
- Lightning payments from your bitcoin balance carry no fee
What we don't
- Market buys from $1 to $499 cost 2.0%
- A spread of up to 0.75% on market buys and sells
- Bitcoin only, no other coins
- Lightning is not available to New York residents
- No published proof of reserves
What readers say
Reviews from our readers on each review page. We publish them after a check for spam.
Coinbase vs Cash App: Bitcoin Fees, Coin Choice, Withdrawals and Support
Cash App is a payments app from Block, Inc. that lets you buy, sell and send Bitcoin next to your dollar balance. Coinbase is a dedicated crypto exchange with hundreds of coins and an order book for active trading. Both work across the US, and both let you move Bitcoin to a wallet of your own. In our view, Coinbase wins for anyone who wants coins other than Bitcoin or more control over trading costs, while Cash App suits readers who already use it and want small, automatic Bitcoin buys. We rate Coinbase higher overall and Cash App slightly higher for support.
Bitcoin only or hundreds of coins
Cash App provides access to Bitcoin and no other coin. Buyers can purchase at market price, schedule recurring buys, round up card payments into Bitcoin, or allocate part of a paycheck to Bitcoin deposits. Payments with Bitcoin are possible at Square merchants.
Coinbase lists hundreds of crypto assets. In the US, it features staking, USDC rewards, commission-free stocks, and futures. We rate Coinbase much higher for range of functions.
What a Bitcoin buy costs
Cash App applies a fee on market buys and sells that decreases with larger order sizes: 2.0% from $1 to $499, 1.5% from $500 to $999, 0.9% from $1,000 to $1,999, and no fee from $2,000. There is also a spread of 0% to 0.75% on the price. A market buy of $100 may cost up to $2.75. Auto Invest, Round Ups, and Paid in Bitcoin do not incur a fee or spread.
A simple buy on Coinbase also combines a Coinbase fee with a spread. If you switch to Coinbase Advanced and place limit orders, US customers pay 0.5% maker and 0.9% taker at the entry tier. We rate the two the same for fees and costs.
Sending, withdrawals and Lightning
Cash App sends Bitcoin on-chain starting from a minimum of 5,000 sats. Standard speed is free for amounts starting at 100,000 sats and can take up to 24 hours. Faster options add a portion of the network fee plus up to $2 or $3. Lightning payments from the Bitcoin account balance are free, although Lightning is not available for residents of New York.
Coinbase charges no fixed fee of its own to withdraw Bitcoin and passes on an estimated network fee instead.
Regulation and track record
Both companies hold a New York virtual currency license: Coinbase under number 122466 and Block under number 122486. Block states that it stores Cash App Bitcoin at a ratio of 1:1 and does not lend it out. In January 2025, the CFPB ordered Block to pay up to $120 million to customers and a $55 million penalty over Cash App's handling of fraud and disputes.
Coinbase trades publicly on NASDAQ, and its custody arm, Coinbase Custody Trust Company, has SOC 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II reports. Its own incident came in May 2025, when criminals bribed support agents outside the US and took data on under 1% of monthly active users; passwords, keys and funds stayed out of reach. FDIC and SIPC coverage does not extend to Bitcoin at either company. Our security and trust rating for Coinbase is much higher.
Ease of use and support
Cash App makes Bitcoin accessible with a tap for payments already being made. Coinbase distinguishes between simple buying and the order book, so beginners do not have to interact with it. We rate Coinbase slightly higher for operation and beginner friendliness.
Cash App offers chat support and a phone line, 1 (800) 969-1940, daily from 8AM to 9:30PM ET. Coinbase's support starts with a virtual assistant and continues by phone or messaging. We rate Cash App slightly higher for support.
Our verdict by criterion
In our view, Coinbase is the right home for readers who want more than Bitcoin, thanks to far more coins, more products and an order book for cheaper trades, and we rate it higher overall. Cash App is, in our view, the easy option for small automatic Bitcoin buys inside an app many people already use.
- Operation: Coinbase, which we rate slightly higher
- Range of functions: Coinbase, which we rate much higher
- Fees and costs: rated the same
- Security and trust: Coinbase, which we rate much higher
- Beginner friendliness: Coinbase, which we rate slightly higher
- Support: Cash App, which we rate slightly higher
Which one fits you
- You want to round up card spending into Bitcoin: Cash App.
- You want Ether, Solana or other coins: Coinbase.
- You buy larger amounts and can wait for a limit order: Coinbase Advanced.
- You live in New York and want Lightning payments: Coinbase or another app, since Cash App Lightning is not offered there.
Our Coinbase review and Cash App review offer more insights. Related pages include Coinbase vs Kraken, our Strike review, and our list of exchanges for beginners.
Questions about Coinbase and Cash App
Is Coinbase better than Cash App for Bitcoin?
We think so if you want choice and lower costs on larger trades, and we rate Coinbase higher overall. In our view, Cash App is the simpler fit for small, regular Bitcoin buys.
Does Cash App charge a fee to buy Bitcoin?
Yes, for market buys below $2,000: 2.0% for the smallest orders, decreasing to 0.9% from $1,000, with a spread up to 0.75%. Recurring buys with Auto Invest have no fee and no spread.
Can you buy coins other than Bitcoin on Cash App?
No. Cash App exclusively offers Bitcoin, while Coinbase provides hundreds of crypto assets.
Exchanges to compare with both
Open in the US first, then by our score. Scores and US status from our data.
Read the reviews
Coinbase and Cash App in fullOther pairs to compare
With Coinbase or Cash App
Compare another pair
Pick any twoShort answers
About Coinbase and Cash App.
Which has lower trading fees, Coinbase or Cash App?
Coinbase, at 0.90% taker against 2.00% on Cash App.
Are Coinbase and Cash App available in the US?
Coinbase is open in every US state. Cash App is open in every US state.
Which has more coins, Coinbase or Cash App?
Coinbase, with 407 against 1 on Cash App.
Who wrote this comparison
Sources, how we rate and our process
Sources
- api.exchange.coinbase.com, for Coinbase crypto assets, checked October 7, 2026
- block.xyz, for Cash App regulation and Cash App headquarters, checked November 4, 2026
- cash.app, for Cash App taker fee, Cash App maker fee, Cash App minimum deposit, Cash App crypto assets, Cash App real coins, Cash App withdraw to your own wallet, Cash App recurring buys, Cash App special features, Cash App United States, Cash App deposit protection, Cash App company, Cash App BTC withdrawal and Cash App fee schedule, checked November 4, 2026
- coinbase.com, for Coinbase taker fee and Coinbase maker fee, checked October 1, 2026
- coinbase.com, for Coinbase United States, checked October 2, 2026
- coinbase.com, for Coinbase fee schedule, checked October 3, 2026
- coinbase.com, for Coinbase ways to pay, checked October 15, 2026
- esma.europa.eu, for Coinbase regulation, checked September 30, 2026
- exchangeflow.co/exchanges/reviews/cash-app, for Cash App what you can trade, Cash App trading options and Cash App our scores, checked November 4, 2026
- exchangeflow.co/exchanges/reviews/coinbase, for Coinbase minimum deposit, checked October 3, 2026
- exchangeflow.co/exchanges/reviews/coinbase, for Coinbase what you can trade, Coinbase real coins, Coinbase withdraw to your own wallet, Coinbase recurring buys, Coinbase staking, Coinbase special features, Coinbase two-factor authentication, Coinbase deposit protection, Coinbase iPhone app, Coinbase Android app, Coinbase account opening, Coinbase best suited for, Coinbase company, Coinbase headquarters, Coinbase founded, Coinbase founders, Coinbase company size, Coinbase followers on X and Coinbase our scores, checked October 16, 2026
- help.coinbase.com, for Coinbase NFT marketplace, checked September 30, 2026
- help.coinbase.com, for Coinbase trading tools, Coinbase when ID is asked and Coinbase not offered in, checked October 1, 2026
- help.coinbase.com, for Coinbase BTC withdrawal, checked October 2, 2026
- itunes.apple.com, for Cash App iPhone app, checked November 4, 2026
- play.google.com, for Cash App Android app, checked November 4, 2026
- pro.coinbase.com, for Coinbase trading options, checked October 1, 2026
How we rate
We score every exchange from 1 to 10 on six criteria: operation, functions and scope, fees and costs, security and trust, beginner friendliness and support. The overall score is our editorial judgment of the platform as a whole; it draws on the six scores but is not their average. How we rate
Our process
We take fees, availability, licenses and coin counts from primary sources: Coinbase and Cash App's own fee schedules, terms and help pages, and the public registers kept by regulators. Every value carries the date we last checked it. The values on this page were checked between September 30, 2026 and November 4, 2026.