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Transferable to your own wallet
Self-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.
Deposit protection is a safeguard for the assets of users of a stock exchange or broker, which is intended to protect investors in the event of insolvency or a high loss due to a hacker attack. Service providers based in Germany are legally obliged to provide deposit protection of €100,000. In some cases, international exchanges have a special insurance policy that covers a certain portion of the assets instead of a deposit guarantee.
The overall rating is the average of our individual ratings. Our ratings do not constitute investment advice, but merely our personal opinion. You are welcome to use them as rough indicators and additional perspective. In the dynamic and fast-growing crypto sector, parameters can often change from one day to the next, so we cannot guarantee that the rating data is up to date. Therefore, please never use our ratings as an isolated basis for decision-making and not as a substitute for your own research.
This rating describes our personal assessment of the user-friendliness of the product. How easy is the onboarding process? How modern is the user interface and is it easy to use? Are all the important functions quick and easy to find? We ask ourselves all these questions in order to give a personal rating from 1 to 10 points.
This rating describes our assessment of the fee structure of a stock exchange or broker. It is not only the amount of fees that can differ, but also the type of fees. The most common type of fees for crypto exchanges are the "maker/taker" fees or spreads. In some cases, there are also hidden fees that are not recognizable to users at first glance.
For products or services in the crypto space, trust and security should be the biggest factors in the selection process. Since we could not seriously evaluate the technical security of a platform or product, we analyze publicly available factors such as security features, location, regulation, certifications, audits, team/company, general reputation and, of course, track record.
Crypto doesn't have to be cryptic. Especially for beginners, the first contact with the crypto world can be overwhelming. With this rating, we give our assessment of how easy it is for beginners to find their way around: from the onboarding process to using the most important functions.
Customer support is an important factor for many users. A long wait or no response at all in the event of problems can be frustrating, especially when it comes to sensitive topics such as finances. With this rating, we give our assessment of the quality of customer support. In order to provide as balanced an assessment as possible, we also include user opinions from other platforms in our evaluation.
Some 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.
Coinbase vs Crypto.com in comparison
Overview
Crypto.com was founded in 2016. It serves US customers mainly through Foris DAX, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and customers in the EEA through Foris DAX MT Limited in Malta, which holds a MiCA license from the MFSA. Its App covers buying, selling, staking, cards and, in the US, stocks, and the Crypto.com Exchange is its order book.
- 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
- 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
- Available in 49 US states, Washington, DC and the US territories
- Exchange spot fees from 0.25% maker and 0.50% taker, lower with volume or a CRO balance
- More than 12,000 commission-free stocks and ETFs for US customers
- MiCA license in the EEA through the MFSA
- No Crypto.com fee on ACH deposits from 1 USD
- Not available in New York
- App trades cost 0.8% plus a possible spread without a paid Level Up plan
- Bitcoin withdrawals cost 0.0004 BTC on the Exchange
- Latest published proof of reserves covers balances as of December 7, 2022
- Two separate apps with different fee models
Features Comparison
- Cryptocurrencies
- Cryptocurrencies
0.9
%
0.90%
0.50%
Varies
0.5
%
0.50%
0.25%
Varies
407
+
$
2
416
+
$
1
- Cashback program
- Discount on fees
- Earn interest through staking
- Further advantages & features
Exchange Rating
Functions
- Spot, futures trading options
- Coinbase Card
- Coinbase Wallet
- Crypto.com Visa Card
- Earn interest on crypto
- NFT marketplace
Company Details
Our Review
Coinbase is a US-listed exchange accessible to residents in every US state, with regulatory licenses in the US, Luxembourg, and the UK. In our view it is a good place for a first crypto purchase, with a simple app and a regulated operator. Active traders can pay less: we would compare Kraken Pro first, whose entry-level taker fee is 0.80%, against 0.90% on Coinbase Advanced in the US.
Crypto.com suits buyers in 49 US states, Washington, DC and the US territories, the EEA and the UK who want crypto, a card and, in the US, stocks in one app. Its Exchange starts at 0.25% maker and 0.50% taker; App trades carry 0.8% plus a possible spread. In our view, active traders should look at Kraken, and New York residents at Coinbase.
Coinbase vs Crypto.com: Fees, Products and Where You Can Use Them
In our view, Coinbase is the better pick if you are new to crypto or prefer an app that simplifies your initial purchase. On the other hand, Crypto.com is the better pick if you trade via an order book and seek lower trading fees: the Crypto.com Exchange offers fees starting at 0.25% for makers and 0.50% for takers, compared to 0.50% and 0.90% for US customers using Coinbase Advanced. Overall, we rate Coinbase slightly higher. Both options accommodate US customers, yet the Crypto.com App is unavailable in New York, whereas Coinbase does not specify any excluded states.
Trading fees
The Crypto.com Exchange starts with lower entry fees. At its first level, for less than $10,000 in spot volume over 30 days, the charges are 0.25% for makers and 0.50% for takers. Coinbase Advanced charges US customers 0.50% for makers and 0.90% for takers at the entry level, with advanced tiers starting at $10,000 in qualifying volume. Crypto.com also offers rewards for holders of its CRO token: maintaining a CRO balance of 50,000 or more on the Exchange lowers the maker fee to zero.
Buying through simple screens incurs higher costs on both platforms. Coinbase incorporates a spread into its simple buy and sell prices and adds a Coinbase fee, capped by its state disclosures at $10 for orders below $200 and 6% for larger ones. The Crypto.com App may apply an admin fee based on market conditions, volatility, and liquidity, and it shows that fee in the trade preview before you confirm. Coinbase One and Crypto.com's Level Up both list zero trading fees among their membership benefits, each under specific conditions. In our view, regular buyers keep more of their money on either platform by placing orders on the order book.
Withdrawals and deposits
The Crypto.com Exchange quotes a fee of 0.0004 BTC for Bitcoin withdrawals, and notes that the final fee can differ with network congestion. Coinbase does not charge a fixed amount, instead billing an estimate of the current network fee, which fluctuates with Bitcoin network activity. For US dollars, Crypto.com imposes no charges for ACH deposits into the App or the Exchange, although banks may apply their own fees.
Where you can use them
Coinbase requires users to be adults residing in the United States, and its US user agreement does not list any state exclusions. It holds NYDFS virtual currency license 122466 in New York. The Crypto.com App is available in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories, excluding New York, which makes Coinbase the only option of the two for residents in New York.
Availability of some products varies by state. Coinbase does not accept new staking from California, Maryland, New Jersey, or Wisconsin, and Crypto.com's ineligible states for staking include the same four. The Coinbase Card, a Visa prepaid debit card, is unavailable in Hawaii, whereas the Crypto.com Visa Signature credit card is available in every state where the Crypto.com App is.
Coins and products
The coin lists are almost equal in size: the Crypto.com Exchange lists 417 crypto assets in its public market data, and Coinbase shows more than 400. Both platforms also allow US customers to trade stocks commission-free, with Coinbase offering this through Coinbase Capital Markets around the clock on weekdays, and Crypto.com via its broker-dealer Foris Capital US LLC, which includes more than 12,000 stocks and ETFs. Both also offer event contracts: Coinbase has prediction markets operated by Kalshi, while Crypto.com offers prediction and sports event trading through its CFTC-regulated unit Crypto.com | Derivatives North America. The same unit also offers non-margined crypto options in the app: Strike Options and UpDown Options.
Margin and futures set the two apart. Coinbase offers futures to US customers, with leverage of up to 10x on its Bitcoin and Ether contracts and up to 20x on selected gold and stock index contracts. On the Crypto.com Exchange, margin and derivatives trading are unavailable to users in the United States. For futures or margin in the US, look at Coinbase, or at Kraken Pro, which provides spot margin to eligible US clients and is covered in our Kraken review.
Ease of use
We rate Coinbase above Crypto.com for beginners and for operation. The Coinbase app emphasizes simple buying and selling, while Coinbase Advanced, the successor to Coinbase Pro, handles order-book trading. Crypto.com divides its services between two apps: the Crypto.com App for buying, staking, cards, and stocks, and the Crypto.com Exchange App for order-book trading on the Exchange. In our view, that split takes longer to learn, but it pays off for frequent traders through the lower Exchange fees.
Security, insurance and track record
Neither platform provides insurance for crypto holdings. Coinbase's user agreement states that digital assets lack FDIC or SIPC protection, though dollar balances may qualify for pass-through FDIC coverage up to the per-depositor limit. Crypto.com indicates that crypto held outside its broker-dealer lacks SIPC coverage, while US dollars in its Cash Earn Account at Green Dot Bank are swept to partner banks for FDIC coverage up to $5,000,000 per depositor, subject to FDIC rules.
Crypto.com says it keeps user deposits in cold storage and it lets you whitelist withdrawal addresses with an optional 24-hour lock on new ones. It lists security certifications, including ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II. Its proof of reserves page still shows Mazars Group's review of balances as of December 7, 2022; we found no newer report there. Coinbase's parent company is listed on Nasdaq. On the regulatory front, the SEC dismissed its case against Coinbase in February 2025, and Crypto.com announced in March 2025 that the SEC had closed its investigation without enforcement action.
Our verdict by criterion
- Fees and costs: Crypto.com, by a clear margin in our rating
- Beginner friendliness and operation: Coinbase
- Range of functions: even in our rating
- Security and trust: Coinbase
- Support: even
- Reach in the US: Coinbase
If neither fits, our overview of low-fee exchanges compares trading costs on more platforms, our page on exchanges for US customers lists more options in the US, and Kraken vs Crypto.com and Coinbase vs Kraken set each of them against Kraken. For the full picture, read our Coinbase review and our Crypto.com review.
Questions about Coinbase and Crypto.com
Is Crypto.com cheaper than Coinbase?
Yes, on the order book at the entry level: the Crypto.com Exchange charges 0.25% for makers and 0.50% for takers, whereas Coinbase Advanced charges US customers 0.50% and 0.90%. Both apps add a fee or a spread that varies with the trade for simple buys.
Can you use Crypto.com in New York?
No. Crypto.com designates New York as a restricted state for its app. Coinbase operates in New York under its NYDFS license.
Is crypto insured on Coinbase or Crypto.com?
No. Neither platform offers insurance for digital assets. Only US dollar balances may qualify for FDIC coverage, under the conditions each platform specifies.
About the author
At Exchange Flow, Ethan is recognized as the resident crypto expert. With 10+years of experience navigating the waters of global crypto exchanges, Ethan is a trusted voice in the ever-evolving world of digital currencies. He tests and scrutinizes exchanges so you don’t have to, offering reviews and articles that newbies and seasoned traders alike find invaluable. When he’s not coding, Ethan likes to travel and play retro games. He uses his crypto earnings to fund his trip around the globe.
