Çoinbase* Pro:
Coinbase provides separate simple and advanced trading tools that you can access from your account. The simple trade option has a straightforward design that's easy to use.
Last updated
Coinbase provides separate simple and advanced trading tools that you can access from your account. The simple trade option has a straightforward design that's easy to use.
Last updated
Coinbase has a wide selection of cryptocurrencies, a user-friendly design, and helpful educational content. For more experienced crypto investors, it also offers advanced trading tools. Thanks to those benefits and its topnotch security, Coinbase is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. Read our full Coinbase review to see if it's the exchange for you.
This cryptocurrency exchange is a good fit for: Crypto investors and traders of all skill levels who want a solid all-around platform for buying, storing, and selling cryptocurrencies.
Pros
Extensive cryptocurrency selection
Simple and advanced trading
Earn free crypto
Educational content
Top-rated mobile app
Crypto rewards
Offers Coinbase debit card
Cons
Complex fee structure
High fees on certain transactions
Limited staking and interest opportunities
Extensive cryptocurrency selection
There aren't many cryptocurrency exchanges, especially for U.S. investors, that can compete with Coinbase's selection. It offers well over 150 types of cryptocurrency for trading, ranging from Bitcoin (BTC) and other major coins to smaller and newer digital tokens.
Simple and advanced trading
Coinbase provides separate simple and advanced trading tools that you can access from your account. The simple trade option has a straightforward design that's easy to use. Advanced trading offers more features, including charts, a live order book, and limit orders.
The one downside with these options is that simple trades have much higher fees. For that reason, we recommend placing trades using the advanced trade option. Keeping fees to a minimum is important when investing in cryptocurrency.
Earn free crypto
One of the cooler features on this exchange is Coinbase Earn, where you can earn free crypto in exchange for completing educational modules about it. Even though you won't earn a lot this way, modules can be completed in under a minute, and it's a fun way to learn more about different cryptocurrencies.
Educational content
Coinbase maintains an impressive library of educational resources, including crypto basics, tips and tutorials, and market updates. Want an easy-to-follow but thorough introduction to Bitcoin? A guide to the tax implications of cryptocurrency investing? Coinbase has you covered on these topics and many more.
Mobile app
Just like the web platform, the Coinbase mobile app is a user-friendly way to buy, sell, and manage cryptocurrency. It has high ratings on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, so it's a great option if you plan to do any mobile crypto trading.
Crypto rewards
You can earn interest on several cryptocurrencies through your Coinbase account. Coinbase pays interest on certain stablecoins, such as USD Coin (USDC), automatically. It also allows you to stake certain cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL). If you stake your crypto, you'll earn rewards on it. Note that eligibility varies depending on your region and the cryptocurrency.
LEARN MORE: What Is Staking in Crypto?
Coinbase debit card
If you have a Coinbase account, you can apply for a Coinbase Card. This prepaid Visa debit card is linked to your Coinbase account balance, allowing you to spend cryptocurrencies. The Coinbase Card also offers crypto rewards and lets you choose which crypto you earn from a rotating list. You can earn up to 4% back this way.
RELATED: Best Crypto Credit Cards
TIP
We’ve found one company that’s positioned itself perfectly as a long-term picks-and-shovels solution for the broader crypto market — Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and all the others. In fact, you've probably used this company's technology in the past few days, even if you've never had an account or even heard of the company before. That's how prevalent it's become.
Sign up today for Stock Advisor and get access to our exclusive report where you can get the full scoop on this company and its upside as a long-term investment. Learn more and get started today with a special new member discount.
Complex fee structure
Fees on Coinbase are unnecessarily complicated and confusing. The exchange uses different trading fee structures depending on whether you use its simple trade or advanced trade option.
Although fees on advanced trades are reasonable and simple enough to understand, simple trades cost more, and you only see the fee amount to be charged when you preview the transactions. It'd be much easier for users if Coinbase adopted the same fees for all types of crypto trades, like many other exchanges do.
CHECK OUT OTHER OPTIONS: Best Cryptocurrency Apps and Exchanges
High fees on simple trades and staking
There are a few areas where Coinbase's fees are expensive. Simple trades have high fees, especially for smaller transactions (below $200). Advanced trades are much cheaper, so you can at least save money using that option. However, it's frustrating that you need to use a more advanced trading tool just to get the best deals on Coinbase, especially if you prefer the simple trade interface.
Coinbase also takes a big cut if you use its staking services. When you stake cryptocurrencies on Coinbase, it charges a 25% commission. That's more than you'd typically pay if you staked cryptocurrency yourself.
Limited rewards opportunities
We like that Coinbase allows you to earn rewards, but you can only do so with a somewhat small selection of cryptocurrencies. There are exchanges with better rewards programs, including exchanges that offer higher rates and that allow you to earn interest on a larger number of digital assets.
If you want to trade stocks as well: Robinhood gives you the best of both worlds with commission-free trading on stocks and crypto. It doesn't offer nearly as many cryptocurrencies as Coinbase, but it works well if you want to keep your full investment portfolio on one platform.
If you want to earn interest on more cryptocurrencies: Gemini is a fantastic option for earning passive income from your crypto holdings. The exchange's Gemini Earn program is simple to use and offers competitive interest rates on dozens of cryptocurrencies. This is also one of the most highly rated crypto exchanges, with excellent security and educational resources.
