Many people are looking for alternatives to Coinbase.

We've researched and listed trusted alternatives to Coinbase with low fees and good customer support. We believe these are two important factors for those looking for alternatives.

Exchange	Best For	Fees
River	Dollar-cost averaging	1.30%
Robinhood	Low fee buying	0.55%
Kraken	Traders	0.40%
Bitbuy	Canadian users	2.50%
Unchained	Retirement accounts	Varies
Swan Bitcoin	Bitcoin-only	0.99%
Gemini	New York residents	3.49%

WARNING: As of 2024, Coinbase and other major crypto exchanges are in an ongoing regulatory dispute with the SEC. The SEC claims most crypto tokens should be registered as securities, while exchanges argue existing regulations are unworkable for crypto. This regulatory uncertainty could impact exchange operations and user funds. The outcome of these legal battles may affect how crypto exchanges operate in the US.

USA Lower Fee Alternatives to Coinbase

If lower Bitcoin fees are what you're looking for, here's what our testing showed for a test $100 BTC purchase using a bank account.

Exchange	Spread Fee %	Fee %	Total Cost on $100
Kraken	0.0	0.4	$0.4
Robinhood	0.55	0.0	$0.55
River	0.3	1.0	$1.3
Gemini	0.5	2.99	$3.49

You may also like our comparisons of Coinbase vs other exchanges:

• Coinbase vs Kraken
• Robinhood vs Coinbase
• River vs Coinbase

DCA Alternatives to Coinbase

If you want to DCA (dollar-cost average), the fees are different.

DCA is when you buy the same amount of Bitcoin on a regular basis, like every month or every week.

Here are some DCA alternatives to Coinbase, re-sorted by fees. River charges 0% fees for recurring buys, so they become the cheapest option.

Alternatives In-Depth

River - Best for Bitcoin Only

River Financial, based in San Francisco, operates as a Bitcoin-only exchange. They've positioned themselves to offer users an unparalleled, professional Bitcoin buying journey.

River Financial is designed to offer users a straightforward and professional experience when purchasing Bitcoin. Registered in the USA, it upholds strict security standards to ensure users' peace of mind.

The platform's "Private Client" service is especially beneficial for users looking to invest in significant amounts of Bitcoin. Not only does it allow for the purchase of larger Bitcoin volumes, but it also provides personalized phone support for a smooth acquisition process.

River's fee structure is tailored according to the size of the purchase:

Fees:

• Purchases up to $250,000: 1.20%.
• $250,000.01 to $1,000,000: 1.00%.
• $1,000,000.01 to $5,000,000: 0.90%.
• Over $5,000,000: 0.80%.

River is not available in Nevada and New York.

Kraken - Best for Low Fee & Traders

Kraken is one of the largest global crypto exchanges and services most countries, including:

• USA
• Canada
• UK
• EU
• MENA Region
• Most other countries besides Cuba, North Korea and Iran

Kraken has some of the lowest fees among all exchanges. It charges a maximum of 0.26% on trades when using the Kraken Pro platform.

Here are fee estimates for different amounts of BTC purchased on Kraken Pro:

Gemini - Best for New York Residents

The Winklevoss twins launched Gemini in November 2015. Gemini works with both individuals and institutional clients.

As it holds a Bitlicense from the New York State Department of Financial Services, it's the best option for New York residents.

Coinbase alternative snapshots

Coinbase Alternatives in Canada

Coinbase does work in Canada, but it's not the best option for Canadians.

Here's what our testing showed for a test 100 CAD purchase of BTC using a bank account.

Exchange	Spread Fee %	Fee %	Total Cost on $100
Kraken	0.0	0.4	$0.4
Uphold	1.5	0.0	$1.5
Bitbuy	1.0	1.5	$2.5
Coinbase	1.0	2.99	$3.99
MyBTC	0.0	4.75	$4.75

See head on how Coinbase compares to these other Canadian exchanges:

• Coinbase vs Kraken
• Coinbase vs Bitbuy

Bitbuy and MyBTC are both Canada-only, so they may offer a more "personalized" experience.

Coinbase Alternatives in New York

Coinbase does work in New York.

However, since New York has strict regulations, you'll need to make sure your replacement exchange supports New York residents.

Here's some alternatives that support New York residents, compared by fees.

Exchange	Spread Fee %	Fee %	Total Cost on $100
Robinhood	0.55	0.0	$0.55
Gemini	0.5	2.99	$3.49
Coinbase	1.0	2.99	$3.99

What should you look for in a Coinbase alternative?

There are a few key things to look for in a Coinbase alternative:

• Low fees
• Good customer support
• Good security

High fees are the main reason people switch from Coinbase. Coinbase has extremely high fees, while other companies offer much, much lower fees.

Customer support is one of the main reasons people switch from Coinbase. Coinbase has notoriously bad customer support, while other companies may offer more personal support.

WARNING: Crypto exchanges differ from traditional brokers - they aren't protected by SIPC insurance. This means if you keep your crypto on an exchange, your funds could be at risk if the exchange fails, unless specifically protected by their terms of service. You would likely be treated as an unsecured creditor in bankruptcy.

Margin Trading Alternatives

Margin trading is when you borrow money to trade.

Kraken is the only other US exchange that offers margin trading. Gemini currently does not offer this feature.

What Capterra and G2 say about Coinbase

So, why do people really switch from Coinbase?

Capterra and G2 have some interesting insights into why people switch from Coinbase.

Capterra does have a 4.2 star rating with 117 reviews. However, here are the main cons:

The customer support is not satisfactory. They have provided me with a poor experience.

First of all, I'm bothered by the lack of clarity in managing my own portfolio.

G2 has a lesser 3.2 star rating with 121 reviews.

The main complaints there, as mentioned above, are the high fees.