Coinbase vs River Financial: Which is Best? [2024]

River

River is a trusted Bitcoin-only exchange based in the USA.

Coinbase

Coinbase is a popular global crypto exchange with over 240 cryptocurrencies supported.

River

USA

Coinbase

Available in over 100 countries globally. Full features in most of US including debit cards, staking, instant transfers and futures. Strong support in UK, Europe and parts of Asia with some restrictions. Not available in Singapore or OFAC-sanctioned countries. ID verification required.

River

Bitcoin-only

Coinbase

Over 240 cryptocurrencies

River

• Order Size: Up to $1,000,000 | Fee: 1.00%
• Order Size: >$1,000,000 to $5,000,000 | Fee: 0.70%
• Order Size: >$5,000,000 to $15,000,000 | Fee: 0.40%
• Order Size: >$15,000,000 | Fee: 0.25%
• Order Size: All recurring buy orders | Fee: 0.00%

Coinbase

• Transaction Fees:
• $0.99 for transactions $10 or lower
• $1.49 for transactions between $10-$25
• $1.99 for transactions between $25-$50
• $2.99 for transactions between $50-$200
• 0.50% spread fee for transactions over $200
• 
  Payment Method Fees:
• ACH transfers: Free
• Bank account/USD Wallet: 1.49%
• Credit/debit card: 3.99%
• Wire transfers: $10 incoming, $25 outgoing

River

ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer

Coinbase

ACH, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Bank Account, PayPal, Apple Pay, iDEAL, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Instant Verification, Google Pay

River

3.8%

Earn 3.8% interest on FDIC-insured cash, paid out in Bitcoin. No fees or minimums. Withdraws allowed anytime.

Coinbase

4.70%

Earn 4.70% APY rewards by holding USDC on Coinbase. USDC is fully backed 1:1 by US dollars. Minimum $1.

River

iOS Rating: 4.8 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.

Android Rating: 4.9 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.

Coinbase

iOS Rating: 4.7 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.

Android Rating: 4.6 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.

River

River holds client Bitcoin in full reserve with no lending. They built their own custody systems from the ground up to minimize third-party dependencies. Security includes regular independent audits, mandatory 2FA, real-time notifications, 24/7 monitoring, and bcrypt password hashing. Users can verify holdings via Proof of Reserves.

Coinbase

As a public US company, Coinbase maintains full 1:1 reserves of customer assets with no lending. Their platform features industry-leading security including mandatory 2FA, multi-approval withdrawals via Coinbase Vault, and 24/7 monitoring. Over 10 years of experience and regular third-party audits.

River

No. Has never lost customer funds in any way.

Coinbase

No. Has never lost customer funds in any way.

River

river.com

Coinbase

coinbase.com

River

Read our River review

"I really like the app so far. It does what it's supposed to and paired with the desktop web app, I could not personally ask for more. Great customer service and lots of upcoming features in the pipeline from my understanding."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot

Coinbase

Read our Coinbase review

"I mistakenly sent my crypto to the wrong wallet at Coinbase. The team at Coinbase was able to retrieve it and credit to my account within a week. I am quite impressed with their communication, instruction, and result! I'm so relieved. Thank you so much, Coinbase Support!"
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot