KuCoin vs Kraken: Fees, Coins, Safety Comparison
| Feature | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
4.5 |
4.5 |
2.7 |
4.8 |
|
4.5 |
4.1 |
|
5.0 |
4.5 |
|
Investment Instruments |
4.8 |
3.7 |
Platforms and Charting Tools |
4.7 |
4.5 |
Deposit and Withdrawal |
4.6 |
4.0 |
Research |
4.3 |
4.3 |
Education |
4.8 |
4.2 |
Support |
3.8 |
4.3 |
Bonuses |
4.4 |
2.0 |
|
Your capital is at risk.
|
Your capital is at risk.
|
KuCoin vs Kraken: Pros and Cons
KuCoin surfaced in 2017, and within years it has developed into one of the largest crypto exchanges by trading volume. Apart from basic trading options, the platform also offers peer-to-peer (P2P) trading, margin, and futures trading. It also allows users to lend or stake their currencies to win rewards and has relatively lower trading fees than the competitors. If you’re a US trader, you need to sign up for a KuCoin account to use KuCoin; however, the features are limited.
The Kraken exchange is a trading platform for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Cardano, XRP, other cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins. Fiats are represented by EUR, USD, CAD, CHF, AUD, GBP, and JPY. In addition to margin trading, Kraken has indices and futures trading. The exchange provides traders with x5 leverage for margin trading and x50 for futures. Commission fees are among the lowest on the market - up to 0.26%. The crypto exchange has a proprietary trading terminal for an internet browser, as well as mobile applications for iOS and Android devices. The platform offers an extensive knowledge base, tutorials, and video podcasts with news and analytics. The referral program is the standard single-level model with a yield of 20% of the referral’s commission fees.
| KuCoin | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Pros | Trading With Leverage up to 1:100 | 2 FA authentication |
| Derivatives, NFT Available | Low minimum deposit | |
| Low trading and non trading fees | Passive income with staking | |
| Passive Income With Staking and Mining Pool | Regulated in several countries | |
| Great bonus program | Minimum maker fee $0 | |
| Over 50 indicators and 16 drawing tools | ||
| Overall Cons | Not regulated | NFTs are not available |
| Limited access in the US |
KuCoin vs Kraken: Safety and Regulation
| Regulated By: | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
SEC |
No |
No |
FINRA |
No |
No |
SIPC Protection |
No |
No |
Other Regulators |
No |
FinCEN (USA), FINTRAC (Canada), FCA (Great Britain), FSA (Japan), AUSTRAC (Australia) |
KuCoin vs Kraken: Trading Conditions
| Trading Conditions | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit |
$5 |
$1 |
Trading Platforms |
KuCoin |
Web, Mobile, Mobile Pro |
Max Leverage (Futures) |
1-100 |
1:5 |
Number of Markets |
630 |
374 |
Trading Accounts |
1 |
1 |
Base Account Currencies |
20 fiat currencies + cryptocurrencies |
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, JPY + 98 Crypto |
KuCoin vs Kraken: Fees
Trading Fees
| Fee | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Max Maker |
0.1% |
0.16% |
Max Taker |
0.1% |
0.26% |
Min Maker |
0.0125% |
0 |
Min Taker |
0.03% |
0.1% |
Debit/Credit Card Purchase Fee |
0.1% |
3.75% + $0.25 |
Futures Trading fees
| Fee | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Max Maker |
0.02% |
0.02% |
Max Taker |
0.06% |
0.05% |
Min Maker |
0 |
0 |
Min Taker |
0 |
0.01% |
Non-Trading Fees
| Fee | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Account Fee |
No |
No |
Deposit Fee |
No |
$0-$10 |
Bank Transfer Withdrawal Fee |
0 |
4-35 USD |
Debit/Credit Card Withdrawal Fee |
0 |
3.75% + $0.25 |
BTC Withdrawal Fee |
0.0005 BTC |
0.00001 BTC |
Inactivity Fee |
No |
No |
KuCoin vs Kraken: Trading Assets
| Asset Name | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
630+ |
167+ |
Bitcoin (BTC) |
Yes |
Yes |
Litecoin (LTC) |
Yes |
Yes |
Dogecoin (DOGE) |
Yes |
Yes |
Binance Coin (BNB) |
Yes |
No |
Uniswap (UNI) |
Yes |
Yes |
Ripple (XRP) |
Yes |
For non US Users |
Polkadot (DOT) |
Yes |
Yes |
Cardano (ADA) |
Yes |
Yes |
Stellar (XLM) |
Yes |
Yes |
IOTA (MIOTA) |
Yes |
Yes |
Tron (TRX) |
Yes |
Yes |
Derivatives (Futures) |
Yes |
Yes |
NFT |
Yes |
Yes |
Crypto ETF |
No |
No |
KuCoin or Kraken: Investment Programs
| Asset Name | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Staking |
Yes |
Yes |
Mining pool |
Yes |
No |
Managed Accounts |
Yes |
No |
MAM/PAMM |
No |
No |
Other |
Cloud Mining |
No |
Trading Platforms: Kraken or KuCoin
| KuCoin | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
Web |
Yes |
Yes |
Desktop |
No |
No |
Mobile (Android, iOS) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Your capital is at risk.
|
Your capital is at risk.
|
Trading Platforms Features: Kraken or KuCoin
| KuCoin | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
SMS Based 2 FA |
Yes |
No |
App Based 2 FA |
Yes |
Yes |
Voice Call 2 FA |
No |
No |
Search Bar |
Yes |
Yes |
Filters |
Yes |
Yes |
Technical Analysis: Kraken or KuCoin
| KuCoin | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
Indicators |
Yes |
50+ |
Drawing tools |
Yes |
16+ |
Historical Trades |
Yes |
Yes |
Live 2 Quotes |
Yes |
Yes |
Mobile trading: Kraken or KuCoin
| KuCoin | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
iOS Version |
Yes |
Yes |
Android Version |
Yes |
Yes |
Apple Watch App |
No |
No |
Touch ID |
No |
No |
Face ID |
No |
No |
Types of orders: Kraken or KuCoin
| KuCoin | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
Market |
Yes |
Yes |
Limit |
Yes |
Yes |
Stop Loss |
Yes |
Yes |
Stop Limit |
Yes |
Yes |
Trailing Stop |
No |
No |
KuCoin vs Kraken: Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
| Deposit and Withdrawal Method | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Bank Transfer |
Yes |
Yes |
Credit/Debit Card |
Yes |
Yes |
Electronic Wallets |
No |
No |
Crypto |
Yes |
Yes |
KuCoin vs Kraken: Research
| Research Type | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
News Feed |
Yes |
No |
Fundamental Data |
Yes |
No |
Chart Analysis |
No |
No |
Trading Ideas |
No |
No |
E-Mail Reports |
No |
No |
KuCoin vs Kraken: Education
| Education Type | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Demo-account/Paper Trading |
Yes |
No |
Courses |
Yes |
No |
Articles |
Yes |
Yes |
Videos |
Yes |
Yes |
Webinars |
Yes |
Yes |
Kraken vs KuCoin: Support
| Support Features | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Working Days |
24/7 |
24/7 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Phone |
No |
Yes |
Online chat |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
No |
No |
KuCoin vs Kraken: Crypto Bonuses and Promo
| Promo | KuCoin | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
Crypto Bonus |
Crypto Bonuses up to $500 |
No |
Affiliate Program |
40% of the partner's trading commissions |
up to $1000 per refferal |
|
Your capital is at risk.
|
Your capital is at risk.
|
Top 5 Reviews on Kraken
-
Comment
Kraken offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies and has a solid reputation in the industry, but serious issues with usability, customer support, and reliability detract from its appeal as a crypto exchange option.
-
Comment
I have to say they are scammers. He believed in Kraken, held coins on their crypto exchange. I recently found out that they deducted 50% of the balance from my trading account because I had not logged into my account for a long time. Who does this! And this without warning, of course!
-
Comment
It used to be not bad here, but every year the Kraken exchange dies down, as its turnover falls. Now it cannot be said that this is a large exchange, which it once was ...
-
Comment
I tried different exchanges, eventually settled on Kraken. Here are the best conditions for me. I have my favorite tools, the platform is understandable, I figured it out quickly and so far (for six months) nothing has lagged. The commission is also adequate, often below the market. Analytical materials are generally informative. But I’ll clarify right away: I was initially interested in a broker for active independent trading. There are no investment programs in Kraken, and that suits me. If you want extra income, then this is not your option, don't waste your time. I won’t say anything about beginners: on the one hand, Kraken provides basic training, but you can’t call the support service, except for a ticket or a chat.
-
Comment
I see that many people praise the Kraken exchange for its reliability and comfortable conditions for cooperation. I've been using this platform for about a year, and it's really good here. I would also like to note a high-quality trading terminal, it is simple and at the same time functional, even take profit and stop loss are integrated. The Kraken exchange has many advantages, so I will not list all of them. You will see for yourself if you register. I just want to name the cons such as the lack of telephone communication and investment programs. Also, the exchange favors active traders.
Top 5 Reviews on KuCoin
-
Comment
KuCoin provides access to a wide range of digital assets, including many lesser-known or niche coins. Despite this, my encounter with KuCoin has been nothing short of frustrating . On numerous occasions, I've encountered issues with deposits, withdrawals, or trade executions. I cannot in good conscience recommend this exchange to anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy platform for trading cryptocurrencies.
-
Comment
If you trade cryptocurrencies, then definitely not here. They made a name for themselves earlier, but the trade has deteriorated, only the name remains, but this is catastrophically small!
-
Comment
Another exchange that will eventually scam or be hacked, everything is clear with it. More than once I was given an error when entering the site. There are already the first calls. I withdraw money, and I advise you.
-
Comment
Bad exchange, with high trading fees. I do not recommend even starting trading on KuCoin. I would give her a much lower place in the ranking, given the quality of the services she provides!
-
Comment
The first thing I pay attention to is the working hours of the crypto exchange. KuCoin has been operating since 2013, and this is quite a long time, so the company aroused my confidence. But to say that KuCoin is somehow very different from the competition and seems like a better option? I don't have that. Some users are attracted by the number of instruments, others by competitions within the exchange or leverage up to 1:100. But for me, high-quality analytics and the ability to delve into the market are much more important. Well, with KuCoin it didn't work out for me. The functionality of their own platform is good for beginners and not too fastidious traders, it is basic. I was not hooked, but I can’t say anything bad about this exchange either.
FAQs
What should I start Crypto trading with?
For starters, you need to learn what crypto trading is, understand what cryptocurrency is and the risks and opportunities cryptocurrency trading has. It is also important to learn the existing strategies. The second step is to choose the best crypto exchange with good trading conditions. A demo account that you can use to gain valuable experience risk free is an important advantage of an exchange.
What amount should I start trading with?
It is recommended to start trading cryptocurrencies with a small amount. That way, if you partially lose it, it won’t pose a serious financial problem for you. This is because cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, which carries certain risks for novice traders. The majority of cryptocurrency exchanges allow traders to start from a small amount – from $1 to $50 or its cryptocurrency equivalent.
What should I take into consideration when choosing a crypto exchange?
The first thing experts recommend looking at when considering crypto exchanges is their reliability. Other important features include basic trading conditions, commissions and fees, customer reviews. If crypto exchanges are approximately the same in terms of basic criteria, you need to choose based on your experience and tasks. One crypto exchange may be good for professionals and another – for novice traders.
Can a cryptocurrency exchange turn out to be a scam?
Unfortunately, this does happen. Therefore, it is better to choose cryptocurrency exchanges that have been operating in the market for at least several years and have a stable reputation. Regulation of an exchange in one of the countries with high legal culture is also an advantage.
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.