8 Lowest Fee Crypto Exchanges (2024)

Top 8 Low-Fee Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Binance

Binance is the largest exchange in the world and is well-known for offering low fees! However, it’s important to note that Binance has faced regulatory issues in multiple countries. The US version of the platform offers marginally higher fees (0.38-0.57% on most transactions) 

Fee Breakdown:

• Maker Fees: 0.10%
• Taker Fees: 0.10%
• Withdrawal Fees: Varies by cryptocurrency 

Cryptocurrency selection: 500+ 

Availability: Not available in USA, UK, and Canada (Binance.US available in USA) 

Security: Binance offers two-factor authentication, advanced encryption, and a Secure Asset Fund to reimburse users in case of a hack. 

Additional Info: 25% discount for using Binance Coin (BNB) 

Kraken Pro

Description:
Kraken Pro offers low fees and high security. Kraken is one of the only major exchanges to have never been hacked — making it a great choice for investors looking for secure storage. 

Fee Breakdown:

• Maker Fees: 0.16%
• Taker Fees: 0.26%
• Withdrawal Fees: Varies by cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency selection: 230+ 

Availability: Available in the USA, UK, Canada, and dozens of other countries! 

Security: Two-factor authentication and SSL encryption

Additional Info: Kraken offers various fee tiers based on your trading volume. The more you trade, the lower your fees!

Coinbase One ‍

Coinbase One is a subscription service that offers zero trading fees on up to $10,000 of trades per month. While the service does cost money, it’s well worth it if you're a high volume trader. Coinbase One also includes priority customer support, higher interest rates, and rebates on some spot trading fees. 

Fee Breakdown:

• Subscription Cost: $29.99/month
• Maker/Taker Fees: $0 for trades up to $10,000 per month (regular fees apply above $10k)
• Withdrawal Fees: Varies by currency

Cryptocurrency selection: 260+ 

Availability: Currently available in USA, UK, Canada and dozens of other countries

Security: Coinbase offers two-factor authentication and advanced encryption. All customer funds are held 1:1 offline.

Additional Info: If you surpass the $10,000 mark, you’ll pay fees between 0-0.4% on Coinbase Advanced. 

Gemini ActiveTrader

Gemini ActiveTrader is a free platform designed for experienced investors. Gemini is known for its regulatory compliance — it’s one of the only exchanges available in all 50 states! 

Fee Breakdown:

• Maker Fees: 0.20%
• Taker Fees: 0.40%
• Withdrawal Fees: Network fees only — Gemini does not charge additional withdrawal fees

Cryptocurrency selection: 80+

Availability: Available in the USA, UK, and dozens of other countries (not available in Canada) 

Security: Gemini offers two-factor authentication and regularly conducts penetration tests with third-party security firms. 

Additional Info: Gemini charges fees for storing your crypto on Gemini Custody (optional service) and credit card purchases. 

Bitstamp

Description:
Bitstamp is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges. While it offers less cryptocurrencies than competitors like Coinbase, it is considered a secure and trusted exchange. 

Fee Breakdown:

• Maker Fees: 0.30%
• Taker Fees: 0.40%
• Withdrawal Fees: Varies by currency

Cryptocurrency selection: 80+ 

Availability: Available in USA and UK (not available in Canada) 

Security: Bitstamp stores the majority of customer holdings in cold storage. 

Additional Fees: Bitstamp offers a tiered system with lower fees for higher trade volume. 

Phemex 

Description:
Phemex is an exchange and trading bots provider based in Singapore and available in the USA and other countries. Phemex offers more than 350 cryptocurrencies and low transaction fees! 

Fee Breakdown:

• Maker Fees: 0.30%
• Taker Fees: 0.40%
• Withdrawal Fees: 0% 

Cryptocurrency selection: 350+ 

Availability: Not available in USA, Canada, and UK 

Security: Phemex keeps 100% of user funds in reserves, uses two-factor authentication, and secures machines with AWS. 

Additional Info: 0.8% fees on credit card transactions 

Strike 

Description:
Strike is an app designed specifically for buying and selling Bitcoin. The app has zero fees on transactions and withdrawals. While there is a spread between the stated price and the actual price of BTC, it is usually less than 1%. 

Fee Breakdown:

• Maker Fees: 0%
• Taker Fees: 0% 
• Withdrawal Fees: 0% 

Cryptocurrency selection: Bitcoin only 

Availability: Available in USA and 90+ other countries (not available in UK and Canada) 

Security: Strike transfers Bitcoin directly to your wallet — so that you control your own private keys. 

Additional info: Varying spreads on trades (typically less than 1%) 

River 

Description:
River is another Bitcoin-only application that offers zero fees and low spreads on trades. Currently, River is only available in the United States. 

Fee Breakdown:

• Maker Fees: 0%
• Taker Fees: 0% 
• Withdrawal Fees: 0% 

Cryptocurrency selection: Bitcoin only 

Availability: USA only 

Security: All BTC on River is held in full reserve. River goes through regular security audits. 

Additional Info: Estimated spread of 0.15% 

What’s the difference between maker and taker fees? 

In most cryptocurrency exchanges, there are separate fees for market ‘takers’ and market ‘makers’. 

What are taker fees?: If you are a market ‘taker’, you take the prevailing prices on the market. This means you take liquidity away from the marketplace — which means you pay higher fees. 

What are maker fees?: If you are a market ‘maker’, you add liquidity to the market. Market makers are typically given lower fees, since exchanges need liquidity to function. 

How do I reduce my exchange fees? 

Let’s break down a few simple ways to reduce your exchange fees. 

• Trade at Higher Volumes: Many exchanges offer lower fees for users with high monthly trading volumes.
• Limit Orders: One way to minimize fees is to use limit orders, where you specify the price you’re willing to trade at. If your order doesn’t execute immediately, you will only pay maker fees, which are generally lower than taker fees. 
• Use Subscriptions/VIP programs: Many exchanges offer subscriptions and VIP programs that offer lower trading fees. 
• Use Native Tokens: Some exchanges (like Binance) offer fee discounts when paying with their native token (BNB).

How are crypto exchange fees taxed? 

Exchange fees can reduce your capital gain and lower your tax bill! 

If you pay fees while trading, those costs can be added to your cost basis or subtracted from your proceeds. In either case, fees reduce your taxable income! 

What additional fees do exchanges charge? 

You should consider additional fees that you might incur from your exchange. This may include the following: 

• Withdrawal Fees: Costs for transferring crypto out of the exchange.
• Deposit Fees: Cost for depositing fiat currency in your exchange. 
• Fiat Conversion Fees: Extra charges for converting fiat to crypto, especially on fiat-to-crypto transactions.
• Subscription Fees: Platforms like Coinbase One offer paid subscriptions for zero-fee trading. 

Do decentralized exchanges have lower fees? 

Generally speaking, decentralized exchanges have lower fees than their centralized counterparts. 

Many decentralized exchanges only charge users fees between 0.1-0.5% (though you should also account for relevant blockchain gas fees). 

Decentralized exchange aggregators like 1inch can help you find the lowest fees available for trades you wish to make. 

Fiat-to-Crypto vs. Crypto-to-Crypto Fees

Let’s walk through the different types of fees you might see on different types of trades. 

Fiat-to-crypto fees: Buying BTC with USD is considered a fiat-to-crypto transaction. These types of transactions typically have higher fees than crypto-to-crypto trades. 

Crypto-to-crypto fees: Trading ETH for BTC is considered a crypto-to-crypto trade. These transactions typically have lower fees than crypto-to-crypto trades. 

How do deposit and withdrawal fees work? 

Withdrawal fees can vary widely based on the cryptocurrency and exchange, with some exchanges offering free withdrawals for certain users or assets.

Some exchanges charge deposit fees as well when you fund your account through methods like bank or wire transfer. Typically, deposit fees are lower than withdrawal fees. 

In conclusion: Choosing the right exchange for your needs 

Do your research on fees before you get started with a cryptocurrency exchange. By understanding each platform’s fee structure and using strategies like limit orders, you can minimize your trading costs while maximizing your returns.