Best Crypto Exchanges & Wallets Compared (2026)
For most US beginners, Coinbase is the easiest first buy, but it is not the cheapest: a limit order on an order-book exchange usually costs a fraction as much. For savings, move coins to a hardware wallet; the Trezor Safe 3 is our best-value pick. Below are the real costs of a $100 and $1,000 buy, current wallet lineups and how we score them.
Our picks at a glance
Editorial picks from the data below, checked Sep 23, 2026. Sponsorship does not affect them.
Exchanges
- Best for beginners: CoinbaseSimplest first purchase with a full cost preview, and a lower-fee Advanced screen in the same account.
- Lowest cost ($1,000 buy): Binance.USLowest modelled cost for a $1,000 market buy (about $1.20 incl. spread). Check it is available in your state.
- Best security record: KrakenHighest security + transparency sub-scores in our methodology (incident record, proof of reserves).
- Best for staking: KrakenBroad staking menu and fee discounts for holding assets; staking availability still varies by state.
- Stocks and crypto in one app: RobinhoodCrypto next to stocks and ETFs in one app, with no commission (you pay the spread).
Wallets
- Best-value hardware wallet: Trezor Safe 3Open-source firmware and a secure element at the lowest list price of any current model here.
- Best open-source touchscreen: Trezor Safe 5Touchscreen, open-source firmware, secure element and Shamir backup for well under $200.
- Best hardware wallet for phones: Ledger Nano Gen5Touchscreen, Bluetooth and NFC for iPhone and Android at $179.
- Easiest software wallet: ExodusThe easiest desktop + mobile software wallet we cover. Move larger amounts to a hardware wallet.
- Best for Ethereum DeFi: MetaMaskWorks with almost every Ethereum and layer-2 app, and signs with a Ledger or Trezor.
- Best Bitcoin-only mobile wallet: BlueWalletOpen-source, Bitcoin-only, with multisig vaults and watch-only wallets.
How we make money
Some links on this page may be affiliate links: if you sign up or buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Entries marked "Sponsored" are paid placements. Neither changes our editorial scores or the order you choose to sort by. Fees and features come from the providers' public pages and are dated on every entry.
Crypto exchanges compared
7 US-available exchanges. Numbers show position in your chosen sort.
- Sponsored
Kraken
United States · Est. 2011
- Our editorial score
- 9/10
- Taker fee
- 0.8%
- $1,000 buy costs
- $9.00
- Assets
- 200+ assets
Best for: Buyers who will use limit orders on Kraken Pro and want a strong security reputation and regular proof-of-reserves audits.
- Staking
- Margin
- Futures
- Rewards/Earn
- Mobile app
Last verified - Sponsored
Coinbase
United States · Est. 2012
- Our editorial score
- 8/10
- Taker fee
- 0.9%
- $1,000 buy costs
- $19.90
- Assets
- 250+ assets
Best for: First-time buyers in the US who want one regulated app with an easy route to lower-fee Advanced orders later.
- Staking
- Futures
- Debit card
- Rewards/Earn
- Mobile app
Last verified - Sponsored
Gemini
United States · Est. 2014
- Our editorial score
- 8/10
- Taker fee
- 1.2%
- $1,000 buy costs
- $13.00
- Assets
- About 100 assets
Best for: Buyers who put regulatory status first and trade infrequently.
- Staking
- Mobile app
Last verified - 1
Robinhood
United States · Est. 2013
- Our editorial score
- 7/10
- Taker fee
- 0%
- $1,000 buy costs
- $6.00
- Assets
- Dozens of assets (list varies by state)
Best for: People who already invest in stocks on Robinhood and want small crypto positions in the same app.
- Staking
- Futures
- Debit card
- Mobile app
Last verified - 2
Binance.US
United States · Est. 2019
- Our editorial score
- 6/10
- Taker fee
- 0.02%
- $1,000 buy costs
- $1.20
- Assets
- 150+ assets
Best for: Cost-sensitive US traders in supported states who place their own limit orders.
- Staking
- Rewards/Earn
- Mobile app
Last verified - 3
Crypto.com
Singapore · Est. 2016
- Our editorial score
- 6/10
- Taker fee
- 0.5%
- $1,000 buy costs
- $6.00
- Assets
- 350+ assets
Best for: People who want a crypto debit card and in-app rewards in one place.
- Staking
- Margin
- Debit card
- Rewards/Earn
- Mobile app
Last verified - 4
Uphold
United States · Est. 2015
- Our editorial score
- 6/10
- Taker fee
- 0%
- $1,000 buy costs
- $15.00
- Assets
- 250+ assets
Best for: Converting directly between crypto, metals and currencies in one step.
- Staking
- Debit card
- Mobile app
Last verified
Crypto wallets compared
Hardware prices are US list prices. For a full Ledger vs Trezor spec table see our hardware wallet comparison.
- $179list priceHARDWARE
Ledger Nano Gen5
Phone-first users who want a touchscreen and Bluetooth at a mid-range price.
- Assets
- 15,000+ assets (Ledger's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 8/10
- Closed source
- Secure element
- $149list priceHARDWARE
Ledger Nano X
Buyers who find it discounted and want Bluetooth without paying for a touchscreen.
- Assets
- 15,000+ assets (Ledger's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 7/10
- Closed source
- Secure element
- $79list priceHARDWARE
Ledger Nano S Plus
A low-cost first hardware wallet with a secure element.
- Assets
- 15,000+ assets (Ledger's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 7/10
- Closed source
- Secure element
- $249list priceHARDWARE
Ledger Flex
Frequent DeFi or NFT signers who want a large screen to read transactions.
- Assets
- 15,000+ assets (Ledger's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 9/10
- Closed source
- Secure element
- $399list priceHARDWARE
Ledger Stax
People who value design and a big screen and do not mind paying for it.
- Assets
- 15,000+ assets (Ledger's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 9/10
- Closed source
- Secure element
- $79list priceHARDWARE
Trezor Safe 3
The best-value open-source hardware wallet for most people.
- Assets
- Thousands of assets (Trezor's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 7/10
- Open source
- Secure element
- $169list priceHARDWARE
Trezor Safe 5
Open-source fans who want a touchscreen without paying Safe 7 prices.
- Assets
- Thousands of assets (Trezor's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 8/10
- Open source
- Secure element
- $249list priceHARDWARE
Trezor Safe 7
Open-source buyers who want Bluetooth and iPhone support.
- Assets
- Thousands of assets (Trezor's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 9/10
- Open source
- Secure element
- FreeSOFTWARE
MetaMask
Using Ethereum and layer-2 DeFi apps, ideally paired with a hardware wallet.
- Assets
- EVM tokens, plus Bitcoin and Solana
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 7/10
- Open source
- FreeSOFTWARE
Phantom
Solana users who also hold some ETH or BTC.
- Assets
- Tokens on Solana, EVM chains, Bitcoin and Sui
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 9/10
- Closed source
- FreeMOBILE
Trust Wallet
Mobile users who hold coins on many different chains.
- Assets
- 100+ blockchains
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 9/10
- Closed source
- FreeSOFTWARE
Exodus
Beginners who want a polished desktop wallet with a built-in swap.
- Assets
- Hundreds of assets
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 10/10
- Closed source
- FreeSOFTWARE
Coinbase Wallet
Coinbase customers taking their first step into self-custody on Base.
- Assets
- Tokens on Bitcoin, Solana and 10+ EVM networks
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 9/10
- Closed source
- FreeMOBILE
BlueWallet
Bitcoin-only holders who want multisig or watch-only wallets on their phone.
- Assets
- Bitcoin only
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 6/10
- Open source
- $219last list priceHARDWAREDISCONTINUED
Trezor Model T
Existing owners. New buyers should choose a Safe model instead.
- Assets
- Thousands of assets (Trezor's claim)
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 8/10
- Open source
- No secure element
- $69last list priceHARDWAREDISCONTINUED
Trezor Model One
Existing owners. New buyers should choose the Trezor Safe 3.
- Assets
- Fewer assets than newer Trezors
- Ease of use (editorial)
- 6/10
- Open source
- No secure element
What a $100 and a $1,000 bitcoin buy really cost
Worked examples for a market buy of BTC with USD, including the trading fee and the spread (the gap between the price you pay and the market price). "Commission-free" apps are not free: their cost is in the spread. Withdrawal network fees are extra on every platform.
| Exchange | How the buy is priced | Fee | Spread | $100 buy | $1,000 buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance.US | Binance.US market order | 0.02% | ~0.1% | $0.12 | $1.20 |
| Crypto.com | Crypto.com Exchange market order, base tier | 0.5% | ~0.1% | $0.60 | $6.00 |
| Robinhood | Robinhood app, standard market buy | 0% | ~0.6% | $0.60 | $6.00 |
| Kraken | Kraken Pro market order, entry tier | 0.8% | ~0.1% | $0.90 | $9.00 |
| Gemini | Gemini ActiveTrader market order, entry tier | 1.2% | ~0.1% | $1.30 | $13.00 |
| Uphold | Uphold market buy | 0% + $0.99 under $500 | ~1.5% | $2.49 | $15.00 |
| Coinbase | Coinbase app, simple buy by bank transfer | 1.49% | ~0.5% | $1.99 | $19.90 |
- Order-book exchanges (Kraken Pro, Binance.US, Gemini ActiveTrader, Crypto.com Exchange) use the entry-tier taker fee plus an assumed 0.1% spread for a BTC/USD market order. A limit order pays the lower maker fee and usually no spread.
- Spread-based apps (Coinbase simple buy, Robinhood, Uphold) use the typical spreads publicly reported in 2026; the real spread moves with the market.
- Figures checked Sep 23, 2026. Each exchange review links to the official fee page; confirm there before trading.
How we score exchanges
"Our editorial score" is a judgement by our editors, not a user rating, out of 10:
- Regulation (0–3): licences, public listing and disclosures, enforcement history.
- Security (0–3): hacks, breaches and how customers were treated afterwards.
- Transparency (0–2): proof of reserves, audited or public financials.
- Cost clarity (0–2): published fees versus costs hidden in spreads.
Sponsorship and affiliate relationships do not change scores or the order of any sort. We do not show star ratings or review counts until readers have actually submitted reviews.
| Exchange | Regulation | Security | Transparency | Cost clarity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken | 2/3 | 3/3 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 9/10 |
| Coinbase | 3/3 | 2/3 | 2/2 | 1/2 | 8/10 |
| Gemini | 3/3 | 2/3 | 2/2 | 1/2 | 8/10 |
| Robinhood | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/2 | 1/2 | 7/10 |
| Binance.US | 1/3 | 2/3 | 1/2 | 2/2 | 6/10 |
| Crypto.com | 2/3 | 2/3 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 6/10 |
| Uphold | 1/3 | 2/3 | 2/2 | 1/2 | 6/10 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to buy bitcoin?
In our September 2026 model, a $1,000 market buy costs about $1.20 on Binance.US and about $19.90 on Coinbase, once trading fees and spreads are included. Order-book exchanges with limit orders are usually cheapest; "commission-free" apps charge through the spread. Withdrawal network fees are extra everywhere.
Which crypto exchange is best for beginners?
Coinbase is the simplest first purchase for most US beginners because it shows the full cost before you confirm. It is not the cheapest: once you are comfortable, a limit order on Coinbase Advanced or Kraken Pro costs less.
What is the difference between a hardware wallet and a software wallet?
A hardware wallet is a small device that keeps your private keys offline and signs transactions on its own screen, so malware on your computer cannot take your keys. A software wallet is an app on an internet-connected phone or computer: free and convenient, but more exposed. Many people use both: a software wallet for small amounts and a hardware wallet for savings.
Are these fees up to date?
Every entry shows the date we last checked it (most recently Sep 23, 2026) and links to the official fee page. Exchanges change fees often: Kraken changed its schedule on 2026-07-09 and Coinbase Advanced on 2026-09-16. Always confirm on the provider's site before you trade.
Do sponsorships or affiliate links change the order?
No. Entries marked "Sponsored" are paid placements, but they appear wherever your chosen sort puts them and are not numbered as rankings. Our editorial score comes from the published methodology below, and affiliate links (where configured) do not change it.
Does Coinbase Pro still exist?
No. Coinbase Pro closed in 2023 and was replaced by Coinbase Advanced, which is part of the normal Coinbase account. We cover it on our Coinbase page.
Is the Trezor Model T discontinued?
Yes. Trezor removed the Model T and Model One from its shop on 2026-01-08. Both still receive security updates. The Trezor Safe 3, Safe 5 and Safe 7 are the current models.