Coinbase Review (September 2026)
SponsoredVerdict: First-time buyers in the US who want one regulated app with an easy route to lower-fee Advanced orders later. Not ideal for frequent traders at the entry tier, who pay 0.90% taker on Advanced and more on simple buys.
Coinbase is a US-listed exchange (Nasdaq: COIN) with a simple buy/sell app and a separate order-book screen, Coinbase Advanced (formerly Coinbase Pro), in the same account.
Sponsored: Coinbase has a paid placement on this site. It does not change the editorial score, the facts on this page, or where it appears when you sort the comparison.
- Taker fee (entry tier)
- 0.9%
- Cost of a $1,000 buy
- $19.90
- Assets
- 250+ assets
Disclosure: 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. Read our full disclosure.
Coinbase fees
Maker/taker figures are Coinbase Advanced at the US entry tier after the 2026-09-16 revision (tiers now start at $10K of 30-day volume, and USDC balances can unlock VIP tiers). Simple buys in the main app cost more: a spread of about 0.5% plus a fee that depends on the payment method.
- Maker fee
- 0.5%
- Taker fee
- 0.9%
- USD deposit
- Free by bank transfer
- BTC withdrawal
- Network fee (shown before you confirm)
- ETH withdrawal
- Network fee (shown before you confirm)
- USD withdrawal
- Varies by method
What a $100 and $1,000 buy cost on Coinbase
Coinbase app, simple buy by bank transfer. About 1.49% bank-transfer fee plus about 0.5% spread, as publicly reported in 2026. The preview screen shows the exact total; debit-card buys cost more. A limit order on Coinbase Advanced is usually cheaper.
| Buy | Fee | Spread | Flat fee | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $1.49 | $0.50 | $0.00 | $1.99 (1.99%) |
| $1,000 | $14.90 | $5.00 | $0.00 | $19.90 (1.99%) |
Excludes withdrawal network fees. See how every exchange compares in the cost comparison.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very easy first purchase; clear preview of the total cost
- Publicly listed and audited, US-regulated company
- Coinbase Advanced (same login) for limit orders and lower fees
- Staking and USDC rewards where available
Cons
- Simple buys carry a spread plus a payment-method fee (roughly 2% by bank)
- Entry-tier Advanced fees (0.50% / 0.90%) are higher than several rivals
- May 2025: Coinbase disclosed that bribed support contractors leaked some customer data
- Coinbase NFT marketplace was shut down in 2024
Features and availability
- Spot trading: yes
- Margin trading: no
- Futures: yes
- Staking: yes
- Lend out your crypto: no
- Debit card: yes
- Rewards / Earn: yes
- NFT marketplace: no
- Advanced charts: yes
- API access: yes
Availability: Across the US and in many other countries; some products (staking, derivatives) vary by state and country.
Fiat currencies: USD, EUR, GBP
Our editorial score: 8/10
An editorial judgement against our published methodology, not a user rating. Sponsorship does not affect it.
- Regulation
- 3/3
- Security record
- 2/3
- Transparency
- 2/2
- Cost clarity
- 1/2
Coinbase vs Gemini
| Feature | Coinbase | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Maker / taker fee | 0.5% / 0.9% | 0.6% / 1.2% |
| Modelled cost of a $100 buy | $1.99 (1.99%) | $1.30 (1.3%) |
| Modelled cost of a $1,000 buy | $19.90 (1.99%) | $13.00 (1.3%) |
| How the buy is priced | Coinbase app, simple buy by bank transfer | Gemini ActiveTrader market order, entry tier |
| Assets | 250+ assets | About 100 assets |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2012 | 2014 |
| Staking | Yes | Yes |
| Margin / futures | No / Yes | No / No |
| Debit card | Yes | No |
| Availability | Across the US and in many other countries; some products (staking, derivatives) vary by state and country. | Across the US and in a list of other countries; some products vary by region. |
| Best for | First-time buyers in the US who want one regulated app with an easy route to lower-fee Advanced orders later. | Buyers who put regulatory status first and trade infrequently. |
Shaded rows differ. Read the full Gemini review.
Coinbase FAQ
Is Coinbase safe?
Coinbase gets 8/10 on our editorial score (regulation 3/3, security 2/3, transparency 2/2, cost clarity 1/2). Worth knowing: May 2025: Coinbase disclosed that bribed support contractors leaked some customer data. No exchange is as safe as holding your own keys, so move savings to a hardware wallet.
What are Coinbase's fees?
Maker/taker figures are Coinbase Advanced at the US entry tier after the 2026-09-16 revision (tiers now start at $10K of 30-day volume, and USDC balances can unlock VIP tiers). Simple buys in the main app cost more: a spread of about 0.5% plus a fee that depends on the payment method. In our model a $100 buy costs about $1.99 and a $1,000 buy about $19.90 (coinbase app, simple buy by bank transfer), before withdrawal network fees.
Is Coinbase available in my state or country?
Across the US and in many other countries; some products (staking, derivatives) vary by state and country.
Who is Coinbase best for?
First-time buyers in the US who want one regulated app with an easy route to lower-fee Advanced orders later. It is not ideal for: frequent traders at the entry tier, who pay 0.90% taker on Advanced and more on simple buys.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on against these public pages. Fees and product lineups change often; always confirm on the provider's own site.
Reader reviews
Community reviews are coming soon
Reader reviews need accounts, which are not open yet. Everything on this page is our own editorial research, dated above, and we do not show star ratings we have not collected. Spotted something out of date? See how to contact us.
Information only, not financial advice. Facts checked Sep 23, 2026.