tl;dr: Kraken is our best overall US crypto exchange: a long security record, cheap fees on Kraken Pro, and Kraken+ ($4.99 a month) for fee-free buys up to $10,000 a month. Coinbase is the easiest place to start, Crypto.com has the most coins, Robinhood is best if you also buy stocks, and Gemini is the most tightly regulated and works in New York. Whichever you pick, skip the simple Buy button once you buy regularly: the pro trading screen is almost always cheaper. Last verified November 14, 2026. See how we review
Our five picks for the best US crypto exchanges in 2026
Best Crypto Exchanges at a Glance
Our five picks for 2026, with the cheapest way to buy on each (entry-tier fees, as of November 14, 2026).
Rank | Platform | Best for | Cheapest way to buy (entry tier) | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Best overall | Kraken Pro 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker; Kraken+ $4.99/mo for $0 fees up to $10K/mo | Strong security record, Proof of Reserves, stocks too | |
2 | Beginners | Advanced Trade 0.40% / 0.60% | 4.10% APY on USDC, public US company | |
3 | Coin selection and a card | Exchange 0.25% / 0.50% | 400+ coins, Visa credit card up to 6% | |
4 | Stocks plus crypto | No commission on the default route (cost is in the spread); exchange route 0.50% / 0.95% | 90 tradable coins, one app with stocks | |
5 | Most regulated, New York | ActiveTrader 0.60% / 1.20% | NYDFS trust charter, 4% gas credit card |
Tell me more...
1. Kraken: Best Overall
Kraken
A US exchange running since 2011, with no major exchange hack on record and published Proof of Reserves. It is the one to graduate to once you trade on Kraken Pro.
Key numbers (November 2026):
Kraken Pro: 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker, dropping to 0.22% / 0.38% above $10,000 of monthly volume
Kraken+: $4.99 a month, no trading fee on up to $10,000 a month; up to 4.50% APR on USDG
App Buy button: a 1% fee plus a spread
Pros
Long security record and Proof of Reserves.
Cheap at volume on Kraken Pro.
Crypto, stocks and futures in one place.
Cons
Not available in New York.
The app Buy button is expensive.
Staking is not offered in every state.
2. Coinbase: Best for Beginners
Coinbase
The biggest US exchange, public on Nasdaq since 2021, and the simplest app for a first crypto purchase.
Key numbers (November 2026):
Advanced Trade: 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker
Simple Buy: a spread plus a fee of up to about 1.875%
USDC rewards: 4.10% APY with no lockup
Pros
The easiest app for a first purchase.
A public company with audited financials.
A strong USDC rate.
Cons
Simple buys are expensive.
Coinbase keeps 35% of most staking rewards.
A 2025 support-agent data leak exposed some customer details.
3. Crypto.com: Most Coins and a Card
Crypto.com Visa credit card tiers
The everything app of crypto: 400+ coins, a Visa credit card, stocks and prediction markets.
Key numbers (November 2026):
Exchange: 0.25% maker / 0.50% taker, the lowest entry tier of the five
App buys: the fee sits in the spread
Visa Signature credit card: $0 annual fee, 1.5% back free, up to 6% with Level Up
Pros
The widest coin list of the five.
The cheapest entry-tier exchange.
A strong no-annual-fee card.
Cons
The app's spread adds up.
The best perks need CRO or a subscription.
Two separate apps to learn.
4. Robinhood: Best for Stocks Plus Crypto
Robinhood
Crypto next to stocks, options and retirement accounts in one app.
Key numbers (November 2026):
90 tradable coins (as of September 2026)
Default route: no separate commission, with the cost in the spread; exchange-routed orders 0.50% maker / 0.95% taker at the entry tier
Staking: ETH, SOL and ADA with a 25% commission; not in California, Maryland, New Jersey or Wisconsin
Pros
One app for stocks and crypto.
No commission on standard buys.
No platform fee to send crypto out (network fees apply).
Cons
You can't see the spread you pay.
No Lightning network support.
Crypto is not SIPC-protected.
5. Gemini: Most Regulated
Gemini
A New York trust company supervised by NYDFS, and one of the few big exchanges that works in New York. Its Earn customers were repaid in full.
Key numbers (November 2026):
ActiveTrader: 0.60% maker / 1.20% taker, 0.40% / 0.80% from $10,000 a month
Staking: ETH, SOL and more in eligible states, with Gemini keeping up to 35%
Credit card: 4% back in crypto on gas, EV charging and transit, no annual fee
Pros
The strictest regulation of the five.
A strong no-annual-fee card.
Available in New York.
Cons
The highest entry fees here.
App fees are not published.
The company is losing money.
Also Considered
What a $500 Crypto Buy Costs
The trading fee on a $500 buy at each platform’s entry tier, using its pro trading screen. Spreads on the simple apps cost extra.
Platform (pro screen) | Market order (taker) | Limit order (maker) |
|---|---|---|
Crypto.com Exchange | $2.50 | $1.25 |
Coinbase Advanced Trade | $3.00 | $2.00 |
Kraken Pro | $4.00 | $2.00 |
Robinhood (exchange route) | $4.75 | $2.50 |
Gemini ActiveTrader | $6.00 | $3.00 |
Kraken+ members pay $0 in trading fees on up to $10,000 a month, so a $500 buy costs only the spread. Robinhood’s default route charges no commission, but the spread is not shown.
How to Choose a Crypto Exchange
First purchase, small amounts: Coinbase.
You buy every month: Kraken with Kraken+, or limit orders on any pro screen.
You want altcoins or a crypto credit card: Crypto.com.
You already invest in stocks: Robinhood.
You live in New York, or care most about the regulator: Gemini. Kraken is not available in New York.
How We Chose
We compared the largest US-available crypto platforms on entry-tier fees as of November 14, 2026, coin selection, rewards, regulation and safety record, and how easy each is for a first-time buyer. Every number comes from our full reviews, which take their figures from each platform’s own fee pages. See how we review.
Is Your Crypto Safe on an Exchange?
Crypto held on an exchange is not FDIC- or SIPC-insured on any of the five.
Kraken and Crypto.com publish Proof of Reserves, Coinbase files audited financials as a public company, and Gemini is supervised by NYDFS.
Turn on two-factor authentication and withdrawal allowlists.
For large, long-term holdings, consider a self-custody wallet.
Crypto Exchange FAQ
1. What is the best crypto exchange in the US?
Kraken overall, Coinbase for beginners and Gemini if you live in New York.
2. What is the cheapest way to buy crypto?
A limit order on a pro trading screen. Crypto.com Exchange has the lowest entry fee (0.25% maker), and Kraken+ removes trading fees on up to $10,000 a month.
3. What is the best crypto app for beginners?
Coinbase. Switch to Advanced Trade once you buy regularly.
4. Which crypto exchange is the safest?
Gemini has the strictest regulator (NYDFS), and Kraken has the longest record without a major exchange hack. None of them insure crypto like a bank deposit.
5. Which crypto exchanges work in New York?
Gemini, Coinbase and Robinhood (with some coins restricted). Kraken does not.
6. Coinbase or Kraken?
Coinbase for ease of use; Kraken for lower costs once you trade on Kraken Pro or use Kraken+.
7. Is Robinhood good for crypto?
For stock investors who want some crypto, yes. On the default route you don't see the spread you pay.
8. Do crypto exchanges report to the IRS?
Yes. Brokers send Form 1099-DA for crypto sales starting with tax year 2025.
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