If you’ve been in the crypto space for a while, chances are you’ve come across Binance and Coinbase. These two are among the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, and for good reason. Both are beginner-friendly, packed with features, and trusted by millions globally. But if you’re wondering which one’s actually better for you, you’re not alone—that’s what we’re here to figure out.
Binance holds the title for being the largest crypto exchange by trading volume, and it’s available in over 180 countries. It launched in 2017 and has quickly become a favorite for traders who want more advanced tools and a wide range of coins.
Coinbase, on the other hand, has been around since 2012 and operates in about 100 countries. While it doesn’t offer as many advanced features as Binance, it makes up for it with simplicity, ease of use, and a strong focus on security. If you’re just starting out, that beginner-friendly layout can make a big difference.
So which one is better? It really depends on what you’re looking for.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the main differences between the two platforms:
Cell |  | 
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Fiat Currencies | USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD, HKD, JPY & 35 more | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, MXN, HRK, CZK, DKK & 10+ more |
Number of Coins | 280+ | 160+ |
Trading Fees | 0.1% | 0.5% + Coinbase fee which varies depending on amount traded and payment method |
Deposit Methods | Cell | Cell |
Bank Transfer | ||
Google Pay | ||
Fedwire | ||
PayPal | ||
Credit Card | ||
Debit Card | ||
Apple Pay | ||
SWIFT | ||
Skrill | ||
SOFORT/iDEAL | ||
Cryptocurrency | ||
Features | Cell | Cell |
User-friendly | ||
Mobile app | ||
Live Chat | ||
Security | Cell | Cell |
2FA | ||
Biometric security | ||
ISO 27001 certified | ||
Offline cold storage | ||
Website |
Cell | |
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Fiat Currencies | USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD, HKD, JPY & 35 more | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, MXN, HRK, CZK, DKK & 10+ more |
Number of Coins | 600+ | 160+ |
Trading Fees | 0.1% | 0.5% + Coinbase fee which varies depending on amount traded and payment method |
Deposit Methods | Cell | Cell |
Bank Transfer | ||
Google Pay | ||
Fedwire | ||
PayPal | ||
Credit Card | ||
Debit Card | ||
Apple Pay | ||
SWIFT | ||
Skrill | ||
SOFORT/iDEAL | ||
Cryptocurrency | ||
Features | Cell | Cell |
User-friendly | ||
Mobile app | ||
Live Chat | ||
Security | Cell | Cell |
2FA | ||
Biometric security | ||
ISO 27001 certified | ||
Offline cold storage | ||
Website |
- Supports 600+ cryptocurrencies
- Largest crypto exchange in the world by trading volume
- Various ways to earn interest on many cryptocurrencies
- Supports spot, margin, futures, and derivatives trading
- Much lower trading fees than Coinbase
- Limited access to customer support
- Not available to US residents
- The platform has a very user-friendly interface, perfect for beginners
- Users can earn interest from holding their crypto
- Offers a simple buy/sell interface for beginners and an advanced interface for experienced traders
- Customer support is available via email, live chat, and phone
- Coinbase is available to USA residents
- Fewer trading features for advanced traders
- Higher fees than Binance
Binance vs Coinbase Fees
Deposit fees
Binance allows you to deposit crypto for free. If you’re depositing fiat currency, the fees will depend on your country and the payment method you choose. In some cases, there’s no fee at all, while in others it can go up to 3.5 percent. You can check the exact deposit fees on Binance’s site based on your location. You can check the relevant deposit fees here.
Coinbase also charges fees for fiat deposits, and again, it depends on where you are and how you’re depositing. For example, SEPA transfers are free if you’re in Europe, but international bank transfers can get pricey.
If you’re using a credit or debit card on Coinbase, there’s a spread fee of 0.5 percent plus a variable fee depending on the method. Debit card purchases come with a 3.99 percent fee on top of the 0.5 percent spread.
Trading fees
Binance uses a tiered fee system, where you pay a maximum of 0.1 percent per trade. The more you trade, the lower your fees get. You can also cut your trading fees by 25 percent if you choose to pay with BNB.
Coinbase’s fee structure is a bit more complicated. Every crypto purchase includes a 0.5 percent spread fee, plus a separate Coinbase fee—which is either a flat amount or a variable percentage, depending on how much you're buying and what method you're using. This makes it a bit harder to know exactly what you’ll pay until you’re at the checkout screen.
Flat fee
Transaction value | Fee |
|---|---|
$10 or less | $0.99 |
$10 to $25 | $1.49 |
$25 to $50 | $1.99 |
$50 to $200 | $2.99 |
Variable fee
Payment Method/Payout Method | Effective Rate of Conversion Fee |
|---|---|
US Bank Account | 1.49% |
Coinbase USD Wallet | 1.49% |
Debit Card or PayPal | 3.99% |
Instant Card Withdrawal | up to 1.5% of any transaction and a minimum fee of $0.55 |
If you want to access cheaper fees on Coinbase, you can use the Coinbase Pro alternative. Coinbase Pro is a market where you trade crypto, as opposed to buying it directly from the platform. The fees are 0.5% for makers and takers.
Withdrawal Fees
On Binance, withdrawal fees depend on the specific crypto or fiat currency you’re withdrawing. For fiat, the withdrawal method you choose will also affect the cost. Some options are even free, while others come with a fee. To find the most accurate info for your situation, it’s best to check the Binance site here directly.
Coinbase, on the other hand, isn’t very clear about their full fee structure. Fees vary depending on where you live and how you’re withdrawing funds. The most common withdrawal methods include SEPA transfers, which are low-cost at around €0.15, and US wire transfers, which cost about $25.
Winner - Binance
Coinbase's high fees and complicated fee structure means it loses this round. Binance has much more reasonable fees, with various free withdrawal and deposit methods, and trading fees of only 0.1%.
Deposit Methods
Binance offers a range of deposit methods, which will vary depending on your location. Depending on where you live, you might be able to use options like bank transfer, debit card, credit card, SWIFT, and others.
Coinbase also supports a wide variety of payment methods, including wire transfer, debit card, credit card, PayPal, ACH bank transfer, and SEPA deposit for users in Europe.
Winner - Coinbase
Coinbase offers a wider range of deposit methods, so it wins this section.
Binance vs Coinbase Features
Now that we’ve gone over the basics, let’s take a closer look at how Binance and Coinbase stack up across different features.
Trading Markets
Binance is known for offering one of the most extensive selections of trading options in the cryptocurrency exchange. It supports spot trading, margin trading, and futures trading. Spot trading on Binance includes over 1,000 pairs, giving traders a huge amount of flexibility. Margin traders can choose between isolated and cross margin, with up to 10x leverage on certain pairs. For futures, Binance supports more than 100 contracts, with leverage up to 20x. There are also over 40 leverage tokens for traders who want exposure to an asset without owning it directly.
Coinbase keeps it much simpler. The platform offers two main interfaces: Simple and Advanced. The Simple interface is aimed at beginners who want to buy and hold crypto, while the Advanced interface is for more active traders. Coinbase offers around 200 spot trading pairs, but it does not support margin or derivatives trading. It's ideal for users who want a clean, beginner-friendly experience without the complexity of leverage.
NFT Marketplaces
Binance offers a full-featured NFT marketplaces, including tools to mint your own NFTs, buy and sell existing ones, and access exclusive drops and events. One of the more fun features is Mystery Boxes, which give users the chance to win rare NFTs.
Coinbase has also launched its own NFT marketplace, though it's still in beta. It includes a discovery section for browsing and a shop section for buying and selling NFTs using ETH or USD. It's clear both platforms are investing in the NFT space, and it’ll be interesting to see how they evolve.
Loans
Binance supports crypto-backed loans for users who want to trade with leverage or unlock liquidity. You can borrow against your crypto, and depending on the collateral and your account level, you might even qualify for zero-interest loans if you choose to stake your collateral.
Coinbase offers a similar service called Borrow. Users can borrow up to 100,000 dollars using crypto as collateral, with rates up to 8 percent APR. However, this service is currently only available to US residents in Connecticut, with plans to expand to more states. Both platforms require KYC verification to use these features.
Crypto Wallets
Binance offers Trust Wallet, a mobile crypto wallet where users can store their crypto and NFTs, stake assets, and track the market. It’s designed to be secure and convenient, making it a good all-in-one solution for managing your crypto on the go.
Coinbase has its own crypto wallet called Coinbase Wallet. It lets users buy, sell, and store crypto, and connect with dApps. Unlike Trust Wallet, it doesn’t currently support staking. The big plus is you don’t need a Coinbase exchange account to use the wallet.
Unique Features
Binance is packed with advanced tools and features. One standout is spot grid trading, which automates buying and selling at set price levels. It also offers P2P trading, letting users trade directly with each other, and the BNB token, which gives you discounts on trading fees and other perks.
Binance Earn is another highlight, offering ways to grow your holdings through staking, yield farming, and dual investment. You can also get a Binance Card to spend your crypto earnings anywhere Visa is accepted.
Coinbase also offers a crypto card called the Coinbase Card, which works in a similar way, though it’s only available to US residents for now. While Coinbase doesn’t have as many features as Binance, it makes up for that with simplicity and ease of use, especially for new users.
Winner - Binance
Binance is undoubtedly one of the most feature-rich exchanges in the world, and definitely the better option when compared to Coinbase. Binance offers margin trading, staking, earning products, and automated crypto trading.
Binance vs Coinbase Security
As one of the biggest crypto exchanges in the world, Binance processes billions of dollars in transactions every day and manages a large amount of sensitive user data. To keep everything secure, Binance uses a multi-layered approach to security. This includes a mix of hot and cold wallets, two-factor authentication for both logins and withdrawals, and IP whitelisting. They’ve also built out a risk management system that monitors the platform for suspicious behavior and helps flag potential threats in real time.
Coinbase also takes security very seriously. They store 98 percent of customer funds offline in cold storage, spread out across various physical locations for added protection. The small portion of crypto that is held online—about 2 percent—is covered by an insurance policy that protects against hacks, theft, or fraud. On top of that, Coinbase uses data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and offers additional tools like Coinbase Vault. Vault accounts add an extra layer of security with time-locked withdrawals and multi-approval processes. Users can also save trusted crypto addresses or add people to their address book to help make transfers safer and quicker.
Both platforms have put serious effort into keeping user funds and information safe, but their approaches vary slightly based on their platforms' features and user base.
Winner - Draw
It's a tie! Both Coinbase and Binance offer robust security features to keep your coins safe. And while they've had their security breaches, they've taken steps to improve their security protocols.
Binance vs Coinbase Cryptocurrencies Offered
Binance currently lists over 600+ different coins, while Coinbase only supports around 600. Additionally, Binance offers more than 1,000 different trading pairs, while Coinbase only has around 200.
Winner - Binance
Binance offers a much wider selection of cryptocurrencies than Coinbase, making it the obvious winner of this section.
Binance vs Coinbase Summary
Binance and Coinbase are two of the most well-known cryptocurrency exchanges, but they each cater to slightly different types of users. Binance offers more than 600 cryptocurrencies and over 1,000 trading pairs, making it one of the most feature-rich platforms available. It’s designed with active and experienced traders in mind, with tools like futures, margin trading, and advanced order types that make it a top pick for serious crypto users.
Coinbase, by comparison, offers around 160 cryptocurrencies and just over 200 trading pairs. While that’s still a solid selection, it doesn’t come close to Binance’s range. That said, Coinbase is specifically designed to be user-friendly. It’s a great choice for beginners thanks to its clean interface and simple buying process. There’s also Coinbase Pro for users who want more trading functionality and lower fees, typically around 0.5 percent.
Another point in Coinbase’s favor is regulation. It’s registered with several financial authorities in the US and Europe, which gives it a more established reputation and an added layer of trust, especially for users who are new to crypto.
So which one is better? It really depends on your goals. If you’re an experienced trader who wants access to the most coins and features, Binance is likely the better fit. But if you’re just starting out and want something straightforward, secure, and easy to navigate, Coinbase is a great place to begin.
Overall Winner - Binance
Binance wins overall, as it is a much more comprehensive trading platform, with tons of features, 600+ coins, and very low fees.
Still Researching?
To learn more about each of these exchanges, you can check out our full reviews of Binance (here) and Coinbase (here). If you're based in the US, keep in mind that you won't be able to access Binance directly. Instead, you can try their US-specific platform, Binance.US, which offers a more limited set of features and coins.
If you’re looking for other options better suited for US residents, take a look at our article covering the best crypto exchanges for US.
Below, you’ll find a table that compares the key features of the top crypto platforms to help you decide which one fits your needs best.
Comparison Table of the Best Crypto Exchanges in the USA
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