Crypto.com vs. Coinbase

At a Glance

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Features

Both cryptocurrency exchanges provide a mobile app that works on Android and iOS devices along with a digital wallet. However, the platforms differ in their offerings. While Coinbase focuses on beginner education, Crypto.com, which started as a crypto payment platform, offers several products, such as Visa cards, crypto pay at checkout, and several ways to earn crypto. 

Coinbase investors appreciate a massive library of information about trading cryptocurrency. By taking a course or viewing a lesson about various altcoins, users earn a bit of cryptocurrency, often $3 or $10 worth. The Coinbase Card, a Visa debit card made available to Coinbase users in fall 2021, earns up to 4% in rewards on every purchase. Plus, Coinbase has a native coin, USD Coin (USDC). Users can hold onto USDC to earn a 0.15% annual percentage yield (APY).

Unlike Coinbase, Crypto.com offers very limited educational materials. Its knowledge base covers the basics of the platform. There is also a blog and a handful of lessons in the "university" section. Instead, it concentrates on products: 

• Visa card: Several card tiers offering up to 8% CRO rewards on purchases, depending on the amount of CRO staked
• Crypto Pay: Buy gift cards with crypto or select crypto pay at checkout at certain retailers to pay using crypto
• Crypto Earn: Users can earn up to 14.5% on crypto deposits; however, it’s typically not recommended to store currency on platforms
• Crypto Credit: Non-U.S.-based users can borrow up to 50% of their crypto collateral with a Crypto loan

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Currencies

Crypto.com supports 150+ cryptocurrencies, whereas Coinbase has 100+ tradable cryptocurrencies. Both support popular fiat currencies, including USD, EUR, and GBP, as well as coin fractions. Crypto.com has 26 fiat supported currencies and Coinbase is no longer sharing their complete list. However, New York users are barred from buying certain currencies on the Coinbase platform, whereas Crypto.com investors in Connecticut can’t buy DAI and residents of that state as well as Texas can't buy PAX Gold (PAXG). Both platforms support Dogecoin (DOGE), along with other favorite altcoins.

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Security

Coinbase and Crypto.com are highly secure platforms offering industry-standard measures required for operation in the United States. Both exchanges provide two-factor (2F) authentication, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance on USD balances, and insurance against damage or theft. They also use a bug bounty platform to find weaknesses. Coinbase keeps 98% of currencies in cold storage, whereas Crypto.com says it stores 100% in air-gapped cold storage. 

Each platform features a digital wallet with excellent security features, including multi-factor authentication and address whitelisting. But whitelisting is mandatory on the Crypto.com wallet and optional on Coinbase. The Crypto.com wallet provides private keys that are encrypted locally on the user’s device. With Coinbase, the trading account does not allow you to manage your private keys, but the stand-alone wallet does let you manage them and have them on your device.

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Fees

The biggest difference between the platforms comes down to cost. Crypto.com keeps it simple using the maker-taker model, with rates ranging from 0.04% to 0.40% for maker fees and 0.10% to 0.40% for taker fees. Like Coinbase, investors pay additional fees for using credit cards. Coinbase charges maker fees ranging from 0.00% to 0.40% and taker fees ranging from 0.05% to 0.60%. 

For example, a low-volume trader wanting to purchase $100 worth of Bitcoin (BTC) via an Automated Clearing House Network (ACH) transfer incurs a maker-taker fee of 0.40% on Crypto.com. Coinbase charges maker-taker fees of 0.40% and 0.60%, respectively, on the same transaction.

Crypto.com offers steep discounts for investors who stake CRO. Using a tiered system, you can earn larger and larger discounts up to 100% of the maker-taker fees depending on how much you stake. Although you’ll find many Coinbase promotions across the web, there are fewer options for fee discounts on Coinbase.

Maker-taker fees for Crypto.com differ according to your 30-day trading volume:  

• $0 to $25,000: 0.40% maker, 0.40% taker
• $25,001 to $50,000: 0.35% maker, 0.35% taker
• $50,001 to $100,000: 0.15% maker, 0.25% taker
• $100,001 to $250,000: 0.10% maker, 0.16% taker
• $250,001 to $1,000,000: 0.09% maker, 0.15% taker
• $1,000,001 to $20,000,000: 0.08% maker, 0.14% taker
• $20,000,001 to $100,000,000: 0.07% maker, 0.13% taker
• $100,000,001 to $200,000,000: 0.06% maker, 0.12% taker
• $200,000,001 and above: 0.04% maker, 0.10% taker

In comparison, Coinbase charges rates that are a bit higher:

• $0 to 10,000: 0.60% taker, 0.40% maker
• $10,000 to 50,000: 0.40% taker, 0.25% maker
• $50,000 to 100,000: 0.25% taker, 0.15% maker
• $100,000 to 1,000,000: 0.20% taker, 0.10% maker
• $1,000,000 - 10,000,000: 0.18% taker, 0.08% maker
• $10,000,000 to 20,000,000: 0.18% taker, 0.08% maker
• $20,000,000 to 50,000,000: 0.15% taker, 0.05% maker
• $50,000,000 to 100,000,000: 0.15% taker, 0.05% maker
• $100,000,000 to 300,000,000: 0.10% taker, 0.02% maker
• $300,000,000 to 500,000,000: 0.08% taker, 0.00% maker
• $500,000,000 and above: 0.05% taker, 0.00% maker

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Ease of Use

Both platforms offer web- or app-based trading. Although the mobile apps and browser tools are intuitive and easy to use, the exchanges look different. Coinbase takes a simple approach, making it easy to navigate the website or figure out your next steps. 

In contrast, Crypto.com provides several products, and the website can be overwhelming at first glance. Beginners new to trading may feel more comfortable using Coinbase until they understand the terminology and types of transactions supported. 

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Access

Coinbase is available in more than 100 countries including the U.S., Canada, Singapore, and 39 European countries. However, residents of Hawaii can’t use Coinbase. New York residents may face restrictions.

Although New York investors can’t use Crypto.com, Hawaii residents can. Moreover, it’s available to residents in over 100 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Singapore, Canada, and the U.K. 

Final Verdict

Ease of use, low fees, and a nice selection of coins make up some of the best cryptocurrency exchanges. Although Crypto.com has a slight learning curve, the website and app are user-friendly and easy to navigate. Additionally, the costs are lower than Coinbase, and there’s a broader range of currencies. Combined with multiple discounts and products, such as crypto payment for purchase options, these reasons earn Crypto.com a top spot over Coinbase. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology

Investopedia is dedicated to helping those interested in cryptocurrency investing make informed and safe decisions. We are committed to providing our readers with unbiased reviews of the top cryptocurrency exchanges for investors of all levels. 

We reviewed Coinbase and Coinbase Pro by looking at the breadth of features, such as the trade types, purchase and withdrawal options, and supported currencies. Moreover, we assessed the overall ease of use in a web browser and on mobile apps. We also considered the fee structure and security levels for both account types and the Coinbase Wallet.