Crypto.com vs. Coinbase

Crypto.com wins the battle with lower fees and more ways to earn

Updated July 07, 2022

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Crypto.com and Coinbase are two trusted cryptocurrency exchanges offering a native coin. Both exchanges let users buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrency. Plus, they ensure top-notch security and provide a digital wallet. Coinbase’s USD coin (USDC) is a U.S. dollar-stable coin, meaning 1 USDC equals $1. By comparison, Crypto.com provides a Crypto.com coin (CRO) which fluctuates in value. Users can earn rewards for staking it too.

Although both platforms are popular, but Crypto.com is cheaper for most users. Both use a maker-taker fee structure. Crypto.com is cheaper for low volume takers which is what most users will fall into. However, at some points in the fee schedule Coinbase comes out cheaper depending on your trading volume. If you purchase crypto from the company, fixed fees will apply instead of maker-taker trading fees. Crypto.com delivers generous rewards with ways to earn crypto and interest on deposits. However, Coinbase stands out for its ease of use and educational opportunities to earn crypto.

We evaluated both exchanges on supported currencies, fees, special features, and security. Moreover, we looked at how access levels differ between investors in various U.S. locations.

Unlike traditional brokerage firms, cryptocurrency exchanges are not members of the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC). Therefore, unless user terms specify otherwise, investors with cryptocurrency assets commingled on a custodial cryptocurrency exchange could potentially lose their funds as unsecured creditors.

Investing in cryptocurrencies, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), and other Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) is highly risky and speculative, and the markets can be extremely volatile. Consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. This article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies nor can the accuracy or timeliness of the information be guaranteed.

Crypto.com

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Fees: 0.04% to 0.4% maker fees, 0.1% to 0.4% taker fees, plus 2.99% for credit card purchases
Currencies: 250+
Security: Two-step verification, FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000, platform insurance against theft, cold storage, and uses a bug bounty program
Wallet: Multi-factor authentication, biometric, private keys locally encrypted
Transactions Supported: Buy, sell, send, receive, withdraw, and exchange
Max. Monthly Trading Amount: Monthly withdrawal limit of 500,000 USD

Pros

Non-custodial, DeFi Wallet available
Added benefits for staking CRO
Multiple ways to earn crypto or interest

Cons

Customer service isn’t responsive
Somewhat limited educational resources

Coinbase

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Fees: Up to 0.60% maker-taker fee per trade
Currencies: 200+
Security: Two-step verification, FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000, platform insurance against theft, cold storage, and uses a bug bounty program
Wallet: AES-256 encryption and multi-signature wallets
Transactions Supported: Buy, sell, send, receive, withdraw, and exchange
Max. Monthly Trading Amount: $500,000 withdrawal limit in any currency fiat or crypto

Pros

Make transactions using PayPal
Earn crypto by learning about trading
User-friendly, even for beginners

Cons

For the average user, some of the highest fees of all exchanges
Fewer tradable altcoins than Crypto.com

At a Glance

	Crypto.com	Coinbase
Fees	0.04% to 0.4% maker fees, 0.1% to 0.4% taker fees, plus 2.99% for credit card purchases	Up to 0.60% maker-taker fee per trade.
Currencies	250+	200+
Security	Two-step verification, FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000, platform insurance against theft, cold storage, and uses a bug bounty program	Two-step verification, FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000, platform insurance against theft, cold storage, and uses a bug bounty program
Wallet	Multi-factor authentication, biometric, private keys locally encrypted	AES-256 encryption and multi-signature wallets
Transactions Supported	Buy, sell, send, receive, withdraw, and exchange	Buy, sell, send, receive, withdraw, and exchange
Max. Monthly Trading Amount	Monthly withdrawal limit of 500,000 USD	$500,000 withdrawal limit in any currency

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, usually $3 or more at a time. The Coinbase Card is a Visa debit card available to Coinbase users and earns 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 various categories of articles and a handful of lessons in the "university" section. Instead, it concentrates on products:

Visa card: Several card tiers offering up to 5% 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 250+ cryptocurrencies, whereas Coinbase has 200+ tradable cryptocurrencies. Both support popular fiat currencies, including USD, EUR, and GBP, as well as coin fractions. Crypto.com has 21 fiat supported currencies and Coinbase is no longer sharing their complete list. Both platforms have restrictions by state for certain currencies, however both 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 cryptocurrency in cold storage, whereas Crypto.com says it stores 100% in cold storage.

Each platform features a digital wallet with excellent security features, including multi-factor authentication and address whitelisting. Whitelisting is sometimes mandatory on the Crypto.com wallet and always 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. 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%. This makes Crypto.com cheaper for most customers who will fall into the category of the highest taker fee.

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	Coinbase
Wallet Conversion Fee	Free	1%
Debit/Credit Cards	2.99%	N/A
ACH Transfer	Free, with a minimum of $20	Free
Wire Transfer	Free, with a minimum of $1,000	$10 deposit, $25 withdrawal
Trades	Maker-taker model based on 30-day trading volume	Maker-taker model

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 - 20,000,000: 0.18% taker, 0.08% maker
$20,000,000 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.

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 for the fee tier that most people will fall into, and there’s a broader range of currencies. Adding in multiple products, such as crypto payment for purchase options, and Crypto.com earns the top spot over Coinbase.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Crypto.com and Coinbase?

Crypto.com and Coinbase are crypto exchange platforms that let investors buy and sell popular and lesser-known cryptocurrencies. Users can keep funds in their online account or transfer them to their account using various methods, such as a credit card, wire transfer, or ACH withdrawal. Both are excellent options for people wanting to invest in cryptocurrency or earn small amounts of crypto in exchange for using or learning on the platform.

How Do Crypto.com and Coinbase Work?

Crypto.com and Coinbase use similar verification methods once users sign up for an account. Once the account is verified, investors can deposit money via ACH, wire transfer, PayPal, or a credit or debit card.

To trade on Crypto.com, navigate to the Markets page, choose your coin and click Trade. On Coinbase, simply click Get Started to see a list of crypto assets. Both platforms require investors to decide how much to purchase and show fees before the trade is finalized.

Regardless of the exchange used, to get the most out of crypto trading, it’s essential to learn the basics of investing, find the cheapest ways to deposit funds (usually ACH), and decide what security measures you want to take.

Are Crypto.com and Coinbase Safe?

Yes, Crypto.com and Coinbase are safe and use security measures that are industry-standard or above for U.S.-based residents. Although Crypto.com is based in Singapore, where some rules may be different, it prioritizes security equally to Coinbase. Both exchanges are well known in the space and employ bug bounty hunters to root out potential security issues.

Who Should Use Crypto.com vs. Coinbase?

First-time traders who don’t understand the terminology and process may prefer the simplicity of Coinbase along with the educational materials provided. It’s an excellent starter platform, and once investors are familiar with trading, the Coinbase Pro app is a free upgrade and offers cheaper fees.

However, if you have a basic understanding of cryptocurrency and want to stake CRO, you can take advantage of many benefits on Crypto.com. The more an investor stakes, the more they earn. Even without staking CRO, it’s less expensive to trade on Crypto.com for most users. Furthermore, you’ll have access to several Visa cards and gift cards that you can use to earn and spend crypto.

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.

Article Sources

Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

Coinbase. "How to Earn Crypto Rewards."
Crypto.com. "Earn Up to 14.5% on Your Crypto."