Kraken

Crypto exchange running since 2011, with a pro trading platform, staking and US stocks.

Free plan + paidCrypto exchanges

Updated Nov 2, 2026 · AppBreakup editorial · Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

Visit Kraken See 7 alternatives

Is Kraken free?

Free plan, plus paid plans

Kraken+ plan:: $4.99 a month, zero fees on up to $10k/month trading

Checked on Kraken's site Nov 8, 2026

Full Kraken pricing and plans

Switch from Kraken to

All 7

Coinbase
Free plan + paid
Compare
Robinhood
Gold subscription: $5/month
Ledger Wallet
Free

Verified facts: 7 of 7
Alternatives ranked: 7
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Kraken

Kraken is one of the longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges, operating since 2011. The standard app keeps buying and selling simple, while Kraken Pro gives active traders order books, charts, margin and futures across hundreds of crypto pairs, plus a desktop app and API. Fees on Pro follow a maker-taker schedule that falls as your 30-day volume grows, which makes it cheaper than one-tap buys for regular traders. Beyond crypto, Kraken now offers US stocks and ETFs in some regions, staking rewards, recurring buys, a crypto card and a separate self-custody wallet. It publishes proof-of-reserves attestations so customers can check their balances are backed. Opening an account is free; you pay trading fees and spreads, with an optional Kraken+ membership. Availability and features vary by country, and it runs on the web, iOS, Android and desktop.

Best for: Crypto traders who want low volume-based fees, margin and futures on an established exchange.

Kraken pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)

Each line is quoted from Kraken's own site, with the page it came from.

Plan or term	What it says	Checked	Source
Kraken+ plan	$4.99 a month, zero fees on up to $10k/month trading	Nov 8, 2026	kraken.com
Free trial	30 days (Kraken+)	Nov 8, 2026	kraken.com
Spot trading pricing	0.40% maker / 0.80% taker at entry tier	Nov 2, 2026	kraken.com

Full Kraken pricing and cheaper alternatives

What works

Volume-based maker-taker fees on Kraken Pro
Proof-of-reserves reporting
Crypto, futures and US stocks in one account where available

Why people leave

Entry-tier Pro fees (0.40% maker, 0.80% taker) are higher than some rivals
Pro interface is complex for first-time buyers
Products and leverage vary a lot by country

Kraken vs Coinbase, Robinhood and Ledger Wallet

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

Attribute	Kraken	Coinbase	Robinhood	Ledger Wallet
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid	Free
Verified price	$4.99 a month, zero fees on up to $10k/month trading	—	$5/month	—
Free plan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Free app
Open source	No	No	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Full Kraken vs Coinbase comparison

Top Kraken alternatives

See all 7

1
Coinbase
More beginner-friendly app, publicly listed in the US, with Coinbase One for fee-free trading.
66.5
2
Robinhood
Simple crypto buying next to stocks and options, for investors who don't need an exchange order book.
54.4
3
Ledger Wallet
Move holdings into self-custody on a hardware wallet instead of keeping them on any exchange.
52.6
4
Webull
A stock-first broker that also offers crypto, better if equities and options are your main focus.
51.2
5
OKX
Adds trading bots and copy trading on top of spot and futures trading.
42.3

Why people left Kraken

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Kraken: common questions

What is Kraken?

Kraken: Crypto exchange running since 2011, with a pro trading platform, staking and US stocks. Best for crypto traders who want low volume-based fees, margin and futures on an established exchange. Available for Web, iOS, Android, Windows and macOS.

Is Kraken free?

Kraken has a free plan and paid plans.

How much does Kraken cost?

Kraken is free with paid plans. Kraken+ plan: $4.99 a month, zero fees on up to $10k/month trading; Free trial: 30 days (Kraken+); Spot trading pricing: 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker at entry tier. Checked on Kraken's own site, November 2026.

Does Kraken have a free trial or refund?

Free trial: 30 days (Kraken+). Source: Kraken's own site.

Is Kraken open source?

No, Kraken is not open source.

What platforms does Kraken run on?

Kraken is available for Web, iOS, Android, Windows and macOS.

What are the best alternatives to Kraken?

The highest-ranked Kraken alternatives right now are Coinbase, Robinhood and Ledger Wallet. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

Kraken vs Coinbase: what's the difference?

Both Kraken and Coinbase are free with paid plans. Only Kraken runs on Windows and macOS.

See all 7 Kraken alternatives

Kraken facts

7 of 7 verified

Founded: 2011; Checked Nov 8, 2026kraken.com(opens source in a new tab); “Since 2011”
Markets: 600+ crypto pairs, 11,000+ stocks and ETFs; Checked Nov 8, 2026kraken.com(opens source in a new tab); “600+ crypto pairs and 11,000+ stocks and ETFs.”
Spot fees (entry tier): 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker; Checked Nov 1, 2026kraken.com(opens source in a new tab); “Tier 1 $0+ N/A 0.40 % 0.80 %”
Fee model: Volume-based maker-taker tiers; Checked Nov 1, 2026kraken.com(opens source in a new tab); “Kraken uses a maker-taker fee tier system with volume incentives”
Kraken+ plan: $4.99 a month, zero fees on up to $10k/month trading; Checked Nov 8, 2026kraken.com(opens source in a new tab); “Free 30-day trial, then just $4.99/mo.”
Free trial: 30 days (Kraken+); Checked Nov 8, 2026kraken.com(opens source in a new tab); “3 Try Kraken+ for 30 days, free”
Spot trading pricing: 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker at entry tier; Checked Nov 2, 2026kraken.com(opens source in a new tab); “Tier 1 < $5M $0+ N/A 0.02% 0.05% 0.4% 0.8%”