Coinbase alternatives
- Our rating
- 4.5
- Alternatives
- 4
- Review updated
- 2026-08-12
Our Coinbase review names 4 alternatives: Kraken, Gemini, River and Strike. Kraken overlaps most, ranking alongside Coinbase in 62 of the 62 countries we rank Coinbase in. Rankings are editorial and never sold.
4 alternatives, compared
In the order our review lists them. "In common" counts the countries where both the alternative and Coinbase rank in our guides.
| Exchange | Rating | Fees | ID check | Countries | In common |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken | 4.7 | From 0.25% maker, 0.40% taker | Required | 127 | 62 |
| Gemini | 4.4 | 0.5% + flat fee on easy buys | Required | 1 | 1 |
| River | 4.6Bitcoin-only | Free recurring, 1.2% one-off | Required | 1 | 1 |
| Strike | 4.6Bitcoin-only | Fee shown before you confirm | Required | 2 | 1 |
Why each one
Kraken A 2011-vintage exchange with one of the cleanest security records in the business, heading toward a US stock listing.
Gemini The NYDFS-chartered trust company the Winklevoss twins founded, serving all 50 states including New York, listed on Nasdaq since 2025.
River US bitcoin-only brokerage with zero-fee recurring buys, phone support and full proof of reserves.
Strike Lightning-native app for buying bitcoin and sending it anywhere instantly, with no added fee on transfers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Coinbase?
Our review lists Kraken first, rated 4.7: A 2011-vintage exchange with one of the cleanest security records in the business, heading toward a US stock listing. It ranks in 127 of our country guides, 62 of them shared with Coinbase. The order is editorial, argued from fees, security record and local payment support.
Which Coinbase alternative is available in the most countries?
Kraken, which ranks in 127 of our country guides. Gemini ranks in 1, River ranks in 1, Strike ranks in 2.
Which alternative overlaps most with Coinbase?
Kraken: it ranks alongside Coinbase in 62 of the 62 countries we rank Coinbase in, so a reader in most of those markets can compare the two on the same page.
Why look for an alternative to Coinbase?
The review's own reservations: simple buys are expensive: a flat fee plus a spread, several times the Advanced Trade cost; the app pushes staking, altcoins, and subscriptions that a bitcoin buyer does not need.