The 8 Best Crypto Exchanges, Platforms & Apps for 2026
The best crypto app for you will depend heavily on your investing or trading goals and level of experience with cryptocurrencies. We break down all of that to help you choose.The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.
Our deep, independent analysis of crypto exchanges and online brokers that offer crypto sorts through key account details to find and evaluate the information investors want when choosing the best crypto exchange or platform for them. To see our full methodology and learn more about our process, read our criteria for how we evaluate crypto platforms and exchanges.
Over 20 crypto platforms and wallets reviewed and rated by our expert Nerds.
More than 50 years of combined experience writing about finance and investing.
Hands-on testing of platforms where possible, including the account funding and trading processes.
Dozens of objective ratings rubrics, and strict guidelines to maintain editorial integrity.
Reviewing crypto apps used to be pretty easy. Our rubric was mostly limited to crypto-only exchanges where everything — purchase fees, withdrawal minimums and fees, markets and cryptocurrencies available — could be fairly standardized.
But this is not the world of crypto today. Major brokerages like Fidelity now offer coins like Solana. Crypto exchanges have expanded their offerings to include more traditional investments, such as stocks and ETFs. And, publicly traded crypto ETFs available through nearly all brokers mean that anyone can gain exposure to crypto without purchasing it directly — even in their 401(k)s.
Legislative uncertainty has also added some confusion to the crypto landscape. Staking laws vary by state, and federal interpretation of crypto treatment has been known to swing widely with changes in administration.
Our goal with this list is to cut through the noise and focus on what actually makes crypto exchanges good — how well (and securely) they let users navigate the world of crypto.
For example:
Coinbase, Kraken and Crypto.com don’t score higher for offering stocks.
We don’t see prediction market availability as adding any value.
Staking and earnings programs, which have been repeatedly introduced and discontinued, are not as influential in determining overall score as they used to be.
We’re putting extra scrutiny into purchase and withdrawal fees, which platforms generally appear to be both increasing and making less transparent.
Of all the crypto platforms we review, here’s where a few stand out:
Best overall crypto platform → Kraken
Best crypto exchange for beginners → Coinbase
Best crypto exchange for staking → Uphold
Best traditional broker for crypto trading → Robinhood
Best crypto IRA → Crypto.com
All told, there are eight platforms we think pass muster. Five of these are crypto-first exchanges, and the other three are traditional brokerages with crypto offerings that are strong enough to compete.
Company | NerdWallet rating | Number of cryptocurrencies | Fees | Promotion | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.5/5 | 402 | 0% - 5% varies by type of transaction; other fees may apply | None no promotion available at this time | Learn moreon Coinbase's website | |
Learn moreon Coinbase's website | |||||
Learn moreon Coinbase's website | |||||
4.3/5 | 78 | 0.0% - 3.49% depending on payment method and platform | $20 of BTC for new users after trading $100 or more within 30 days | Learn moreon Gemini's website | |
Learn moreon Gemini's website | |||||
Learn moreon Gemini's website | |||||
4.9/5 | 250 | 0.5%-5.5% | None no promotion available at this time | Learn moreon Uphold's website | |
Learn moreon Uphold's website | |||||
Learn moreon Uphold's website | |||||
4.3/5 | 5 | 1% spread | None no promotion at this time | Read reviewon NerdWallet | |
Read reviewon NerdWallet | |||||
Read reviewon NerdWallet | |||||
4.3/5 | 11 | Up to 1% | None no promotion available at this time | Read reviewon NerdWallet | |
Read reviewon NerdWallet | |||||
Read reviewon NerdWallet | |||||
Kraken: Best overall crypto app
Kraken has remained an excellent exchange for advanced traders while also building out a platform over the years that's welcoming to newcomers, too. Its customer service is similar to a traditional brokerage's (rare for a crypto platform), and its fee structure is transparent and easy to understand.
Kraken has taken an interesting path. For a few years in a row, we labeled it as one of the better choices for advanced crypto trading thanks to its low maker-taker fee model, margin trading features and other aspects of the advanced platform Kraken Pro. And while many competing crypto platforms have shifted their trajectory from basic to advanced, Kraken has instead simplified its platform over the years, perhaps to better cater to beginners.
As one example, back when we first reviewed Kraken in 2021, the Kraken Pro maker-taker fee schedule had only one sub-$50,000 tier, with rates of 0.16% and 0.26%. Now, the lower tier is split into two: rates for under $10,000 are 0.25% and 0.4%, and then the $10,000 to $50,000 tier’s rates are 0.2% and 0.35%. So basically, Kraken Pro is charging more for their lowest-tier advanced users.
But on the other end of things, Kraken’s instant-buy feature now charges a very flat, very transparent 1% of the purchase price, down from as high as 1.5% in previous years. And this is very clearly displayed on the purchase screen. Coinbase, on the other hand, has made its final purchase screen more confusing over the years. He’s what it looks like to buy $200 worth of Bitcoin on Kraken and Coinbase, using each platform’s instant buy feature via ACH:
Kraken clearly labels their 1% cut as a “Kraken fee,” and at $1.98, that amounts to 0.99%. In other words, the math adds up. Coinbase, on the other hand, shows you purchasing $200 of Bitcoin, but then only displays the amount in Bitcoin you’re going to receive. At the bottom, you see that the purchase also includes a 1% spread plus a $3.68 fee. If I do that math, my fee comes out to $2 spread + $3.68, so $5.68 total. That’s a 2.84% fee on a $200 purchase.
I think Kraken is nipping at Coinbase’s heels in terms of taking the title as the best for beginners. Its fees are transparent and easy to understand; it has a huge selection of cryptocurrencies and tradable crypto pairs; the user experience is simple; and despite growing its offerings (Kraken also offers equity trading and has plans for a prediction market), it doesn’t bash you in the face with these new products. It feels like it’s staying true to its crypto origins, while expanding for those who are interested.
Coinbase: Best for beginners
Coinbase is the largest U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, trading more than 200 cryptocurrencies. Its fees, however, can be confusing and higher than some competitors.
I’ve been using Coinbase since 2017 and have been reviewing it since 2021. Every year, we’ve considered it the best crypto platform for beginners for a few main reasons. For one, Coinbase is the largest U.S.-based exchange with 14 years of operation under its belt. It’s a publicly traded company worth around $50 billion, and its institutional wing, Coinbase Prime, custodies approximately 12% of the total global cryptocurrency value. As of the end of 2025, the company managed $376 billion in crypto. This is all to say the company is well established and heavily regulated, which can help anyone new to crypto feel less intimidated.
Beyond the impressive stats, the Coinbase app is also a joy to use. Its UX is clean, simple and intuitive, and there’s an excellent bank of helpful content available on Coinbase Learn. There’s a bit more hand-holding in the app than on other crypto platforms as well, and that perceived comfort can really help beginners out.
Although Coinbase remains the best crypto platform for beginners in 2026, I do want to point out that I questioned that designation a little bit this year. Why? Well, we think users should also be aware of some negatives, like the lack of guardrails around derivatives and prediction markets, the worsening fee transparency and the inconsistent customer support. These are downward trends compared to last year that I’ll be watching closely this year.
Of all the platforms we review, Kraken would be the closest to taking the best-for-beginners throne from Coinbase. But for now, Coinbase still reigns as the best crypto on-ramp, and its peers can’t match its size (in terms of custody) or its reputation as a Nasdaq-listed company.
Uphold: Best for staking
There's a lot to like about Uphold between its wide investment selection, thousands of crypto trading pairs, multiple wallet options and extensive staking offerings. However, its transaction fee could be lower, and its customer support could be stronger (especially when users run into technical issues).
What immediately stood out to me about Uphold is how easy their staking function is to use. “Staking” is its own item in the app navigation bar, where you can see all the coins that will let you earn high interest (21 coins currently). There are also “boosted” rates, which could generate up to around a 15% yield in exchange for locking up your crypto for a set amount of time. Click below to see a full list of what’s currently available for staking on Uphold:
Asset
Ticker
Flexible APY
Boosted APY
Cosmos
ATOM
15.03%
Axelar
AXL
9.63%
Casper
CSPR
7.79%
Bittensor
TAO
2.48%
6.74%
Kusama
KSM
0.42%
5.07%
Solana
SOL
2.05%
4.85%
Injective
INJ
4.55%
Algorand
ALGO
1.59%
3.67%
Polkadot
DOT
3.59%
Flare
FLR
3.26%
Near Protocol
NEAR
1.25%
3.16%
Concordium
CCD
3.05%
Avalanche
AVAX
3.00%
Oasis Network
ROSE
0.49%
2.15%
Ether
ETH
0.80%
2.00%
Polygon Ecosystem Token
POL
1.97%
Tezos
XTZ
1.91%
Aptos
APT
0.56%
1.77%
Sui
SUI
0.49%
1.12%
Cardano
ADA
0.47%
1.05%
Hedera
HBAR
0.41%
0.91%
But what’s most unique about Uphold might also be one of the few downsides. They describe their platform as “anything for anything,” meaning you can trade any asset available on the platform (cash, crypto, metals) for any other available asset. However, it felt a little foreign to me to scroll through options like Venmo, PayPal and my bank account along with cryptocurrencies and metals, and it was strange to click a “deposit” button when buying Bitcoin. I went through the purchase process several times, and the UX tripped me up every time.
The fee was clearly outlined on the purchase screen as $0.99, and when I ran the numbers comparing the current Bitcoin price at the time to the amount in Bitcoin I received, the total fee came out to about $1.01. That extra $0.02 is likely the spread that Uphold collects (same as virtually all crypto platforms) in addition to the actual fee. This isn’t uncommon, and with an effective fee of 0.505%, Uphold is one of the most affordable and transparent apps on this list.
One bit of advice that’s true for Uphold as well as any app on this list: Don’t use debit or credit cards to fund your account or orders. Connect your bank account via ACH and either deposit funds or make trades directly to get the lowest fee.
Crypto.com: Best crypto IRA
Crypto.com offers a massive selection of digital assets, low or no fees, and additional perks for holders of its CRO cryptocurrency.
Although its score has come down over the years (it scored 5 stars only two years ago, but its Bitcoin withdrawal fee has really gone up), Crypto.com is still one of my favorites, mostly because of the app. It somehow manages to be both secure (pin codes with every login, multi-factor authentication, lots of messaging and transparency) and convenient, which is a hard combination to pull off.
There is also so much going on inside the app, with research and insights highlighted throughout and new product offerings popping up. But, unlike Webull (which I think is a comparable interface), this app actually feels manageable and not annoying.
Two new products that are worth calling out: The AI crypto basket builder and the crypto IRA. Asset baskets are growing in popularity in stock apps, too, and Crypto.com’s is on par with M1 Finance’s and Public’s (which are both really good). Basically, you create a basket of crypto, based on a few inputs, which then gets weighted automatically. A single contribution is then distributed among the assets in your basket according to the assigned weight. I’m a huge fan of these features. Here’s what that looks like — I did this in under one minute. (Want proof? Check the clock timestamp at the top of the screenshot.)
And then the other product catching my eye is the crypto IRA. I have neither signed up for nor used it, but it’s a unique product — Crypto.com and Fidelity are the only platforms on this list currently offering something like this.
It does appear that Crypto.com still uses a third party to custody the IRA (Foris DAX Trust Company), whereas Fidelity custodies crypto on its own through its Fidelity Digital Assets subsidiary. But from the user's perspective, all of this is still handled in-app with Crypto.com.
Gemini
For casual investors, Gemini offers a trading platform that’s easy for beginners, but a confusing fee structure that’s higher than some cryptocurrency exchanges.
Gemini has staged a pretty miraculous recovery since 2022. For anyone who wasn’t around during the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and the ensuing fallout, Gemini was caught up in it, and customer assets placed in the Gemini Earn program — a high-interest lending program — were frozen. By June 20, 2024, Gemini announced it had repaid 100% to all affected customers. I talk about this not to dig up the past unnecessarily, but to give context for where Gemini is today. It’s still a strong app with a good offering, and it did indeed make its customers whole.
Gemini also appears to be shifting toward an institutional client base (big banks and investment companies) rather than retail (individual traders). One sign of this change is its more limited selection: It offers around 80 cryptocurrencies and 151 available markets. By comparison, platforms like Coinbase (with nearly 400 coins and over 500 markets) and Kraken (with around 750 coins and 1,794 markets) offer greater selection, which may be more attractive to the retail crowd hoping to uncover the next pop.
This shift toward institutional investors, or at least higher-net-worth investors, is also apparent in Gemini’s Active Trader fees. For low-volume trading, Gemini is pretty bad. The maker/taker fee for volumes under $10,000 is 0.6% and 1.2% — more than double Kraken’s (0.25% and 0.4%) and Crypto.com’s (0.25% and 0.5%) for the lowest tier. They don’t seem to be trying to compete there.
But if you look at the highest-volume tier (30-day trading volume of at least $250 million), Gemini has the lowest fees of any on this list, by a lot, coming in at 0.0% and 0.02%. Nothing against NerdWallet readers, but I don’t suspect any of you meet that threshold. This is a benefit for institutions making big moves in crypto, not you and me.
However, the fee for Gemini’s instant buy feature, which most beginners would use anyway, is pretty standard: $2.94 on our $200 purchase, or 1.47%.
So, if exploring new and upcoming cryptocurrencies is not high on your priority list, but you want to use an exchange and app that touts its security and compliance as institutional-level and has always offered an easy-to-use app with excellent learn content and middle-of-the-road fees, Gemini is a solid choice, despite its rocky past.
Traditional brokers that offer cryptocurrency
The following are all what we’d call traditional brokers that now offer cryptocurrency. They are scored based on their crypto offering, but we’ve also highlighted areas where
Robinhood: Best traditional broker for crypto trading
Robinhood brings its no-fee ethos to cryptocurrency trading, but currently offers fewer cryptocurrencies compared to pure-play crypto platforms.
People like to hate on Robinhood. But in my experience, it’s an extremely easy and cheap way to get into crypto through a traditional brokerage. That hasn’t always been the case, though.
When Robinhood first rolled out crypto trading, there was no way to send or receive crypto purchased in the app, there weren’t many coins available, and there was no staking. It scored pretty low out of all the platforms we reviewed. But over the years, Robinhood has noticeably improved its offering, and I would argue its crypto platform is the closest there is to something like Coinbase or Kraken, offered within a traditional brokerage.
Fidelity Crypto
Investors who already use Fidelity and want to gain some exposure to three cryptocurrencies — Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin — will find Fidelity Crypto to be a good choice. In 2025, Fidelity Crypto gave users the ability to send and receive cryptocurrencies, too. This is a big improvement, making the platform more competitive with other traditional brokers that offer cryptocurrencies.
You may not need to fuss around with any of the other platforms on this page if you:
Are already a Fidelity client (e.g., have a workplace 401(k) there);
Want to buy and hold the largest cryptocurrencies simply to gain exposure in the same way you’d gain exposure to real estate or commodities; or
Don’t actually care about things like decentralized finance.
All of these scenarios present a very clear case for using Fidelity Crypto. With this approach, cryptocurrency can be easily treated as an alternative asset for diversification alongside the rest of your portfolio.
Interactive Brokers Crypto
Interactive Brokers offers investors a solid entry-level crypto trading platform, letting investors buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash in fiat currency. Fees are capped at 1% of trade value.
Similar to Fidelity, InteractiveBrokers Crypto is likely best for existing IBKR users. However, if you’re not an existing IBKR client, but you’re looking for an advanced trading platform powerhouse and want to deploy that functionality in crypto trading as well, InteractiveBrokers Crypto is worth a look.
For those who need it, a little explainer on exchanges
A crypto exchange is, very basically, a place where you can purchase a cryptocurrency using cash or another digital asset.
This roundup primarily discusses a type of crypto exchange known as a centralized exchange. A centralized exchange is a marketplace operated by a business entity that buys, sells and facilitates transactions in cryptocurrency.
If you're new to cryptocurrency or just need to convert fiat currency into crypto, you'll likely use a centralized exchange.
Another way to get crypto is through what is known as a decentralized exchange. These are largely automated, blockchain-based programs that allow users to swap certain kinds of cryptocurrency for one another. While these can have lower transaction costs, they also require more technical expertise. And if you don't already have cryptocurrency, your options are limited.
Do all of these exchanges support Bitcoin?
Yes, if all you're looking for is to gain exposure to Bitcoin, then any of the platforms above will easily offer that. Despite bouts of intense volatility, Bitcoin has endured, hitting a fresh all-time high in October. However, despite gaining acceptance and adoption at the institutional level in the form of spot bitcoin ETFs and other financial products, Bitcoin hasn't shed its volatile nature; it fell into bear market territory about a month after hitting that all-time high in October, and hasn't broken above the all-important $100K resistance since.
What about Ethereum?
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, surged alongside Bitcoin this year, briefly setting a new all-time in August 2025 on favorable legislation around stablecoins. While Ethereum is not a stablecoin, many large stablecoins run on the Ethereum network. Similarly, Ethereum-based projects focused on "tokenizing" traditional aspects of finance, such as lending and stock trading, gained momentum in 2025. Operating on the Ethereum network requires fees to be paid in its native currency, Ether. So as activity on the Ethereum blockchain heats up, demand for (and the price of) Ether goes up. But, much like Bitcoin, Ethereum fell dramatically in November, calling into question whether the legitimization we saw in 2025 will carry over into 2026.
Choosing the right exchange for you
One of the biggest factors in picking a crypto exchange is the type of cryptocurrency you plan to invest in, and how far from the mainstream you want to stray. Bitcoin and a handful of the biggest altcoins like Ethereum are nearly universally available, and may be the only cryptocurrencies on the menu at online brokers. If you're interested in these and merely want to dabble in crypto, an online broker may be a good fit — one added benefit is you can keep your cryptocurrency and other investments within one platform.
But if you are eyeing a niche coin, you’ll want to double-check its availability on any exchange you're considering. Pure-play crypto exchanges will offer the widest variety of cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency pairs.
Then consider where you want to store your crypto once you've purchased it: Storage options vary from exchange to exchange, and the presence or absence of your preferred storage method could be a reason to choose one service over another.
Generally, you can store crypto with the exchange where you bought it. Most — though not all — exchanges also let you move the digital assets you buy to your own crypto wallet. If that's important to you, be sure to select an exchange that supports it.
Finally, consider other major factors like fees, the trading experience and — if you're new to crypto trading — the level of educational resources provided to help you get started.
But wait...are crypto exchanges safe?
Crypto trading is not subject to the same investor protections you get when working with traditional investments, it's true. For example, U.S. Securities Investor Protection Corp. insurance doesn't apply to cryptocurrency, so if your exchange fails, you could lose your investment.
It's also worth noting that storing crypto in an exchange's wallet can leave you vulnerable to losses if an exchange fails or suffers a cyberattack. For this reason, some users prefer not to store assets on exchanges unless they're actively trading.
And just to make sure you understand how buying crypto is different than stocks
Here are a few examples:
Compared to traditional investing, which has seen fees steadily decline in recent years, trading in cryptocurrencies costs much more. For example, depending on the method of payment, you could pay 5% or more in fees when trading Bitcoin. Most online brokers no longer charge a commission to trade stocks.
Crypto is still a relatively new and burgeoning industry, and customer service has lagged behind what's available at traditional brokerages. Want to speak to a person concerning questions or account issues at a crypto exchange? Many pure crypto exchanges don't offer that service.
You have more responsibility for protecting your crypto from theft with cryptocurrency exchanges, especially if you use your own digital wallet. While exchanges protect you from losses due to site-wide hacks, you won’t be protected from individual attacks on your account — for example, a phishing email attack in which you unwittingly reveal your passwords to cybercriminals.
Methodology
How do we review cryptocurrency platforms?
NerdWallet’s comprehensive review process evaluates and ranks platforms and companies that allow U.S. customers to buy and/or sell cryptocurrency. Our aim is to provide an independent assessment of providers to help arm you with information to make sound, informed judgements on which ones will best meet your needs. We adhere to strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
We collect data directly from providers through detailed questionnaires, and conduct first-hand testing and observation through provider demonstrations. The questionnaire answers, combined with demonstrations, interviews of personnel at the providers and our specialists’ hands-on research, fuel our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance across more than 20 factors. The final output produces star ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).
For more details about the categories considered when rating crypto platforms and our process, read our full methodology.