The lowest fee crypto exchange on published base-tier rates is MEXC, at 0.00% maker and 0.10% taker, with Binance level at 0.10% each way. Spreads and withdrawals can change the order.
This ranking sits within the wider set of crypto exchange reviews. It judges cost only. Licensing is a separate test, covered in the guide to regulated crypto exchanges.
Ranked picks by base-tier trading fee
The order below follows the published spot fee at each cryptocurrency exchange’s entry tier, because that is what a new or small account pays. Exchanges with an identical rate are separated by token discounts and withdrawal costs. Aggregator pages date their figures to Aug 2026 (Currencs) and August 6, 2026 (Bitcoin.com). Fee schedules change, so confirm the live rate on the exchange before funding an account.
MEXC: lowest entry fee, but check the withdrawal network
CryptoScore lists MEXC spot fees at 0.00% maker and 0.10% taker, and notes that negative fees are possible with the MX token. MEXC suits traders who place resting limit orders, since the maker side costs nothing at the base tier. Market-order users pay the same taker rate as Binance and OKX. USDT withdrawals are free on TRC20 but cost 10 USDT on ERC20, so the network choice matters more than the trading fee on small transfers. A MEXC spread and a bitcoin withdrawal fee are unknown from the figures supplied.
Binance: lowest all-in cost with a published worked example
Binance charges 0.10% maker and 0.10% taker at the standard tier. Holding at least 1 BNB takes a 25% discount, which brings both sides to 0.075%. CryptoScore puts the average BTC/USDT spread at 0.01%, the bitcoin withdrawal fee at 0.00002 BTC (about $0.80), and USDT on TRC20 at $1. CryptoScore’s annual cost example for a Binance account paying fees in BNB comes to $87, made up of $75 trading and $12 withdrawal. Binance suits anyone who trades often, holds BNB anyway and wants a fee that is the same for market and limit orders. Currencs also lists a 0.10% standard tier before the BNB discount, for Binance International.
OKX: low taker rate with steep volume discounts
Currencs lists OKX at 0.10% spot taker at the standard tier. The standard maker rate is unknown from the supplied figures. At VIP 5, which needs at least $10M in 30-day volume, CryptoScore shows 0.04% maker and 0.06% taker. That makes OKX a better fit for high-volume traders than for a small account, which will sit at the standard rate. Spread and withdrawal costs are unknown here.
Kraken: two published base rates, so verify before trading
Kraken’s base tier is quoted differently by two aggregators. CryptoScore gives 0.16% maker and 0.26% taker. Currencs gives 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker and says the rate falls with volume. Treat the higher pair as the cautious planning figure until the live schedule is confirmed. CryptoScore also shows a tier at $1M to $2.5M in 30-day volume of 0.12% maker and 0.22% taker. Kraken suits active traders who expect to climb tiers. It is a weaker pick for a small account if the higher quote applies.
Coinbase Advanced Trade: higher trading fee, free bitcoin withdrawals
Coinbase Advanced Trade is listed at 0.40% maker and 0.60% taker, with free BTC withdrawals. Currencs describes it as the easiest on-ramp for beginners and notes that the simple app runs higher than Advanced Trade. Coinbase suits people who value an easy start and plan to move bitcoin off the platform often. It costs more per trade than the three exchanges above. Beginners weighing ease against price can read the guide to the best crypto exchange for beginners.
Uphold and SoFi: simple pricing, higher cost
Currencs quotes 2.05% to 3.8% at Uphold: 2.05% to 2.2% on BTC and ETH, and 2.85% to 3.8% on altcoins. Bitcoin.com reports that SoFi charges a flat 1% on crypto trades with no monthly maintenance fee. Both are easy to understand, but neither belongs on a lowest-fee shortlist. They suit occasional buyers who want one clear price and accept paying more for it.
Side-by-side comparison
| Exchange | Base maker / taker | Spread | Bitcoin and USDT withdrawal | Annual cost example | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEXC | 0.00% / 0.10% | Unknown | BTC unknown; USDT TRC20 free, ERC20 10 USDT | Unknown | Limit-order traders who withdraw USDT on TRC20 |
| Binance | 0.10% / 0.10%; 0.075% with at least 1 BNB | 0.01% average, BTC/USDT | 0.00002 BTC (about $0.80); USDT TRC20 $1 | $87 with BNB ($75 trading plus $12 withdrawal) | Frequent traders holding BNB |
| Kraken | 0.16% / 0.26% (CryptoScore); 0.40% / 0.80% (Currencs) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Active traders; confirm the live rate first |
| Coinbase Advanced Trade | 0.40% / 0.60% | Consumer app: 0.50% to 3.99% plus convenience fee | BTC free; USDT unknown | Unknown | Beginners who move bitcoin off the platform |
| Uphold | Flat quoted range 2.05% to 3.8% | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Occasional buyers who want one price |
Figures come from CryptoScore’s 2026 exchange fee comparison and Currencs’ exchange listings, and exchange schedules can vary by volume, payment method or promotion.
How maker and taker fees change the cost of a trade
A maker order rests on the book and adds liquidity. A taker order removes it and, as one fee comparison explains, is charged the higher taker fee. The practical rule is simple.
- Where the two rates differ: Coinbase Advanced Trade lists 0.40% maker against 0.60% taker, per CryptoScore. A patient limit order is cheaper there than a market order.
- Where the rates are equal: Binance lists 0.10% on both sides, so order type changes nothing and a market order costs the same as a limit order.
- Where only one side is cheap: MEXC’s 0.00% maker rate only helps when an order actually rests. A market order pays the 0.10% taker rate.
Anyone who values speed over price will usually pay the taker rate, so compare the taker column first.
Volume tiers and exchange token discounts
Volume tiers matter little for small accounts, because the published thresholds are large. Kraken’s example tier starts at $1M in 30-day volume and OKX’s VIP 5 needs at least $10M, according to CryptoScore. Currencs adds that fees can vary by volume, payment method, or promotion.
Native token discounts are more reachable. Binance takes 25% off when an account holds at least 1 BNB, which gives 0.075% on both sides. KuCoin offers a fee discount of up to 20% with KCS holdings, and MEXC can reach negative fees with its MX token, all per CryptoScore. The catch is that holding a token adds price exposure. It only pays off for someone who would hold that token anyway.
Spreads and flat-fee apps
Low advertised fees can be offset by spreads. A spread is the gap between a token’s market cost and the price actually paid or received, as that fee comparison defines it, and the same page says it usually sits around 0.5%. That is a general level, not an exchange-specific figure.
The gap between order books and simple apps is wide. CryptoScore puts Binance’s average BTC/USDT spread at 0.01%, while Coinbase’s small consumer tier shows a spread of 0.50% to 3.99% plus a convenience fee. For anyone buying through a simple app, the spread is the larger cost to check, not the headline fee.
Withdrawal fees and all-in cost
Withdrawals add to trading fees and can matter more on small transfers. CryptoScore lists Binance’s bitcoin withdrawal at 0.00002 BTC (about $0.80) and Coinbase’s bitcoin withdrawals as free. For USDT, Binance charges $1 on TRC20, and MEXC charges nothing on TRC20 but 10 USDT on ERC20.
Binance is the only exchange in this list with a complete worked example: $75 in trading fees plus $12 in withdrawal fees gives $87 per year when fees are paid in BNB. The other exchanges’ all-in totals are unknown, so the table marks them that way instead of guessing.
Comparing exchanges on the same trade size
Compare every exchange on one trade size, one asset and one payment route, so the numbers line up. Fee pages quote percentages that hide spreads and fixed withdrawal charges.
- Fix the trade. Pick the trade size and decide whether it will be a limit or market order.
- Take the right rate. Use the maker rate for limit orders and the taker rate for market orders at your entry tier.
- Add the spread. Use the exchange’s own quote where it exists. Treat a missing spread as unknown rather than zero.
- Add the exit cost. Include the withdrawal fee for your asset and network, such as bitcoin or USDT on TRC20.
- Check the date. Read the exchange’s own fee page, since Currencs advises confirming current fees on the exchange’s site.
Frequently asked questions
Which crypto exchange has the lowest trading fees?
On published base-tier rates, MEXC leads with a 0.00% maker fee, and it matches Binance and OKX at 0.10% taker, per CryptoScore. Binance with a BNB holding drops to 0.075%.
Why do two sources quote different Kraken fees?
Aggregators list different base-tier pairs for Kraken, at 0.16% and 0.26% in one and 0.40% and 0.80% in the other. Check Kraken’s own schedule, because rates vary by volume and promotion.
Is Coinbase’s simple app cheaper than Advanced Trade?
No. Currencs says the simple app runs higher than the 0.60% Advanced Trade taker rate.
Does a flat fee make an exchange cheaper?
Not necessarily. SoFi’s flat 1% per trade is easy to follow but sits well above the 0.10% base tiers listed for MEXC, Binance and OKX.
