Headline fees are easy to compare and easy to game. We rank on the rate a normal retail account pays at the lowest volume tier, after discounts anyone can obtain — a token fee rebate, not a market-maker agreement.
One warning that applies to this whole list: a zero fee on a thin order book is not cheap. Slippage on an illiquid pair routinely costs more than the fee it saved you.
| Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Futures taker | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1BinanceThe deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range. | 8.7 | 0.075%after discount | 0.05% | altcoins, futures | Open account |
2OKXA trading platform and a self-custody wallet in one product. | 8.6 | 0.1% | 0.05% | futures, defi | Open account |
3BybitA derivatives-first exchange that grew into a full-service platform. | 8.4 | 0.1% | 0.055% | futures, copy-trading | Open account |
4MEXCThe cheapest fees and the longest listing tail, with the trade-offs that implies. | 8.1 | 0.05% | 0.02% | low-fees, altcoins | Open account |
5BitgetThe copy-trading specialist with a large protection fund. | 8.0 | 0.1% | 0.06% | copy-trading, altcoins | Open account |
6KrakenThe security-first veteran, and the safest on-ramp for large fiat amounts. | 7.7 | 0.8% | 0.05% | beginners, security | Open account |
7KuCoinThe altcoin exchange that grew up, slowly. | 7.6 | 0.08%after discount | 0.06% | altcoins, low-fees | Open account |
8CoinbaseThe most regulated, most beginner-friendly and most expensive way in. | 7.4 | 1.2% | 0.05% | beginners, usa | Open account |
Top of this ranking
The deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range.
A trading platform and a self-custody wallet in one product.
A derivatives-first exchange that grew into a full-service platform.
On headline rates, promotional zero-maker venues win. On realised cost including slippage, a deep book at 0.075% frequently beats a thin book at 0%. Compare both on your own trade size.
Use limit orders to pay the maker rate, hold the exchange token where a discount is offered, and sign up through a referral link that shares back part of the fee — that is the one place affiliate links genuinely benefit the user.
No. Withdrawal costs are network-dependent and vary by asset. They are listed on each exchange page instead.
Other rankings
Guides
A practical filter for picking an exchange: availability first, then custody, then cost — in that order.
Maker and taker fees, spreads, funding rates and withdrawal costs — what each one actually takes out of your account.
The signup, verification and first-deposit process end to end, including the security steps to take before you fund the account.
Tools and reference
Security and reputation inputs, side by side
Maker/taker, spread, slippage, proof of reserves and more