Christy Lynn
Coinbase is the largest US-based crypto exchange and the first app many new investors use to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies. It lists hundreds of coins, though not every cryptocurrency is available. This Coinbase review covers fees, safety, features and the best alternatives so you can decide whether it should be your main exchange.
Coinbase is the largest US-based crypto exchange and one of the easiest places for beginners to buy crypto. Itโs publicly traded (NASDAQ: COIN), joined the S&P 500 in 2025 and supports hundreds of cryptocurrencies. The main drawback is cost: simple โBuyโ trades in the app include a spread plus a fee that can add up to a few percent, while Coinbase Advanced charges much lower maker-taker fees that drop with volume. Coinbase is best for beginners and US users who value ease and regulation over the lowest fees.
- Number of Cryptocurrencies Offered
- Hundreds (varies by state)
- Active trading
- Coinbase Advanced
- Fees
- Spread + fee on simple trades; lower maker-taker fees on Advanced
- Minimum Trade Amount
- $2
- Mobile App
- iOS and Android
- Exchange Support
- Email, Live Chat, and Phone
- Altcoin Options
- Good, but fewer than Kraken or Binance
Open a Coinbase account
- Easiest first purchase
- US-regulated & publicly traded
- New-user bonus in Bitcoin
Bonus amount and terms are set by Coinbase and change often. Affiliate link. How the Coinbase bonus works
Coinbase Overview
A review of the Coinbase profile reveals that the company serves more than 100 million verified users worldwide and holds hundreds of billions of dollars in customer assets. It was founded in 2012 as a simple way to buy bitcoin, went public on the Nasdaq in 2021 and joined the S&P 500 in 2025. Coinbase describes itself as a remote-first company with no official headquarters.
Coinbase runs a simple app for buying, selling and storing crypto, plus Coinbase Advanced for active traders who want charts, order types and lower fees. It also offers Coinbase Wallet, a separate self-custody app.
Pros and Cons of Coinbase
General Coinbase review: Coinbase offers broad access to hundreds of cryptocurrencies and has a low minimum required to fund oneโs account. However, it uses higher fees when compared to other crypto exchanges.
Where Coinbase excels
- Cryptocurrency selection โ Coinbase users have access to a wide range of digital currency offerings because the platform lists hundreds of cryptocurrencies.
- Trading platforms โ Users have access to different platforms for trading. The original Coinbase platform has a user-friendly interface that gives users the option to purchase cryptocurrency using US dollars. Coinbase Advanced (which replaced Coinbase Pro) offers advanced charts, limit and stop orders and much lower maker-taker fees. Coinbase One is an optional subscription that removes trading fees on a set amount of monthly trades and adds perks such as boosted staking rewards.
- Staking and rewards โ Earn rewards on eligible crypto through staking and USDC rewards. (Coinbaseโs quiz-based Learning Rewards ended in May 2025.)
- Debit card access โ Coinbase issues a visa-branded debit card linked to the Coinbase wallet balance of users. This enables users to easily spend their cryptocurrency at any merchant that accepts Visa payments worldwide.
- Mobile app โ Coinbase offers its users a friendly user interface and efficient mobile app for selling, buying, and trading crypto anywhere. Irrespective of the device, the mobile app works well for mobile crypto trading.
Where Coinbase can improve
- Fees โ Coinbase has a confusing fee structure that tends to be higher when compared to other cryptocurrency trading platforms. You can view the cost of a trade when you preview the transaction, but it is hard to figure out the price of a trade beforehand. The minimum amount required to purchase cryptocurrency using the Coinbase platform is $2. The elements that make up the fee structure of the platform can be classified into three categories: 1. The charges on cryptocurrency sales and purchases. 2. Charges are based on payment, order size and volatility, and liquidity. 3. Fees are required to cover expenses for executing a transaction on the external blockchain supporting the cryptocurrency the platform deals with.
- Privacy โ Perhaps, the biggest downside of the Coinbase exchange platform is privacy. The exchange tracks all transactions carried out on your account. In 2019 the company drew criticism for acquiring Neutrino, a blockchain analytics firm whose founders had previously worked at a controversial surveillance company. This is in sharp contrast with Bitcoinโs trait of maintaining anonymity.
- Customer service โ Coinbase has many negative ratings for customer service, and this includes even account security issues.
- Limited altcoins โ Although Coinbase offers access to a wide range of digital currencies, many are still not available on the digital currency exchange platform.
How Safe is Coinbase?
Coinbase uses top industry security and safety practices to protect its usersโ assets and deposits. However, using digital currency comes with a healthy dose of risk, and you should follow best practices to keep your investment and account information safe online to avoid scams and account takeovers.
A review of Coinbase safety measures shows Coinbase uses bank-standard encryption and security for its website. It also keeps the large majority of customer crypto offline in cold storage. Two-factor authentication (2FA), ideally with an authenticator app or security key, stops most attackers who only have your password.
Despite these security methods, users have suffered considerable losses to hackers who have gained access to their account details.
Most reported losses have come from individual accounts compromised through phishing or SIM-swap attacks, not from a breach of Coinbaseโs cold storage.
Services Offered by Coinbase
- Simple buy and sell โ the main Coinbase app lets you buy and sell crypto at a quoted price that includes a spread and a Coinbase fee.
- Exchange โ Coinbase Advanced (formerly Coinbase Pro, which began as GDAX in 2015) offers order-book trading with charts, limit and stop orders, and maker-taker fees that drop as your monthly volume grows.
- Staking services โ Eligible users can stake assets such as Ethereum, Solana and Cardano to earn rewards. Coinbase keeps a commission on staking rewards, and availability varies by location.
- OTC trading โ Since 2018, Coinbase has enabled OTC trading for its institutional customers, and the company explained in March 2019 that its OTC desk sells coins directly from cold storage.
Whatโs new at Coinbase (2025โ2026)
- Coinbase Advanced replaced Coinbase Pro for lower-fee trading with order books, limit orders and charts.
- Base: Coinbaseโs own layer-2 network on Ethereum offers very low transaction fees and connects to Coinbase Wallet.
- Regulatory clarity: the SEC dropped its lawsuit against Coinbase in February 2025.
- May 2025 data incident: criminals bribed overseas support contractors to steal some customersโ personal data, which was then used in impersonation scams. Coinbase said no passwords or private keys were exposed and pledged to reimburse customers tricked into sending funds. Coinbase will never call you and ask you to move funds.
- Coinbase Wallet, its self-custody app, was renamed the Base App in 2025 and returned to the Coinbase Wallet name in September 2026.
Coinbase fees in 2026, simplified
- Simple buy and sell: easiest, but most expensive. You pay a spread (about 0.5%) plus a transaction fee shown before you confirm.
- Coinbase Advanced: maker-taker fees that drop with your 30-day volume, with no spread on order-book trades. Coinbase revised these tiers in September 2026, so check its fee page for current rates.
- Coinbase One: a monthly subscription that waives trading fees up to a monthly limit. Spreads still apply.
Other Exchanges to Consider
- Webull โ This exchange is preferable if you like to trade stocks as well as crypto, it doesnโt have as many altcoins as Coinbase but is preferable for keeping all of your investment portfolios on a single platform.
- Gemini โ A security-focused US exchange with a simple app, an ActiveTrader platform for lower fees and a crypto rewards credit card.
The Bottom Line
Coinbase is undeniably among the top crypto exchanges in the US. Its interface is user-friendly, and it offers a good measure of security. For new investors in the crypto space, Coinbase is excellent, but for traders and bitcoin enthusiasts, Coinbase might not be the best option.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coinbase safe?
Coinbase is regulated in the US, publicly audited and stores most customer crypto offline. The biggest risk is account takeover through phishing, so use a strong password, an authenticator app or security key, and never share codes.
Why are Coinbase fees so high?
The simple Buy button includes a spread and a convenience fee. Use Coinbase Advanced to pay much less.
Is Coinbase available in all US states?
Coinbase operates in nearly every US state, though some products such as staking arenโt available everywhere.
What are the best Coinbase alternatives?
Kraken, Gemini and others offer lower fees or different features. See the best Coinbase alternatives.
How we reviewed Coinbase
We opened and funded a real account, compared fees against Coinbaseโs published schedules, and tested deposits, withdrawals and support. Partners canโt pay for our ratings. Read our full review process.
