Fortunly's Guide
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Best Crypto Exchanges for 2024

Written By
Julija A.
Updated
October 01,2024
Some or all of the products/services listed on this page are from our affiliate partners from which we receive commissions. This, however, does not influence the evaluations in our reviews. Learn more by reading our Advertiser Disclosure.

Cryptocurrencies have been more than “just a trend” for several years now. The market and the underlying technology have become so advanced that you can’t really call yourself an investor if you don’t have a few coins in your portfolio.

As with any investment, you need to start somewhere, and that would be by purchasing and selling through an online exchange. Our crypto analysts have found the absolute best crypto exchanges to help you diversify your portfolio and finally venture into some of the greatest investment opportunities.

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Top Crypto Apps and Exchanges in October 2024

eToro Logo

eToro

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Risk Warning: eToro USA LLC and eToro USA Securities Inc.; Investing involves risk, including loss of principal; Not a recommendation.
Available cryptocurrencies: 79
Fees (Maker/Taker): 1%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 20+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Social investment platforms are not that common, making eToro uniquely convenient for less experienced crypto investors. It is not exclusively a cryptocurrency exchange platform and has a lot to offer its users besides the ability to invest in stocks, indices, ETFs, and commodities.

Coinbase Logo

Coinbase

5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 230+
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 0.4% and 0.6%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 100+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Coinbase is among the biggest crypto exchanges nowadays. It allows users to buy, sell, and store hundreds of cryptocurrencies. Coinbase has been incredibly successful, and in January 2018, it became the first cryptocurrency company to be valued at a staggering $8 billion.

Kraken Logo

Kraken

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 200+
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 0.16%/0.26%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 195+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Kraken has served customers since 2011 and is one of the most reliable exchanges with high liquidity and numerous trading pairs. Fees can go as low as 0% for big investors ($10 million-plus), and the exchange has advanced options for experienced traders.

Binance Logo

Binance

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 350+ globally, 150 available in the US
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 0.1%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 100+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Anyone looking for a variety of cryptocurrencies, some of the lowest trading fees, access to DeFi, and the NFT market can find it all here. Binance also has its own cryptocurrency and blockchain, powering decentralized applications and smart contracts. 

CEX.IO Logo

CEX.IO

4 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 140+
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 0.15%/0.25%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 170+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

CEX.IO has its appeal for users in regions that have limited access to the cryptocurrency market. It also offers a variety of cryptocurrencies, crypto savings options, and loans and has recently launched its Visa debit card. 

Uphold Logo

Uphold

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Risk Warning: Terms Apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.
Available cryptocurrencies: 250+
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 1.5% spread
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 150
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Uphold offers its users a convenient way to buy, sell, and trade hundreds of different cryptocurrencies. 

It has a user-friendly platform with multiple DeFi features. Uphold's built-in wallet is excellent for storing cryptocurrencies. Additionally, the platform has low fees and a transparent fee structure and offers 24/7 customer support.

Bitget Logo

Bitget

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 450+
Fees (Maker/Taker): 0% on spot trading
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 100+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Launched in 2018, Bitget has millions of users and a handy option that allows newcomers to copy what more advanced traders are doing.

Bitbuy Logo

Bitbuy

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 25
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 1.5%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 1 (Canada only)
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

While only reserved for Canadians, Bitbuy has processed more than $5 billion and serves over 400,000 users. 

It’s a great example of how a localized, regulated and secure exchange fit for advanced users can still be easily accessible for new crypto traders.

Changelly Logo

Changelly

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 500+
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 5%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 150+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Changelly isn't quite as prominent as some of the other names on this list, but it is an intermediary between its users and some of the leading crypto exchanges in the industry.

Paxful Logo

Paxful

3.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 4
Fees (Maker/Taker): 0% buying, 0.5%-5% selling
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 100+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Paxful is a peer-to-peer Bitcoin and Tether trading platform that offers the widest variety of payment options for buying Bitcoin. While its crypto offer is minimal (it only supports Bitcoin, Ether, and Tether), Paxful supports 350-plus payment options.

Robinhood Logo

Robinhood

3.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 19
Fees (Maker/Taker): 0%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 1 (US only)
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Robinhood makes investing simple. The only downside is a limited choice of crypto investments.

Crypto.com Logo

Crypto.com

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 250+
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 0.075%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 70+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Crypto.com is a modern decentralized finance platform with a native cryptocurrency, a variety of crypto assets, advanced trading features, and rewards options. It offers its Visa card with 5% cash back, and you can either grow your portfolio through staking or take a crypto loan, all in one place.

Gemini Logo

Gemini

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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Available cryptocurrencies: 100+
Fees (Maker/Taker): Up to 0.2%/0.4%
Mobile app: Yes
Countries: 60+
What We Liked
Review
Pros & Cons

Located in New York, Gemini offers a modern way to manage your cryptocurrencies, earn interest and rewards, trade, and enjoy the benefits of a secure custodial service. 

Quick Breakdown

Best Crypto Trading Platforms of 2024 - Our Picks:

  • eToro - Best for low trading fees
  • Coinbase - Best for security features
  • Kraken - Best for experienced traders
  • Binance - Best for fiat to crypto exchanges
  • CEX.IO - Best for margin trading

A Guide on Investing in Crypto

You may have heard that many people are opting for crypto investments as a way to diversify their portfolios. As a matter of fact, many investors who invested at the right time got rich in the crypto market. But where to start, and how does it all work?

We suggest taking the time to learn how to trade crypto and what dealing with cryptocurrencies entails. This means learning about the volatility of these digital assets, tracking their market value, and learning to recognize patterns that lead to bull and bear markets.

Generally speaking, cryptocurrencies are some of the most volatile assets around. Their value changes not daily but hourly, and it’s near impossible to manually keep track of it. That’s why most serious traders use bots to automate the trading process.

There are also different ways of investing. You can simply purchase some crypto from a Bitcoin exchange and hold onto it, waiting for a price hike to sell at profit. There are also companies in the crypto space you can invest in, or you can try your hand at mining or validating on a crypto network.

Another option that has gathered traction recently, especially since the Ethereum network switched to the proof-of-stake model, is staking. This basically means putting some of your crypto coins to work and earning a percentage over time.

Still, it’s worth reiterating - be smart about these volatile assets. Read up on each network you want to stake or invest in, learn the ins and outs, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Where To Buy Crypto

A very common question among people who have never owned any crypto coins is: Where does one go to purchase some? The answer is simple - a crypto exchange.

On this page, you can find some of the biggest crypto exchanges and apps in the world. These companies have been dealing with crypto transactions for a while and support dozens of cryptocurrencies for both buyers and sellers.

To make a purchase, you’ll need to use a fiat currency like USD or EUR and either a credit card or a bank account to transfer your funds. Depending on the site you’re buying the coins at, you’ll either purchase directly from the exchange or you’ll be matched to a seller through the peer-to-peer transaction method.

Taxes on Crypto Gains

If you’re living in the US and trading on the US crypto exchanges, you’ll have to report these earnings as capital gains. Crypto is now fully taxed in the US, so getting good software for preparing crypto tax reports and keeping track of all your transactions is recommended.

Globally speaking, cryptocurrencies are facing more regulation than ever. Some countries outright ban them, while others have embraced them, but will tax the citizens that mainly profit from trading and staking.

There aren’t universal rules to this, though. Just as you’ll need to learn on your own where to buy cryptocurrency, you’ll also have to inform yourself about local regulations and how crypto is taxed in your region.

Evaluation Criteria

Our Criteria for Evaluating Cryptocurrency Exchanges

As you can see, there are more than a handful of exchanges that deal with cryptocurrencies today. While investing in crypto and purchasing digital assets has become easier, it’s more difficult than ever to determine which site to trust.

That’s why we at Fortunly have devised certain criteria and methods for finding the best of the best. In this section, you can read up on what we’re looking for when reviewing crypto exchanges.

Security

The primary reason cryptocurrencies took off is the extra security their pseudonymous nature provides to the end user. Nobody on the blockchain needs to know who you really are and how exactly you’re using your funds.

That goes for the exchanges, too. We expect them to employ the latest security protocols like cold storage for protecting the stored assets and two-factor authentication. Strong SSL encryption is a must, obviously. An exchange that is not known to adhere to high security standards won’t ever get our recommendation.

That’s why our growing cryptocurrency exchange list only includes exchanges that proved time and time again that they care about their customers’ safety, either by going through regular audits, or by providing extra security measures.

Reputation

Aside from the history of each exchange, we also consider their reputation in the crypto community.

That includes customer reviews and any possible reports by various news sites. While nobody’s perfect, when the positives vastly outweigh the negatives, that is a green flag for us, especially when the team behind the site has some experience in the financial industry.

Fees

It’s nigh impossible to avoid fees on crypto exchange apps and websites. No exchange place is without its fees, so our job includes finding those with either the lowest fees overall or a pricing system that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Most of the time, exchanges will introduce lower fees for people that trade a higher volume of cryptocurrencies. Others may provide incentives for specific payment methods. For example, the fees could be lowered if the customer is using PayPal or a wire transfer. 

Therefore, we analyze the ways to buy crypto at each exchange and what kind of fees you can expect once you start trading there.

Selection of Cryptocurrencies

One of the obvious ways to compare different exchanges is by the sheer number of cryptocurrencies they have on offer. Aside from expecting a certain number of the most popular currencies to be present at each exchange - specifically Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and Dogecoin - we also look at how varied the selection is.

Variety is the spice of life, after all.

Payment Methods

Just like with currencies, we highly value the sites that allow you to use several payment methods for purchasing crypto.

In our view, all crypto exchanges should support credit and debit cards, as well as other payment methods like bank transfers and e-wallets like PayPal.

Since many banks are crypto-friendly nowadays, customers expect to use their accounts to trade crypto. This is why we’re not just looking at the variety of payment methods but how streamlined the payments are.

Custody

Custodial services have become a necessity with the crypto uptake. It’s a way for an exchange to safekeep your coins and even private keys while you’re not actively trading or investing.

Luckily, you won’t have to worry about this trading on crypto exchanges, as they all offer this service by default. But, what separates a good from an excellent decentralized crypto exchange is the management of private keys and funds. 

Other Features

This isn’t where our analysis stops. Various extra services and offers a crypto exchange provides will count towards our recommendation.

That could be offering personalized credit cards and debit cards that work with a specific exchange or the ability to stake your coins and earn even more over time.

Some of these sites have expanded to include an NFT marketplace during the recent boom of digital art. You can even get a crypto loan through these websites.

It’s all done to appeal to the growing crypto community, and we’ll point out these extra features in our reviews.

FAQ

What is the safest crypto exchange?

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For us, the safest and most reputable go hand-in-hand when it comes to crypto exchanges. Companies in the sector that have proven to be the most reliable and secure are Kraken and Coinbase. They’re regularly ranked as the top crypto exchanges by both enthusiasts and financial experts, further cementing their position at the top of the crypto world.

Which crypto exchange has the lowest fees?

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Currently, several exchanges offer the lowest possible fees on crypto transactions. Those are Binance, Crypto.com, and Kraken.

What exchange is better than Coinbase?

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Many consider Coinbase to be the world's leading Bitcoin exchange. After all, it has been around for a decade and is one of the biggest crypto brands. But, it has several good alternatives - Kraken, Binance, and eToro, for example.

Is Binance better than Coinbase?

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Both Binance and Coinbase have found their way into our list of cryptocurrency exchanges for a very good reason - they’re the most trusted and well-rounded platforms. Coinbase is ideal for beginners, as it has streamlined trading, while Binance offers multiple trading and staking options for advanced users like DeFi and NFT market.

Which crypto exchange has the lowest fees?

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Currently, Binance, Crypto.com, and Kraken are the most affordable crypto exchanges when it comes to their fees. Trading at any of these three platforms ensures you’ll be paying the lowest trading fees possible.