Coinbase vs Robinhood Crypto: Which Exchange Is Better in 2026?
US state coverage, trading fees, licenses and staking, side by side. Every value comes from the exchange’s own pages or regulator filings.
No project pays to be listed. How we compare
Draft: this comparison is being reviewed by our editors before publication.
In this comparison
Robinhood Crypto is simpler for occasional buyers who already use Robinhood, with no commission by default; Coinbase is better for active traders who want an order book and a published fee.
Robinhood routes crypto orders to market makers without a commission, building its cost into the price; Coinbase charges a published maker/taker fee on Coinbase Advanced.
Quick verdict: Coinbase or Robinhood Crypto?
Robinhood for casual buys in one app; Coinbase for trading and coin choice.
Traders who want an order book, and anyone who plans to move coins to self-custody.
Robinhood stock customers who want to buy some crypto in the same app.
- An order book with a published fee
- Service in all 50 states
- A linked self-custody wallet app
- No commission on default orders
- Stocks and crypto in one app
- A New York BitLicense
Other Coinbase alternatives to compare
The largest global crypto exchange; not available to US residents, who are directed to Binance.US.
Coinbase vs Binance →Crypto app available in every US state except New York, with fees shown in the trade preview.
Coinbase vs Crypto.com →US crypto exchange and custodian, public since September 2025, available in all 50 states.
Coinbase vs Gemini →Coinbase vs Robinhood Crypto at a glance
| Category | Coinbase | Robinhood Crypto |
|---|---|---|
| US availability ⓘStates the exchange does not serve, from its own page. | All 50 states | Most states; some coins limited in NY and TX |
| Trading fees ⓘLowest-volume tier on the advanced order book: maker / taker. | 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker | No commission (spread); 0.50% / 0.95% on Exchange Routing |
| Simple buy fee ⓘFee or spread on the one-click buy screen. | Not verified | No commission, spread in price |
| Coins available (US) | Not verified | 140+ |
| Staking (US) | Not verified | Yes, 25% commission on rewards |
| US licenses | NY BitLicense, state MTLs, NMLS 1163082 | FinCEN MSB, state MTLs, NY BitLicense |
| Custody | Custodial | Custodial |
| Self-custody wallet | Coinbase Wallet | Not verified |
Data as of Sep 26, 2026. Sources: each exchange’s own fee schedule, help center and licenses page, and regulator filings. Fees change; check the price preview before you trade.
What are Coinbase and Robinhood Crypto?
Coinbase
Coinbase is a US crypto platform run by Coinbase, Inc., part of the public company Coinbase Global, Inc. It has a simple buy and sell screen and an order-book platform, Coinbase Advanced, with fees tiered by 30-day volume. Its self-custody wallet is a separate app, Coinbase Wallet.
Robinhood Crypto
Robinhood Crypto is the crypto arm of Robinhood Markets. By default it routes orders to market makers without a commission, with the cost built into the price. An optional Exchange Routing mode sends orders to EDX Markets and Bitstamp USA for a tiered maker/taker fee.
Fees
Different models.
Coinbase
0.40% maker / 0.60% taker on Coinbase Advanced at the lowest tier.
Robinhood Crypto
No commission on default routing, with the cost in the execution price; Exchange Routing costs 0.50% maker / 0.95% taker at the lowest tier.
Depends on how you trade
Staking
Robinhood’s cut is published.
Coinbase
Offered in the US; Coinbase lists state exceptions in its help center.
Robinhood Crypto
Offered; Robinhood takes a 25% commission on rewards.
No clear winner
Regulation
Both are licensed.
Coinbase
Public parent that reports to the SEC.
Robinhood Crypto
FinCEN MSB, state licenses and a New York BitLicense; fined $30M by NYDFS in 2022.
Tie
Everyday use
Robinhood is simpler if you already use it.
Coinbase
Separate crypto app with a simple screen and an order book.
Robinhood Crypto
Crypto sits next to stocks in the Robinhood app.
Winner: Robinhood for casual use
Coinbase or Robinhood Crypto: final verdict
Pick Robinhood for small, occasional buys if you already use it for stocks.
Pick Coinbase if you trade often, want a published fee, or plan to move coins to your own wallet.
- Commission: Robinhood Crypto
- Fee transparency: Coinbase
- Staking cost: Coinbase
- Coin choice: Tie
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; only sign transactions you understand.
How we compared Coinbase and Robinhood Crypto
We compared both platforms on what US customers see: which states they serve, the entry-tier order-book fee, the cost of a simple buy, staking availability, licenses and custody. Every value comes from the platform’s own fee schedule, help center or licenses page, or from regulator filings, with the date we checked it.
Coinbase vs Robinhood Crypto: FAQ
Is Robinhood crypto really free?
Robinhood charges no commission on default orders, but its cost is built into the execution price, and it earns rebates from market makers. The spread is not published.
How many coins does Robinhood have?
Over 140 tradable cryptocurrencies, according to its coin availability page.
Does Robinhood charge for staking?
Yes. Its fee schedule shows a 25% commission on staking rewards.
Can I move crypto from Coinbase to Robinhood?
Yes. Withdraw from Coinbase to your Robinhood deposit address for the same coin and network. Send a small test amount first; network fees apply.
Do Coinbase and Robinhood hold my crypto?
Yes. Both are custodial: the platform holds the keys to your balance. To hold your own keys, withdraw to a self-custody wallet.
Coinbase vs Robinhood Crypto by user type
| If you are… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Existing Robinhood stock user | Robinhood | Crypto in the same app, no commission by default. |
| Active trader | Coinbase | Order book with a published fee ladder. |
| Staker | Coinbase | Robinhood keeps 25% of rewards. |
| New York resident | Either | Both serve New York. |
| Wants self-custody | Coinbase | Links to Coinbase Wallet. |
| Outside the US | Neither | This comparison covers US customers only. |
Pros and cons
- Pro: Parent company is public and files with the SEC
- Pro: Stablecoin pairs on Advanced cost 0.00% maker / 0.0045% taker
- Pro: Separate self-custody app: Coinbase Wallet
- Con: Entry fees on Advanced of 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker
- Con: A 2025 data breach exposed customer ID images and partial SSNs
- Con: Simple-buy spread is not published on a page we could check
- Pro: No commission on default routing
- Pro: Over 140 tradable coins
- Pro: Holds a New York BitLicense
- Con: Spread on default routing is not published
- Con: 25% commission on staking rewards
- Con: Fined $30M by NYDFS in 2022
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Coinbase Advanced fees, Coinbase blog: Coinbase launches in Hawaii (Aug 2024), Robinhood Crypto fee schedule (Jun 2026). Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.