Kraken vs Kraken Pro: 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
Kraken Pro is cheaper: its order book starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker, while an instant buy in the Kraken app costs 1% plus a spread.
Both are run by Kraken and serve the same US states. The Kraken app is a simple buy and sell screen; Kraken Pro adds an order book, more order types and charting.
Quick verdict: Kraken or Kraken Pro?
The Kraken app for a quick first buy; Kraken Pro for lower fees and control over price.
Beginners making small or recurring buys who want one tap and no order book.
Anyone who can place a limit order and wants lower fees and charts.
- The simplest buy and sell screen
- Recurring buys
- No need to read an order book
- Fees from 0.40% maker instead of 1% plus spread
- Stop loss, take profit and trigger orders
- Charts with indicators and custom dashboards
Other Kraken alternatives to compare
The largest US-listed crypto exchange, with a simple buy screen and the Coinbase Advanced order book.
Kraken vs Coinbase →Kraken vs Kraken Pro at a glance
| Category | Kraken | Kraken Pro |
|---|---|---|
| US availability ⓘStates the exchange does not serve, from its own page. | All states except NY and ME | All states except NY and ME |
| Trading fees ⓘLowest-volume tier on the advanced order book: maker / taker. | 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker | 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker |
| Simple buy fee ⓘFee or spread on the one-click buy screen. | 1% + spread | Not verified |
| US licenses | FinCEN MSB, state MTLs, Wyoming SPDI | Not verified |
| Custody | Custodial | Custodial |
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 Kraken and Kraken Pro?
Kraken
Kraken is a crypto exchange operated in the US through Payward entities. It offers a Kraken app with instant buy and sell and an order-book platform, Kraken Pro, with fees tiered by 30-day volume. US affiliates also handle custody, securities brokerage and derivatives.
Kraken Pro
Kraken Pro is the advanced trading platform of the Kraken exchange. US availability matches the Kraken app. Spot fees follow a maker/taker ladder based on 30-day volume, from 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker down to 0% maker and 0.05% taker. It offers stop loss, take profit, IOC, reduce-only and trigger orders, charting with indicators and customizable dashboards.
Fees
Kraken Pro costs less on every trade.
Kraken
Kraken app: 1% fee on instant and recurring trades plus a spread.
Kraken Pro
Kraken Pro: 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker at the entry tier, down to 0% / 0.05% at $500M+ 30-day volume; stablecoin pairs from 0.20%.
Winner: Kraken Pro
Order types
Pro gives control over price.
Kraken
Instant buy, sell and recurring buys at the quoted price.
Kraken Pro
Limit and market orders plus stop loss, take profit, IOC, reduce-only and trigger options.
Winner: Kraken Pro
Charting and tools
Only Pro is built for analysis.
Kraken
Basic price view.
Kraken Pro
Full charts with technical indicators, live order books, up to 4 markets at once and 25+ widgets.
Winner: Kraken Pro
Ease of use
The app is simpler.
Kraken
One screen to buy or sell; no order book.
Kraken Pro
More settings to learn before the first trade.
Winner: Kraken app
Kraken or Kraken Pro: final verdict
Use the Kraken app if you buy small amounts rarely and want the simplest screen.
Switch to Kraken Pro once you are comfortable with a limit order: lower fees and more order types.
- Trading fee: Kraken Pro
- Order types: Kraken Pro
- Charting: Kraken Pro
- Ease of use: Kraken
- US availability: Tie
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; only sign transactions you understand.
How we compared Kraken and Kraken Pro
We compared the instant buy and sell screen in the Kraken app with the Kraken Pro order book on fees, order types, charting and who each fits. Fees come from Kraken's fee schedule and features from the Kraken Pro page, checked Sep 26, 2026.
Kraken vs Kraken Pro: FAQ
Is Kraken Pro cheaper than the Kraken app?
Yes. Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker; instant buys in the Kraken app cost 1% plus a spread. Checked Sep 26, 2026.
Do I need a separate account for Kraken Pro?
No. Kraken Pro uses your Kraken account, so the same balances and state coverage apply.
Is Kraken Pro available in the US?
Yes, in all states except New York and Maine, the same as the Kraken app.
What order types does Kraken Pro have?
Limit and market orders plus stop loss, take profit, IOC, reduce-only and trigger options.
Kraken vs Kraken Pro by user type
| If you are… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-time buyer | Kraken | Simplest screen; accept the 1% fee plus spread. |
| Regular buyer of $100 or more | Kraken Pro | A 0.40% maker order costs less than 1% plus spread. |
| Active trader | Kraken Pro | Stop, trigger and take-profit orders plus charts. |
| New York or Maine resident | Neither | Kraken does not serve these states. |
Pros and cons
- Pro: Kraken Pro entry fee 0.40% maker
- Pro: Wyoming-chartered bank (SPDI), SEC broker-dealer and CFTC futures affiliates
- Pro: Fee schedule and licenses published openly
- Con: Not available in New York or Maine
- Con: 1% fee plus a spread on instant buys
- Con: Paid $30M to the SEC over US staking in 2023
- Pro: Entry fee 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker, lower than a 1% instant buy
- Pro: Stop loss, take profit, IOC, reduce-only and trigger orders
- Pro: Charts with indicators and up to 4 markets side by side
- Con: Not available in New York or Maine
- Con: Takes longer to learn than the simple buy screen
- Con: Custodial: Kraken holds the keys
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Kraken fee schedule, Kraken Pro, Kraken: where is Kraken licensed. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.