7 Best Crypto Exchanges, Platforms & Apps of March 2025

More details on why these platforms made the cut

Coinbase

Best for: Overall best crypto exchange; beginner crypto trading; hassle-free and secure crypto storage.

Why we picked it: Coinbase has been at the forefront of cryptocurrency trading since it was founded in 2012, paving the way for beginners who had previously been skeptical of decentralized wallets and how to use them. And that ethos continues to this day — Coinbase is consistently one of the most user-friendly crypto apps we review, even when using its more advanced trading features. This makes it a strong choice for beginners looking for an onramp into the world of crypto.

Good to know: Coinbase's fee structure can sometimes be quite confusing, though you'll see all fees displayed clearly before placing any order. And though Coinbase says it provides 24-hour customer service by phone, chat and email, in our testing it was very difficult to contact a human.

Coinbase's app reviews: Two of the most prominent themes among positive reviews of Coinbase are the app's ease of use and its learning rewards program. The learn-to-earn program lets users earn cryptocurrency by watching videos and completing quizzes about them, and receives very high marks. In fact, over half the reviews mention this feature as a plus. However, users also pointed out Coinbase's relatively high fees, and many expressed issues with customer service and noted it was very difficult to resolve issues and contact the company. This is in line with NerdWallet's testing; we had a very hard time reaching the company and found the process confusing.

Robinhood Crypto

Best for: Easily buying and selling crypto with USD; best crypto exchange among traditional online brokers.

Why we picked it: When Robinhood initially launched its crypto trading product, it was barebones and lacked many features central to crypto trading, such as the ability to send and receive coins. But over time, Robinhood has improved the offering, bringing its incredibly easy stock user interface to crypto markets. While it still can't compete with the pure-play crypto platforms on this list, Robinhood Crypto is a solid choice for those looking for an app that features crypto and stocks all in one.

Good to know: The crypto offering available in the Robinhood brokerage app has limitations. For example, you can't trade crypto-to-crypto directly. For that, you'll need to set up a separate Robinhood Wallet.

Robinhood Crypto's app reviews: In evaluating this, we looked only at reviews that mentioned cryptocurrency, and we found the sentiment is very similar to reviews of the investment platform as a whole. There's a large swath who appreciate how easy the app is to use and how great it is for getting started with investing, yet complaints about the app freezing or crashing as people try to make trades are also common. We should note we have not experienced this in our testing of the crypto portion of the app. Many users also expressed frustration around poor customer support for crypto-related inquiries.

Gemini

Best for: Advanced and active crypto trading; crypto-to-crypto trading.

Why we picked it: Gemini offers products for all levels of crypto trading, but its ActiveTrader product is especially suited for advanced crypto traders. The platform provides access to crypto derivatives, boasts an execution speed of microseconds and offers a selection of some of the most popular crypto-to-crypto trading pairs, even if it the selection isn't as expansive as some other platforms.

Good to know: Gemini previously offered a staking and rewards program called Gemini Earn, but in November 2022, froze customer assets amid the fallout from the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. However, by June 2024, Gemini announced that it had returned 100% of the assets that it owed back to customers^[0].

Gemini's app reviews: Positive reviews of Gemini mention the simplicity of the app and how easy it is to use, and many users noted the wide selection of quality crypto assets. We found this to be a noteworthy distinction: Gemini does not offer the most cryptocurrencies, but for users who aren't interested in getting access to the latest meme coin, that may not matter.

However, the app did get low marks for its high fees, and many users complained about problems withdrawing funds and verifying their account through Gemini's 2FA process. In our testing, weren't able to recreate any of these access or withdrawal issues; however, we did find that for anyone remotely new to cryptocurrency, the withdrawal and verification processes could be confusing and frustrating. We should also note reviews have skewed negatively over the course of the last 12 months, and that while some users praised Gemini's customer service, there's been an increase in the number of negative reviews that mention poor customer service in the last year.

Kraken

Best for: Low fees for advanced trading; large selection of cryptocurrencies; crypto-to-crypto trading pairs.

Why we picked it: Kraken offers a huge selection of cryptocurrencies and around 100 crypto-to-crypto trading pairs. And if you're trading on Kraken Pro, fees fall to some of the lowest of any crypto exchange we review. We also found Kraken's 24-hour customer support to be straightforward and were able to easily contact a human by phone.

Good to know: The exchange is not available for users in New York or Washington, and Kraken has banned access to its staking offering for users in the U.S.

Kraken's app reviews: App users tend to mention how intuitive Kraken's app is, and many also spotlighted how fast transactions take place. Users also noted Kraken's wide selection of cryptocurrencies as a plus, and praised the app's strong security protocols and customer service. Interestingly, Kraken appears to have a very divided audience: around three-quarters of the reviews are 5-stars, while around one-quarter are 1-star reviews. Only 6% of reviews in the last year were 2, 3 or 4 star ratings. Still, despite this polarization, positive reviews far exceed negative reviews. And in our exercise of combing through user reviews of other platforms, the praise we saw for Kraken's customer service is very rare.

Crypto.com

Best for: Overall experience; cryptocurrency selection.

Why we picked it: Crypto.com rose to the top of the ranks thanks to its huge selection of digital assets, low fees, DeFi companion app and slick user experience. For more advanced traders, the platform offers trading in crypto derivatives, as well as customizable alerts and watchlists. Beginners will find plenty of explanations and tooltips along the way.

Good to know: Crypto.com previously had a huge selection of high-earning staking and rewards options, but that is no longer available to U.S. customers.

Crypto.com's app reviews: Users like how easy it is to use the app, and many noted they liked Crypto.com's added security features and 2FA. This tracks with our experience, as we found that the additional security features (such as using a pin to complete transactions) weren't inconvenient, and added to security. However, there were several users who were annoyed about how frequently the app requires updates, which can take a long time to complete. More notable, in our opinion, were the negative reviews based on withdrawal issues and long processing times. We also experienced this when testing these users' claims; after what at first appeared to be an error, we learned Crypto.com's BTC withdrawal minimum was .0008 BTC at the time of testing, or around $75, and we were unable to get our BTC off the platform without hitting that threshold.

Fidelity Crypto

Best for: Investors who want basic exposure to cryptocurrency within a traditional brokerage

Why we picked it: Investors who already use Fidelity and want to gain some exposure to three cryptocurrencies — Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin — can now do so from within the brokerage. Functionality is limited, and you won't find any advanced crypto trading bells and whistles, but for many using this product, such offerings aren't necessary.

Good to know: Despite operating through one of the largest brokerages in the U.S., Fidelity Crypto is still only available in 38 states.

Fidelity Crypto's app reviews: There are so few Fidelity reviews that mention its crypto product, there isn't a way to appropriately determine sentiment among users.

InteractiveBrokers Crypto

Best for: Traditional brokers; advanced traders.

Why we picked it: InteractiveBrokers has long been one of the best brokers for advanced trading in equities, and now it offers a similar platform for cryptocurrency. Similar to Fidelity's crypto offering, existing users of InteractiveBrokers will appreciate the ability to gain exposure to four large cryptocurrencies within the platform.

Good to know: InteractiveBrokers is still primarily an advanced stock trading platform, so you won't be able to trade crypto-to-crypto like you can on a pure-play crypto trading platform, such as Coinbase, Gemini, Crypto.com or Kraken.

Interactive Brokers' app reviews: Interactive Brokers is internationally known for its robust trading platform built for advanced stock traders. So it wasn't a surprise to learn reviews of the platform scarcely mention crypto trading. Those that do mention cryptocurrency appear to be from regions where IBKR limits crypto trading access. However, this should not be an issue for U.S.-based traders.

• How we collect real user sentiment about apps

  NerdWallet's evaluations focus on data we collect, like account fees, portfolio diversification, features and account minimums, as well as our own testers' experiences. We include two factors that directly address customer service: Support availability and contact methods, and website transparency, which our team assesses by looking for key information on the provider's website, just as a potential customer would. For mobile apps, we also consider the app's overall rating in both iOS and Android stores. But qualitative customer satisfaction is harder for us to directly assess. To offer a more complete evaluation, we've used an AI tool to comb investing app reviews from the iOS and Android app stores. We then evaluate that data for consistent themes, both positive and negative. Due to the anonymous nature, we're unable to confirm these customer experiences as we normally would. The summaries below are based on up to a year's worth of reviews ending February 24, 2025.

Common questions about cryptocurrency exchanges

What is a crypto exchange?

A crypto exchange is, very basically, a place where you can purchase a cryptocurrency using cash or another digital asset.

This roundup primarily discusses a type of crypto exchange known as a centralized exchange. A centralized exchange is a marketplace operated by a business entity that buys, sells and facilitates transactions in cryptocurrency.

If you're new to cryptocurrency or just need to convert fiat currency into crypto, you'll likely use a centralized exchange.

Another way to get crypto is through what is known as a decentralized exchange. These are largely automated, blockchain-based programs that allow users to swap certain kinds of cryptocurrency for one another. While these can have lower transaction costs, they also require more technical expertise. And if you don't already have cryptocurrency, your options are limited.

How do I choose the right crypto exchange?

One of the biggest factors in picking a crypto exchange is the type of cryptocurrency you plan to invest in, and how far from the mainstream you want to stray. Bitcoin and a handful of the biggest altcoins like Ethereum are nearly universally available, and may be the only cryptocurrencies on the menu at online brokers. If you're interested in these and merely want to dabble in crypto, an online broker may be a good fit — one added benefit is you can keep your cryptocurrency and other investments within one platform.

But if you are eyeing a niche coin, you’ll want to double-check its availability on any exchange you're considering. Pure-play crypto exchanges will offer the widest variety of cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency pairs.

Then consider where you want to store your crypto once you've purchased it: Storage options vary from exchange to exchange, and the presence or absence of your preferred storage method could be a reason to choose one service over another.

Generally, you can store crypto with the exchange where you bought it. Most — though not all — exchanges also let you move the digital assets you buy to your own crypto wallet. If that's important to you, be sure to select an exchange that supports it.

Finally, consider other major factors like fees, the trading experience and — if you're new to crypto trading — the level of educational resources provided to help you get started.

What services do crypto exchanges offer?

Aside from their primary role at the center of crypto sales and purchases, exchanges have added a handful of other offerings. Among those are services that pay rewards to people who lend out their crypto. Many crypto exchanges will hold your crypto for you if you don't want to set up a wallet that you control by yourself.

Which crypto exchange offers the largest selection?

The number of coins on offer at crypto exchanges can vary widely. If you're looking to trade a specific cryptocurrency, you'll want to confirm it's available through the platform you're interested in. Generally speaking, if you're looking for anything more than Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum, you should probably consider a pure-play crypto exchange rather than a traditional broker with a crypto offering. This becomes clear when comparing the number of cryptocurrencies available at pure-play crypto platforms and traditional brokers above.

Where can I buy the TRUMP meme coin?

Several of the exchanges above offer the TRUMP meme token that was launched in January 2025, including Coinbase and Robinhood. Keep in mind that while the coin quickly increased in value and market cap immediately following its launch, its price is likely to be highly volatile. This is true of all cryptocurrencies, but especially meme coins, which are driven by news or pop culture trends and are prone to large price explosions or crashes. Generally speaking, investors should treat meme coins like TRUMP as highly speculative.

Are crypto exchanges safe?

Crypto trading is not subject to the same investor protections you get when working with traditional investments. For example, U.S. Securities Investor Protection Corp. insurance doesn't apply to cryptocurrency, so if your exchange fails, you could lose your investment.

It's also worth noting that storing crypto in an exchange's wallet can leave you vulnerable to losses if an exchange fails or suffers a cyberattack. For this reason, some users prefer not to store assets on exchanges unless they're actively trading.

How much money do I need to use a crypto exchange?

If you're just thinking about dabbling in crypto, it's good to remember that you don't have to put your life's savings on the line to get a sense of how it works.

Crypto exchanges reviewed by NerdWallet generally have no account minimums, which means you're free to create an account and look around without spending a dime. And if you decide to buy some crypto, you don't have to buy a lot. Many exchanges have a minimum purchase of around a dollar.

How is investing in crypto different from investing in stocks?

Trading cryptocurrencies is different from traditional investing in several ways. A few examples:

• Compared to traditional investing, which has seen fees steadily decline in recent years, trading in cryptocurrencies costs much more. For example, depending on the method of payment, you could pay 5% or more in fees when trading Bitcoin. Most online brokers no longer charge a commission to trade stocks.

• Crypto is still a relatively new and burgeoning industry, and customer service has lagged behind what's available at traditional brokerages. Want to speak to a person concerning questions or account issues at a crypto exchange? Many pure crypto exchanges don't offer that service.

• You have more responsibility for protecting your crypto from theft with cryptocurrency exchanges, especially if you use your own digital wallet. While exchanges protect you from losses due to site-wide hacks, you won’t be protected from individual attacks on your account — for example, a phishing email attack in which you unwittingly reveal your passwords to cybercriminals.