Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Bitpanda vs kraken
Bitpanda
kraken
Higher score in this comparison
Bitpanda vs kraken: the differences
| Compare | BitpandaReviewVisitVisit | krakenReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | €1 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Futures |
| Regulators | FMA (Austria), BaFin (Germany), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), AT FMA | Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, FCA, FINTRAC, FinCEN, SEC and FINRA, CFTC and NFA, AUSTRAC, Bermuda Monetary Authority, Comision Nacional de Valores (CNV), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits | Varies by method and currency |
| Minimum deposit | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000), Currency conversion fee (0%).
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Key differences
- kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Bitpanda offers FMA (Austria), BaFin (Germany), Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Regulators: only kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, FCA.
- Founded is lower at kraken: 2011 vs 2014.
- kraken is licensed in 6 more countries.
- Markets: only Bitpanda offers Metals.
- Markets: only kraken offers Futures.
- Support channels: only kraken offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Features: only Bitpanda offers Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app.
- Features: only kraken offers Custodial, Self custody, Staking.
Our verdict on each
Bitpanda
Bitpanda suits beginners who want stocks, crypto and metals in one app and can start small. Its cost score of 4.6 reflects a flat €1 stock trade fee, free deposits and a low entry point, though the protection cap is modest.
kraken
Kraken suits UK and European buyers who want crypto, stocks, ETFs and futures in a single account, under licences from the Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, the FCA and US regulators. The catch is trading cost: a taker fee of 0.8% against a site median of 0.25%, ranked 100 of 121 on price.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bitpanda | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherStock trades cost €1 a share, deposits are Free deposits, and the entry point is €1. | 8.3 |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.3 | 9.7Higher |
Pick Bitpanda if, pick kraken if
Pick Bitpanda if cost matter most.
Pick kraken if trust matter most.
Where these facts come from
Bitpanda
- bitpanda.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
kraken
- kraken.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- krak.app: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Bitpanda | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 15 of 1594 | 328 of 1594 |
| Debit cards | 12 of 826 | 16 of 826 |
| Investing | 17 of 654 | 26 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 11 of 358 | 16 of 358 |
| Crypto | 10 of 428 | 19 of 428 |
| Crypto exchanges | 8 of 330 | 17 of 330 |
| Crypto wallets | 6 of 249 | 13 of 249 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bitpanda | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account | Custodial, Self custody, Staking |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Bitpanda GmbH | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Austria | Ireland |
| Founded | 2014 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Credit cards
| Fact | Bitpanda | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | 1% cashback on crypto asset spending | Not confirmed |
| Perks | 1% cashback on crypto asset spending | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 1% | Not confirmed |
| Card kind | Credit | Not confirmed |
Debit cards
| Fact | Bitpanda | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | €0 |
| Card type | Debit | Debit |
| Cashback rate | 1% | 2%Higher |
| Card network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 600 |
| Custody | Custodial | Self custody |
Savings
| Fact | Bitpanda | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | Not confirmed |
| Access terms | Instant access, trading 24/7, funds tradeable anytime | Not confirmed |
| Account kind | Easy access | Not confirmed |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | Bitpanda | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | Not confirmed | 0.8% |
| Coins listed | from 650 | 728 |
| Fiat deposit methods | Not confirmed | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple pay |
| Maker fee | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Proof of reserves | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | Not confirmed | Variable per asset and method; static or dynamic funding fees |
| Derivatives | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Exchange type | Cex | Cex |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | Bitpanda | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Mobile | Mobile |
| Price | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Coins supported | 650 | Not confirmed |
| Backup options | Not confirmed | Seed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bitpanda | kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €1at the median | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0%below the median | 0.4% |
Median across 80 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Bitpanda
Pros
- You can start with €1, so a small amount opens the account and the entry point sits well inside the field.
- Stock trades cost €1 a share, a flat price you can work out before you deal.
- Deposits cost Free deposits, so moving money in does not eat into your first investment.
Cons
- Investor protection stops at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so a large portfolio can sit above the cap.
- Support runs on help centre only, so a question that needs a person has no listed route.
- The crypto side alone lists from 650 coins against a field median of 71.5, and custodial custody means the keys are not yours.
kraken
Pros
- Licensed by the Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, the FCA, FinCEN, SEC and FINRA, CFTC and NFA, AUSTRAC and the Bermuda Monetary Authority, with EU protection stated as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Crypto, stocks, ETFs and futures sit in a single account, and the stock trade fee is $0.
- A self-custody mobile wallet priced at $0, with a seed phrase as backup, so coins need not sit on the exchange.
Cons
- Trading fees are the weak side: a taker fee of 0.8% and a maker fee of 0.4% against a site median taker fee of 0.25%.
- Deposit and withdrawal fees vary by method and currency, and withdrawal fees also vary per asset, so moving money costs change with the route.
- Custody differs by product, since the exchange is a centralised venue while the wallet is self-custody, and the platform covers custodial, self-custody and staking features together.
Who each suits
Bitpanda
Who it suits
- Beginners building a first portfolio from spare monthly savings
- People who want stocks, crypto and metals in one app
- Anyone who prefers a fixed share price over percentage dealing fees
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone holding more than EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, where the cap is too low
- Investors who want to hold their own keys rather than custodial custody
- People who need phone or email support, since help runs on help centre only
kraken
Who it suits
- EU and UK buyers who want stocks, ETFs and futures alongside crypto without a second platform.
- Coin holders who want to hold outside the exchange, with a self-custody wallet backed by a seed phrase.
- Spending crypto users, since the card pays cashback of 2% with a currency conversion fee of 0%.
Who should look elsewhere
- Taker-heavy traders, who may pay less on bunq, where the taker fee is 0.25% to 1.99% against 0.8% here.
- Readers who want yield priced on a crypto earn product rather than trading fees, where Vivid Plus charges 2.25%.
Questions about each
Bitpanda
What is the minimum I need to open a Bitpanda account?+
You can start with €1. That is a small enough figure to test the platform before committing real money, and the account is easy access, so you are not tied into a term. A first deposit can be made straight away at no charge.
How much does it cost to buy shares?+
A stock trade costs €1 per share. Because that is a flat price rather than a percentage, the cost does not rise as your order gets larger, which suits a beginner making a handful of larger buys. Very small orders can cost more per share in relative terms.
kraken
What does it cost to trade on Kraken?+
Trading fees are the main charge. The taker fee is 0.8% and the maker fee is 0.4%, against a site median taker fee of 0.25%. Deposit and withdrawal fees vary by method and currency, while stock trades carry a stock trade fee of $0.
Is Kraken regulated and is money protected?+
Its regulator list runs from the Central Bank of Ireland and CySEC to the FCA, FinCEN, SEC and FINRA, CFTC and NFA, AUSTRAC and the Bermuda Monetary Authority. In the EU the stated protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, held through Payward Europe Solutions Limited. Proof of reserves is also offered.