Updated October 13, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs Ledger
Kraken
Higher score in this comparison
Ledger
What sets them apart
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coins listed | 728 | 15,000Higher |
| Taker fee | 0.05% to 0.8% | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | Not confirmed |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple pay | Not confirmed |
| Maker fee | 0% to 0.4% | Not confirmed |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Derivatives | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Exchange type | Cex | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Ledger is licensed in 1 more country.
- Coins listed is higher at Ledger: 15,000 vs 728.
- Features: only Kraken offers Mobile app.
- Features: only Ledger offers Self custody, Virtual card.
Our verdict on each
Kraken
Kraken suits active crypto traders who also want stocks, ETFs, forex and futures alongside digital assets, with commission free stock dealing at $0 and cover shown as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. Support runs through help centre routes, so traders who want phone help should weigh that trade off before opening an account.
Ledger
Ledger trades phone only ease for offline signing, so you carry a dedicated device to approve activity. Ledger is a self custody wallet maker with an app for buying swapping and staking, and it suits households starting careful long term digital ownership.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kraken | Ledger |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock dealing costs stay lean at $0 for equity orders. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.0Market choice spans stocks, ETFs and forex with broad coin coverage. | Not confirmed |
| Trust | 9.3Oversight links to Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Conduct Authority with stated scheme cover. | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken | Ledger |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 327 of 1594 | 1241 of 1594 |
| Debit cards | 15 of 826 | 683 of 826 |
| Crypto | 18 of 428 | 358 of 428 |
| Crypto exchanges | 16 of 330 | 280 of 330 |
| Crypto wallets | 12 of 249 | 210 of 249 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | Ledger |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Crypto, Self custody, Virtual card |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Ledger SAS |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | France |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat |
Debit cards
| Fact | Kraken | Ledger |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Free ATM withdrawals | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Debit | Debit |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 0.5% to 2%Higher | 1% |
| Card network | Mastercard | Visa |
| Currencies | 600 | Not confirmed |
| Custody | Self custody | Self custody |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | Kraken | Ledger |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Mobile | Hardware |
| Price | $0Lower | $50 to $400 |
| Coins supported | 728 | 15,000Higher |
| Secure element | Not confirmed | certified Secure Element chip |
| Connectivity | Not confirmed | USB c, Bluetooth, NFC |
| Backup options | Seed | Seed, Recovery serviceCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | Ledger | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.05% to 0.8%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.15 |
| Coins listed | 728highest quarter | 15,000highest quarter | 89.5 |
| Maker fee | 0% to 0.4%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.1 |
Median across 222 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Kraken
Pros
- Commission free stock dealing at $0, below DKB at €10
- Low entry with $1 alongside fiat choice across card, bank and SEPA
- Broad venue with stocks, ETFs and forex and 728 plus published proof of reserves
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so you manage queries through help centre paths.
- Card funding carries extra cost within Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so bank routes suit cost aware deposits.
- Coin trading fees run 0.05% to 0.8%, so frequent takers should weigh volume tiers.
Ledger
Pros
- Manages more than 15,000 digital assets through one companion app
- Keeps private keys offline inside dedicated signers for signing
- Supports buying swapping and staking through connected service providers
Cons
- Requires carrying a separate signer instead of using a phone alone
- Places full care of recovery words on the owner
- Focuses only on digital assets rather than everyday banking needs
Who each suits
Kraken
Who it suits
- Active traders wanting crypto plus stocks, ETFs, forex and futures in a shared venue
- Cost aware equity investors drawn to dealing at $0 with modest entry at $1
Who should look elsewhere
- ActivTrades if you want phone led help rather than help centre paths on help centre
- DKB if you prefer bank bundled investing over crypto led coverage at 728
Ledger
Who it suits
- Holders who want offline signing for many coins
- Beginners seeking clearer control over digital ownership
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting phone only access without extra hardware
Country by country
| Country | Kraken | Ledger |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Colombia | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
8 of 37 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Kraken
What is the minimum deposit to start with Kraken?+
You can open an account with $1, which keeps entry modest for new funders. Bank routes are available alongside card and wallet paths, so you can choose the rail that fits your timing and cost preference.
How much does Kraken charge for stocks and crypto trades?+
Stock dealing is shown as $0, which keeps equity orders lean. Crypto taker fees run 0.05% to 0.8%, so your all in cost depends on asset class, order type and monthly volume tier.
Ledger
What does Ledger offer?+
Ledger provides hardware signers plus a companion wallet app for managing digital assets. You use the app to view balances, manage addresses and interact with decentralised applications. Signing happens on the separate offline device.
How do buying, swapping and staking work?+
You compare third party providers inside the wallet app, then choose how to proceed. Buying, swapping and staking are arranged through those providers. Your private keys remain offline on the signer while you approve activity.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Kraken vs Airwallex
- Kraken vs Nexo
- Kraken vs Binance P2P
- Kraken vs GMO Coin
- Kraken vs ActivTrades
- Kraken vs XTB
- Kraken vs DKB
- Kraken vs Gemini
- Kraken vs UNest
- Kraken vs bunq Spain
- Kraken vs bunq Stocks Spain
- Kraken vs bunq
- Kraken vs Mintos
- Kraken vs Bitpanda
- Kraken vs Trezor
- Kraken vs kraken
- Kraken vs BlackBull Markets
- Kraken vs Pepperstone
- Kraken vs EBC Financial Group
Kraken
Ledger