Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs XTB
Kraken
XTB
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | KrakenReviewVisitVisit | XTBReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | €0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 0.5% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Platforms | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 10x | 1:30 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €10 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77% |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- XTB scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only XTB offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF.
- XTB is licensed in 1 more country.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Kraken: 0% vs 0.5%.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Futures.
- Markets: only XTB offers CFDs.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Platforms: only XTB offers XStation 5, XStation Mobile.
- Features: only XTB offers Demo account.
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.
XTB
XTB suits beginners who want an account for shares, forex, CFDs and crypto without a monthly charge, and the cost side is thin: the account fee is €0 and the stock trade fee is €0. The catch is the inactivity fee of €10 and a currency conversion fee of 0.5%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing costs stay lean at $0 for equity orders. | 9.2Account fee of €0 and stock trade fee of €0 lead, with an inactivity fee of €10 the offset. |
| Offer | 9.0Market choice spans stocks, ETFs and forex with broad coin coverage. | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Oversight links to Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Conduct Authority with stated scheme cover. | 9.5Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 327 of 1594 | 1 of 1594 |
| Investing | 25 of 654 | 3 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 15 of 358 | 2 of 358 |
| Trading platforms | 11 of 24 | 2 of 24 |
| Forex brokers | 7 of 147 | 2 of 147 |
| Crypto | 18 of 428 | 2 of 428 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners, ExperiencedCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2002 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.05% to 0.8% | 0%Lower |
| Coins listed | 728Higher | 45 |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple payCovers more | Bank |
| Maker fee | 0% to 0.4% | 0% |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Withdrawal fee | Not confirmed | Free above 100 USD/EUR |
| Derivatives | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange type | Cex | Cex |
Debit cards
| Fact | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | £0 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Debit | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 0.5% to 2% | Not confirmed |
| Card network | Mastercard | Not confirmed |
| Currencies | 600 | Not confirmed |
| Custody | Self custody | Not confirmed |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Price | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Coins supported | 728 | Not confirmed |
| Backup options | Seed | Not confirmed |
Savings
| Fact | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 4% |
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Interest on uninvested funds, calculated daily and paid monthly within five days of month end, no minimum or maximum balance, withdraw any amount to your bank account |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | Easy access |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €10above the median | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77%highest quarter | 72.21% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0.5%above the median | 0.4% |
Median across 77 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.
XTB
Pros
- The account fee is €0 and the stock trade fee is €0, which places XTB at 1 of 166 brands on the share dealing charge.
- The minimum deposit is €0, putting XTB at 1 of 218 brands on the amount needed to start.
- Deposit protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000 and investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, both stated with figures rather than vague wording.
Cons
- The inactivity fee is €10, and at 39 of 56 brands on that measure XTB sits well outside the free group.
- A currency conversion fee of 0.5% applies even though the stock trade fee is €0, which bites on any US share held in a euro or sterling account.
- Retail leverage runs to 1:30 and 77% of retail accounts lose money, so free dealing does not mean free from risk.
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
XTB
Who it suits
- Beginners new to investing, since the audience XTB is built for is beginners and the minimum deposit is €0.
- UK and EU customers who want stocks, etfs and forex behind a single login and who read FSCS up to GBP 85,000 before funding.
- People who want the same platform on desktop and phone, with xStation 5 and xStation Mobile both carrying the account.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not bunq, which asks for a minimum deposit of €10 where XTB opens at €0.
- Not CFI if the opening amount is your only guide, since its minimum deposit is also $0 and the real difference is markets and protection.
- Not Fiesta Credito MX, listed under CONDUSEF for credit rather than for trading stocks, etfs and forex.
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.
XTB
What does it cost to hold an XTB account?+
The account fee is €0 and the monthly fee is £0, so there is no standing charge for keeping the account open. The recurring cost to watch is the inactivity fee of €10, which applies when an account is left unused. If you hold uninvested funds you also earn interest, calculated daily and paid monthly, with no minimum or maximum balance.
How much does it cost to buy shares on XTB?+
The stock trade fee is €0 and the account runs on a commission free and low fees model, so a share trade carries no commission. The charges that remain are the currency conversion fee of 0.5% when the trade currency and your account currency differ, and any spread built into the price. For an account holding US shares, that conversion fee is what turns a trade with a stock trade fee of €0 into a cost.
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