Head-to-head · US DCA
Coinbase vs Kraken
All-in cost to buy Bitcoin on a weekly schedule for 1 year — fees, estimated spread, and modeled custody. Network miner fees excluded.
Fee data last verified 2026-10-15 (ET). Methodology.
At $100/week for 1 year, Kraken wins on cost — about $25.48 less than Coinbase ($78.00 vs $103.48).
Ranked by modeled all-in cost only — not custody preference, UX, or future affiliate relationships.
All-in at $25 / $100 / $500 weekly
Each scenario is 52 weekly buys (1 year). Same fee inputs; only the weekly dollar amount changes.
| Weekly DCA | Coinbase all-in | Kraken all-in | Winner | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25/wk $1,300.00 invested | $25.87 1.99% | $19.50 1.50% | Kraken | $6.37 |
| $100/wk $5,200.00 invested | $103.48 1.99% | $78.00 1.50% | Kraken | $25.48 |
| $500/wk $26,000.00 invested | $517.40 1.99% | $390.00 1.50% | Kraken | $127.40 |
Breakdown at $100 / week
Coinbase
Simple/recurring buy path (retail default) — fee+spread ESTIMATED from public disclosures.
$103.48
1.99% of $5,200.00 invested
- Buy fees: $77.48
- Spread (estimate): $26.00
- Custody (modeled): $0.00
Kraken
Kraken Instant/Recurring Buy at 1% trading fee + estimated spread (not Pro spot).
$78.00
1.50% of $5,200.00 invested
- Buy fees: $52.00
- Spread (estimate): $26.00
- Custody (modeled): $0.00
Coinbase sources
Last verified 2026-10-15 (ET)
- Coinbase pricing & fees disclosures · accessed 2026-10-15
- Coinbase Advanced fees · accessed 2026-10-15
Coinbase no longer publishes a fixed Simple Buy % — shown at order preview. 1.49% + ~0.5% spread is an ESTIMATE for small ACH buys; verify in-app. Advanced Trade can be cheaper.
Kraken sources
Last verified 2026-10-15 (ET)
- Kraken fee schedule · accessed 2026-10-15
- Kraken recurring orders · accessed 2026-10-15
1% documented on instant/recurring. Spread is variable — 0.5% ESTIMATE. Kraken+ waives trading fee up to $10k/mo but spreads still apply. Pro spot starts ~0.40%/0.80% maker/taker.
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