O
OBitfinex vs Kraken
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
B
Choose Bitfinex if…
- you want a free plan to start with
- you're in its core audience: active crypto traders, institutional investors
K
Choose Kraken if…
- you work on iOS, Android
- you're in its core audience: retail crypto investors, active and leveraged traders
Side by side
Feature Bitfinex Kraken
Pricing modelFreePricing unknown
Starting priceFree—
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, iOS, Android, API
CompanyiFinex Inc. · since 2012Payward, Inc. · since 2011
Full feature lists
B Bitfinex
- Zero maker and taker trading fees
- 260+ trading markets
- Margin trading and margin lending
- Derivatives via Bitfinex and Thalex
- OTC desk for large trades
- Staking and Bitfinex Borrow
- API and WebSocket access
- Paper trading demo mode
K Kraken
- 600+ crypto trading pairs
- 11,000+ stocks and ETFs (U.S. only)
- Perpetual futures with up to 10x leverage
- Staking and auto earn on assets
- Recurring buys (dollar cost averaging)
- Self-custody multi-chain wallet
- Kraken CLI for traders and AI agents
- OTC trading and institutional custody via Prime
Their home pages
What each vendor shows first: the pitch, the plans and the sign-up.
Bitfinex · bitfinex.com
Kraken · kraken.comWhat you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
Bitfinex
Trading0% maker and taker fees
Kraken
Pricing unknown. Plan details aren't published.
Strengths and limitations
Bitfinex
- 0% maker and taker fees advertised
- In operation since 2012
- Demo mode for paper trading
- API and WebSocket access for developers
- The homepage does not explain the fee terms, only a link to the details
- The homepage does not list mobile app platforms
Kraken
- Operating since 2011, with $2T+ in reported transaction volume
- Over 600 crypto pairs plus stocks and ETFs
- Trade on the web, in the mobile app, or through the API and CLI
- Publishes proof of reserves
- Stock trading is available only in the U.S. and not in every state
- Products and features vary by region because of geographic restrictions
- UK cryptoasset services are unregulated and not covered by the FSCS
More comparisons
Other options to consider
OO
See site
O
MiCA-licensed crypto exchange for EU users with spot, futures, bots and Earn
Centralized exchangesAPI
B
BB
Paid
B
Crypto exchange for spot, futures, options, P2P trading and earning rewards
Centralized exchangesAPI
B
BB
See site
B
Exchange for trading crypto, tokenized stocks, gold and forex in one account
Centralized exchangesAPI
M
M
See site
B
BB
See site
B
Crypto exchange for spot, futures, copy trading, earn products and a crypto card
Centralized exchangesAPI
D
DD
See site
D
Crypto derivatives exchange with perpetuals, CFDs, spot and copy trading
Centralized exchangesAPI
Facts from each vendor's public pages. Editorial policy