8 Best Crypto Exchanges with Lowest Fees in 2025

Trading crypto shouldn't feel like you're getting nickel-and-dimed at every turn. You know that feeling when you make a decent trade, feel pretty good about yourself, and then realize the fees ate up half your profit? Yeah, not fun. Finding an exchange with actually reasonable fees – the kind that don't make you want to flip your desk – can be the difference between slowly building your portfolio and watching it leak money like a rusty bucket.

This guide walks through the exchanges that won't gouge you on fees, what all those fee types actually mean (because who reads the fine print?), and some practical tricks to keep more of your money where it belongs: in your wallet.

Top 8 Crypto Exchanges with the Lowest Fees

1. MEXC: Zero-fee trading for makers
2. OKX: Advanced trading with competitive rates
3. Binance: Best for high-volume traders
4. Bitget: Cheap altcoin trading
5. KuCoin: Low fees on 700+ cryptocurrencies
6. Bybit: Excellent for leverage trading
7. Coinbase: Best fiat deposit options for US users
8. Kraken: Zero-fee USD deposits

1. MEXC: When Zero Actually Means Zero

MEXC doesn't mess around with the "low fee" promise. They offer 0% maker fees and 0.02% taker fees for spot trading. That's not a promotional rate or some limited-time thing – it's just how they operate. If you're the type who sets limit orders and waits for them to fill, you're basically trading for free.

For futures, same story: 0% maker, 0.02% taker. And if you hold their MX token and use it for fee payments, you get another 10% knocked off taker fees. The math is pretty simple here.

What makes MEXC interesting beyond the fees is access to over 2,700 trading pairs. They're quick to list new coins, which means if you're into finding early opportunities (or just enjoy the chaos of new token launches), this is where they show up first. They run weekly airdrops and promotions too – basically rewarding you for using the platform. For people who don't want to deal with KYC hassles, MEXC is also one of the more relaxed options out there.

2. OKX: For Traders Who Actually Know What They're Doing

OKX isn't trying to be the simplest platform – it's built for people who want tools, options, and competitive pricing. Spot trading starts at 0.08% maker and 0.1% taker fees, but those numbers drop based on your trading volume or if you hold OKB (their native token). For futures, you're looking at 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker fees to start.

The platform operates worldwide (except places with strict regulations like the US) and supports 350+ tokens and trading pairs. It's got the full suite: spot trading, margin, perpetual swaps, options. If you're into trading bots or need detailed charts to make decisions, OKX has those covered.

Here's what makes OKX worth considering for serious trading: their tier system can get you down to negative maker fees at VIP levels. That means they're actually paying you to add liquidity to the market. Not a bad deal if you're moving serious volume.

👉 If you're looking for a platform that rewards active trading with lower fees and professional tools, OKX offers some of the most competitive rates for high-volume crypto traders – especially if you're dealing with futures or margin positions.

3. Binance: The High-Volume Trader's Best Friend

Binance has been around since 2017, and there's a reason they're still one of the biggest names in crypto. The base trading fee is 0.1% for both makers and takers. Use their BNB token to pay fees, and that drops to 0.075%. Simple enough.

No deposit fees when you're adding crypto. Withdrawals depend on which blockchain you're using and how congested the network is – pretty standard stuff. Where Binance really shines is futures trading with up to 125x leverage and fees starting at 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker. Those are legitimately competitive numbers.

For US users, there's Binance.US with zero-fee Bitcoin trading on select pairs (they call them Tier 0 pairs). For other pairs, fees start at 0.4% for spot trading, with a 5% discount if you pay with BNB. The more you trade over 30 days, the lower your fees go – a nice perk for active traders. One thing to note: if you're staking through Binance.US, they take up to a 35% service fee on your rewards, which is... well, it's not nothing.

4. Bitget: Altcoin Trading Without the Premium

Bitget keeps it straightforward: 0.1% flat fee for spot trading, both maker and taker. Use their BGB token to pay fees, and you get a 20% discount, bringing it down to 0.08%. For high-volume traders, there's a VIP program where fees can drop to 0.02% maker and 0.032% taker.

Futures trading is where Bitget gets interesting: 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker fees. Those are some of the cheapest rates in the market for derivatives. They've also got this one-click copy trading feature, which is useful if you're new and want to follow what experienced traders are doing without overthinking it.

Deposits are free, withdrawals follow standard network costs. They run "zero fee" promotions occasionally for certain trade types like P2P transactions. If you're someone who trades a lot of altcoins and wants to keep costs down, Bitget's worth checking out.

5. KuCoin: 700+ Coins, Low Fees, No Drama

KuCoin charges 0.1% for spot trading. Pay with their KCS token, and you get 20% off, dropping the fee to 0.08%. Pretty standard setup. For futures, it's 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker.

The VIP program is where things get interesting. Trade enough or hold enough KCS, and your fees can drop to zero. At the highest tier, they actually pay you a rebate to trade. That's not common, and it's a nice incentive if you're doing serious volume.

No deposit fees, which is always appreciated. Withdrawal fees vary by coin and are based on network costs, not some arbitrary markup. KuCoin supports over 700 cryptocurrencies, so if you're hunting for something obscure, chances are they've got it. They also run occasional promotions with zero fees on selected pairs.

6. Bybit: Leverage Without the Leverage on Your Wallet

Bybit's spot trading fees are 0.1% for both makers and takers. Trade more than $10 million in a month, and your taker fee drops to 0.075% with maker at 0.0625%. For derivatives, where Bybit really focuses, it's 0.055% taker and 0.02% maker – seriously competitive for futures and options.

No deposit fees. Withdrawals have a small fixed fee (like 0.0005 BTC for Bitcoin), which is pretty standard. If you're a high-volume trader or qualify for VIP status, your fees can drop significantly, and in some cases, you get negative maker fees – meaning Bybit pays you for providing liquidity.

If you're into leverage trading and want to keep costs down while doing it, Bybit's fee structure is built for that.

7. Coinbase: The US-Friendly Fiat Gateway

Coinbase isn't the cheapest globally, but for US users dealing with fiat deposits and withdrawals, it's actually pretty solid. No fees for ACH deposits or withdrawals – that's a big deal if you're moving money from a US bank regularly. Need faster processing? Wire transfers cost $10 for deposits and $25 for withdrawals in USD. European users pay €0.15 for SEPA deposits (withdrawals are free), and UK users get free SWIFT deposits with a £1 withdrawal fee.

Trading fees follow a maker-taker structure. For users trading under $10,000 monthly, taker fees are 0.6% and maker fees are 0.4%. Those drop as your volume increases, down to 0% maker and 0.05% taker if you're trading over $400 million monthly (which, let's be honest, most of us aren't).

Crypto withdrawal fees depend on network congestion. Coinbase batches transactions to keep costs reasonable. It's not the cheapest for trading, but the fiat on-ramp and off-ramp experience is smooth if you're in the US.

8. Kraken: Solid, Secure, and Zero-Fee USD Deposits

Kraken's been around since 2011, serves users in 190+ countries, and supports 200+ cryptocurrencies. Their fee structure follows a maker-taker model: maker fees start at 0.25% and can drop to 0% for high-volume traders, while taker fees start at 0.40% and can fall to 0.10% as your 30-day trading volume grows past $10 million.

Free crypto deposits and no fees for most fiat deposits like USD via ACH or EUR via SEPA. Withdrawal fees vary by asset and network congestion. They offer margin trading up to 5x leverage and futures trading up to 50x leverage.

Security is where Kraken makes its name – they've never been hacked. They use cold storage for most funds, two-factor authentication, and regular audits. The platform works for both beginners (with the basic Kraken app) and experienced traders (with Kraken Pro for detailed charting and tools).

What All Those Fees Actually Mean

Trading Fees

Every time you trade, the exchange takes a cut. This usually breaks down into maker fees and taker fees:

• Maker fees: You set a limit order that sits on the order book. You're "making" the market. Usually cheaper.

• Taker fees: You instantly buy or sell at the current market price, "taking" liquidity. Usually costs more.

Most exchanges charge a percentage. Binance does a flat 0.1%, Coinbase Advanced starts at 0.4% but drops with volume. There's also a difference between fiat-to-crypto trades (like buying Bitcoin with USD) and crypto-to-crypto trades (like swapping Bitcoin for Ethereum). Some platforms like Kraken charge less for crypto-to-crypto.

Deposit Fees

Getting money into the exchange. Many platforms let you deposit crypto for free. Fiat deposits vary – bank transfers are often free, but credit cards can hit you with 3-5%. Coinbase charges 3.99% for card deposits, which adds up fast. If you've got crypto already, just send it directly to skip these fees.

Withdrawal Fees

Taking money out of the exchange. Fiat withdrawals might have flat fees or depend on your method. Crypto withdrawals usually cost based on the blockchain's network fee – like 0.0005 BTC for Bitcoin on average. Some exchanges have fixed rates, others let you pay more for faster processing.

Interest Fees

When you borrow crypto or funds (common in margin trading), you pay interest. On centralized exchanges like Binance, this might be 0.01% daily on what you borrowed. On decentralized lending protocols like Aave, interest rates fluctuate based on supply and demand.

Borrowing Fees

The upfront cost to take out a loan in crypto. On platforms like Kraken, this could be a flat 0.02% when you borrow. On decentralized platforms like Compound, it's less common as a separate charge but gets baked into gas fees.

Liquidation Fees

If your borrowed position drops below the required value, the platform forcibly closes it to protect lenders. Binance Margin takes about 2% of the liquidated amount when this happens. Not fun, but it's how they ensure debts get paid even when markets crash.

The Hidden Stuff

• Spreads: The difference between buy and sell prices. Some platforms like Robinhood make money this way instead of showing a trading fee – sneaky, but it's there.

• Inactivity fees: Charged if you don't use your account for a while. Not all exchanges do this.

• Transfer fees: Moving funds between wallets or from spot to futures markets. These add up if you're not careful.

Why Fees Actually Matter

A 0.1% fee doesn't sound like much until you do the math. Buy $1,000 of Bitcoin on Binance at 0.1%, you pay $1. Fine. Do that ten times a week, and you're at $10 weekly, $40 monthly. Now compare that to Coinbase Advanced's 0.6% fee – same $1,000 trade costs $6, ten trades is $60 weekly. That's an extra $80 a month just in fees.

For small trades, high fees hurt even more. Want to buy $200 worth of crypto on Coinbase Simple with a 1.49% fee? You lose $2.98. For some people, that's not worth it. Lower fees make small investments actually make sense.

👉 For traders who want to maximize returns without fees eating into profits, OKX's tier-based fee structure rewards volume with rates as low as 0.02% – making it one of the most cost-effective platforms for both spot and futures trading.

How to Actually Reduce Your Trading Fees

Pick the right exchange: Binance charges 0.1%, MEXC charges 0%. Choose wisely.

Use maker orders: Set limit orders instead of market orders. You'll pay less.

Trade bigger amounts less often: Ten $100 trades cost more in fees than one $1,000 trade.

Pay with exchange tokens: Binance gives 25% off with BNB, KuCoin gives 20% off with KCS.

Skip credit cards: Bank transfers are usually free. Credit cards cost 3-5%. Easy choice.

Watch network traffic: Blockchain fees spike during busy times. Wait for a quiet period to withdraw.

Check for promotions: Exchanges run "zero fee" events or discounts on certain pairs. Take advantage.

Don't overtrade: Every trade costs money. Make them count.

Centralized vs Decentralized: The Fee Showdown

Centralized exchanges like Binance or Coinbase charge consistent trading fees (0.1-0.6%) and withdrawal fees ($1-$5). Predictable, straightforward.

Decentralized exchanges like Uniswap or SushiSwap skip the company middleman. You trade peer-to-peer using smart contracts. No trading fees to a company, but you pay gas fees – costs set by blockchain congestion. Calm day? $1-$5. Busy day? $50+. Plus around 0.3% to liquidity providers.

So who wins? For high-volume traders, DEXs can be cheaper if gas fees are low. But when the network gets congested (and it does), DEXs get expensive fast. CEXs are more predictable, DEXs are more volatile on costs.

Taxes and Why Lower Fees Still Matter

When you trade crypto, profits get hit with capital gains tax in most countries. The fees you pay – trading, withdrawal, gas – can often be deducted, lowering your taxable gains. Lower fees mean less to deduct, but also less profit erosion, leaving you with more after taxes.

The Bottom Line

Choosing a low-fee exchange isn't complicated, but it matters. MEXC, Binance, OKX, Bybit, KuCoin, Kraken, and Bitget all offer competitive rates. MEXC leads with zero maker fees, Binance gives discounts with BNB and zero fees on select Bitcoin pairs. Bybit and OKX work great for low spreads and advanced features, while KuCoin and Bitget balance affordability with tons of coin options.

Each exchange has its perks. Explore their fee structures, see what fits your trading style, and stop letting fees drain your profits. Your wallet will thank you.

FAQs

Which crypto exchange has the lowest spread?

Binance, OKX, KuCoin, and Bybit offer very tight or zero spreads. Binance's high liquidity keeps spreads minimal. Bybit and OKX provide competitive spreads for both spot and futures.

What is the best crypto swap exchange?

Binance is excellent for swapping with its zero-fee "Convert" feature. For decentralized options, Uniswap works great for Ethereum tokens, and Raydium handles Solana blockchain swaps efficiently.

Which exchange has the lowest ETH fees?

MEXC stands out with 0% maker fees for Ethereum trading, making it ideal for high-volume and frequent ETH traders looking to minimize costs.

How do I exchange cryptocurrencies without fees or with low fees?

Use MEXC or Binance for zero maker fees. Try Binance Convert or KuCoin Convert to swap assets without extra costs. Pay fees with the exchange's native token for discounts, and watch for promotional zero-fee events.

Which crypto exchange has the lowest trading fees?

MEXC leads with 0% maker fees and 0.02% taker fees. Binance.US offers zero fees for specific Bitcoin pairs, making it a solid choice for BTC traders.

Which crypto wallet has no transaction fees?

Trust Wallet doesn't charge internal fees for storing and managing crypto. Remember, blockchain network fees still apply when sending or receiving, but the wallet itself doesn't add extra charges.