Coinbase is one of the most popular cryptocurrency platforms, offering users a straightforward option for buying, selling, converting, and managing digital assets. Our Coinbase review is designed to help you understand what Coinbase offers you as a trader and whether you should consider using it.
There are several factors that should be part of your decision process, including:
- Security
- Reputation
- Trading fees
- User experience
- Supported cryptocurrencies and trades
- Safe storage for digital assets (Coinbase Wallet is an example)
While there are plenty of cryptocurrency exchanges that offer all of the above, Coinbase consistently rates near the top and has the best security overall. Keep reading our Coinbase review to learn what we think of Coinbase and get the details you need to make an educated decision about whether it’s the right crypto trading platform for you.
Get up to $200 free in any crypto when you join Coinbase todayWhat Is Coinbase?
Coinbase is one of the largest and most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. Founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, the company was started in a two-bedroom apartment at a time when Bitcoin was trading for just $6.
The company’s original mission was to “make crypto easy to use” and we think they’ve succeeded in attaining and sustaining that mission.
As of February, 2025, Coinbase has a market cap of $66.04 billion. They don’t often update their user statistics, but the latest numbers we’ve seen indicate they have more than 10.8 million active monthly users and over 105 million total registered users.
In the world of cryptocurrency trading, there aren’t many companies that have long histories. At 12 years and counting, Coinbase is well-known and widely respected. The exchange’s user-friendly platform, large selection of cryptocurrencies, and top-notch security have made it one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges.
Get up to $200 free in any crypto when you join Coinbase todayKey Features of Coinbase
Each cryptocurrency change has its own features. Coinbase is no exception. Here are some of the most important features you’ll find if you sign up for Coinbase.
- 360+ cryptocurrencies to trade plus over 400 unique trading pairs
- Cryptocurrency staking
- Free ACH deposits and withdrawals
- Buy, sell, trade, and convert cryptocurrency
- Free crypto transfers to other Coinbase users
- State-of-the-art security
- Access to advanced charting, additional pairings and trade options, and tiered fees that reward high volume with Advanced Trades
- In-depth knowledge base
- 24/7 support via email, phone, and live chat
We’ll get into a lot more detail about Coinbase security in the next section, and after that, we’ll walk you through the fee structure and other important details.
Is Coinbase Safe?
You might be wondering if Coinbase is the safest crypto exchange. We think it is, and here’s our rundown of their security measures.
- State-of-the-art encryption on the Coinbase website and mobile app
- End-to-end encryption for all trades and transfers
- Most user assets are kept in cold storage, where they’re safe from hacking
- USD deposits made by US citizens are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000
- Coinbase carries crime insurance to protect users’ assets against failures in Coinbase security. It’s important to note that this insurance will not protect you if you give out your password to a third party.
- Password protection, two-factor authentication (2FA) and security key enablement
- Coinbase holds all assets 1:1
- Compatible with multiple crypto wallets, including the Coinbase Wallet
We feel that the combination of security measures with FDIC and crime insurance makes Coinbase extremely safe for users. Provided you don’t make the mistake of sharing your log-in information with anybody else, there’s very little risk that your digital assets will be compromised or stolen.
To dive deeper into Coinbase’s safety measures, read our article: IS COINBASE SAFE?
Who Should Use Coinbase and Coinbase Wallet?
Is Coinbase right for you? Our take is that the target audience for Coinbase is beginning cryptocurrency traders and casual traders. People who want to start small and get started with crypto trading will be well served by Coinbase’s user-friendly dashboard and interface, 24/7 customer service, and straightforward trades. There are plenty of cryptocurrencies available for trading.
We’d also note that it’s very easy to transition from Coinbase to Advanced Trade (formerly known as Coinbase Pro) or even Coinbase One, a premium subscription that includes zero-fee trades, as you increase your crypto holdings.
Advanced traders may be better off with a different platform, or could even get their start with Coinbase One to take advantage of free trading at higher volumes.
What about Coinbase Wallet? You don’t need to be a Coinbase user to download and use Coinbase Wallet. Our Coinbase Wallet review is that it’s ideal for people who are interested in decentralized apps (DApps) and want a secure self-custody option for their cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, including NFTs.
Get started today on CoinbaseUser Experience
One of the most impressive things about the Coinbase user experience is how straightforward and intuitive it is.
On both the website and the mobile app, new users can jump right in and start trading once their account is approved. Keep in mind that Coinbase is regulated by the SEC and the approval process may take a few days for US residents.
The process to make a simple trade on Coinbase takes just a few minutes.
- Choose the cryptocurrency you want to buy and click it.
- Enter an amount
- Click “Buy”
- Review fees
- Finalize your transaction
Coinbase will display all fees in the window before the trade is complete. They use a maker/taker fee structure. These fees may range from 0.05% up to 0.60% of the transaction. There’s also a spread, which is there to allow for price volatility that may lead to changes while the trade is being processed.
If you want more complex trades, you can simply switch to Coinbase Advanced Trade and use their interface instead.
Conclusion
Our overall take at the end of this Coinbase review is that it’s a good choice for beginners and casual traders who don’t plan on making high volume trades. Coinbase’s fees are a little higher than some of the other crypto trading platforms out there, but the user experience is excellent and so are the security measures.
Since it’s free to set up a Coinbase account and you can get started with trades as low as $1, we think beginners will be well served by giving Coinbase and Coinbase Wallet a try.
FAQs
Coinbase has a good reputation and takes security seriously. We think that overall, they’re very trustworthy and a good choice for crypto investors.
Coinbase uses a maker/taker framework for fees, and fees vary by trade. It’s difficult to say exactly how much you’ll pay, but trading fees range from 0.05% to 0.60% if you use the basic Coinbase exchange and may be significantly lower if you trade at high volume using Advanced Trade. ACH deposits and withdrawals are free. Incoming wire transfers incur a fee of $10 and outgoing wires cost $25. There’s a spread that applies to new trades to allow for price fluctuations and Coinbase has the right to keep the difference between the final price and the spread. Total fees are displayed before a trade is final and you can back out if necessary.
Coinbase is reliable and user friendly. The main downside for experienced and high-volume traders is that the fees are higher than they are for other exchanges. However, using Advanced Trading or Coinbase One can save you money on fees.
Yes! Coinbase offers up to $200 in free cryptocurrency to new users who sign up, and they do make good on that promise. To learn more, read: HOW TO GET FREE CRYPTO ON COINBASE! Users may also get paid an APY for staking cryptocurrency and rewards for everyday spending with a Coinbase card.
Using any digital or mobile platform comes with some risks. Coinbase does a great job with security, including 2FA, password protection, encryption, security key enablement, cold storage, and insurance. You can increase your protection by using a crypto wallet that you don’t share with anybody, choosing a strong password, and enabling 2FA.
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Rank Stock Newsletter Stock
PicksAverage
ReturnExcess
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ProfitableMax %
Return1. 
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