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Personal Finance · head to head

Coinbase vs Skrill

Coinbase logo

Coinbase

Personal Finance

Buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency with ease

From
Free
Rated
-
Skrill logo

Skrill

Personal Finance

Fast and secure money transfer

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Coinbase the App Store listing states standard Coinbase trades carry fees and that a paid Coinbase One subscription is needed for zero trading fees and boosted staking rewards, and that fractional stock shares start at $1.; Skrill a currency conversion fee of 4.49 percent applies to most conversions
  • They diverge on capability: Coinbase covers Cryptocurrency Trading, Skrill covers Money transfers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Coinbase and Skrill actually diverge.

Attributes where Coinbase and Skrill differ
AttributeCoinbaseSkrill
Pricing modelfreemiumtransaction
Founded20122001

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Coinbase

  • Cryptocurrency Trading
  • Staking
  • Coinbase Wallet
  • Coinbase Card
  • Bank transfers
  • PayPal
  • Apple Pay
  • Ios support

Only in Skrill

  • Money transfers
  • Digital wallet
  • Currency conversion
  • Prepaid card
  • Bank accounts
  • Credit cards
  • IOS support

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Coinbase

  • Exchangesnot Skrill
  • Tradingnot Skrill
  • Walletsnot Skrill

Skrill

  • Sending money internationally from a prepaid digital walletnot Coinbase
  • Funding and withdrawing from online merchants and gaming sitesnot Coinbase
  • Buying and selling cryptocurrency inside a wallet accountnot Coinbase

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Coinbase

  • The App Store listing states standard Coinbase trades carry fees and that a paid Coinbase One subscription is needed for zero trading fees and boosted staking rewards, and that fractional stock shares start at $1.

Skrill

  • A currency conversion fee of 4.49 percent applies to most conversions
  • An inactivity fee of EUR 5.00 is deducted monthly after six months with no login or transaction
  • Card deposits carry a 2.50 percent fee
  • SWIFT bank withdrawals cost 2.80 percent with a minimum fee of EUR 3.5
  • Skrill to Skrill transfers cost 2.99 percent with a EUR 0.50 minimum on standard accounts, reduced to 1.45 percent only for True Skriller accounts
  • Crypto trading fees are tiered by VIP status, from 1.50 percent standard down to 1.30 percent at Gold and Diamond VIP

Pricing, plan by plan

Coinbase

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Buy and sell crypto
    • Coinbase Wallet
    • Staking rewards
  • Coinbase One$29.99/month
    • Zero trading fees
    • Priority support
    • Advanced trading tools

Skrill

Free
  • Free AccountFree
    • Money transfers
    • Digital wallet
  • Premier Account$undefined/month
    • Higher limits
    • Special rates

Which should you pick?

Choose Coinbase if

  • You need cryptocurrency trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want staking.

Choose Skrill if

  • You need money transfers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want digital wallet.

Questions people ask

Is Coinbase or Skrill better?
Neither clearly leads. Coinbase starts at Free and Skrill at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Coinbase or Skrill?
Coinbase starts at Free and Skrill at Free.
Does Coinbase or Skrill run on more platforms?
Coinbase runs on Web, Ios, Android. Skrill runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Coinbase for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Coinbase best used for?
Coinbase is most often used for exchanges, trading, wallets. Of those, exchanges and trading are not what Skrill is typically brought in for.
What can Coinbase do that Skrill cannot?
Coinbase covers Cryptocurrency Trading, Staking, Coinbase Wallet, Coinbase Card. Skrill covers Money transfers, Digital wallet, Currency conversion, Prepaid card. Both handle Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Skrill: Is Skrill free to use?

Skrill operates on a freemium model. The digital wallet is free to open and use for basic features. The site refers to a fees page where transfer, conversion, and service fees are disclosed.

Source
Skrill: What are Skrill's fees for transfers and conversions?

Skrill lists transfer, conversion, and service fees but does not display the specific amounts on the homepage. Detailed fee structures are available on Skrill's dedicated fees page at /en/siteinformation/fees/.

Source
Skrill: What services does Skrill offer?

Skrill provides international money transfers, online payment processing, cryptocurrency buying and selling, loyalty rewards through the Knect points program, and a mobile app. These services are included in the free account.

Source
Skrill: Is Skrill regulated?

Yes. Skrill Limited is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 for issuing electronic money and payment instruments. It is also registered with the FCA as a cryptoasset firm.

Source
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