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CoinGecko vs Kraken

CoinGecko logo

CoinGecko

Software

The world's largest independent crypto data aggregator

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kraken logo

Kraken

Software

Secure cryptocurrency exchange for serious traders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CoinGecko the free Demo plan allows 10,000 call credits a month and 100 calls a minute; Kraken restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
  • They diverge on capability: CoinGecko covers Price Tracking, Kraken covers Spot Trading.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CoinGecko and Kraken actually diverge.

Attributes where CoinGecko and Kraken differ
AttributeCoinGeckoKraken
Founded20142011

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

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 CoinGecko

  • Price Tracking
  • Market Data
  • Portfolio Tracker
  • NFT Floor Prices
  • API Access
  • 600+ exchanges
  • DeFi protocols

Only in Kraken

  • Spot Trading
  • Futures Trading
  • Margin Trading
  • Staking
  • OTC Desk
  • Bank transfers
  • SWIFT
  • Plaid

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

CoinGecko

  • Pulling cryptocurrency prices and market data over an APInot Kraken
  • Tracking coin, exchange and market metrics programmaticallynot Kraken

Kraken

  • Exchangesnot CoinGecko
  • Tradingnot CoinGecko
  • Stakingnot CoinGecko

Where each one falls short

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

CoinGecko

  • The free Demo plan allows 10,000 call credits a month and 100 calls a minute
  • Rate limits are a paid feature separate from volume, at 300 calls a minute on Basic and 500 above it
  • Credits and rate limits move together by plan, so a burst pattern needs a higher tier than its monthly total implies
  • The 20% saving requires annual billing
  • Enterprise credits and limits are custom with no published figure

Kraken

  • Restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
  • Withdrawal processing delays due to KYC verification, blockchain confirmations, and compliance checks
  • Account restrictions triggered by scam prevention can only be lifted after 90 days
  • Margin trading limited to 5x leverage on most assets; 10x available only to eligible users

Pricing, plan by plan

CoinGecko

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Price data
    • Charts
    • Portfolio
  • Analyst$7.99/month
    • Advanced charts
    • DEX data
    • Token unlocks
  • Pro API$129/month
    • 500K calls/month
    • Historical data
    • Priority support

Kraken

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Basic trading
    • Staking
    • Instant buy
  • ProFree
    • Advanced trading
    • Margin trading
    • Futures

Which should you pick?

Choose CoinGecko if

  • You need price tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want market data.
CoinGecko review

Choose Kraken if

  • You need spot trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want futures trading.
Kraken review

Questions people ask

Is CoinGecko or Kraken better?
Neither clearly leads. CoinGecko starts at Free and Kraken at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CoinGecko or Kraken?
CoinGecko starts at Free and Kraken at Free.
Does CoinGecko or Kraken run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use CoinGecko for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is CoinGecko best used for?
CoinGecko is most often used for pulling cryptocurrency prices and market data over an api, tracking coin, exchange and market metrics programmatically. Of those, pulling cryptocurrency prices and market data over an api and tracking coin, exchange and market metrics programmatically are not what Kraken is typically brought in for.
What can CoinGecko do that Kraken cannot?
CoinGecko covers Price Tracking, Market Data, Portfolio Tracker, NFT Floor Prices. Kraken covers Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Margin Trading, Staking. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kraken: How much does Kraken charge in fees?

Kraken Pro spot trading fees start at 0.25 percent maker and 0.40 percent taker for entry-level volume, decreasing to 0.00 percent maker and 0.08-0.10 percent taker at USD 10M+ monthly volume. The Kraken standard platform charges 1 percent on instant trades and 1.5 percent on custom orders. Kraken+ membership costs 4.99 USD/month or 49.99 USD/year for up to USD 10k/month in fee-free volume.

Source
Kraken: In how many countries can I use Kraken?

Kraken supports 190+ countries and 9 major fiat currencies (USD, EUR, GBP). However, services are restricted in 16 jurisdictions including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Afghanistan due to regulatory compliance requirements.

Source
Kraken: Is Kraken custody secure?

Kraken holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and passed SOC 2 Type 1 examination. The exchange uses cold storage with crypto infrastructure in secure cages under 24/7 armed surveillance. Kraken Custody uses multiparty computation (MPC) and hardware security module (HSM) technology. As a Wyoming SPDI-chartered institution, Kraken Financial operates on full-reserve basis, holding 100 percent of client deposits in unencumbered liquid assets.

Source
Kraken: What cryptocurrencies can I trade?

Kraken supports 500+ cryptocurrencies across 600+ crypto trading pairs. The platform also offers tokenized equities (xStocks) for direct trading of stock exposure, and supports staking rewards on eligible digital assets.

Source
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Related pages

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