Personal Finance · head to head
Kraken vs Banktivity
Kraken
Personal Finance
Secure cryptocurrency exchange for serious traders
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Kraken has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Kraken restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements; Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- They diverge on capability: Kraken covers Spot Trading, Banktivity covers Account tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Kraken and Banktivity actually diverge.
| Attribute | Kraken | Banktivity |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Mac, IOS |
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 |
Identical on both: 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 Kraken
- Spot Trading
- Futures Trading
- Margin Trading
- Staking
- OTC Desk
- Bank transfers
- SWIFT
- Plaid
Only in Banktivity
- Account tracking
- Bill management
- Investment tracking
- Budget forecasting
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Mac support
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Kraken
- Exchangesnot Banktivity
- Tradingnot Banktivity
- Stakingnot Banktivity
Banktivity
- Personal budgeting and money management on a Macnot Kraken
- Investment and net worth trackingnot Kraken
- Retirement planning projectionsnot Kraken
- Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot Kraken
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Banktivity
- Runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- Pricing is not shown on the product page and sits behind a separate plans page
Pricing, plan by plan
Kraken
Free- StarterFree
- Basic trading
- Staking
- Instant buy
- ProFree
- Advanced trading
- Margin trading
- Futures
Banktivity
On request- Monthly$4.99/month
- Full feature access
- Cloud sync
- Annual$39.99/month
- All monthly features
- Discounted rate
Which should you pick?
Choose Kraken if
- You need spot trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want futures trading.
Choose Banktivity if
- You need account tracking.
- You work on Mac, IOS.
- You also want bill management.
Questions people ask
- Is Kraken or Banktivity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Kraken starts at Free and Banktivity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Kraken or Banktivity?
- Kraken has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kraken and On request for Banktivity.
- Does Kraken or Banktivity run on more platforms?
- Kraken runs on Web, Ios, Android. Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS.
- Can I use Kraken for free?
- Yes. Kraken has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Banktivity starts at On request.
- What is Kraken best used for?
- Kraken is most often used for exchanges, trading, staking. Of those, exchanges and trading are not what Banktivity is typically brought in for.
- What can Kraken do that Banktivity cannot?
- Kraken covers Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Margin Trading, Staking. Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Investment tracking, Budget forecasting.
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.
SourceKraken: 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.
SourceKraken: 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.
SourceKraken: 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