Software · head to head
Kraken vs Charles Schwab
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; Charles Schwab broker-assisted trades cost $25 and automated phone trades cost $5 in addition to the standard $0 online commission, per the App Store listing for Schwab Mobile
- They diverge on capability: Kraken covers Spot Trading, Charles Schwab covers Commission-free trading.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Kraken and Charles Schwab actually diverge.
| Attribute | Kraken | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | transaction |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2011 | 1971 |
Identical on both: 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 Kraken
- Spot Trading
- Futures Trading
- Margin Trading
- Staking
- OTC Desk
- Bank transfers
- SWIFT
- Plaid
Only in Charles Schwab
- Commission-free trading
- Retirement planning
- Wealth management
- Research tools
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- IOS support
Both cover
- Web support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Kraken
- Exchangesnot Charles Schwab
- Tradingnot Charles Schwab
- Stakingnot Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab
- Budget Managementnot Kraken
- Expense Trackingnot Kraken
- Investment Trackingnot 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
Charles Schwab
- Broker-assisted trades cost $25 and automated phone trades cost $5 in addition to the standard $0 online commission, per the App Store listing for Schwab Mobile
- Options trades carry a $0.65 per-contract fee on top of the $0 online commission, per the App Store listing for Schwab Mobile
Pricing, plan by plan
Kraken
Free- StarterFree
- Basic trading
- Staking
- Instant buy
- ProFree
- Advanced trading
- Margin trading
- Futures
Charles Schwab
On request- Individual BrokerageFree
- Commission-free trading
- Research tools
- Schwab Advisor Services$undefined/month
- All Brokerage features
- Wealth management
- Personal advisors
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 Charles Schwab if
- You need commission-free trading.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want retirement planning.
Questions people ask
- Is Kraken or Charles Schwab better?
- Neither clearly leads. Kraken starts at Free and Charles Schwab at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Kraken or Charles Schwab?
- Kraken has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kraken and On request for Charles Schwab.
- Does Kraken or Charles Schwab run on more platforms?
- Kraken runs on Web, Ios, Android. Charles Schwab runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- Can I use Kraken for free?
- Yes. Kraken has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Charles Schwab 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 Charles Schwab is typically brought in for.
- What can Kraken do that Charles Schwab cannot?
- Kraken covers Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Margin Trading, Staking. Charles Schwab covers Commission-free trading, Retirement planning, Wealth management, Research tools. Both handle Web 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.
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.
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