Softwr

Software · head to head

Kraken vs Spendee

Kraken logo

Kraken

Software

Secure cryptocurrency exchange for serious traders

From
Free
Rated
-
Spendee logo

Spendee

Software

Budget and money management made easy

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kraken restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements; Spendee the free Basic plan allows one cash wallet and one budget
  • They diverge on capability: Kraken covers Spot Trading, Spendee covers Expense tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kraken and Spendee actually diverge.

Attributes where Kraken and Spendee differ
AttributeKrakenSpendee
Founded20112013

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 Kraken

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

Only in Spendee

  • Expense tracking
  • Budget management
  • Shared wallets
  • Financial analytics
  • Bank 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 Spendee
  • Tradingnot Spendee
  • Stakingnot Spendee

Spendee

  • Tracking personal spending across cash and bank accountsnot Kraken
  • Sharing a budget or wallet with a partner or householdnot 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

Spendee

  • The free Basic plan allows one cash wallet and one budget
  • Shared wallets are excluded from the free plan
  • Premium at $5.99 a month is triple the $1.99 Plus plan, and the pricing page does not quantify what separates them beyond shared wallets
  • Bank sync depends on a supported bank list rather than being universal

Pricing, plan by plan

Kraken

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

Spendee

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Expense tracking
    • Budget creation
    • 3 wallets
  • Premium$6.99/month
    • Unlimited wallets
    • Advanced analytics
    • Investment tracking

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 Spendee if

  • You need expense tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want budget management.

Questions people ask

Is Kraken or Spendee better?
Neither clearly leads. Kraken starts at Free and Spendee at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kraken or Spendee?
Kraken starts at Free and Spendee at Free.
Does Kraken or Spendee run on more platforms?
Kraken runs on Web, Ios, Android. Spendee runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Kraken for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kraken best used for?
Kraken is most often used for exchanges, trading, staking. Of those, exchanges and trading are not what Spendee is typically brought in for.
What can Kraken do that Spendee cannot?
Kraken covers Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Margin Trading, Staking. Spendee covers Expense tracking, Budget management, Shared wallets, Financial analytics. 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.

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

Related pages

Other head to heads