Best Low-Fee Crypto Exchanges in the UK (2025)
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Last reviewed: November 7, 2025
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Last updated: February 2025
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Quick Answer: Which UK Crypto Exchange Has the Lowest Fees?
For UK traders in 2025, Coinbase Advanced leads with 0% maker fees and taker fees from 0.05-0.60%, making it exceptional for limit orders. eToro follows with straightforward 1% spread-based pricing ideal for beginners, whilst Kraken Pro offers 0.16%/0.26% fees perfect for active traders.
The cheapest option depends on your trading style. High-volume traders placing limit orders benefit from Coinbase Advanced’s 0% maker fees, casual buyers prefer eToro’s simple pricing, and frequent traders value Kraken Pro’s low maker/taker structure. Bank transfers beat card deposits across all platforms, typically saving 2-4% per transaction.
Top 5 Low-Fee Crypto Exchanges Ranked
We’ve tested each platform with real funds, analyzing actual trading costs, deposit methods, and withdrawal fees. Here’s how they stack up for UK traders in 2025:
| Rank | Exchange | Trading Fees | Deposit Method | Cryptocurrencies | FCA Registered | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coinbase Advanced | 0.00% / 0.05-0.60% | Free bank transfer | 250+ | Yes | High-volume traders |
| 2 | eToro | 1% spread | Free bank transfer | 90+ | Yes | Beginners |
| 3 | Kraken Pro | 0.16% / 0.26% | Free bank transfer | 230+ | Yes | Active traders |
| 4 | Uphold | 0.8-1.2% spread | Free bank transfer | 250+ | Yes | Simple pricing |
| 5 | OKX | 0.08% / 0.10% | Crypto/P2P | 350+ | No | Advanced traders |
Cheapest UK Crypto Exchange Reviewed
What Types of Fees Do Crypto Exchanges Charge?
Understanding the different fee types helps you calculate true trading costs and spot platforms that look cheap but hide charges elsewhere.
Trading Fees Explained
Maker fees apply when you place an order that doesn’t execute immediately – typically a limit order that sits on the order book waiting for a match. These orders “make” liquidity, so exchanges reward them with lower fees (often 0-0.16%).
Taker fees apply when your order executes immediately by matching an existing order on the book. Market orders are always taker orders. These “take” liquidity, so fees are higher (typically 0.05-0.60%).
Spread-based fees don’t separate maker and taker. Instead, the platform marks up the buy price and marks down the sell price, earning the difference. You’ll see one simple percentage (like 1%), making costs easy to predict but sometimes higher for larger trades.
Example: Buying £1,000 of Bitcoin on Kraken Pro with a 0.26% taker fee costs £2.60. The same purchase on eToro’s 1% spread costs £10. Over 100 trades yearly, that’s £260 vs £1,000 – a £740 difference.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
Bank transfers (Faster Payments) are free or very cheap on most UK exchanges – typically £0-1. This is always your best option for moving GBP onto a platform.
Card payments are convenient but expensive. Debit cards typically incur 2-4% fees, whilst credit cards often cost 3-5%. Some banks also treat crypto purchases as cash advances, adding their own charges. A £500 card deposit at 3.99% costs £19.95 extra.
Crypto withdrawal fees vary by coin and network congestion. Bitcoin withdrawals might cost £2-8, whilst Ethereum can range from £1 to £30+ during busy periods. Stablecoins on efficient networks (like USDC on Solana) often cost under £1. Always check current rates before withdrawing.
Some platforms also charge for GBP withdrawals back to your bank account – typically £0-2. Factor this into your total costs, especially if you regularly move money off exchanges.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Currency conversion fees catch many UK traders. Platforms operating in USD (like eToro) charge 0.5-1% to convert your GBP deposits. Do this weekly and you’re paying £5-10 per £1,000 deposited.
Spread markup can hide within the advertised price. A platform might claim “0% fees” but widen the spread by 0.5-1%. Compare the buy/sell prices to other exchanges to spot excessive markups.
Inactivity fees apply on some platforms after 6-12 months without trading. These range from $5-15 monthly. If you’re a long-term holder, check whether your chosen exchange charges for dormant accounts.
Premium features like advanced charting, API access, or priority customer support sometimes require paid subscriptions. Factor these costs if you need professional tools.
How Can You Reduce Your Crypto Trading Fees?
Smart traders minimize fees through simple techniques that compound over time:
Always use bank transfers instead of cards for deposits. The 2-4% you save on a £1,000 deposit is £20-40 – enough to cover several trades’ worth of fees. The extra hour waiting for Faster Payments is worth it.
Trade higher volumes to unlock tier discounts. Many exchanges reduce fees based on 30-day trading volume. On Kraken, hitting £50,000 monthly volume drops fees to 0.14%/0.24%. OKX offers even steeper discounts for active traders.
Use native tokens for fee discounts. Platforms like Binance offer 25% off when paying fees with BNB. OKX provides similar benefits with OKB. If you trade frequently, holding £100-200 of the native token quickly pays for itself.
Place maker orders when possible. If you’re not in a rush, use limit orders instead of market orders. This saves 0.05-0.10% per trade – seemingly small but adding up to hundreds of pounds yearly for active traders.
Consolidate trades instead of making tiny frequent purchases. Network withdrawal fees hit small amounts harder. Buying £50 of Bitcoin weekly costs more in fees than buying £200 monthly.
Time withdrawals strategically. Ethereum gas fees vary dramatically by time and day. Moving crypto during low-traffic periods (weekends, early mornings) can cut network fees by 50-70%.
Compare all-in costs, not just headline rates. A platform advertising 0.5% fees but charging 3% card deposits and £10 withdrawals might cost more than one with 1% trading fees but free deposits and withdrawals.
Do You Pay Tax on Crypto Trading in the UK?
HMRC treats cryptocurrency as property, triggering Capital Gains Tax on profits from trading, selling, or exchanging. For 2024/25, you have a £3,000 annual CGT allowance, with excess profits taxed at 10% (basic rate) or 20% (higher rate).
| Taxable Event | Tax Applies? |
|---|---|
| Selling crypto for GBP | ✓ Yes |
| Exchanging one crypto for another | ✓ Yes |
| Using crypto to buy goods/services | ✓ Yes |
| Gifting crypto (except to spouse) | ✓ Yes |
| Buying and holding | ✗ No |
Record-Keeping: Maintain detailed records of all transactions including dates, GBP values, and fees. If total proceeds exceed £50,000 or gains exceed the allowance, you must report via Self Assessment.
Fees Reduce Tax: Trading fees lower your taxable gain. Example: Buy £1,000 Bitcoin + £10 fee (£1,020 basis), sell for £2,000 – £10 fee (£1,990 proceeds) = £970 gain, not £1,000.
Tools like Koinly or CoinTracker automate tax calculations by connecting to exchanges. With HMRC’s increased crypto focus, proper records are essential.
What Else Should You Consider Beyond Fees?
The cheapest exchange isn’t automatically the best choice. Low fees mean nothing if the platform gets hacked or disappears with your funds.
Security and Regulation
FCA registration provides a crucial safety baseline. Registered exchanges must follow anti-money laundering rules, maintain proper financial controls, and submit to regulatory oversight. This doesn’t guarantee safety but adds accountability and recourse if problems arise.
Look for cold storage (keeping most funds offline), proof-of-reserve audits, insurance coverage, and mandatory 2FA. Check the platform’s history – has it been hacked? How did they respond? Exchanges with decade-long clean records (like Kraken) inspire more confidence than newer platforms.
Remember: crypto isn’t covered by FSCS protection. If an exchange fails, you could lose everything. This makes security features and regulatory standing crucial considerations worth paying slightly higher fees for.
Platform Usability
A confusing interface leads to costly mistakes. Accidentally placing a market order instead of a limit order, or buying the wrong trading pair, can waste more money than you’d save from low fees. Test platforms with small amounts first.
Mobile apps matter if you trade on the go. Some exchanges offer excellent desktop experiences but clunky mobile apps. Others (like eToro and Revolut) are mobile-first with superb smartphone interfaces.
Customer support quality varies dramatically. Budget platforms might take days to respond to tickets, whilst premium services offer live chat. If you’re trading significant amounts, responsive support when problems arise is worth paying for.
Cryptocurrency Selection
Low fees don’t help if the exchange doesn’t list the coins you want. Major platforms cover Bitcoin, Ethereum, and popular altcoins. Specialist interests (DeFi tokens, new launches, gaming coins) require broader selections.
Check trading pairs too. Some exchanges only offer crypto-to-USDT pairs, requiring an extra conversion step that adds costs. Direct GBP or EUR pairs simplify trading and reduce fees.
Staking availability lets you earn passive income on holdings. Kraken and Coinbase offer staking on major coins like Ethereum and Cardano. If you’re holding long-term, earning 3-7% annually whilst waiting makes sense.
Final Verdict: Which Low-Fee Exchange Should You Choose?
For traders who use limit orders and want the absolute lowest fees, Coinbase Advanced is unbeatable with its 0% maker fees. The platform combines rock-bottom costs with strong regulation, security, and a massive cryptocurrency selection.
Beginners benefit most from eToro, where transparent 1% spread-based pricing eliminates confusion about maker/taker distinctions. The slightly higher fees are offset by copy-trading features, multi-asset access, and an interface that won’t overwhelm newcomers.
Active traders making frequent market orders should consider Kraken Pro for its 0.16%/0.26% fees and volume-based discounts that reward high trading activity.
Remember: the cheapest platform isn’t always the best platform. Balance low fees against security, regulation, coin selection, and ease of use. Saving 0.1% per trade means nothing if you lose everything in a hack or scam.
FAQs
Kraken Pro and Coinbase Advanced offer the lowest trading fees for UK users, with maker fees from 0-0.16% and taker fees from 0.05-0.60%. OKX technically has lower fees (0.08%/0.10%) but isn’t FCA-registered. For casual traders, Uphold’s 0.8-1.2% spread-based pricing is competitive and transparent.
Low fees don’t indicate poor security. Kraken Pro and Coinbase Advanced combine rock-bottom fees with strong security and FCA registration. However, avoid unregulated platforms offering suspiciously low fees – some cut costs by skimping on security or operate as outright scams. Stick with FCA-registered exchanges for UK users.
No. Some use maker/taker fee structures (charging different rates based on order type), whilst others apply flat percentage fees or spread-based pricing. Additionally, platforms vary on deposit fees (free to 4%), withdrawal fees (£0-5), and extras like inactivity charges or currency conversion. Always check the complete fee schedule.
Not really. Even “zero-fee” platforms make money somehow – usually through wider spreads or other hidden charges. The closest you’ll get is Coinbase Advanced’s 0% maker fees on limit orders, but you’ll still pay taker fees and network fees when withdrawing. Focus on minimizing rather than eliminating costs.
Bitcoin ATMs are dramatically more expensive, typically charging 5-15% fees. A £500 Bitcoin ATM purchase might cost £25-75 in fees, whereas the same purchase on Kraken Pro costs under £2. ATMs trade convenience and privacy for much higher costs – only use them when online exchanges aren’t accessible.
Low Fees, Pro Trading
- Low Trading Fees
- Advanced Trading Tools
- FCA-Registered
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
