Lowest Fee Crypto Exchanges 2026 - Save on Every Trade
Trading fees eat your profits silently. A 0.5% fee doesn’t sound like much, but on $10,000 monthly volume, that’s $50/month — $600/year. On $100K volume, it’s $6,000/year. Choosing the right exchange matters.
Complete Fee Comparison Table
| Exchange | Spot Maker | Spot Taker | Futures Maker | Futures Taker | Deposit | Fiat Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEXC | 0% | 0.05% | 0% | 0.02% | Free | N/A |
| Binance | 0.075%* | 0.075%* | 0.018%* | 0.045%* | Free | $15 |
| Coinbase Adv | 0% | 0.4% | N/A | N/A | Free | Free |
| Bybit | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.055% | Free | Varies |
| OKX | 0.08% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.05% | Free | Varies |
| Kraken | 0.16% | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.05% | Free | $5-35 |
| KuCoin | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.06% | Free | Varies |
| Gate.io | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.015% | 0.05% | Free | Varies |
| Gemini | 0.2% | 0.4% | N/A | N/A | Free | Free (10/mo) |
*With BNB discount
The Real Cost: Annual Fee Comparison
Based on $50,000 monthly trading volume (50% maker, 50% taker):
| Exchange | Monthly Fee | Annual Fee | Annual Savings vs Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEXC | $12.50 | $150 | $3,450 |
| Binance (BNB) | $37.50 | $450 | $3,150 |
| Coinbase Adv | $100 | $1,200 | $2,400 |
| Bybit | $50 | $600 | $3,000 |
| OKX | $45 | $540 | $3,060 |
| Kraken | $105 | $1,260 | $2,340 |
| Gemini | $300 | $3,600 | — |
Hidden Fees Most People Miss
Spread
The difference between buy and sell price. Some exchanges (especially “simple buy” interfaces) charge 0.5-2% spread ON TOP of trading fees. Always check the actual execution price.
Withdrawal Fees
Network fees vary by blockchain:
- Bitcoin: $1-10 depending on congestion
- Ethereum: $1-50 depending on gas
- Solana: $0.01
- USDT on Tron: $1
Pro tip: Withdraw using low-fee networks. USDT on Tron costs $1 vs $10+ on Ethereum.
Funding Rates (Futures)
Perpetual futures charge funding rates every 8 hours. In a bull market, longs pay shorts 0.01-0.1% per 8h — this adds up to 1-3% monthly.
Inactivity Fees
Some exchanges charge fees for dormant accounts. Kraken and Coinbase do not. Always check.
5 Ways to Minimize Fees
- Use maker orders — Always set limit orders instead of market orders
- Hold exchange tokens — BNB (Binance), KCS (KuCoin), OKB (OKX) for discounts
- Withdraw on cheap networks — Tron, Solana, or Polygon instead of Ethereum
- Consolidate trades — Fewer larger trades beat many small ones
- Use referral links — Many exchanges offer 10-20% fee rebates
FAQ
Which crypto exchange has zero fees?
MEXC offers 0% maker fees on spot and futures. Coinbase Advanced offers 0% maker fees on spot.
Are Binance fees really the lowest?
For standard taker fees, MEXC is cheaper. But Binance has the best liquidity, which means less slippage on large orders. Total cost (fees + slippage) is often lowest on Binance.
Do all exchanges charge withdrawal fees?
Yes, but they’re usually network fees, not exchange fees. The amount varies by blockchain and congestion.
Is it worth switching exchanges for lower fees?
If you trade more than $5,000/month, absolutely. The annual savings can be hundreds or thousands of dollars.