Crypto Exchange Fees Explained: What You're Really Paying

Maker fees, taker fees, spreads, withdrawal charges — exchange pricing can be confusing. Here's a plain-English breakdown of how fees work.

The Main Types of Fees

Maker vs Taker Fees

Maker fees apply when you place a limit order that adds liquidity to the order book
Taker fees apply when you place a market order that removes liquidity

Most exchanges charge lower maker fees to encourage liquidity.

Spreads

Some exchanges (especially beginner-focused ones like Coinbase Simple) don't show explicit fees. Instead, they build their margin into the spread — the difference between the buy and sell price. This can be more expensive than it appears.

Withdrawal Fees

Every exchange charges a network fee when you withdraw crypto. This is often fixed per coin and can vary significantly between platforms.

Deposit Fees

Most exchanges allow free bank transfers. Debit card deposits typically incur a 1–3% fee.

How to Compare

Always calculate the total cost of a round trip: deposit → buy → sell → withdraw. Our comparison tables include all these costs.