Coinbase vs Unchained: Which is Best? [2025]

Coinbase

Coinbase is a popular global crypto exchange with over 240 cryptocurrencies supported.

Unchained

US-based Bitcoin-only financial services company. Offers Bitcoin trading desk. Supports ACH & wire transfers with 1% fees.

Coinbase

Available in over 100 countries globally. Full features in most of US including debit cards, staking, instant transfers and futures. Strong support in UK, Europe and parts of Asia with some restrictions. Not available in Singapore or OFAC-sanctioned countries. ID verification required.

Unchained

Available in all U.S. states besides New York, New Jersey, South Dakota, and North Carolina

Coinbase

Over 240 cryptocurrencies

Unchained

Bitcoin only.

Coinbase

• Transaction Fees:
• $0.99 for transactions $10 or lower
• $1.49 for transactions between $10-$25
• $1.99 for transactions between $25-$50
• $2.99 for transactions between $50-$200
• 0.50% spread fee for transactions over $200
• 
  Payment Method Fees:
• ACH transfers: Free
• Bank account/USD Wallet: 1.49%
• Credit/debit card: 3.99%
• Wire transfers: $10 incoming, $25 outgoing

Unchained

• Trading Fees:
• 1.00% for trades up to $100,000
• 0.75% for trades $100,000 - $1,000,000
• 0.50% for trades $1,000,000 - $5,000,000
• Custom rates for trades over $5,000,000
• Minimum Trade Size: $2,000

Coinbase

ACH, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Bank Account, PayPal, Apple Pay, iDEAL, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Instant Verification, Google Pay

Unchained

ACH, Wire Transfer, Bank Account

Coinbase

4.70%

Earn 4.70% APY rewards by holding USDC on Coinbase. USDC is fully backed 1:1 by US dollars. Minimum $1.

Coinbase

iOS Rating: 4.7 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.

Android Rating: 4.6 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.

Unchained

iOS Rating: 4.8 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.

Android App: Not Available

Coinbase

As a public US company, Coinbase maintains full 1:1 reserves of customer assets with no lending. Their platform features industry-leading security including mandatory 2FA, multi-approval withdrawals via Coinbase Vault, and 24/7 monitoring. Over 10 years of experience and regular third-party audits.

Unchained

Unchained uses a collaborative custody model with 2-of-3 multisignature security. You control two keys stored in separate locations, while Unchained secures a backup key. This ensures your bitcoin remains safe even if one key is lost or stolen. All bitcoin is stored offline in cold storage under your control - not on exchanges or hot wallets.

Coinbase

No. Has never lost customer funds in any way.

Unchained

No customer funds have been lost. However, in March 2022, Unchained disclosed that their former email marketing provider ActiveCampaign was compromised. The breach exposed some client data including email addresses, usernames, and account status. No client funds or sensitive personal information was compromised.

Coinbase

coinbase.com

Unchained

unchained.com

Coinbase

No review available

"I mistakenly sent my crypto to the wrong wallet at Coinbase. The team at Coinbase was able to retrieve it and credit to my account within a week. I am quite impressed with their communication, instruction, and result! I'm so relieved. Thank you so much, Coinbase Support!"
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot

Unchained

Read our Unchained review

"Great company, I’ve been a customer since 2021. Though they offer a free service, I opted for concierge onboarding and also opted for their inheritance option. I also plan to move my tradition and Roth IRAs from itrustcaptial to Unchained in the near future. Love that they now have an app 😎"
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot