Fees are the silent killer of cryptocurrency trading profits. While exchanges prominently advertise their headline trading rates, the true cost of using a platform extends far beyond the basic maker and taker percentages. Deposit fees, withdrawal charges, spread markups, conversion costs, and hidden network surcharges can collectively dwarf the stated trading fee. In this comprehensive comparison, we dissect the real costs of trading on six major exchanges: Binance, Gemini, Gate.io, KuCoin, MEXC, and PrimeXBT, so you can see exactly where your money goes.
Understanding the full fee picture is especially important in 2026, as the competitive landscape has driven some exchanges to offer eye-catching zero-fee promotions while recovering costs through other channels. The cheapest-looking exchange on paper is not always the cheapest in practice, and this guide will help you see through the marketing to find genuine value.
Understanding the Different Types of Crypto Fees
Before comparing specific exchanges, it is essential to understand the different types of fees you will encounter. Trading fees are the most visible, charged as a percentage of each trade. These are typically split into maker fees, charged when you add liquidity to the order book by placing a limit order, and taker fees, charged when you remove liquidity by placing a market order. Maker fees are almost always lower than taker fees because exchanges want to incentivize liquidity provision.
Deposit fees vary depending on the method. Most exchanges offer free crypto deposits, but fiat deposits via bank transfer, credit card, or third-party payment processors often carry significant charges. Withdrawal fees cover the network transaction costs for sending crypto off the exchange, plus a service margin. Spread costs, while not technically a fee, represent the difference between the buy and sell price and can significantly impact your effective trading cost, especially for less liquid assets. Finally, some exchanges charge conversion fees when you swap between currencies or use simplified buy and sell interfaces rather than the full trading platform.
MEXC: The Zero-Fee Leader
MEXC has made zero maker fees on spot trading its signature offering, and this policy has made it one of the most cost-effective exchanges for active traders. With a 0% maker fee and a taker fee of just 0.05% on spot markets, MEXC’s headline rates are among the lowest available anywhere. For traders who primarily use limit orders, this effectively means free trading.
However, the real cost picture requires deeper analysis. MEXC’s withdrawal fees are generally competitive but vary significantly by cryptocurrency and network. For Bitcoin withdrawals, the fee is typically in line with industry standards, but some altcoin withdrawals carry higher-than-average fees. Fiat deposit and withdrawal options are more limited compared to some competitors, and the available methods may carry third-party processing fees. The spread on MEXC can be wider for lower-volume trading pairs, which partially offsets the zero maker fee advantage. For high-volume traders focused on major pairs, MEXC is genuinely one of the cheapest options available. For casual traders dealing in smaller altcoins, the cost advantage is less clear-cut.
Binance: Volume Discounts and BNB Savings
Binance’s standard spot trading fees start at 0.1% for both makers and takers, which is already competitive by industry standards. However, the real savings come from Binance’s tiered VIP program and BNB discount. By holding and using BNB to pay trading fees, users receive a 25% discount, bringing the effective rate down to 0.075%. High-volume traders can unlock even lower rates through Binance’s VIP tiers, with the highest levels offering maker fees as low as 0.012% and taker fees of 0.024%.
Binance offers free deposits for most cryptocurrencies and competitive withdrawal fees that are generally at or near the actual network cost. The platform supports a wide range of fiat deposit methods, including bank transfers in many countries with zero fees, though credit card purchases carry a surcharge of approximately 1.8% to 2%. Binance’s Convert feature, while convenient, may include a spread markup compared to placing orders directly on the spot market. For cost-conscious users, always using the spot trading interface rather than the simplified buy and sell screens will yield the best rates. Binance also periodically offers zero-fee trading promotions on specific trading pairs, which can provide additional savings.
KuCoin: Competitive Rates with KCS Benefits
KuCoin’s base spot trading fees are set at 0.1% for both makers and takers, matching Binance’s standard rate. Holding the platform’s native KCS token provides a 20% fee discount, reducing the effective rate to 0.08%. KuCoin also operates a tiered fee structure based on 30-day trading volume or KCS holdings, with top-tier users enjoying maker fees as low as 0.005% and taker fees of 0.025%.
One of KuCoin’s notable cost advantages is its relatively low withdrawal fees across a wide range of cryptocurrencies. The platform frequently offers among the cheapest withdrawal rates for popular altcoins, which is significant for users who regularly move assets off the exchange. Fiat deposit options include bank transfer and various third-party services, with fees varying by method and region. KuCoin’s trading bot marketplace, while free to use, executes trades that incur standard trading fees, so users should factor this into their cost calculations. The platform also offers margin trading and futures, each with their own fee structures that include funding rates and liquidation penalties that can add significant costs for leveraged positions.
Gate.io: Transparent Pricing with GT Token Perks
Gate.io’s standard spot trading fees start at 0.2% for both makers and takers, which is higher than some competitors at the base level. However, this headline rate decreases significantly with the use of the platform’s GT token and through its VIP tier system. Holding GT tokens can reduce fees by up to 25%, and VIP status based on trading volume or GT holdings can bring maker fees down to 0.055% and taker fees to 0.065% at the highest levels.
Gate.io’s fee structure becomes more competitive when you consider the full picture. The platform offers a wide range of deposit methods with competitive processing fees. Withdrawal fees are generally reasonable, though the sheer number of supported tokens means fees can vary widely between assets. Gate.io’s point card system allows users to use pre-purchased credits to pay trading fees at a discount. The platform is transparent about its fee calculations and provides detailed fee schedules that are easy to understand. For users trading in the many small-cap and newly listed tokens that Gate.io specializes in, the platform may be the only option for certain assets, making direct fee comparisons less relevant.
Gemini: Premium Safety, Premium Pricing
Gemini’s fee structure reflects its positioning as a premium, highly regulated exchange. The platform uses a complex fee schedule that depends on the interface used and the order amount. Gemini’s Active Trader platform offers maker fees of 0.2% and taker fees of 0.4% at the base level, with volume-based discounts available. However, the simplified mobile and web buy interface uses a convenience fee plus a transaction fee that can result in effective rates significantly higher than the Active Trader platform, sometimes exceeding 1.5% for small transactions.
For cost-conscious users, the key to minimizing fees on Gemini is to always use the Active Trader interface rather than the simplified buying experience. Gemini offers free bank transfer deposits in supported regions, though wire transfers carry a fee. Cryptocurrency withdrawal fees include both a network fee and a service charge, though Gemini provides a limited number of free withdrawals per month depending on the asset. The Gemini credit card, which offers crypto cashback, can partially offset trading costs for users who spend regularly. While Gemini is not the cheapest exchange by any measure, many users consider its fees a reasonable premium for the platform’s regulatory standing, insurance coverage, and overall security.
PrimeXBT: Competitive Trading with Multi-Asset Efficiency
PrimeXBT’s fee structure is designed for active traders who value access to multiple asset classes from a single platform. Cryptocurrency trading fees on PrimeXBT are competitive, with the platform charging a flat fee per trade that varies by instrument. For crypto-to-crypto pairs, fees typically range from 0.05% to 0.1%, which is competitive with most major exchanges.
The real cost efficiency of PrimeXBT becomes apparent for users who trade across multiple asset classes. Rather than maintaining accounts on separate crypto exchanges, forex brokers, and commodity platforms, each with their own fee structures and deposit requirements, PrimeXBT consolidates everything into one account. This can reduce overall costs through fewer deposits and withdrawals and simplified fund management. The platform’s Covesting copy trading module charges a performance fee only on profitable strategies, meaning you do not pay for unsuccessful trades. Deposit fees are minimal, and withdrawal fees are generally in line with network costs. For purely crypto-focused traders, PrimeXBT’s fees are competitive but not the lowest available, while for multi-asset traders, the consolidated platform can deliver meaningful cost savings.
The True Cost Comparison: A Practical Example
To illustrate the real-world impact of fee differences, consider a trader who makes ten spot trades per month of $1,000 each, depositing $5,000 via bank transfer and withdrawing $2,000 in Bitcoin monthly. On MEXC using limit orders, the trading cost would be essentially zero for maker orders. On Binance with BNB discount, the same trades would cost approximately $7.50. On KuCoin with KCS discount, approximately $8.00. On Gate.io at standard rates, approximately $20.00, though this drops significantly with GT holdings. On Gemini‘s Active Trader, approximately $20.00 to $40.00 depending on volume tier. These differences compound dramatically over a year of active trading.
The bottom line is that no single exchange is universally cheapest for every user. Your trading style, preferred assets, deposit and withdrawal patterns, and willingness to hold platform tokens all influence your real costs. The most cost-effective approach is to understand the full fee structure of your chosen platform, use limit orders when possible, take advantage of token-based discounts, and always use the advanced trading interface rather than simplified buy and sell screens. A few minutes of research and setup can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually in trading costs.
