Kraken vs PayPal: fees, withdrawals, safety and which to use
For a $1,000 bank-transfer buy, Kraken costs $8 while PayPal charges $18.
Kraken vs PayPal fees
Fees for Kraken and PayPal in dollars on $1,000, taken from each exchange's own pages.
| $1,000 and the basics | Kraken | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Buy by bank transfer (ACH) | $8 | $18 |
| Buy by debit card | $37.75 | – |
| Buy by wire | $8 | – |
| Buy with PayPal | – | $18 |
| Sell and send to your bank (ACH) | $8 | – |
| Cash out to your bank (ACH) | $0 | – |
| Cash out by wire | $4 | – |
| Cash out instantly to a debit card | $15 | – |
| Send Bitcoin to a wallet | $1.21 | – |
| States it does not serve | New York, Maine | Hawaii |
| Serves New York | No | Yes |
| Bank withdrawal | Free, 0-2 business days | – |
| NYDFS licence | No | Yes |
| FinCEN registration | Registered | – |
| App Store rating (ratings) | 4.7 (36,140) | 4.8 (6,299,060) |
| Google Play rating (ratings) | 4.3 (56,075) | 4.2 (3,740,000) |
| Coins listed | 721 | – |
When a row shows a dash, the exchange publishes no number for it; "Not offered" means the method isn't supported.
Kraken vs PayPal in your state
PayPal doesn't serve Hawaii, but Kraken does.
In New York and Maine, PayPal serves customers while Kraken does not.
Kraken vs PayPal withdrawals
Withdrawals to your bank from Kraken cost nothing and arrive in 0-2 working days (cutoff 2pm EST).
For PayPal, the pages we read list no bank withdrawal fee or time.
Kraken vs PayPal safety
Kraken doesn't have an NYDFS licence for New York.
PayPal has a New York licence or charter issued by NYDFS.
Kraken vs PayPal apps and coins
In the App Store, Kraken's app has a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 36,140 ratings, while Google Play shows 4.3 from 56,075 ratings.
In the App Store, PayPal's app has a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 6,299,060 ratings, while Google Play shows 4.2 from 3,740,000 ratings.
Which to pick: Kraken or PayPal
- Choose Kraken if you'll use Kraken Pro and its order book.
- Choose PayPal if you want the app and its simple buy screen.
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