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Head-to-head

Kraken vs OKX

Kraken

66.1/100CompareCEX Score v1

92% verified data coverage

OKX

82.6/100CompareCEX Score v1

84% verified data coverage

Which is better for beginners?

OKX scores higher for beginners (82.6 vs 66.1 out of 100).

Based on verified data, OKX scores higher on the CompareCEX Score at 82.6/100 versus 66.1/100 for Kraken — a 16.5-point gap driven mainly by fees, KYC ease, security track record, and available features. Note: both are custodial platforms that hold your funds until you withdraw, so the security and regulation section below (proof-of-reserves, audits, incident history) matters as much as the fee difference. That doesn't automatically make Kraken a bad choice; it may simply have less verified coverage on one or two criteria. Check the fee table, KYC and country availability, and security section below, since your real costs and access can vary by account tier, region, and verification level.

Side-by-side

Criteria	Kraken	OKX
Type	cex	cex
Differs between exchanges. Maker fee	0.40%	0.08%
Differs between exchanges. Taker fee	0.80%	0.10%
KYC	Required	Required

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Fees: what a $1,000 and $10,000 trade actually costs

Criteria	Kraken	OKX
Differs between exchanges. Maker fee	0.40%	0.08%
Differs between exchanges. Taker fee	0.80%	0.10%

Kraken taker fee (0.80%): a $1,000 trade costs $8.00, and a $10,000 trade costs $80.00 (checked 2026-11-01). source
OKX taker fee (0.10%): a $1,000 trade costs $1.00, and a $10,000 trade costs $10.00 (checked 2026-09-04). source

KYC and availability in the US, UK, Canada, Australia

Kraken KYC: Required. OKX KYC: Required.

Country	Kraken	OKX
United States	Available (except Maine and New York, checked 2026-09-06)	Available (OKX INC.; no NY, TX, AS, GU, MP, VI, checked 2026-09-06)
United Kingdom	Available (FCA registered; retail no derivatives/DeFi Earn, checked 2026-09-06)	Unclear
Canada	Available (Restricted Dealer; no margin/derivatives, checked 2026-09-06)	Restricted (Canada listed in Restricted Locations, checked 2026-09-06)
Australia	Available (AUSTRAC DCE, checked 2026-09-06)	Unclear

"Unclear" means we have not independently verified this yet — check the exchange's own terms before signing up.

Security and regulation

Criteria	Kraken	OKX
Security track record	PoR ✓	PoR ✓
Differs between exchanges. Regulation / licenses	FINRA (US), SIPC (US)	Not verified

Features: futures, margin, apps

Criteria	Kraken	OKX
Differs between exchanges. Features	Spot, Futures, Margin, Staking, Card	Spot, Futures, Margin, Staking, Copy Trading, P2P, Earn
Mobile app	iOS · Android	iOS · Android

Who should pick Kraken, who should pick OKX

Pick Kraken if:

You mostly trade from a phone — iOS and Android apps are both confirmed.
You trade futures and margin, not just spot.
Proof-of-reserves transparency matters to you.

Pick OKX if:

You're cost-sensitive and want the lower fee of the two (see fee table above).
You mostly trade from a phone — iOS and Android apps are both confirmed.
You trade futures and margin, not just spot.

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Kraken or OKX?: OKX has the lower fee on file based on our verified data — see the exact numbers and sources in the fee table above.
Do Kraken and OKX require KYC?: Kraken requires KYC, and OKX requires KYC, per our verified data.
Which is safer, Kraken or OKX?: Both have similar verified security signals on file so far — see the full breakdown in the security section above before deciding.

Crypto assets are volatile and unregulated in many jurisdictions. Not financial advice.