Cheapest way to buy Bitcoin: real costs on 10 exchanges
The rate on an exchange’s homepage is only part of the price. How much Bitcoin you actually get depends on five costs, most of which are not obvious at first glance. We show them using live data from 10 exchanges.
Why the “best rate” is not enough
Most comparisons look at one number: the BTC price on a given exchange. But when you buy Bitcoin for a few thousand dollars or euros, you pay up to five different costs along the way. The exchange with the lowest headline price can end up more expensive than one quoting a slightly higher rate. The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive exchange for the same amount is typically tens to hundreds of dollars.
The five costs that make up the price
- Deposit. SEPA transfers in euro are usually free; in the UK Faster Payments are typically free and instant. Outside the US, dollar wires (SWIFT) carry a fixed fee. Cards usually cost 1.75–5% of the amount.
- Currency conversion. If the exchange has no market in your currency, you have to convert first, and your bank or broker adds a spread.
- Trading fee (taker). On the compared exchanges it ranges from 0.09% (Revolut X) to 0.80% (Kraken at the base level). On $10,000 that is the difference between $9 and $80.
- Slippage. The best offer in the order book usually covers only a small quantity. A larger order eats through more expensive offers. Read more in our guide to slippage.
- Withdrawal to your own wallet. The fee is fixed in BTC: from 0.00003 to 0.0002 BTC depending on the exchange. On small purchases that can be several percent of the amount.
Where it is cheapest today: live ranking
The table below is calculated when you open the page, from the current order books of 10 exchanges. It includes every cost: the cheapest available deposit, conversion at the ECB rate plus a margin, slippage for the full amount, the trading fee and the BTC withdrawal.
| # | Exchange | You get | Total cost | Gap to the best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revolut X | 0.03058548 BTC | 0.25% | — |
| 2 | OKX | 0.03050517 BTC | 0.54% | −6.56 USD |
| 3 | Coinbase | 0.03043462 BTC | 0.76% | −12.33 USD |
| 4 | Crypto.com | 0.03041087 BTC | 0.83% | −14.27 USD |
| 5 | Bitvavo | 0.03034865 BTC | 0.82% | −19.36 USD |
| 6 | Bybit EU | 0.03031325 BTC | 1.08% | −22.25 USD |
| 7 | Kraken | 0.03026166 BTC | 1.32% | −26.47 USD |
| 8 | Bitstamp | 0.03024211 BTC | 1.40% | −28.07 USD |
| 9 | Kanga Global | 0.03017925 BTC | 0.86% | −33.20 USD |
| 10 | Binance | 0.02952282 BTC | 3.70% | −86.86 USD |
The ranking shifts during the day, and the winner for $250 can differ from the winner for $25,000. For your exact numbers use the BTC/USD calculator (or BTC/EUR, BTC/GBP).
Small or large amount: what changes
For a few hundred dollars the withdrawal fee matters most, because it is fixed. For tens of thousands the trading fee and market depth decide. For hundreds of thousands slippage becomes the key cost.
Common mistakes when buying Bitcoin
- Buying by card in a simple app. Convenient, but card fees and app spreads often add up to 2–5%. The same exchange’s “pro” order-book platform can be several times cheaper.
- Forgetting the withdrawal fee. Buy $200 worth and withdraw to a wallet, and you may lose several percent to the withdrawal alone.
- Comparing headline rates only. An exchange without a market in your currency needs a conversion that its BTC price does not show.
- Ignoring licensing. Since 1 July 2026 Binance no longer accepts new trades from EU clients. Check which exchanges hold a MiCA licence.
How to choose an exchange: a short checklist
- Check whether the exchange has a market in your currency or a cheap deposit method (SEPA, Faster Payments, ACH).
- Compare the taker fee at your trading volume. Fee tiers are on each exchange page, e.g. Kraken or Coinbase.
- Add the withdrawal fee if you keep BTC in your own wallet.
- For large amounts check market depth or split the order across exchanges. The calculator does this automatically.
Check your amount
The calculator compares 10 exchanges live for your amount and currency, with all costs included.
Open the calculatorThis article is educational and not investment advice. Tables marked “live” are calculated when the page is displayed.