Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
BUX vs Kraken
Where BUX and Kraken differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | €3.99 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, FuturesCovers more |
| Regulators | Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Platforms | BUX app | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Account fee | €2.99 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 10x |
| Interest on cash | 2% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only BUX offers Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Kraken is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Forex, Crypto, Futures.
- Platforms: only BUX offers BUX app.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Features: only BUX offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only Kraken offers Crypto.
- Pricing model: only BUX offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
BUX
BUX suits investors who want a Dutch broker for stocks and ETFs and accept a set fee per trade. It charges an account fee of €2.99 and a stock trade fee of €3.99, which is why the offer score sits at 2.1 and the overall score at 2.1.
Kraken
Kraken suits beginners and experienced investors who want stocks, ETFs and crypto together through app and desktop access. Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1 and funding terms shown as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 for cost planning across small balance accounts.
Score breakdown
| Area | BUX | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4 | 9.3HigherStock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.0HigherCoverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. |
| Trust | 8.7 | 9.3HigherRegisters cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | BUX | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Not confirmed | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 |
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71030 |
What we checked
BUX
- bux.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxverify.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | BUX | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 203 of 471 | 16 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 59 of 88 | 8 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BUX | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | BUX B.V. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BUX | Kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $1below the median | $25 |
| Account fee | €2.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 2%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
BUX
Pros
- Fees follow a low-fee model: a stock trade fee of €3.99 per trade, an account fee of €2.99 and a currency exchange fee of 0.75%.
- Regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), with money held under the EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Aimed at both beginners and experienced investors, with fractional shares and a mobile app listed in fractional shares and mobile app.
Cons
- The account fee of €2.99 applies on top of a stock trade fee of €3.99, so frequent trading costs add up.
- On stock trade fee it ranks 136 of 161, so cheaper share dealing sits elsewhere.
- Markets are limited to stocks and etfs, where CFI offers stocks, etfs and forex.
Kraken
Pros
- Stock trades priced at $0 within a model shown as commission free.
- Entry at $1, below $50 at eToro for smaller starting balances.
- Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex, pairing stocks and ETFs with crypto and futures.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, without phone or live chat help found at many rivals.
- Card funding terms run Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, which adds cost next to bank transfer options.
- Entry at $1 sits above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB for tight budgets.
Who each suits
BUX
Who it suits
- Investors who want a regulated European broker covering stocks and etfs at a flat fee per trade.
- People who prefer mobile investing, since fractional shares and mobile app includes fractional shares and a mobile app.
- Readers who weigh protection first, since money sits under the EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 at a broker regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex, contracts for difference or crypto, since CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex and BUX covers stocks and etfs.
- Share dealing fans after a free stock trade fee, since eToro lists $0 against the €3.99 here.
- Anyone put off by a standing charge, given the account fee of €2.99 where Vantage lists $0.
Kraken
Who it suits
- You want stocks plus crypto in stocks, ETFs and forex in a single login rather than an equity only account at XTB.
- You want app led dealing through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop with modest entry at $1 rather than higher entry at eToro at $50.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want phone or chat help rather than help centre only, consider XTB or ActivTrades for wider contact choice.
- You want the lowest cash entry rather than $1, consider ActivTrades at $0 or XTB at €0.
Questions about each
BUX
How much does it cost to buy a share at BUX?+
A stock trade costs €3.99 per trade under a low-fee model, and a currency exchange fee of 0.75% applies on currency conversions. Because the trade fee is a flat amount rather than a percentage, the cost does not grow with the size of the order. A flat account fee of €2.99 also applies to the account.
Is there an account or inactivity fee?+
There is an account fee of €2.99, charged on the account regardless of how much it holds. That is a flat charge rather than a percentage, so it does not rise as the portfolio grows. BUX ranks 108 of 138 on this line, which places it towards the expensive end of the brands compared here.
Kraken
What does Kraken charge for stock trades+
Stock dealing is priced at $0 and Kraken describes its model as commission free. Bank funding is framed separately as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so card use adds cost while bank transfer terms remain distinct. Check the fee schedule before placing orders.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account+
Account entry is set at $1. That level sits below $50 at eToro, yet above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB. It keeps starting balances modest while leaving room for funding charges.
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