Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs Smartbroker
Where Kraken and Smartbroker differ
| Compare |  Kraken |  Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds, Metals |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Platforms | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet | Web, App |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 10x | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.25% |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Smartbroker scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Smartbroker offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Kraken is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Forex, Futures.
- Markets: only Smartbroker offers Bonds, Funds, Metals.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Platforms: only Smartbroker offers Web, App.
- Pricing model: only Kraken offers Commission free.
- Pricing model: only Smartbroker offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
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.
Smartbroker
Smartbroker runs a European brokerage with a €0 account fee and a €0 minimum deposit, which puts it at 1 on the site for deposit levels. It suits investors who want stocks, ETFs, funds and crypto in one account and would rather not pay a monthly charge.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kraken | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 9.0Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. | 9.2HigherLow-fees model across stocks, etfs and crypto, supervised by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and reachable on email, phone and help centre. |
| Trust | 9.3Registers cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. | 9.5Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 21 of 471 | 60 of 471 |
What each covers
| Markets | Kraken | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Kraken | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 391200N0BYCZF2F43264 |
| Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 | Not confirmed |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71030 | Not confirmed |
Sources behind this comparison
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Smartbroker
- smartbrokerplus.de: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Smartbroker AG |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | Smartbroker | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.25%below the median | 3% |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
Smartbroker
Pros
- Account fee of €0, matching the $0 account fee at eToro and sitting at 1 among 138 brands on account fee.
- Nothing to pay to open, with a minimum deposit of €0 against a site median of €4.64.
- One account covers stocks, etfs and crypto.
Cons
- Protection is limited to what the scheme pays, listed as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so larger balances rely on your own holdings.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, with no live chat listed.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and crypto, with no forex, options or futures listed.
Who each suits
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.
Smartbroker
Who it suits
- European investors who want a German-regulated account holding stocks, etfs and crypto under one roof.
- Anyone with spare cash to park while they decide, with 2.25% on the daily deposit account.
- People who trade away from a desk, since access runs through Web and App.
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if you would rather start against a published floor of $5 than an open entry of €0.
- eToro, if your trading runs past the stocks, etfs and crypto list here and you want to weigh its range against Smartbroker's.
- Anyone holding a large cash balance, since protection is listed as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Country by country
| Country | Kraken | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Smartbroker
What does Smartbroker charge to hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly charge for keeping the account open. Entry is also open, with a minimum deposit of €0. Trading costs still apply on individual orders, and the pricing page is where per-trade charges are set out.
Is my money protected at Smartbroker?+
Smartbroker is regulated by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), and the listed investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. The German regulator supervises the firm, while the compensation scheme pays out on eligible balances up to the stated limit.
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