Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs Spreadex
Where Kraken and Spreadex differ
| Compare |  Kraken |  Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | £0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Options, Spread betting |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), UK Gambling Commission |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 | Free deposits and withdrawals |
| Platforms | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet | Web, Mobile |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 61% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.6% |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 10x | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Spreadex scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Spreadex offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), UK Gambling Commission.
- Kraken is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Kraken offers ETFs, Crypto, Futures.
- Markets: only Spreadex offers CFDs, Options, Spread betting.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Platforms: only Spreadex offers Web, Mobile.
- Features: only Kraken offers Crypto.
- Pricing model: only Spreadex 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.
Spreadex
Spreadex suits UK traders who want to deal shares without a trade commission, with the same account carrying forex, CFDs, options and spread betting. Regulated in the UK with FSCS investor protection, it ranks 1 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, which sit at £0.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kraken | Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. | 9.4HigherThe minimum deposit is £0, inactivity is $0 and the EUR/USD spread is 0.6%. |
| Offer | 9.0Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. | 9.1Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Registers cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. | 9.4Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Kraken | Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71030 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken | Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 21 of 471 | 82 of 471 |
What each covers
| Markets | Kraken | Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
What we checked
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Spreadex
- spreadex.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexsuggest.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxempire.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxscouts.com.au: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- topbrokers.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Spreadex Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1999 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | Spreadex | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 61%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.6%below the median | 0.65% |
Median across 47 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.
Spreadex
Pros
- Shares cost £0 to buy and sell, and the pricing model is commission free and low fees.
- A single account covers stocks, forex and cfds, so shares, forex, CFDs, options and spread betting sit side by side.
- Trading runs on Web and Mobile platforms, and a mobile app is part of the feature set.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no live chat or email listed.
- The risk warning puts 61% of retail accounts losing money.
- The market list runs stocks, forex and cfds, with no crypto, funds or bond offering.
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.
Spreadex
Who it suits
- UK residents who want to deal shares without a per-trade commission.
- Traders who want forex, CFDs, options and spread betting in the same account.
- Anyone who values a long operating history: Spreadex has run from the UK since 1999.
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, for anyone who prefers a stated minimum deposit of $5 to a free entry.
- CFI, whose minimum deposit is quoted in dollars at $0.
- Anyone who wants live chat or email support, because Spreadex lists phone and help centre only.
Country by country
| Country | Kraken | Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 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.
Spreadex
What does it cost to deal shares on Spreadex?+
Stock trades are £0, and the pricing model is listed as commission free and low fees. Spreadex ranks 1 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, so share dealing sits at the cheaper end of what brokers charge.
Is there a minimum deposit at Spreadex?+
The minimum deposit is £0, so an account can be opened and funded with a small balance. Spreadex ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, worth weighing against brokers that ask for a starter amount.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Kraken vs Nexo
- Kraken vs Afranga
- Kraken vs Nectaro
- Kraken vs Trading 212
- Kraken vs Interactive Brokers
- Kraken vs Charles Schwab
- Kraken vs Zerodha
- Kraken vs Fidelity
- Kraken vs SoFi
- Kraken vs quantfury
- Kraken vs Webull
- Kraken vs PU Prime
- Kraken vs Wealthfront
- Kraken vs OANDA
- Kraken vs Markets.com
- Kraken vs Vantage
- Kraken vs tastytrade
- Kraken vs ActivTrades
- Kraken vs DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
- Kraken vs XTB
- Kraken vs bunq
- Kraken vs Mintos
- Kraken vs Bitpanda
- Kraken vs Robinhood
- Kraken vs willbe