OANDA vs Cex.Io: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between OANDA and Cex.Io This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 27, 2025

OANDA

Cex.Io

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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OANDA is ideal if:

Highly trusted, globally regulated – OANDA holds licenses from top-tier authorities (like CFTC, FCA, ASIC), giving you peace of mind in reliability and oversight.
Robust multi-platform flexibility – Access powerful and customizable trading environments across web, mobile, MT4, MT5, and TradingView.
Exceptional educational resources – Comprehensive learning tools, webinars, and research make OANDA especially supportive for continuous trader development.

Cex.Io is ideal if:

Great for beginners seeking simplicity: Offers intuitive fiat-to-crypto access and easy navigation, making first-time buying or selling smooth and straightforward.
Useful for users valuing regulatory compliance: Holds multiple licenses and registrations, which adds credibility and reassurance for those prioritizing security.
Suited to flexible and evolving needs: Includes features like staking, margin options, and mobile trading—helpful as your crypto journey grows.

OANDA isn’t ideal if:

Limited asset variety outside forex: If you're focused on trading individual stocks or ETFs, OANDA doesn’t support direct equity access in most regions, making it less suitable for equity-centric investors.
No guaranteed stops in some regions: Traders in the U.S. or U.K. won’t benefit from guaranteed stop-loss orders, which may be a concern if strict risk control matters to you.
Platform differences by location: Access to MT4, MT5, or advanced APIs varies by jurisdiction, so if you rely on specific tools or automation, check tool availability based on your region before choosing OANDA.

Cex.Io isn’t ideal if:

Not suited for fee-sensitive traders: Deposit and withdrawal costs—especially from credit cards or SWIFT transfers—can be on the higher side.
Less ideal for altcoin hunters: Coin selection is solid for mainstream assets but may feel restrictive for those seeking niche or emerging tokens.
Not optimized for advanced traders: Lacks advanced order types and demo environments, and interface may feel cluttered during complex trading sessions.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

OANDA charges a flat crypto trading commission of around 0.25% per transaction, based on your 30-day trading volume tier; there’s no native token to offer discounts nor separate maker/taker pricing structure.

CEX.IO’s spot trading fees begin at 0.25% for taker orders and 0.15% for maker orders, and progressively decrease as your 30-day trading volume rises—reaching lower bands (like around 0.10%) at higher volumes, with no discounts tied to a native token.

Futures/Derivatives

OANDA does not support crypto futures or derivatives; derivative trading (like CFDs or futures) is offered on other asset classes (e.g., forex, indices), but crypto is limited to spot trading with no funding or Rollover/Funding cost structure.

CEX.IO separates its derivatives platform from spot trading and applies different fee structures, but publicly available information on specific maker, taker, or funding rates is limited (often requiring account access or direct inquiry for clarity).

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Exact spreads for crypto aren’t published as benchmarks like forex pairs; instead, costs are embedded into the price you see when you buy or sell, offering transparent execution without separate spread disclosures.

Spreads for major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT on CEX.IO are generally tight and in line with competitive market norms, helping ensure that trading costs remain low for highly liquid assets.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

You can fund or withdraw via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or instant bank (depending on region) with no fees charged by OANDA—though your own bank or payment provider may levy conversion or processing costs, and processing times vary from instant to a few business days.

You can fund your account using various options—credit/debit cards, bank transfers (SEPA, SWIFT, ACH), digital wallets, and alternative services—with timing and fees varying by method and region, and listed transparently during transaction setup.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals via OANDA (partnering with Paxos/itBit) include a network fee that varies by blockchain (e.g., BTC, ETH, TRX), and while OANDA may not charge an internal fee, the dynamic network cost is passed on as part of the withdrawal.

On-chain withdrawal fees differ depending on the blockchain (BTC, ETH, TRX, etc.) and are dynamically adjusted based on network conditions, rather than using a one-size-fits-all flat fee.

Hidden Costs

While there are no surprise management or sign-up fees, you should note potential costs like currency conversion charges (if funding currency differs), monthly inactivity fees after a long dormancy period, or expedited KYC processing (if applicable)—though none are exorbitant.

Beyond trading and transfer fees, there may be extra charges lurking in currency conversion margins, inactivity fees, or expedited KYC processing—but these are typically disclosed at the relevant step, not built into everyday trading.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you bought €500 worth of Bitcoin, the cost would include the 0.25% commission (approx. €1.25), the embedded execution spread in the quoted price, and a separate network fee for withdrawal—making the total cost a mix of commission, implicit price margin, and blockchain fee.

If you were to convert €500 into BTC, your total cost would combine the spot maker/taker fee, the market spread, and any withdrawal or conversion fee—resulting in a composite cost slightly above the raw crypto amount, depending on your payment method and network chosen.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

OANDA offers a small, curated selection of around 9–10 spot cryptocurrencies—such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Aave, Chainlink, Uniswap, PAX Gold, and Solana—without a full rank-by-volume list, but includes the most popular coins by market activity.

CEX.IO currently lists around 280 cryptocurrencies across approximately 829 trading pairs, with its highest-volume pairs including BTC/USD, ETH/USDT, ETH/USD, XRP/USD, LINK/USD—forming the bulk of daily activity.

Product Range

OANDA supports only spot crypto trading via Paxos (no margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, staking, loans, copy trading, bots, or automatic DCA features are available).

CEX.IO supports spot trading, margin trading with up to 10x leverage, crypto staking and savings, and lending services; however, it does not currently offer perpetuals, options, ETFs, automated DCA, grid bots, or copy trading tools.

Liquidity

While exact figures aren’t public, liquidity is robust and consistently tight due to execution via the regulated Paxos itBit exchange, particularly on BTC and ETH pairs—ensuring reliable execution and minimal slippage.

Reported 24-hour trading volume on CEX.IO ranges in the tens to hundreds of millions of USD, with robust liquidity in major pairs like BTC and ETH—offering sufficient depth for swift execution without significant price impact.

Tools

The platform offers basic and advanced tools—including “Quick Buy/Sell” (a market-style limit order) and limit orders, stop orders, live alerts, in-app charting, full TradingView integration, and API/WebSocket access for automated strategies.

The platform provides basic order types such as limit and stop (plus OCO where available), access to advanced charting via its trading terminal, real-time price tracking, alerts, and full-featured APIs (REST, WebSocket, FIX on Prime) ideal for automated strategies.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Crypto services are limited in some jurisdictions—spot crypto is accessible only through the mobile and TradingView platforms, and availability may vary; likewise, services like CFDs or derivatives on crypto are not offered in several regions.

Certain features—including margin trading, staking, savings, and advanced product access—are restricted or unavailable in specific countries due to jurisdictional licensing and compliance requirements.

Innovation

OANDA does not offer crypto launchpads/pools or flexible versus locked “earn” products; the focus remains firmly on straightforward spot trading, without DeFi-style or automated yield innovations.

CEX.IO offers flexible staking and savings options under its “Earn” program that allow on-demand access to funds; however, it does not currently support token launchpad or launchpool initiatives.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

OANDA Crypto is operated by OANDA Coinpass Limited, a UK-registered company (Company No. 11164834) based in London, while the broader OANDA Group was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York. It operates through regulated entities across multiple regions.

CEX.IO operates through several entities

Licenses/Registration

In the UK, OANDA Coinpass is registered with the FCA as both a Crypto-asset Exchange Provider and Custodian Wallet Provider, and other OANDA entities are regulated in major jurisdictions including the US (CFTC/NFA), EU (FCA/KNF), Canada (CIRO), Singapore (MAS), Australia (ASIC), Japan (FSA), and the BVI (FSC).

The exchange holds a U.S. Money Services Business registration with FinCEN and multiple state-level money transmitter licenses, a Gibraltar DLT provider license, Spanish VASP registration, and Lithuanian VASP status, reflecting a broad regulatory coverage across major markets.

Custody

Crypto holdings are entrusted to the third-party custodian Paxos (via Paxos Trust Company), not held by OANDA itself; while formal proof-of-reserves or audit summaries aren’t publicly shared, assets are maintained separately in user-named Paxos accounts.

CEX.IO maintains a layered custody model—hot wallets with PCI DSS-compliant security and cold wallets secured via multi-signature and manual controls; fiat is held in segregated bank accounts—though no formal public proof-of-reserves disclosures or third-party audits are noted.

Insurance & Protection Funds

No dedicated crypto insurance, fund protection, or compensatory schemes (like FSCS or SIPC) are in place; crypto assets are not covered by traditional financial protections in the event of platform or custodian insolvency.

While CEX.IO provides FDIC insurance for USD balances held within participating U.S. banks up to typical limits, there is no general insurance for crypto assets beyond its rigorous internal security protocols.

Incident History

There appears to be no record of past hacks, major outages, wallet freezes, or official fines affecting OANDA’s crypto services—indicating a clean operational track record thus far.

The platform maintains a clean operational record with no major security breaches, public incidents, service suspensions, or regulatory penalties reported to date, underlining its reputation for reliability.

Risk Controls

Robust security measures are offered including mandatory (or strongly encouraged) two-factor authentication, internal security monitoring, a dedicated bug bounty via ethical disclosures, and Paxos-level safeguards such as withdrawal whitelisting and secure custody.

User protection is reinforced with mandatory KYC/AML procedures, two-factor authentication, address whitelisting, a proprietary transaction-monitoring system, and granular APIs aimed at enhancing security and user control.

Transparency

OANDA provides detailed legal and risk documentation via its Crypto Legal pages, but public disclosures such as monthly audits, wallet addresses, or service-level SLA guarantees are not made openly accessible.

CEX.IO does not publish monthly financial or operational reports, nor provide public wallet addresses or formal service-level agreements (SLAs), although its regulatory compliance and security stance contribute to overall trust.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Deposits are made via debit/credit card, wire transfer, ACH, BPay (Australia), or online banking—card deposits are almost instant (with monthly caps), while bank methods take 1–5 business days; no explicit minimums stated, and e-wallets are generally not supported for crypto accounts.

CEX.IO allows fiat deposits via bank cards (Visa/Mastercard), bank transfers (SWIFT, SEPA, ACH, Faster Payments), and e-wallets like Skrill and PayPal; limits depend on verification level—new users may be capped at around $1,000 daily and $3,000 monthly, with standard limits applied after three months—and deposits typically arrive instantly (for cards/e-wallets) or within 1–3 business days (for bank transfers) depending on the method and region.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Levels & Limits

CEX.IO enforces at least identity verification for full access to fiat features like card and transfer services; preliminary verification allows limited use, while higher account tiers—such as Enhanced or Corporate—lift deposit/withdrawal limits and enable large-scale operations.

Withdrawals

Fiat withdrawals can be made with no set caps (GBP/EUR to originating bank) though large sums undergo extra review; crypto withdrawals require 2FA and whitelisting of destination addresses, with withdrawal networks (like ERC-20) chosen depending on the coin.

Limits, Timing & Networks

Customer Support

Support runs seven days per week (roughly 7 AM–midnight GMT) via email and phone; crypto-specific FAQs and legal resources are available online for self-help.

Users have access to help via live chat (mobile and web), email support, and an extensive knowledge base containing guides and FAQs—but response times vary and are influenced by location and request complexity.

Languages & Localization

The platform supports native Spanish (among other languages), displays fees in local currencies like €, and adapts regulatory compliance regionally—especially in the UK and EU.

The platform is fully available in English (as its primary language), and shows amounts in USD or EUR depending on region; local regulatory compliance is reflected in the user’s jurisdiction which affects available payment methods and features.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile app (on both Android and iOS) provides secure, responsive crypto trading—including auto-trade/DCA, advanced charting, and regular updates—though explicit crash rate or stability metrics aren’t published.

The CEX.IO app boasts a solid level of stability with regular updates; while precise crash rates aren’t publicly disclosed, the platform emphasizes performance enhancements and bug fixes in app release notes to deliver a smooth user experience.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

OANDA delivers a clean, intuitive interface that balances simplicity with powerful tools—while there’s no explicit “Lite/Pro” mode, the mobile app is designed for both beginners and seasoned traders, offering quick buy/sell alongside advanced charting options.

CEX.IO offers a single unified interface rather than separate “Lite” or “Pro” views, relying on straightforward layout and intuitive navigation to help both new and experienced users pick up functionality quickly and seamlessly.

Performance

Thanks to OANDA’s partnership with Paxos’ itBit and TradingView integration, the platform ensures fast execution and reliable uptime, even during volatile periods—though, as with any high-demand service, minor responsive delays can occur under extreme market surges.

The platform benefits from institutional-grade infrastructure designed to minimize order latency, but like many exchanges, occasional slowdowns can surface during extreme market volatility; onboarding generally remains efficient even during high-demand periods.

Education

OANDA supplements its platform with helpful learning materials, including an education portal and demo capabilities (for other asset classes), but the crypto side currently offers fewer dedicated Spanish-language guides or simulation tools.

CEX.IO University delivers free, beginner-friendly crypto education with a comprehensive glossary and lessons ranging from basic to advanced levels—though it currently lacks a live demo or simulator, and content in Spanish is available through its educational portal.

Community

While OANDA doesn’t run official crypto-focused forums or Discord/Telegram communities, it leverages TradingView’s vast trader base for idea sharing, and offers standard referral incentives globally across its platform.

The ecosystem includes an affiliate and referral program to reward users for spreading the word, but it does not prominently feature official forums or active Discord/Telegram communities as part of its outreach.

Integrations

The platform shines in integration—offering seamless real-time trading via TradingView’s charts, with API access for automation; however, it does not currently support external bot marketplaces, tax tools, or integrated accounting features.

The platform integrates TradingView for charting, offers fully featured APIs for external bot support, and allows data export for tax and accounting purposes, making it viable for integration into broader trading and reporting workflows.

Who Each One Is Best For

OANDA is especially well-suited for traders who value a trusted, regulated environment with smooth TradingView access and dependable execution—less ideal for those seeking rich educational content in crypto or advanced automation and tax/reporting tools.

CEX.IO is particularly well-suited for users seeking a balanced and compliant entry into crypto—from beginners who want ease of use and educational resources to semi-advanced traders needing reliable tools and external integration capabilities.