Webull vs Kraken: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Webull and Kraken 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 19, 2025

Webull

Kraken

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United States

Yes

Europe

Latin America

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Webull is ideal if:

Best for hands-on, self-directed traders who want a sleek mobile-first experience with powerful charting tools, paper trading, and streamlined technical analysis.
Great for active or intermediate investors who appreciate commission-free access to stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares, and even crypto on a responsive multi-platform setup.
Suitable for those seeking simple automation, thanks to Webull’s beginner-friendly tools like Smart Advisor (robo-advisory service), recurring investments, and digital portfolio guidance.

Kraken is ideal if:

Built for both simplicity and sophistication: Kraken’s intuitive interface makes it approachable for newcomers, while Kraken Pro delivers advanced trading tools, analytics, and charting for serious traders.
Security-first, regulation-backed platform: With an unbroken crypto protection record, proof-of-reserves audits, cold storage, and licenses across major markets—including new MiCA approval for EU operations—Kraken prioritizes trust and compliance.
More than a crypto exchange: Beyond trading, Kraken now offers a peer-to-peer payments app (Krak), commission-free U.S. stock and ETF trades, and staking options—making it an all-in-one digital finance hub.

Webull isn’t ideal if:

Not great if you prefer mutual funds or bonds, since Webull doesn’t offer access to those traditional investment vehicles.
May overwhelm true beginners, as its platform leans heavily on technical tools and charting that can be complex for newcomers.
Limited customer support could frustrate you, especially if you expect fast, live assistance or chat options during crunch times.

Kraken isn’t ideal if:

Overwhelming for total beginners: The interface and tiered platforms (Lite vs Pro) may feel complex without a solid understanding of trading, tools, and order types.
Limited access and features in some regions: Certain U.S. states and geographies have restrictions on staking, derivatives, or account creation—potentially blocking full platform use.
Support and platform bottlenecks: Account verification or support processes can be slow, and mobile app performance or customer assistance (no phone line) may frustrate users in need of swift help.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Webull applies a built-in price markup (spread) for crypto trades rather than standard maker/taker fees, with no public volume-tier discounts or token-based rebates available on their platform.

Kraken uses a tiered maker-taker structure where both maker and taker fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume grows, and higher activity triggers reduced costs—even reaching zero for makers—though the schedule excludes transactions via instant buy tools.

Futures/Derivatives

For futures, Webull charges contract-based fees set by its exchange partners (like CME), and the platform does not publicly disclose maker/taker or funding-rate structures for these instruments.

Futures follow a volume-based tiers system—lowering maker and taker rates as volume increases—paired with periodic funding payments (every eight hours) that depend on contract premiums versus spot prices.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Webull embeds typical spreads of around one percent on both buying and selling of major crypto trades, implicitly reflecting the cost rather than stating exact bid–ask spreads per pair.

While Kraken doesn’t publish fixed spreads, its instant-buy feature embeds variable spreads that widen or narrow depending on market volatility, order size, and asset type.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Users can deposit or withdraw via ACH, which is free but slower, or via domestic/international wire transfers, which are faster yet incur modest fixed fees set by the clearing firm; timing varies from same-day up to several business days.

Kraken supports methods like ACH, SWIFT, PayPal, SEPA, domestic transfers, etc., with low or no deposit fees; but deposits may trigger temporary withdrawal holds (e.g. 72-hour for cards, 7-day for ACH).

On-chain Withdrawals

Webull currently does not support external crypto wallet transfers for most assets, so network and dynamic on-chain withdrawal fees do not apply for crypto; fiat wires are processed off-chain.

Cryptocurrency withdrawal fees vary per network—e.g. BTC, ETH, TRX have different fixed minimums depending on blockchain and congestion, not necessarily dynamic or network-based.

Hidden Costs

Webull does not charge inactivity or maintenance fees. Currency conversion may occur at your bank when funding with a different base currency, and there are no added charges for expedited identity verification services.

Be aware of currency conversion premiums (from asset swaps), inactivity terms, and express KYC fees—these can add extras atop headline trading charges.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you purchase €500 worth of Bitcoin, you’ll effectively pay a small percentage markup embedded in the trade price, then any fiat withdrawal back to your bank may incur a wire-transfer charge, while ACH withdrawal of fiat remains free.

Suppose you convert €500 to BTC and withdraw it—your total cost would include the instant-buy embedded spread, then a network withdrawal fee during transfer, and possible fiat hold timing—resulting in slightly less BTC and slower access.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Webull supports trading in approximately 36 cryptocurrencies directly through its platform, offering a well-rounded selection of both major and niche tokens, though the top 20 by trading volume typically include dominant pairs like BTC, ETH, Litecoin, and Dogecoin.

Kraken supports over 1,000 spot, margin, and futures markets overall, and its top 20 trading pairs by volume typically include high-cap assets like BTC/USD-variant, ETH/USD-variant, and other popular tokens.

Product Range

Webull provides spot trading for cryptocurrencies, recently expanded into futures contracts (e.g. Bitcoin and Ethereum) via its partnership with Coinbase Derivatives, and offers staking and stablecoin rewards through Webull Pay powered by Coinbase’s infrastructure; crypto options, crypto ETFs, margin, copy trading, bots, and auto-DCA are not part of its current crypto menu.

You’ll find a full suite including spot, margin (up to 10× leverage), futures/perpetuals, staking (recently reenabled in the U.S.), with access to ETFs and options still pending—plus no native copy-trading, grid bots, DCA autos yet.

Liquidity

While Webull itself doesn’t publish specific 24-hour volumes or order book depth for its crypto pairs, the Coinbase infrastructure backing Webull Pay provides access to institutional-grade liquidity and tight spreads, implying solid depth for major pairs like BTC and ETH.

Kraken ranks among the world’s most liquid venues—especially for BTC-EUR and ETH-EUR—and sees substantial 24-hour volumes with deep order-book depth, enabling tight execution even for large trades.

Tools

Webull offers advanced trading tools including limit and market orders, and robust charting features across mobile and desktop (akin to TradingView-level interactivity), plus customizable alerts; however, advanced order types like OCO (one-cancels-other), public API/WS for crypto, and native TradingView integrations are not currently available.

Kraken Pro offers advanced tools—limit, stop, OCO orders, real-time alerts, native TradingView-style charts, downloadable historical OHLCVT data, plus full REST and WebSocket API access.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Crypto trading on Webull is seamless in most U.S. states, but there are regional exceptions—for instance, New York residents are limited to trading a narrower set of tokens; futures and expanded crypto offerings are currently available only to U.S. users, with global rollout in progress.

Certain products, like margin, futures, or staking, are restricted by jurisdiction—eligibility varies and some features may be blocked in specific countries due to regulatory constraints.

Innovation

While Webull doesn’t currently offer launchpad or launchpool events, it’s innovating in crypto yield products—through Webull Pay, users will soon access staking and USDC-based reward programs (with flexible terms) thanks to its Coinbase partnership, though locked-term options have not been specified.

While traditional launchpad/launchpool programs aren’t yet offered, Kraken distinguishes between flexible vs. locked staking options and continues evolving with new offerings, particularly for institutional clients.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Webull was founded in 2016 under a Chinese holding, with Webull Financial LLC established in Delaware in 2017, turning into a U.S.-based broker-dealer licensed by the SEC and FINRA by 2018, while Webull Corporation now sits as the Cayman-Islands-registered parent headquartered in Florida.

Kraken operates under several legal entities depending on region, including Payward, Inc. (U.S.), Payward Europe Solutions (Ireland, EEA), and Payward Ltd. (UK), all founded around 2011, headquartered in the U.S. with significant European presence.

Licenses/Registration

Webull operates under top-tier U.S. oversight (SEC, FINRA) with requirements for client fund segregation, though it does not publicly present itself as a VASP under MiCA or equivalent global crypto licensing frameworks at this time.

Kraken holds multiple regulatory approvals, including VASP licenses in EU countries like the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Ireland, and FCA registrations in the UK, in addition to its SPDI charter in Wyoming and MSB registration in the U.S.

Custody

Custody for crypto on Webull is handled through Coinbase’s Crypto-as-a-Service, leveraging institutional-grade security with encrypted systems and offline cold storage; there’s no public disclosure of proof of reserves, audit reports, or a cold-storage percentage.

Kraken self-custodies customer assets with a substantial portion held in cold storage; it publishes regular Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) attestations audited by external parties to ensure transparency.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Securities and cash in Webull Financial LLC accounts are SIPC-protected up to standard limits, with excess SIPC insurance via Lloyd’s of London or clearing firm Apex, but no specialized insurance for digital asset holdings.

Kraken maintains insurance for digital assets held online, though the coverage is limited; there is no formal protected fund for customer losses but additional insurance for certain custodial assets exists.

Incident History

Webull has not been involved in major crypto-exchange hacks; however, it has faced regulatory scrutiny such as a $3 million FINRA fine in 2023 over customer complaint handling and due diligence lapses, along with multi-state probes and a state-device ban in Tennessee due to concerns over ties to China.

Kraken has not experienced any major platform hacks; compliance suspensions or asset freezes have been minimal, and the exchange has not faced any public multi-million dollar regulatory fines.

Risk Controls

Webull enforces industry standard safeguards like 2FA, encryption, and internal controls, with account security layers in place; however, advanced crypto-specific features like whitelists, sub-accounts, anti-phishing tools, or granular API permissions are not prominently available.

Kraken enforces robust account security with multiple 2FA options (passkeys, hardware keys, authenticator apps), whitelisting, anti-phishing tools, sub-accounts, and granular API permissions for sophisticated client control.

Transparency

Webull does not currently publish monthly custody or audit reports, nor a publicly visible wallet or balance sheet for crypto assets, and service-level agreements (SLAs) for uptime or asset availability aren’t publicly disclosed.

The platform regularly publishes audit-style reports and Proof-of-Reserves summaries; users can view wallet addresses and Kraken maintains service-level expectations without public SLA guarantees.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Webull supports funding via ACH transfers—free, with up to $50,000 per deposit and settlement in 3–5 business days, allowing around $1,000 of immediate purchasing power; wire transfers (domestic/international) are available with faster settlement (1–2 days for domestic, up to 5 for foreign), no formal deposit limits, and costs handled by the sending bank.

Users can deposit fiat via bank transfers (ACH, SWIFT, SEPA), credit/debit cards, and e-wallets like PayPal; minimums are low (starting around 1 USD/EUR), but maximums depend on your verification level and jurisdiction, with deposit arrival ranging from near-instant to several days depending on the method.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Webull requires standard identity verification upon account opening (name, bank linkage) and performs additional steps like micro-deposits through Plaid when needed; it does not advertise multiple KYC tiers or specific deposit/withdrawal limits tied to verification levels.

Kraken offers tiers like Intermediate and Pro (plus Express/Starter in some regions) — Intermediate unlocks full trading and funding access, while Pro raises both deposit and withdrawal limits, with each level subject to rolling daily/monthly caps shown in your dashboard.

Withdrawals

Fiat withdrawals are possible via ACH (free, 1–3 business days, daily limit around $50,000) or wire transfers (domestic and international options, time ranging from next-day to several days); there’s no support for crypto-network withdrawals (e.g., ERC-20, TRC-20) from crypto holdings as Webull currently handles those internally.

Limits, Timing, Networks

Customer Support

Webull offers support primarily via email and an extensive online Help Center with FAQs and guides; there’s no indication of a 24/7 live chat, and response times vary; documentation is comprehensive, though interactive support may be limited.

Kraken provides 24/7 live chat and email support in multiple languages (including Spanish), alongside a comprehensive support center; while most issues are resolved quickly, some users report delays during high-traffic periods.

Languages & Localization

The platform tailors its services based on region—US users operate in USD, while European users access deposits and pricing in euros (via Webull Europe), with localized interfaces and regulatory compliance. However, Spanish-language localization isn’t broadly featured unless offered locally by a regional branch.

The platform is available in over a dozen languages, including native Spanish; local currencies and fees are displayed based on your region, ensuring comfortable and compliant user experience.

App Quality & Stability

Webull is generally considered stable and has effectively weathered market surges and volatility since its 2016 launch, but users occasionally report UI crashes or performance hiccups, especially on mobile; regular updates and troubleshooting tips are available in its help guides.

The Kraken mobile app mirrors most web functionality and supports biometric or PIN access; it generally performs reliably, though user feedback on crashes or app issues is mixed and depends on device and OS.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Webull strikes a solid balance between sophistication and ease of use, featuring a streamlined interface for the everyday user while offering a “Pro-like” feel through customizable dashboards, advanced charting, and intuitive navigation—though there’s no true “Lite” vs “Pro” mode toggle.

Kraken offers two distinct experiences—“Lite” is streamlined for instant buys and basic navigation, while “Pro” and “Desktop” are modular and customizable, designed to support advanced traders executing complex strategies across flexible layouts and in-depth tools.

Performance

The platform generally delivers low-latency trade execution and holds up firmly during high-volatility periods; while user surges can cause interface lag, widespread “crashes” are rare and downtime is minimal even in bull markets.

Kraken Pro is built on institutional-grade infrastructure to minimize order latency and handle peak demand efficiently, although during market surges user-reported delays in KYC verification and performance pops may still arise.

Education

Webull provides a rich educational ecosystem, including a structured learning section with tutorials, community-led lessons, in-app webinars, and a robust paper-trading simulator—though Spanish-language modules are limited outside select regions.

Kraken’s Learn Center delivers comprehensive articles, videos, and webinars (including futures tutorials), complemented by a derivatives demo environment for live practice—but it doesn’t currently offer a dedicated DCA simulator or localized Spanish academy; some content is translated.

Community

Webull fosters a lively investing community through in-app discussion boards where users share strategies, ask questions, and learn from each other; there’s engagement via feeds and idea-sharing, but no formal presence on Discord or Telegram for official support.

Kraken publishes user reviews and interactive feedback across its site, but does not maintain official public discussion forums, Discord, or Telegram communities—though it does offer a referral program to reward users bringing in new clients.

Integrations

The platform now offers deep integration with TradingView—allowing you to trade directly from its rich charting interface—although integrations with external tax tools, accounting software, or third-party bots remain limited.

Kraken Pro integrates with TradingView-style charting and pattern tools, fully supports third-party trading bots via REST/WebSocket/FIX APIs, and connects seamlessly to tax/accounting platforms like Koinly, Crypto Tax Calculator, and others.

Who Each One Is Best For

Webull is ideal for self-directed and intermediate investors who value powerful visuals, flexible tools, and a vibrant peer community—less suited for those wanting lightweight simplicity, multi-platform integrations, or extensive multilingual support.

“Lite” suits beginners, offering simplicity and straightforward buying; “Pro” and “Desktop” excel for active, technical traders needing granular control, advanced order forms, analytics, and deep customization.