Detailed comparison of all fees, features, and suitability — updated for 2026.
ING is the better choice for Full-Service Bank Customers, while Kraken wins for Krypto-Anleger. Which one suits you depends on your strategy — the detailed comparison below shows every difference.
All fees, products, and platform features compared side-by-side. The "Winner" column shows which broker leads in each category.
| Feature | ING | Kraken | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & Costs | |||
| Order Fee | 4.90€ + 0.25% (min 9.90€) | 0.16 % / 0.26 % (Pro) | Kraken |
| ETF Savings Plan Fee | 1.75% | - | Tie |
| Account Fee | 0€/Year | 0€/Year | Tie |
| Minimum Deposit | 0€ | $1 | Tie |
| Interest on Cash | 0% | 0% | Tie |
| Product Range | |||
| Stocks | ING | ||
| ETFs | ING | ||
| Crypto | Kraken | ||
| Options | Tie | ||
| CFDs | Tie | ||
| Fractional Shares | Kraken | ||
| Number of Exchanges | Xetra, Frankfurt, Direkthandel | Krypto-Spot, Krypto-Futures | ING |
| Platform & Tools | |||
| Mobile App | Tie | ||
| Desktop Platform | Tie | ||
| Demo Account | Kraken | ||
| Security & Regulation | |||
| Regulated by | BaFin | FinCEN · FCA · BaFin | Tie |
| Deposit Protection | 100.000€ | - | Tie |
| Founded | 1991 | 2011 | Tie |
| Overall Rating | |||
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Kraken |
Depending on your strategy and experience, one broker fits better. Here's how to decide:
Low barriers, simple app, demo account and no hidden costs — perfect to get started.
More about Kraken →Low per-order fees, many trading venues and derivatives access — important if you trade regularly.
More about Kraken →Free savings plans, interest on cash and no custody fee — what matters when you buy & hold.
More about ING →ING offers securities trading as part of its full banking service. For customers who want checking and brokerage under one roof.
Particularly suitable for: Full-Service Bank Customers, Casual Investors, Savings Plan.
Kraken was founded in 2011 and is one of the oldest crypto exchanges still operating. With 95% cold storage, quarterly proof-of-reserves and licenses in the US, UK and Germany, Kraken is the security benchmark of the industry.
Particularly suitable for: Krypto-Anleger, Bitcoin-Käufer, HODL-Investoren.
Answers to the most common questions about ING vs Kraken.
For order fees, Kraken leads at 0.16 % / 0.26 % (Pro), while ING charges 4.90€ + 0.25% (min 9.90€). Note: with CFD brokers, spreads add hidden cost — the lower nominal price isn't always cheaper overall.
ING is regulated by BaFin, Kraken by FinCEN · FCA · BaFin. Both fall under EU oversight. Deposit protection: ING 100.000€, Kraken -.
For German/Austrian customers, language, BaFin regulation and tax-simple status often matter most. Check the 'Regulated by' and 'Languages' rows — DACH-focused brokers usually have the edge.
Neither ING nor Kraken offers free ETF savings plans. If recurring investing matters, check a savings-plan-focused broker.
Both are covered under their home regulator's deposit protection. ING: 100.000€, Kraken: -. Securities are held in segregated accounts and protected in case of broker insolvency.
Neither broker pays meaningful interest on uninvested cash. Look elsewhere if cash yield matters.
Both offer native mobile apps with good app-store ratings. Which is better depends on your needs — try both with a demo account if available.
A second broker makes sense when one offers features the other lacks (e.g. options, crypto, more exchanges). A full switch is only worth it if the cost difference or missing features are significant.
Sign up with the broker that fits your strategy. Both are regulated and offer a demo account to test risk-free.
All Smart Money strategies at a glance.
Track 20+ institutional investors live — Buffett, Ackman, Druckenmiller and more. Daily position updates, leaderboard & deep-dive analysis.
From just $9.49/month
Get Pro Now →