Detailed comparison of all fees, features, and suitability — updated for 2026.
Coinbase is the better choice for Krypto-Anleger, while Scalable Capital wins for Active Traders. Which one suits you depends on your strategy — the detailed comparison below shows every difference.
| Metric | Coinbase | Scalable Capital | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order fee per trade | 0.40 € | 0.99 € | 0.59 € cheaper at Coinbase |
| 10y savings plan cost @ €100/month | 48 € | 0 € | 48 € cheaper at Scalable Capital |
| Interest on €10,000 cash (1 year) | — | 2.60 % = 260 € | +260 € more at Scalable Capital / year |
| Free ETF savings plans | 0 | 2.400 | +2.400 more at Scalable Capital |
| Available exchanges | 2 | 2 | identical |
| BMInsider rating | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 | identical |
All fees, products, and platform features compared side-by-side. The "Winner" column shows which broker leads in each category.
| Feature | Coinbase | Scalable Capital | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & Costs | |||
| Order Fee | 1.49 % – 3.99 % / 0.4 %–0.6 % Advanced | 0.99€ or flat rate from 4.99€/Month | Coinbase |
| ETF Savings Plan Fee | - | 0€ | Scalable Capital |
| Account Fee | 0€/Year | 0€ (Free) / 4.99€/Mo (Plus) / 9.99€/Mo (Premium) | Tie |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | 0€ | Tie |
| Interest on Cash | 0% | 2.6% (Plus/Premium) | Scalable Capital |
| Product Range | |||
| Stocks | Scalable Capital | ||
| ETFs | Scalable Capital | ||
| Crypto | Tie | ||
| Options | Tie | ||
| CFDs | Tie | ||
| Fractional Shares | Tie | ||
| Number of Exchanges | Krypto-Spot, Krypto-Futures | gettex, Xetra | Tie |
| Platform & Tools | |||
| Mobile App | Tie | ||
| Desktop Platform | Tie | ||
| Demo Account | Tie | ||
| Security & Regulation | |||
| Regulated by | NYDFS · BaFin · FCA | BaFin | Tie |
| Deposit Protection | - | 100.000€ | Tie |
| Founded | 2012 | 2014 | Tie |
| Overall Rating | |||
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Tie |
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 Coinbase →Low per-order fees, many trading venues and derivatives access — important if you trade regularly.
More about Coinbase →Free savings plans, interest on cash and no custody fee — what matters when you buy & hold.
More about Scalable Capital →Coinbase is the only crypto exchange listed on a major stock exchange (NASDAQ: COIN). SOC2-certified, NYDFS-regulated, with the highest institutional acceptance in the US — but at higher fees than pure crypto exchanges in its standard tier.
Particularly suitable for: Krypto-Anleger, Bitcoin-Käufer, HODL-Investoren.
Scalable Capital offers a flat-rate model from €4.99/month for unlimited trades. With Xetra access and free savings plans, a good choice for active investors.
Particularly suitable for: Active Traders, Savings Plan Investors, Beginners.
Coinbase (Coinbase Germany GmbH with BaFin licence, Coinbase Luxembourg S.A. with MiCA licence) and Scalable Capital (BaFin, Baader Bank) are both German-regulated with different crypto approaches. Coinbase Standard 1.49% + 0.5% spread, Advanced Trade 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker, USDC without fee, self-custody withdrawal. Scalable crypto ETPs as securities, PRIME+ cash interest 2.6%, free ETF savings plans.
Honest take: Coinbase is the pick for institutionally-oriented crypto investors with self-custody option and USDC focus. Scalable is the pick for DACH multi-asset with ETP wrapper for crypto.
You want real spot coins. Coinbase 200+ coins with wallet withdrawal. Scalable only 30+ crypto ETPs.
You want USDC without trading fee. Coinbase USDC free conversion. Scalable has no USDC.
You want staking on 9 coins. Coinbase staking (ETH, SOL, ADA, DOT etc.) 25% commission. Scalable ETPs no staking.
You want §23 crypto tax-free after 1 year. Coinbase spot. Scalable ETPs §20 EStG (always KESt).
You use Coinbase Advanced Trade. 0.40% maker beats Scalable PRIME+ 0.69% ETP spread.
You want the German tax certificate. Scalable withholds 25% KESt on all assets automatically. Coinbase pays crypto gross; self-declaration.
You want multi-asset (stocks + ETFs). Scalable 8 000+ stocks, 2 700+ ETFs. Coinbase crypto-only.
You want PRIME+ cash interest 2.6% on EUR. Scalable PRIME+. Coinbase pays USDC rewards (~4%) but only on USDC.
You want free ETF savings plans from €1. Scalable 2 700 ETFs. Coinbase no ETFs.
You want no Coinbase Standard mode trap. Coinbase Standard mode (default in app) charges 2% total cost. Beginners get billed. Scalable has uniform pricing.
Germany — Scalable steuereinfach on all assets, Coinbase only partly. Scalable withholds KESt automatically. Coinbase: crypto gross, USDC rewards self-declared.
§23 vs §20 EStG: Coinbase spot coins §23 (1 year tax-free). Scalable crypto ETPs §20 (always KESt).
USDC rewards tax: §20 EStG (interest-like, 25% KESt). Coinbase doesn't withhold automatically.
Austria — neither AT-steuereinfach.
Profile: 12 ETF savings plans at €200, 12 crypto buys at €500, €20 000 idle cash (Scalable) or $10 000 USDC (Coinbase).
| Item | Scalable PRIME+ | Coinbase Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| 12× €200 ETF savings plan | €0 | not offered |
| 12× €500 crypto | 12× €3.45 = €41 | 12× €2 (0.4% maker) = €24 |
| Cash interest / USDC rewards | +€520 (2.6% on €20 000) | +€400 (~4% on $10 000 USDC) |
| PRIME+ subscription | €59.88 | €0 |
| Net balance | +€419 | +€376 |
Scalable PRIME+ narrowly ahead via EUR cash interest + free ETF savings plans. Coinbase Advanced near-equal on pure crypto focus.
Pick: Scalable PRIME+. Steuereinfach, ETPs, cash interest.
Pick: Coinbase. Wallet withdrawal possible.
Pick: Coinbase. 4% on USDC. Scalable has no USDC.
Pick: Scalable. 2 700 ETFs. Coinbase none.
Pick: Scalable. Coinbase Standard mode (default) is more expensive than the ETP route at Scalable.
Answers to the most common questions about Coinbase vs Scalable Capital.
For order fees, Coinbase leads at 1.49 % – 3.99 % / 0.4 %–0.6 % Advanced, while Scalable Capital charges 0.99€ oder Flatrate ab 4.99€/Monat. Note: with CFD brokers, spreads add hidden cost — the lower nominal price isn't always cheaper overall.
Coinbase is regulated by NYDFS · BaFin · FCA, Scalable Capital by BaFin. Both fall under EU oversight. Deposit protection: Coinbase -, Scalable Capital 100.000€.
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.
Scalable Capital offers free ETF savings plans from 1€. If a savings plan matters to you, that's a clear edge.
Both are covered under their home regulator's deposit protection. Coinbase: -, Scalable Capital: 100.000€. Securities are held in segregated accounts and protected in case of broker insolvency.
Scalable Capital leads on cash interest at 2.60%. Watch the conditions — some brokers require a paid plan or cap the amount.
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.
