Exchange Comparisons
CoinSpot vs Coinbase: How the Two Exchanges Compare in Australia
Key points
- Both exchanges are registered with AUSTRAC and both hold an Australian Financial Services Licence, according to their own disclosures.
- CoinSpot lists 470+ coins. Coinbase lists 200+ coins for Australian customers.
- CoinSpot charges 0.1% on market orders and 1% on instant buy, sell and swap.
- Coinbase simple trades include a spread plus a Coinbase fee shown on the preview screen. Coinbase Advanced starts at 0.50% maker and 0.90% taker.
- Fees change often, so confirm them on each exchange before you trade.
CoinSpot vs Coinbase at a glance
Every figure below comes from each exchange’s own website, checked 4 November 2026. Click a figure to see its source.
| Feature | CoinSpot | Coinbase (Australia) |
|---|---|---|
| Based in | Melbourne, operating since 2013 (CoinSpot) | Coinbase Australia Pty Ltd, ACN 654 922 442 (Coinbase) |
| AUSTRAC | Registered virtual asset service provider since 8 May 2018 (CoinSpot) | Registered virtual asset service provider and remittance provider (Coinbase) |
| ASIC licence | AFSL with a non-cash payments authorisation, as of 29 April 2026 (CoinSpot) | AFSL No. 569752 (Coinbase) |
| Coins listed | 470+ (CoinSpot) | 200+ (Coinbase) |
| Simple buy and sell | 1% on instant buy, sell and swap (CoinSpot fees) | Spread plus a Coinbase fee, shown before you confirm (Coinbase fees) |
| Order book trading | 0.1% on market orders (CoinSpot fees) | Coinbase Advanced, from 0.50% maker and 0.90% taker at the entry tier (Coinbase) |
| AUD deposits | PayID and direct deposit free; cash 2.5% (CoinSpot fees) | PayID, Osko, card and bank transfer with zero fees (Coinbase) |
| AUD withdrawals | Bank withdrawals free (CoinSpot fees) | Zero fees (Coinbase) |
| Security notes | ISO 27001 certified (CoinSpot) | Account protection features listed on its site (Coinbase) |
How the fees compare
Fees are where the two platforms differ most, and the type of order you place matters more than the brand. On CoinSpot, an instant buy costs 1%, while a market order on its order book costs 0.1% (source: CoinSpot fees page, checked 4 November 2026). Recurring buys and take profit, stop and limit orders are 1%.
On Coinbase, the simple Buy screen includes a spread in the price plus a Coinbase fee that depends on your payment method, order size and market conditions, and Coinbase shows the fee on the preview screen before you confirm a trade (source: Coinbase pricing and fees disclosures, checked 4 November 2026). Coinbase Advanced has no spread and starts at 0.50% maker and 0.90% taker, falling as your 30 day volume rises (source: Coinbase Advanced fee levels, checked 4 November 2026).
For a one off purchase, compare the total cost on each preview screen rather than the headline rate. If you buy regularly, learning to use an order book usually lowers your cost on either platform.
Coin range and features
CoinSpot lists 470+ coins, which suits investors who want access to smaller tokens without leaving an Australian platform. It also offers bundles, swaps, an NFT marketplace, OTC trading and SMSF accounts. Coinbase lists 200+ coins in Australia and offers Coinbase Advanced, with market, limit and stop limit orders and TradingView charts (Coinbase, checked 4 November 2026). A longer list is not automatically better. Most of our members focus on a small number of larger assets, and every extra token needs its own research. Our guide to tokenomics shows how to check one.
Regulation and safety in Australia
Any business exchanging crypto for Australian dollars must register with AUSTRAC, which means identity checks, suspicious matter reporting and record keeping. Both exchanges meet that bar, and both now hold an Australian Financial Services Licence, according to their own disclosures. Registration is not the same as a guarantee, so the safest habit is the same on either platform: turn on two factor authentication, keep only what you are trading on the exchange and move long term holdings to a wallet you control. Our guide to hot wallets vs cold wallets explains how.
Which one suits which investor?
CoinSpot tends to suit Australians who want a local company, a very wide coin list and a cheap order book once they learn to use it. Coinbase tends to suit people who already use it overseas, want a globally known brand or plan to use Coinbase Advanced. Many investors hold an account on both, which also gives a backup if one platform has an outage. Whichever you choose, write down your plan first: what you are buying, why, how much and when you will sell. If you are not sure where to start, our two minute membership quiz points you to the right next step.
How Collective Shift approaches exchanges
Collective Shift is an independent research and education company founded in Melbourne in 2020. We sell no tokens and take no paid promotion, and neither exchange paid for this comparison. Our step by step CoinSpot getting started guide and our explainer on exchanges vs brokers go deeper on how Australian platforms work.
Sources
- CoinSpot fees page, checked 4 November 2026
- CoinSpot home page (coin count, founding year, ISO 27001), checked 4 November 2026
- CoinSpot help centre: Is CoinSpot regulated?, checked 4 November 2026
- Coinbase Australia home page (coin count, AUD deposits), checked 4 November 2026
- Coinbase Australia licences and disclosures, checked 4 November 2026
- Coinbase pricing and fees disclosures, checked 4 November 2026
- Coinbase Advanced fee levels, checked 4 November 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is CoinSpot cheaper than Coinbase?
It depends on the order type. CoinSpot charges 1% on instant buys and 0.1% on market orders. Coinbase simple trades include a spread plus a fee shown on the preview screen, and Coinbase Advanced starts at 0.50% maker and 0.90% taker. Compare the total on each preview screen.
Are CoinSpot and Coinbase regulated in Australia?
Yes. Both are registered with AUSTRAC as virtual asset service providers, and both disclose an Australian Financial Services Licence from ASIC.
Which has more coins, CoinSpot or Coinbase?
CoinSpot lists 470+ coins and Coinbase lists 200+ coins for Australian customers, as of November 2026.
Can I deposit Australian dollars for free?
Yes on both. CoinSpot and Coinbase list PayID deposits as free. CoinSpot charges 2.5% on cash deposits.
Should I keep my crypto on an exchange?
Many investors keep only what they are trading on an exchange and move long term holdings to a wallet they control, such as a hardware wallet.
Related guides
- Crypto exchange vs broker
- CoinSpot getting started guide
- Hot wallet vs cold wallet
- Crypto tax software in Australia
- Find your next step: membership quiz
- Crypto glossary
This guide is general education only and is not personal financial advice. Collective Shift Pty Ltd, ABN 78 650 977 325.
Written by Ben Simpson, Founder of Collective Shift, and reviewed by Matt Willemsen, Director of Research. Published 4 November 2026. Updated 4 November 2026.