In this Coinbase Pro vs Coinbase guide we’ll talk about the differences between these two exchanging platforms. We’ll compare their coin offerings, fees, security, wallets, and features.

Here’s all you need to know.

Learn in This Article

  • What Coinbase is
  • What Coinbase Pro is
  • Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro Comparison
    • Features
    • Coins and tokens
    • Fees
    • Security
    • Wallets

What Is Coinbase?

Coinbase is one of the most notable centralized crypto exchanges that’s been offering crypto trading since 2012. This platform was created for beginner traders. It allows its users to buy, sell, and trade their digital coins and NTFs.

Coinbase has more than 98 million users and it’s available in over 100 countries. Traders can access it via its website and an app available for both iOS and Android users. Coinbase is suitable for beginners due to its user-friendly interface. This platform also provides tutorials and educational resources about cryptocurrencies.

What Is Coinbase Pro?

Coinbase Pro is a crypto exchange that launched in 2018. This platform was first called Global Digital Asset Exchange, after which it was renamed to Coinbase Pro.

Unlike Coinbase, Coinbase Pro is best suited for more experienced traders and professional investors. The platform also has an intuitive interface, but it’s more sophisticated — it allows traders to have more control by providing extensive charting tools, real-time order books, and trade history.

Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro — Full Comparison Table

Platform

 Coinbase Coinbase Pro

Features

 User-friendly interface

Crypto earning

NFT marketplace

Educational resources

 Advanced interfaces

Margin trading

API integration

Coins and tokens

 150+ 250+
Fees Taker fee — 0.60%

Maker fee — 0.40%

Per trade — 0–0.5%

Maker/taker fee — 0.25%–0.5%

Per trade — 0.05%
Security

Two-factor authentication

FDIC Insurance

Cold storage

Crypto vaults
Wallets Self-custodial wallet

In-house wallet

Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro: Features

Both Coinbase and Coinbase Pro have unique features that separate them from other crypto exchanges. However, since one is more suitable for beginners and the other for professionals, their main features are a bit different.

Coinbase Features

User-Friendly Interface

Coinbase has a simple interface that simplifies crypto trading and portfolio management. Users will also be able to use automated features, such as recurring purchases.

Crypto Earning

Coinbase users can earn crypto by participating in rewards programs and by staking their coins and tokens.

NFT Marketplace

Coinbase recently added the option to buy, sell, and mint non-fungible tokens.

Educational Resources

Traders will find a large number of educational resources on Coinbase, from tutorials and videos to crypto guides.

Coinbase Pro Features

Advanced Interface

Coinbase Pro has a more robust interface. It includes in-depth and interactive charts and real-time asset pricing. Users will also be able to use technical indicators, real-time order books, and trade history.

Margin Trading

Coinbase Pro users can trade their digital assets using borrowed funds. This enables them to have greater trading power.

API Integration

This feature allows users to automate trades and access real-time data.

Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro: Coins and Tokens

Both platforms support stablecoins, over 150 altcoins, and fiat money like USD, GBP, and EUR. Moreover, they both support EVM-compatible chains, like Polygon and Avalanche C-Chain.

However, there is a difference in the number of supported cryptocurrencies. Coinbase supports 150+ digital coins and tokens, while Coinbase Pro supports over 250 digital assets. Furthermore, due to low usage, Coinbase stopped supporting XRP, XLM, BCH, and ETC.

Another thing that distinguishes these two platforms is that Coinbase supports the LOOM network, but not BSV. With Coinbase Pro, the situation is reversed — you can buy BSV, but LOOM is unavailable.

Coinbase and Coinbase Pro also support different types of transactions. For example, the former supports buying, selling, sending, receiving, and trading digital assets. The latter supports, buying, selling, depositing, withdrawing, and trading with limited orders.

What’s more, the maximum trading amount on Coinbase depends on the user’s location and payment method. On the other hand, Coinbase Pro platform users can conduct unlimited trades.

In short, Coinbase is a better option for investors who want to trade standard digital currencies. Conversely, Coinbase Pro is better for traders who are into swapping lesser-known coins.

Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro: Fees

The fee structure on both Coinbase and Coinbase Pro is based on a 30-day trading volume. Likewise, they both use the taker-maker model. 

However, compared to Coinbase Pro, Coinbase has higher fees. For example, Coinbase users will have to pay taker and maker fees that go up to 0.60% and 0.40%, respectively. They’ll also have to pay miner fees and crypto conversion fees. Moreover, the flat fee on Coinbase ranges between 0% and 0.5% per trade. 

Coinbase Pro charges lower fees. Namely, users will have to pay a fee that ranges between 0% and 0.5% per trade. In addition to that, all transactions under $10,000 will come with a 0.5% maker/taker fee. At the same time, transactions between $50,000 and $100,000 will come with a 0.25% maker/taker fee.

Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro: Security

Since both platforms are managed by Coinbase Global Inc. they utilize the same security features. On that note, they use:

  • Two-factor authentication
  • FDIC Insurance
  • Cold storage
  • Crypto vaults

Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro: Wallets

When it comes to crypto wallets, Coinbase provides a self-custody wallet. This wallet works with all EVM-compatible networks along with Ethereum and Solana. This allows users to have complete control over their crypto assets. Additionally, they can use this wallet to store NFTs and engage with dApps.

Coinbase Pro offers an in-house wallet that will be controlled by the platform since it was designed as a wallet for commercial use.

What Happened to Coinbase Pro?

In 2022, Coinbase Pro was renamed to Coinbase Advanced. Coinbase Advanced can be seen as an upgraded version of Coinbase Pro that provides better options to experienced traders.

On that note, Coinbase Advanced allows its users to buy, sell, and trade their digital assets. It also provides interactive charts and advanced order types. Users can also use this platform to stake their coins and tokens for rewards.

Coinbase Advanced differs from Coinbase Pro in the following segments:

  • Rewards: Users can earn up to 7% APY
  • Charts: Users can use advanced charts powered by TradingView and drawing tools
  • Security: YubiKey for mobile, Coinbase Vault

On top of that, Coinbase Advanced users will be able to trade 550+ cryptocurrencies. Moreover, they’ll get to use technical analysis indicators, like RSI, Bollinger Bands, and MACD. Coinbase developers have also announced that they will soon add full REST API & WebSocket support and mobile stop-limit orders.

Conclusion

Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro comparison brings out important distinctions. Both are owned by the same parenting company — Coinbase Global Inc. However, Coinbase is intended for beginners, while Coinbase Pro is built for professional traders.

On that note, Coinbase provides numerous educational resources, guides, and tutorials. Conversely, Coinbase Pro has a more advanced interface that includes real-time asset pricing and order books.

Other differences include fees, which are much higher on Coinbase, and coin and token support, which is higher on the Coinbase Pro platform. Note that the Coinbase Pro platform is now known as Coinbase Advanced.

FAQs

Are Coinbase and Coinbase Pro the same?