Gemini or Coinbase – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Gemini and Coinbase in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Gemini is a cryptocurrency exchange set up in 2014 by the Winklevoss brothers, known for their early involvement in Facebook. The exchange is among the world’s 20 largest and most popular. Gemini clients can trade and stake 110+ cryptocurrencies, with derivatives trading available in some jurisdictions, an advanced proprietary platform and additional features including an NFT marketplace.
Launched in 2012 as a platform enabling users to buy and sell Bitcoin via bank transfers, Coinbase has emerged as a crypto behemoth, expanding its services to include 240+ crypto assets, developing sophisticated trading platforms for retail investors, listing on the US Nasdaq, and securing licenses with multiple regulators.
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Pros
The trading app features a user-friendly, modern design and intuitive interface, with an excellent range of charting tools for traders
The TradingView integration delivers top-quality tools, including backtesting and algo trading capabilities
The exchange ensures high security standards with 2FA a requirement for all crypto investors
Crypto perpetual futures are available in many jurisdictions with up to 1:100 leverage
There is a decent range of educational guides and tutorials suitable for beginners
As a Nasdaq-listed company, Coinbase follows strict financial regulations, with licensing across the US, UK, and Europe. Security includes FDIC insurance for USD balances (up to $250,000) and two-factor authentication (2FA).
Coinbase supports 240+ cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and more recently listed altcoins like $Trump, giving early access to emerging tokens.
Coinbase Advanced bolstered its leveraged trading offering with a suite of new futures products in 2025, including Ripple (XRP), Natural Gas (NGS), and Cardano (ADA), providing accessible ways to trade, hedge, or diversify.
There are platforms for all levels: beginners can use the simple Coinbase app, while Advanced Trade provides lower fees and pro-level tools.
Cons
The exchange has a history of concerning incidents including the collapse of its Earn program and a phishing breach
The 'convenience fee' for using the mobile app seems arbitrary and makes it inefficient to use this feature
There are high fees for some funding methods including a 3.49% fee for card transactions
Some larger coins by market cap are not available to buy through Gemini
There is no practice profile or demo account for prospective traders
High crypto fees based on tests, especially compared to competitors like Kraken and BitMEX, and notably on the standard dealing platform.
There are woeful research tools; Advanced Trade has TradingView charts but lacks features like news feeds, economic calendars, and AI market insights.
Frustrating customer support during testing, with most help options hidden behind login, making it tough for locked-out users or non-account holders to get assistance.
Awards
Best Cryptocurrency Exchange 2019 - Markets Choice Awards
Coinbase offers an intuitive and regularly updated app that’s generally fast, reliable and matches the desktop experience.
It provides powerful tools for crypto investors with advanced trading features, real-time market analysis, staking rewards, secure portfolio management, and educational incentives, all backed by top-notch security and regulatory compliance.
However, ratings from Android users show the interface trails its Apple counterpart, with issues relating to the user experience and notifications.
iOS App Rating
4.8
4.7
Android App Rating
4.6
4
Margin Trading
No
No
MetaTrader 4
No
No
MetaTrader 5
No
No
cTrader
No
No
AlgoTrader
Yes
No
OmniTrader
No
No
TradingView
Yes
No
Autochartist
No
No
eSignal
No
No
Trading Central
No
No
STP Account
No
No
ECN Account
No
No
DMA Account
No
No
MAM Account
No
No
PAMM Account
No
No
LAMM Account
No
No
Demat Account
No
No
AI / Machine Learning
No
No
Robo Advisor
No
No
Negative Balance Protection
No
No
Market Maker
No
No
P2P Trading
No
No
Spot Trading
No
Yes
Copy Trading
No
No
Social Trading
No
No
VPS Hosting
No
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
No
No
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
No
No
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
HKD
SGD
USD
EUR
Cryptocurrency
Gemini offers a relatively small range of 110+ cryptocurrencies on its exchange, which is anchored by the native Gemini Dollar stablecoin, as well as perpetual swap derivatives. The powerful ActiveTrader platform is optimized for online trading, delivering a wide range of technical indicators and up to 7 time frames.
Coinbase excels in its user-friendly crypto trading environment, complete with over 240 digital assets, from Bitcoin to emerging altcoins, and terrific tools through its TradingView-powered platform and Advanced Trade, providing advanced charts and market data for crypto traders.