Cheapest exchange to buy Cardano (ADA)
Cardano (ADA) is liquid on all the major venues, so the bid/ask spread is tight and the trading fee is the cost that separates exchanges. Here are the venues ranked by published spot taker fee, cheapest first.
Lowest Cardano spot fees, ranked
| # | Exchange | Maker | Taker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.000% | 0.000% | ||
| 2 | 0.000% | 0.000% | Open account | |
| 3 | 0.000% | 0.000% | Open account | |
| 4 | 0.000% | 0.000% | Open account | |
| 5 | 0.000% | 0.000% | Open account | |
| 6 | 0.005% | 0.040% | Open account | |
| 7 | 0.000% | 0.050% | Open account | |
| 8 | 0.040% | 0.070% | Open account | |
| 9 | 0.040% | 0.070% | Open account | |
| 10 | 0.100% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 11 | 0.100% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 12 | 0.080% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 13 | 0.100% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 14 | 0.100% | 0.100% | ||
| 15 | 0.100% | 0.100% | ||
| 16 | 0.100% | 0.100% | ||
| 17 | 0.100% | 0.100% | ||
| 18 | 0.100% | 0.100% | ||
| 19 | 0.080% | 0.100% | ||
| 20 | 0.100% | 0.100% | ||
| 21 | 0.080% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 22 | 0.100% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 23 | 0.100% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 24 | 0.100% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 25 | 0.100% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 26 | 0.100% | 0.100% | Open account | |
| 27 | 0.200% | 0.200% | ||
| 28 | 0.200% | 0.200% | ||
| 29 | 0.250% | 0.400% | ||
| 30 | 0.250% | 0.500% | Open account | |
| 31 | 0.500% | 0.500% | ||
| 32 | 0.600% | 1.200% | Open account | |
| n/a | 0.050% | 0.050% | BitMEX is shutting down on 23 September 2026. New positions stop 26 August. Close positions and withdraw before then. |
Published entry-tier spot rates; volume tiers and native-token discounts can lower these further.
Liquidity and spread
ADA has solid order book depth on the large exchanges, so slippage is minor at retail size. Your all in cost is the fee plus the spread, and the spread widens mostly on smaller venues, so compare both instead of the headline fee alone.
Do not forget the withdrawal fee
ADA on chain withdrawals are cheap, but the fixed ADA withdrawal fee still differs by exchange. If you self custody or stake off exchange and move ADA often, factor that recurring cost in. See the hidden costs of crypto trading.
Find your cheapest venue for Cardano
Your real cost depends on your volume and whether you place maker (limit) or taker (market) orders. FeeEdge ranks all 33 exchanges for your exact profile in seconds.
Compare Cardano fees for how you trade →
FAQ
What is the cheapest exchange to buy Cardano?
For ADA spot, the lowest base taker fees among the 33 venues FeeEdge tracks come from MEXC, Bitfinex and Backpack; Coinbase and Kraken sit higher. Because ADA is liquid on the majors, the published fee is usually the main cost, so also check your volume tier and any native-token discount.
Can I stake Cardano on the exchange I buy it on?
Many exchanges offer ADA staking, but rates and lockups vary and staking on an exchange is not the same as self custody. If staking yield matters, compare it separately from trading fees, since the cheapest venue to buy is not always the best to stake.