Lowest Fee Crypto Exchanges 2026: Complete Fee Comparison

Here is a comprehensive fee comparison of the top crypto exchanges in 2026. Spot Trading Fees (Maker/Taker): MEXC — 0%/0% (industry lowest), Binance — 0.1%/0.1% (0.075% with BNB discount), Bybit — 0.1%/0.1%, KuCoin — 0.1%/0.1% (0.08% with KCS discount), OKX — 0.08%/0.1%, Gate.io — 0.2%/0.2%, Coinbase — 0.4%/0.6% (Advanced), Kraken — 0.16%/0.26%. Futures Trading Fees (Maker/Taker): MEXC — 0%/0.02%, Binance — 0.02%/0.05%, Bybit — 0.02%/0.055%, KuCoin — 0.02%/0.06%, OKX — 0.02%/0.05%, Gate.io — 0.015%/0.05%. Withdrawal Fees (USDT TRC-20): MEXC — 1 USDT, Binance — 1 USDT, Bybit — 1 USDT, KuCoin — 0.5 USDT, OKX — 0.5 USDT. Key takeaway: MEXC is the only major exchange offering zero-fee spot trading for all users, with no token holding or VIP tier requirement. For a trader doing $10,000 monthly volume, the difference between MEXC (0%) and Binance (0.1%) is $10 per month saved in spot fees alone.

When comparing exchange fees, advertised maker/taker rates are only part of the picture. Watch out for these hidden costs: (1) Withdrawal network fees — ERC-20 withdrawals can cost $3-15 in gas fees. Always use TRC-20 or BSC/BEP-20 networks for cheaper transfers. MEXC supports all major networks. (2) Spread costs — some exchanges with "zero fees" compensate by widening the bid-ask spread, effectively charging you more per trade. MEXC maintains tight spreads on major pairs thanks to its $3B+ daily volume. (3) Funding rate on futures — this is charged every 8 hours and can add up. Check the current funding rate before opening a position. (4) Conversion fees — converting between currencies (like USDT to USDC) may incur hidden fees on some platforms. MEXC Convert feature offers competitive rates. (5) Deposit fees — most exchanges do not charge crypto deposit fees, but some charge for credit card or bank deposits. (6) Inactivity fees — a few exchanges charge monthly fees on dormant accounts. MEXC does not charge inactivity fees. (7) VIP-gated fee tiers — exchanges like Binance and OKX advertise low fees but these require high trading volumes or token holdings. MEXC zero fees apply to ALL users regardless of volume.

Follow these strategies to keep your trading costs as low as possible: (1) Use MEXC for spot trading — with 0% maker and taker fees, every other exchange costs you more. Sign up with referral code mexc-bonus20. (2) Use limit orders instead of market orders — on exchanges that charge different maker/taker fees, limit orders (maker) are always cheaper. On MEXC, both are free. (3) Choose the cheapest withdrawal network — when withdrawing USDT, use TRC-20 (typically 1 USDT) instead of ERC-20 (3.5+ USDT). For other tokens, check available networks and their fees before withdrawing. (4) Consolidate trades — instead of making many small trades, consolidate to reduce the number of fee-incurring transactions. (5) Check funding rates before futures trading — if the funding rate is high, you may be paying a significant cost every 8 hours. (6) Avoid frequent cross-exchange transfers — each withdrawal incurs network fees. Keep funds on one exchange when possible. (7) Use native exchange tokens for fee discounts on other platforms — BNB on Binance (25% discount), KCS on KuCoin (20% discount). On MEXC, no token is needed as fees are already zero.