Shakepay and Coinbase are among the best crypto trading apps and platforms available to Canadians.
Shakepay offers a simple web and mobile interface to buy and sell Bitcoin/Ethereum, while Coinbase offers basic and advanced platforms for beginners and seasoned investors to trade a wide selection of cryptocurrencies.
This Shakepay vs. Coinbase comparison digs into their top features, supported cryptocurrencies, trading fees, pros & cons, and more so that you can choose the one that fits your crypto investing needs.
What is Shakepay?
Shakepay is a top cryptocurrency broker based in Montreal. It is one of the best crypto trading platforms in Canada and was founded in 2015.
It’s a great platform for Canadians to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum with no extra trading fees or deposit/withdrawal fees, and it only takes about 10 minutes to sign up and start trading.
If you verify your account and trade $100+ worth of BTC or ETH, you get a $5 cash bonus.
Shakepay
Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum fast
Works for new & advanced traders
1-3% trading fee, free withdrawals
Get a $5 bonus when you trade $100
What is Coinbase?
Coinbase is the second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume and is one of the best crypto exchanges in Canada for beginners and pros; founded in 2012.
It stands out as a well-established crypto trading platform where Canadians can trade 150+ cryptocurrencies.
Coinbase is a publicly listed company and trades on the Nasdaq exchanges under the ticker COIN.
Shakepay vs Coinbase: Top Features
Verification process
Shakepay offers instant account verification through an automatic identity check with the credit bureaus, and you won’t be required to upload identity documents unless the check fails. The whole process takes under 10 minutes.
Coinbase offers manual ID verification, and you’ll be required to upload your identity documents, including your government-issued ID, a selfie photo of your face, and other details. It may take hours to days to get your document reviewed and verified on Coinbase.
Supported funding options
You can fund your Shakepay wallet via Interac e-Transfer, bank wire transfer, and BTC/ETH deposits from an external wallet.
Coinbase-supported funding methods include ACH transfer, wire transfer, and crypt deposits. It also supports Google Pay, Apple Pay, and debit/credit card purchases.
Recurring buy feature
Both Shakepay and Coinbase offer recurring buys to allow you to automate your crypto purchases with a predetermined schedule, say daily, weekly, or monthly.
This dollar cost averaging method comes in handy to help time-strapped investors save time and money.
Crypto services offered
Coinbase offers more crypto services than Shakepay. Shakepay only facilitates crypto purchases and crypto spending via the Shakepay Visa card.
Coinbase offers crypto trading, a crypto Visa card, crypto loans using Bitcoin as collateral, a self-hosted crypto wallet, and Coinbase Earn to learn and earn crypto.
Trading platforms
Shakepay offers a basic platform and does not support advanced trading features or charting tools.
Coinbase offers both the standard Coinbase interface for beginners and Coinbase Pro for advanced trading.
Crypto Visa card
Both Shakepay and Coinbase offer crypto Visa cards to allow you to spend your crypto balances hassle-free online and in-store.
The Shakepay Visa card earns you 1% Bitcoin cash back on purchases.
Coinbase Visa card allows you to spend your crypto anywhere Visa is accepted worldwide, and earn up to 4% crypto rewards (not available in Canada).
Security
Shakepay offers cold storage backed by a Shakpay insurance policy, bank custody for fiat, 2FA, and the ability to transfer your crypto assets to external wallets.
Coinbase offers up to 98% cold storage, crypto insurance for the 2% of assets held online, up to $250,00 FDIC insurance for cash balances held in U.S banks, and 2FA.
Shakepay vs Coinbase: Supported Cryptocurrencies
Shakepay supports Bitcoin and Ethereum purchases and only offers CAD as fiat.
Coinbase supports 150+ crypto coins and several fiat currencies, including GBP, EUR, USD, CAD, and more.
Shakepay vs Coinbase: Trading Fees
Shakepay doesn’t charge trading fees or deposit and withdrawal fees. Instead, you incur an in-built Shakepay spread of 1% to 3% applied on bid-ask prices when you buy and sell BTC/ETH on the platform.
Fees can get quite complex and expensive on Coinbase, depending on the platform you use.
The standard Coinbase platform levies a fee of $0.99-$2.99 on crypto purchases of $10-$200 and 1.49% to 3.99% on purchases above $200, depending on the purchase method used. There is also a spread of 0.5% on trades.
Fees are lower on Coinbase Pro, with maker fees starting at 0.5%, then decreasing to 0%, and taker fees coming in between $0.5% to 0.04% based on your 30-day trading volume.
Coinbase ACH transfers are free, but there is a fee of $10 for incoming wires and $25 for outgoing wires.
Shakepay vs Coinbase: Pros & Cons
Pros
Shakepay’s top advantage is that it offers instant, automatic account verification, commission-free trading with no deposit/withdrawal fees, and a beginner-friendly interface to buy BTC/ETH in under 10 minutes.
Coinbase wins out with its wide selection of 150+ cryptocurrencies and two different interfaces to accommodate beginner and pro traders.
Cons
Shakepay’s downside is that it only offers BTC and ETH and doesn’t offer advanced trading features and charting tools. Shakepay spreads also run up to 3%, which is quite expensive.
The standard Coinbase platform has an expensive fee structure that’s difficult to understand, and you’ll have to use Coinbase Pro to enjoy lower fees.
Promotions
Shakepay offers a $5 sign-up bonus if you create an account and trade $100 or more.
Here are other crypto promotions you can take advantage of in Canada.
Shakepay vs Coinbase: Best for
Shakepay is great for beginners looking for a simple interface to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Coinbase is great for both newbies and seasoned crypto investors who want to trade many crypto coins in Canada and beyond.
Shakepay vs Coinbase: Breakdown
| Shakepay | Coinbase | |
| Supported crypto coins | BTC and ETH; CAD as fiat | 100+ coins |
| Funding options | Interac e-Transfer, Bank wire transfer, and crypto | ACH transfer, wire transfer, crypt deposits, debit/credit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay. |
| Trading fees | 1%-3% Shakepay spread | $0.99-$2.99 on purchases of $10-$200; 1.49%-3.99% on purchases above $200; Maker-taker fees start at 0.5% on Coinbase Pro. |
| Deposit/withdrawal fee | Free | ACH transfers are free. $10 for incoming wires and $25 for outgoing wires. |
| Verification process | Automatic and instant | Manual, and may take hours to days |
| Trading platforms | Basic web and mobile interface | Basic/advanced web and mobile platforms. |
| Promotions | Get a $5 cash bonus if you trade $100 or more | – |
Related:
- Shakepay vs Bitbuy
- Best Binance Alternatives in Canada
- Shakepay vs NDAX Crypto Trading Platforms
- Shakepay vs Binance
- How To Stake Crypto in Canada
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency is a volatile and speculative investment. If you decide to invest, we recommend you do your own research and only commit funds you can afford to lose. The author may own one or more of the crypto assets mentioned in this article.
