Coinbase
by Coinbase, Inc. · Finance & Banking · Investing
Cryptocurrency exchange for buying, selling, and storing digital currencies.
Quick Answer: Coinbase has a verified Real Score of 3.5/5 based on 98,000 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.3/5. Mixed reviews from verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 98,000 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Coinbase's App Store rating is 0.8 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- User-friendly crypto buying
- Wide coin selection
- Insured custodial wallets
- Educational earn program
Common Complaints
- High fees on basic app
- Customer support complaints
- Account lockouts reported
- Coinbase Pro is separate (was)
Verified Reviews (20)
Easiest way to buy crypto
For someone new to crypto, Coinbase makes buying Bitcoin or Ethereum as simple as buying anything online. Link bank, click buy, done. The simplicity justifies the slightly higher fees for beginners.
Fees are too high
Coinbase charges up to 1.49% per transaction on the basic app. That's $14.90 on a $1,000 purchase. Using Advanced Trade (formerly Coinbase Pro) drops fees dramatically. They should be transparent about this.
Account locked for no reason
My account was locked for "verification" for three weeks. No warning, no clear reason. Support was slow and unhelpful. When your money is held hostage, the stress is real.
Earn feature is genuinely great
Coinbase Earn pays you crypto for watching short educational videos. I've earned over $150 in various coins just by learning about them. Free money for education - brilliant marketing.
Staking rewards are nice passive income
Staking ETH and earning 3-4% APY is like a savings account for crypto. The staking interface is simple and rewards arrive automatically. Good passive income on assets I'm holding long-term anyway.
Advanced Trade merger was overdue
The merger of Coinbase Pro features into the main app was long overdue. Having two separate apps with different fee structures was confusing and user-hostile. Better late than never.
Customer support is a joke
Email support takes days. No phone number. The help center is generic FAQ articles. When dealing with financial assets, this level of support is inadequate. Losing money is stressful enough without waiting days for help.
Coinbase Wallet for DeFi
The separate Coinbase Wallet app for DeFi, NFTs, and dApps works well. Self-custody, WalletConnect support, and clean interface make it accessible for exploring Web3.
Coin selection is extensive
Coinbase lists hundreds of coins and tokens. Whatever crypto you want to buy, it's probably on Coinbase. The breadth of selection is better than most competitors.
Price alerts work well
Setting alerts for when Bitcoin hits certain prices keeps me informed without constantly checking. The alerts are timely and customizable. Simple feature, well-executed.
Tax reporting is confusing
Crypto taxes are complicated and Coinbase's tax documents don't make it easier. Multiple 1099s, unclear cost basis for converted coins, and limited integration with tax software.
Recurring purchases for DCA
Setting up daily, weekly, or monthly recurring purchases automates dollar-cost averaging into crypto. $50/week into Bitcoin without thinking about timing. Simple and effective strategy.
Trusted and publicly traded
As a publicly traded company (COIN), Coinbase has regulatory oversight and financial transparency. I trust my crypto with a regulated, audited company more than anonymous exchanges.
Spread on instant buy is hidden
Beyond the listed fee, Coinbase adds a spread (markup on the price). You're paying more than the market rate. This hidden cost isn't transparent and adds to the true cost of buying.
Security features are solid
2FA, biometric login, vault storage with time-delayed withdrawals, and insurance on custodial funds. Coinbase takes security seriously which matters when storing crypto.
Coinbase card is decent
The debit card earning crypto rewards (up to 4% back) is interesting. Spend dollars, earn Bitcoin. The rewards rates vary and aren't always the best but it's a unique offering.
Educational resources are above average
The learning section explains blockchain concepts, individual cryptocurrencies, and DeFi clearly. For crypto newcomers, the educational content builds understanding before investing.
App crashes during market moves
Coinbase has a pattern of going down during major market movements - exactly when you need to trade. During the last Bitcoin spike, the app was unreachable for 20 minutes. Unacceptable.
Good for long-term holding
If you're buying and holding crypto long-term, Coinbase is a solid choice. Secure storage, easy purchasing, and you don't need advanced trading features. Simple and trustworthy.
Use Advanced Trade for better fees
If you're going to use Coinbase, always use Advanced Trade for purchases. The fee difference between the simple buy and Advanced Trade is massive. Basic buy fees are a beginner tax.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026