Coinbase includes a spread in the price of each cryptocurrency transaction. The spread is the difference between the price at which Coinbase buys or sells cryptocurrency and the price at which Coinbase offers to buy or sell cryptocurrency to you. Coinbase typically charges a spread of about 0.50% for cryptocurrency purchases and sales. However, the spread may be higher or lower due to market fluctuations in the price of cryptocurrency on Coinbase Exchange between the time we quote a price and the time the transaction executes.
Because the spread is baked into the quoted price, you cannot easily see this cost upfront, making it harder to compare Coinbase's true cost against competitors who quote at market price and charge fees separately.
Every time you buy, sell, or convert cryptocurrency on Coinbase, you pay at least two layers of cost: a spread embedded in the displayed price plus an explicit Coinbase Fee, meaning the true cost is higher than the price shown before you preview the transaction. Debit card purchases incur significantly higher fees than bank account transactions, making payment method selection a material financial decision. You can reduce your fees by using a linked bank account instead of a debit card and by reviewing the full fee breakdown on the transaction preview screen before confirming.