VS 
Coinbase vs Swyftx (2026)
Compared on verified data — same methodology, same fact database, every pair.
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Choose Coinbase if…
- → you'll use market orders — 0.4% beats 0.6%
- → holding an AFSL matters to you
Choose Swyftx if…
- → you want a wider coin range (400+ vs 260+)
- → you want demo mode to practise first
- → you need SMSF account support
- → you prefer an Australian-based platform
Side by side
| Our score | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 better |
|---|---|---|
| Maker / taker fee | 0.4% / 0.6% better | 0.6% / 0.6% |
| Instant-buy fee | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Coins listed | 260+ | 400+ better |
| AUD withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| AUD deposit methods | PayID · Bank transfer · Card | PayID · Osko · Bank transfer · Card |
| Demo mode | ✕ No | ✓ Yes better |
| SMSF support | ✕ No | ✓ Yes better |
| Australian-based | No | 🇦🇺 Yes better |
| Full AFSL | ✓ Licensed better | Transitional |
| Incidents on record | ✓ None | ✓ None |
| Best for | global reach | beginners |
Coinbase leads 2 rows, Swyftx leads 5 — what matters is which rows matter to you. Try any other matchup in the comparison tool · sources: Coinbase review, Swyftx review
What a A$1,000 buy costs on each
Headline fees only. We hold a verified spread estimate for Swyftx but not for the other, and folding it into one side alone would make the platform we measured more closely look like the expensive one. Instant buys cost more than this on both.
Coinbase - Instant buy
- A$6.00
- Market order
- A$4.00
Swyftx - Instant buy
- A$6.00
- Market order
- A$6.00
On a A$1,000 instant buy the two are within a cent of each other. Using market orders it's A$2.00. Fees are per trade, so multiply by how often you buy.
What you can actually buy on each
Counted against the 152 coins we track, and re-checked against each platform's own public asset list every day — not the headline number on their marketing pages.
| Coins we track that it lists | 102 | 129 |
|---|---|---|
| Priced directly in AUD | 1 | 129 |
| On this one only | 5 | 32 |
97 of the coins we track are on both. Only on Coinbase: USDS, USD1, Cronos, EURC, OriginTrail. Only on Swyftx: TRON, Monero, Canton, Gram (prev. Toncoin), Tether Gold and 27 more.
What is on each one's record
Hacks, penalties, licence changes and ownership changes we hold a source for. An empty record means we have not recorded an event, not that nothing has ever happened.
Coinbase - ✅ licence granted 8 Apr 2026 First crypto exchange granted a full AFSL by ASIC · source
Swyftx - 🤝 acquisition 1 July 2025 Swyftx acquired brokerage Caleb & Brown · source
FAQ
Which is better, Coinbase or Swyftx?
It depends what you optimise for: Coinbase wins when you'll use market orders — 0.4% beats 0.6%; Swyftx wins when you want a wider coin range (400+ vs 260+). Both are AUSTRAC-registered.
Can I use both Coinbase and Swyftx?
Yes — many Australians keep accounts on two exchanges: one for cheap market orders, one for range or features. There is no cost to holding both accounts.
Are these comparisons affected by commissions?
No. Both Visit buttons are affiliate links, but every number on this page renders from our verified fact database and the comparison logic is identical for every pair we publish.
General information only, not financial advice. Verify current fees before trading. Facts on this page last verified 2026-07-22.