Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Coinbase vs CoinJar
Coinbase
Higher score in this comparison
CoinJar
Where Coinbase and CoinJar differ
| Compare | CoinbaseReviewVisitVisit | CoinJarReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | A$0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 2.99% |
| Top-up fee | free for direct deposit | 0% (no pre-loading; card spends directly from CoinJar account balance) |
| Card network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Free ATM withdrawals | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 1% |
Same on both: Card type (Prepaid), Custody (Custodial).
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Key differences
- Coinbase scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Founded is lower at Coinbase: 2012 vs 2013.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Coinbase: 0% vs 2.99%.
- Support channels: only Coinbase offers Phone.
- Features: only Coinbase offers Virtual card.
Our verdict on each
Coinbase
Coinbase suits people who already hold crypto on the exchange and want a card that spends it. The prepaid card has a monthly fee of $0 and the credit card an annual fee of $0, with a currency conversion fee of 0% and cashback of 2% to 4%.
CoinJar
CoinJar suits anyone who already holds digital assets and wants to spend them through a Mastercard without paying a monthly charge. The monthly fee is AUD 0, but a currency conversion fee of 2.99% puts it well down our ranking on that measure.
Score breakdown
| Area | Coinbase | CoinJar |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherMonthly fee $0 ranks at 1 of 419 brands, and the credit card conversion fee is 0%. | 8.8A AUD 0 monthly fee and no top-up charge, weighed against 2.99% charged on every currency conversion. |
| Offer | 9.1Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.8 | 8.8 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Coinbase | CoinJar |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C188493 | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 98450066Q3A1G1A4T786 |
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Luxembourg | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) MiCA CASP 984500F14CA4571AAC11 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Coinbase | CoinJar |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid cards | 3 of 190 | 4 of 190 |
Sources behind this comparison
Coinbase
- coinbase.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- help.coinbase.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
CoinJar
- coinjar.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.coinjar.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Coinbase | CoinJar |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Custodial, Virtual cardCovers more | Crypto, Custodial |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | Coinbase Luxembourg S.A. | CoinJar Europe Limited |
| Headquarters | Luxembourg | Ireland |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Credit cards
| Fact | Coinbase | CoinJar |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | 2%, 2.5%, 3% or 4% bitcoin back tiered by assets on Coinbase; 5% back on Coinbase One Card Travel bookings; 2.5-4% tiers capped at a combined $10,000 eligible purchases per calendar month | Not confirmed |
| Perks | Zero trading fees on first $500/mo in trades (a spread applies), Boosted USDC rewards 4.00% APY on first $10K, then 3.60%, 5% more staking rewards on ETH, SOL and other eligible assets, $120 transaction credits on Base ($10/mo sponsored smart wallet gas), American Express retail protection, extended warranty and return protection, Trip cancellation/interruption, lost or damaged luggage and worldwide car rental loss & damage insurance, Roadside and emergency assistance, Eligibility check with no credit score impact, USDC security deposit option from $100 | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 2% to 4% | Not confirmed |
| Card kind | Credit | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Coinbase | CoinJar | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 2.99%highest quarter | 1% |
| Free ATM withdrawals | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 1%below the median | 2% |
Median across 387 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Coinbase
Pros
- The prepaid card has a monthly fee of $0 and the credit card an annual fee of $0, so neither product carries a standing charge.
- The credit card's currency conversion fee of 0% sits below the site conversion figure of 1%.
- Cashback of 2% to 4% on the credit card, paid in bitcoin, and the rewards type is cashback.
Cons
- The free ATM withdrawal allowance is $0, and the card sits at 41 of 115 among brands ranked on free cash machine withdrawals.
- The prepaid card is custodial, so the balance sits with the operator rather than in a wallet the holder controls.
- The prepaid card's crypto, custodial and virtual card list covers crypto, custody and a virtual card, and retail or travel cover is not among it.
CoinJar
Pros
- The monthly fee is AUD 0, and the top-up fee does not apply because nothing is pre-loaded
- Card spending earns cashback of 1%
- It runs on mastercard, so it takes payment in the places that network does
Cons
- Currency conversion is the weak point at 2.99%, which lands on every spend in another currency
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line listed
- The setup is custodial, so CoinJar holds the assets rather than you holding them yourself
Who each suits
Coinbase
Who it suits
- Coinbase account holders who want to spend a crypto balance on a visa card with a monthly fee of $0.
- People who pay in crypto and value cashback of 2% to 4% on a credit card with an annual fee of $0.
- Travellers who want a currency conversion fee of 0% on the credit card and broad visa acceptance.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to hold their own keys, since the prepaid card is custodial rather than self-custodied.
- Skrill users who prefer a wallet outside the crypto exchange, with a monthly fee of €5 to weigh.
- CrediMax Cardy EX prepaid Visa users who want a regional prepaid card rather than a crypto-linked one, with a monthly fee of BHD 0.
CoinJar
Who it suits
- Anyone holding digital assets on CoinJar who wants to spend that balance straight from a card
- Business users, since CoinJar lists business as its audience
- People who want a prepaid card and are comfortable with a provider holding the assets
Who should look elsewhere
- Skrill, whose monthly fee of €5 is charged in euros rather than Australian dollars, if you want an account kept there
- JMMB Moneyline and JMMB Money Transfer prepaid card, whose monthly fee of JMD 0 suits buyers paying in Jamaican dollars
- CrediMax Cardy EX prepaid Visa, whose monthly fee of BHD 0 suits accounts kept in Bahraini dinars
Current offers
Coinbase
Current offer
Bonus
Crypto rewards on every purchase with the Coinbase Card (rotating reward selection)
US Card users only, excluding Hawaii; reward rate is variable; reward offers expire and a new reward can be chosen monthly
Source, checked September 26, 2026
CoinJar
Current offer
Bonus
Free physical CoinJar Card: $0 card issuance (digital and physical)
Card issuance fee is $0 for digital and physical CoinJar Card; a 1% purchase fee applies and is returned as CoinJar Rewards points; card available in Australia only
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Coinbase | CoinJar |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Coinbase
What does it cost to hold the Coinbase cards?+
The prepaid card carries a monthly fee of $0, and the credit card carries an annual fee of $0. The credit card is listed under the no annual fee model, so neither product charges a standing fee. Loading money by direct deposit is free for direct deposit, which keeps top-ups off the bill for account holders using a bank transfer.
Is there a charge for spending in another currency?+
The credit card's currency conversion fee is 0%, so a foreign purchase carries no percentage conversion charge. Across the brands on the site, conversion fees typically sit at 1%, with the upper quartile at 2.5%, which places this card below the usual figure. On a trip with heavy foreign spending, that gap adds up.
CoinJar
What does it cost to hold the CoinJar Card?+
There is no monthly charge, as the monthly fee is AUD 0. The card is prepaid, so there is no credit line and no interest to pay, and no top-up fee either since the card spends straight from your CoinJar balance. Spending earns cashback of 1%.
How much does it cost to spend in another currency?+
Each conversion is charged 2.99%. If you pay in a currency other than the one your balance is held in, that cost lands on every transaction, so the card makes most sense for spending where your account already holds the money you need.