Fees compared
Both platforms run a two-product structure: a consumer Instant Buy app at higher fees, and a separate Exchange/Markets product at much lower fees.
Consumer Instant Buy
CoinJar consumer app: 1% trading fee on AUD-funded buys, 2% on card-funded buys. Plus spread (typically 0.5-1%). All-in cost: 1.5-3%.
CoinSpot Instant Buy: 1% trading fee plus 0.5-1% spread. All-in cost: 1.5-2%.
Verdict: roughly equivalent for AUD-funded buys. CoinSpot wins for card-funded users (CoinJar's 2% card surcharge is steep).
Order book / Markets
CoinJar Exchange: Tiered maker/taker fees from 0.10%/0.10% down to 0.02%/0.06% at $1M+ monthly volume.
CoinSpot Markets: Flat 0.1% per trade, no tiers, no volume requirements.
Verdict: CoinSpot wins for casual traders (0.1% available immediately to anyone). CoinJar Exchange wins for active traders with $1M+ volume (down to 0.02% maker — better than CoinSpot's flat 0.1%).
Coin selection
This is the biggest gap. CoinSpot lists 490+ coins; CoinJar lists 67. If you want anything beyond the top 30 by market cap, CoinSpot is the only option.
CoinJar's curated 67-coin selection covers all major blue chips (BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA), popular memecoins (DOGE, SHIB), and major Layer-2s. It's enough for most users. But "enough" depends on whether you'll want to explore.
The crypto card battle
This is where it gets interesting. Both platforms now offer crypto debit cards, but they have very different maturity levels.
CoinJar Mastercard
- Launched in 2019, mature and feature-complete
- Fund with AUD or any cryptocurrency you hold
- 1% conversion fee per transaction
- Supports Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Earns 100 CoinJar Points per $1 spent (redeemable for crypto)
- No monthly fees, no annual fees
- Used by hundreds of thousands of Australian customers
CoinSpot Mastercard
- Launched in 2024, newer product
- Similar funding from CoinSpot balance
- Apple Pay / Google Pay supported
- Less mature reward structure
- Less user feedback / track record
For card-specific use, CoinJar's product is more mature. If you're choosing primarily based on the card, pick CoinJar. If the card is a nice-to-have rather than the main attraction, CoinSpot's overall platform advantages outweigh CoinJar's card maturity.
Security & trust compared
Both platforms have clean operating histories — no reported major security incidents at either since 2013. But they differ significantly in disclosed security certifications:
What CoinSpot publishes
- ISO 27001 certification (independently audited)
- Mazars proof-of-reserves audits (regular, publicly disclosed)
- SOC 2 attestation
- Detailed cold storage and custody architecture
What CoinJar publishes
- AUSTRAC registration (AU)
- FCA registration (UK)
- Central Bank of Ireland regulation (Ireland)
- No public ISO 27001 disclosure
- No public proof-of-reserves attestation
CoinJar's multi-jurisdictional regulation is a meaningful trust signal — operating under three regulators makes opacity harder. But for proof-of-reserves and ISO 27001 specifically, CoinSpot's disclosure is much stronger.
Net result: both appear secure based on their track records, but CoinSpot's transparency is significantly better. Post-FTX, that disclosure matters more than it used to.
Who should pick CoinJar
- You want a mature, established crypto Mastercard for everyday spending
- You value multi-jurisdictional regulation (AU + UK + Ireland)
- You're an active trader who can reach CoinJar Exchange's $1M+ tier for 0.02% maker fees
- You only need 67 well-established coins (don't want altcoin variety)
- You're comfortable with email/ticket support
Who should pick CoinSpot
- Almost everyone else
- You want 490+ coins on a single platform
- You'll use Markets (0.1%) for the lowest practical retail fee
- You value 24/7 Australian-based live chat support
- You want publicly disclosed ISO 27001 and proof-of-reserves
- You're not specifically pursuing a crypto debit card
Frequently asked questions
Is CoinJar or CoinSpot better in 2026?
CoinSpot is better for most users — more coins, lower fees via Markets, stronger disclosed security, better customer support. CoinJar wins specifically if you want a mature crypto debit card (the CoinJar Mastercard is more established than CoinSpot's newer card offering).
Which has the lowest fees, CoinJar or CoinSpot?
CoinSpot Markets at 0.1% flat is the cheapest practical option for retail users. CoinJar Exchange offers 0.02% maker fees but only at $1M+ monthly volume. For casual users, CoinSpot wins. For institutional-volume active traders, CoinJar Exchange edges ahead.
Which is safer, CoinJar or CoinSpot?
Both have clean operating histories since 2013. CoinSpot has stronger publicly disclosed certifications (ISO 27001, Mazars proof of reserves). CoinJar has stronger multi-jurisdictional regulation (AU, UK, Ireland). For long-term holdings, transfer to a hardware wallet regardless of which platform you use.
Should I use CoinJar's Card or CoinSpot's Mastercard?
CoinJar's Card is more mature (launched 2019 vs CoinSpot's 2024) with established reward structures and a larger user base. If the card is your primary use case, pick CoinJar. If you want a crypto debit card but it's secondary to other features, CoinSpot's broader platform advantages might still make it the better choice.
Can I transfer crypto between CoinJar and CoinSpot?
Yes. Both support standard crypto withdrawals at network fee only (no exchange markup). Generate a deposit address on the receiving platform, send from the other. Be careful to use the matching network for the coin — sending ERC-20 USDT to a BSC USDT address will lose funds.