MEXC is the cheapest crypto exchange in 2026, with 0% maker and 0.05% taker spot fees - the lowest of any major platform - followed by Bitunix, Bybit, BingX, Binance and OKX. What makes this list different: every exchange here comes with an active referral code that cuts fees a further 20%, so your real cost is lower than the published rate. Use the codes below to lock in the cheapest possible fees. Last updated: June 6, 2026.

*Bitunix and BingX base fees sit in the standard 0.10% spot class and vary by market and VIP tier. All codes must be entered at sign-up; they cannot be added to an existing account.

Headline percentages hide the real number. Here is the actual fee on a single $10,000 spot trade, before and after the referral discount - the figure that decides which exchange is genuinely cheapest for you.

On MEXC a maker order on $10,000 costs nothing, and even a taker order is just $4 after the code - versus $8-$10 elsewhere. Over hundreds of trades a year, that gap compounds into real money.

Register here with bonus: https://www.mexc.com/acquisition/custom-sign-up?shareCode=mexc-bonus20

The single cheapest major exchange in 2026: 0% maker fees on spot and 0.05% taker are among the lowest anywhere, and MEXC lists more altcoins than almost any rival.

Fees: 0% maker / 0.05% taker. With code mexc-bonus20: up to 20% rebate and up to $10,000 USDT.

Pros: 0% spot maker fees; huge altcoin selection; large welcome bonus. Cons: No US users; KYC needed for higher limits.

Best deal: sign up via the MEXC referral link and enter code mexc-bonus20 at registration to lock in the lowest fees on MEXC.

Register here with bonus: https://www.bitunix.com/register?vipCode=bonus

A fast-growing derivatives-focused exchange with very low futures fees, copy trading and light KYC for basic use.

Fees: 0.10%* maker / 0.10%* taker. With code bonus: up to 20% discount and Exclusive welcome bonus.

Pros: Very low futures fees; copy trading; light KYC. Cons: Newer and smaller; thinner spot liquidity.

Best deal: sign up via the Bitunix referral link and enter code bonus at registration to lock in the lowest fees on Bitunix.

Register here with bonus: https://partner.bybit.com/b/web3

One of the largest and most liquid exchanges, with deep derivatives markets and the biggest headline welcome package on this list.

Fees: 0.10% maker / 0.10% taker. With code web3: up to 20% discount and up to $30,000.

Pros: Deep liquidity; biggest bonus; pro trading tools. Cons: Restricted in some regions.

Best deal: sign up via the Bybit referral link and enter code web3 at registration to lock in the lowest fees on Bybit.

Register here with bonus: https://bingx.com/en/partner/save20

Known for copy trading and a low barrier to entry, pairing standard 0.10% spot fees with a 20% referral discount.

Fees: 0.10% maker / 0.10% taker. With code save20: up to 20% discount and up to $6,000.

Pros: Copy trading; beginner-friendly; low entry. Cons: Thinner spot liquidity than top 3.

Best deal: sign up via the BingX referral link and enter code save20 at registration to lock in the lowest fees on BingX.

Register here with bonus: https://www.binance.com/en/join?ref=BTCBONUS

The world's largest exchange with the deepest liquidity. Fees drop to 0.075% when you pay with BNB, and the code adds a 20% kickback on top.

Fees: 0.10% (0.075% w/ BNB) maker / 0.10% (0.075% w/ BNB) taker. With code BTCBONUS: 20% kickback and up to 600 USDT.

Pros: Largest, deepest liquidity; BNB fee discount; widest asset list. Cons: Country-by-country regulatory limits.

Best deal: sign up via the Binance referral link and enter code BTCBONUS at registration to lock in the lowest fees on Binance.

Register here with bonus: https://www.okx.com/join/save20

A top-tier exchange with slightly lower maker fees than most rivals (0.08%), deep liquidity and a strong Web3 wallet.

Fees: 0.08% maker / 0.10% taker. With code save20: up to 20% discount and Mystery box + up to $10,000.

Pros: Low 0.08% maker; strong Web3 wallet; deep markets. Cons: Some products geo-restricted.

Best deal: sign up via the OKX referral link and enter code save20 at registration to lock in the lowest fees on OKX.

A maker order adds liquidity to the order book (a limit order that does not fill instantly) and is always cheaper - often free, as on MEXC. A taker order removes liquidity (a market order that fills now) and costs more. If you are fee-sensitive, place limit orders to pay the maker rate. The referral discount applies to both.

The cheapest headline fee is not always the cheapest total cost. Watch three things:

Spreads - a wide gap between buy and sell price on low-liquidity pairs can cost more than the fee itself; the large exchanges above have tighter spreads on major pairs. Withdrawal fees - each exchange charges a network fee to withdraw; for frequent withdrawals this can outweigh trading-fee savings, so withdraw in larger batches and on cheaper networks. Deposit/fiat rails - card deposits carry a premium; bank transfer (SEPA/ACH) is usually free or near-free.

1. Use a referral code - the simplest permanent discount (up to 20%), applied at sign-up. 2. Pay fees in the native token - e.g. BNB on Binance drops fees to 0.075%. 3. Use limit (maker) orders - cheaper than market orders, free on MEXC. 4. Climb the VIP tier - higher 30-day volume unlocks lower fees on every exchange here.

We ranked by real trading cost (maker and taker spot fees), the size of the referral discount available, liquidity and the headline welcome bonus, then sanity-checked against published fee schedules. MEXC leads on raw fees; the rest are ordered by the combination of low fees, deep liquidity and bonus value. Fees and bonuses change - always confirm the current rate on each exchange before trading.

What is the cheapest crypto exchange in 2026?

MEXC is the cheapest crypto exchange in 2026, with 0% maker and 0.05% taker spot fees. With code mexc-bonus20 you get up to a 20% rebate on top, making it the lowest-cost option for most traders.

Which exchange has the lowest trading fees?

MEXC has the lowest spot fees (0% maker, 0.05% taker), followed by OKX (0.08% maker) and then Bybit, BingX, Binance and Bitunix in the 0.10% class. A referral code reduces all of them by up to a further 20%.

Are zero-fee exchanges actually free?

Not entirely. A 0% maker fee is real, but you still pay the spread (the gap between buy and sell price) and network withdrawal fees. On deep-liquidity exchanges like MEXC and Binance the spread on major pairs is tiny, so 0% maker is close to genuinely free.

Do referral codes really lower exchange fees?

Yes. A referral code applies a permanent fee discount - typically up to 20% - on every trade for the life of the account, at no cost to you. It is the easiest way to make any of these exchanges cheaper.

Can I add a referral code after signing up?

No. On MEXC, Bitunix, Bybit, BingX, Binance and OKX the code must be entered during registration and cannot be applied later. Always open the referral link before creating your account.

Maker vs taker: which should I use to pay less?

Use maker (limit) orders. They add liquidity and carry the lower fee - 0% on MEXC - while taker (market) orders cost more. Set a limit price slightly off the market to pay the maker rate.

What is the cheapest way to withdraw crypto?

Withdraw in larger batches to amortise the flat network fee, and choose a low-cost network (e.g. a stablecoin on a cheap chain rather than Ethereum mainnet). Withdrawal fees vary by coin and network on every exchange.

Are cheap exchanges safe?

All six are established centralized exchanges with large user bases and proof-of-reserves programmes. Low fees do not mean lower security; always enable two-factor authentication and move large balances to self-custody.

Compare current exchange fees on CoinGecko, and verify each rate against the exchange's own schedule (for example the Binance fee schedule). Fees change; always confirm before trading.

We may earn a commission if you sign up using the referral links or codes on this page. This does not change your fees - in most cases it lowers them by up to 20%. We keep codes current but terms can change; always confirm fees and bonuses on each exchange. Crypto trading carries risk.

June 6, 2026: Expanded with real-cost scenarios, best-for profiles, maker/taker and hidden-cost guidance, and methodology. Verified all referral links and fee discounts across 6 centralized exchanges.