What the crypto spread calculator measures
A spread is the difference between the price at which you can buy a coin and the price at which you could sell it at the same moment.
On an exchange with an order book, the spread comes from the market: the best price buyers offer and the best price sellers ask.
In a broker app, the app itself sets the price you see, and the price can include a margin on top of the market price.
The crypto spread calculator treats that margin as a cost, because the coins you receive are worth less, at the market price, than what you paid.
How to find the spread for the crypto spread calculator
Few apps state their spread as a number, but you can estimate it yourself in under a minute.
- Open the coin in the app: note the buying price shown on the "Buy" screen.
- Note the selling price at the same moment: many apps show it on the "Sell" screen.
- Calculate the gap: (buy price − sell price) ÷ buy price.
- Halve it: roughly half of the gap is what you pay on the way in, and half on the way out.
Example: an app quotes €101 to buy and €99 to sell, so the gap is €2, or about 2%, and the cost of buying is roughly 1%.
A more precise way is to compare the app's buying price with a large exchange's order book price at the same moment.
Crypto spread calculator example: a monthly €200 purchase
Example: a buyer puts €200 into crypto every month, twelve times a year.
| Way of buying (example) | Cost per purchase | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Broker app, 1.5% spread, no fee | €3.00 | €36 |
| Exchange, 0.4% fee, free SEPA | €0.80 | €9.60 |
| Difference | €2.20 | €26.40 |
Illustrative example calculated with the crypto spread calculator above; the percentages are not the prices of any named app or exchange.
Over ten years of monthly buying, the example difference adds up to €264, before counting the cost of selling.
That is not a reason to avoid broker apps altogether, but it is a reason to know what you are paying.
When a broker app is worth the spread
A higher cost can be a fair price for simplicity, and the crypto spread calculator helps you decide whether it is in your case.
Small, occasional purchases
If you buy a little a few times a year, the difference may be a few euros.
One app for everything
Some people value seeing crypto next to their bank account or shares.
Large or frequent purchases
Here the spread adds up quickly, and an exchange is usually cheaper.
Another question matters as much as the cost: whether the app lets you withdraw coins to your own wallet, which the guide to crypto brokers versus exchanges covers.
The spread on exchanges
Exchanges have spreads too, but on an order book the spread is set by the market rather than by the exchange.
For large coins on busy exchanges, the gap between the best buying and selling prices is usually small.
For small coins with few traders, the spread can be wide, and a large market order can push the price against you, which is called slippage.
That is one reason the guide to crypto exchanges for altcoins treats small coins as a higher-risk choice.
"Instant buy" and the crypto spread calculator
Many exchanges offer two ways to buy: a simple "instant buy" screen and an advanced trading screen with an order book.
The simple screen often charges a higher fee, a spread, or both, while the advanced screen charges the lower maker or taker fee.
If your exchange offers both, run the crypto spread calculator with the instant-buy cost as the "broker app" and the advanced fee as the "exchange".
The difference is what convenience costs you, and the guide to crypto order types explains how to use the advanced screen safely.
Why MiCA matters for spreads
MiCA requires authorised crypto-asset service providers to give information that is fair, clear and not misleading, including in marketing communications.
It also requires them to make their policies on pricing, costs and fees publicly available, in a prominent place on their website.
A broker that charges through the spread should therefore explain how its prices are set, and that explanation is the first place to look before using the crypto spread calculator.
If an app's cost information is hard to find or unclear, that is a reason for caution in itself.
Spreads when you sell
A spread is paid in both directions, so a purchase and a later sale each cost something.
If you buy with a 1.5% spread and sell with a 1.5% spread, the price must rise by roughly 3% before you get your money back.
The break-even calculator shows the exact rise needed after buying fees, selling fees and spreads.
Tip. If you already own crypto in a broker app and want to move it, check first whether the app allows crypto withdrawals at all. Some apps let you sell only within the app.
Crypto spread calculator: limits of the comparison
The crypto spread calculator compares costs, not the quality of the service.
Two platforms with the same cost can differ in licence, account security, customer support and the coins they offer.
Before choosing, check the exchange's MiCA authorisation with the MiCA licence checker and read its review on this site.
Spread, fee or both: a quick guide
| What the app says | What it can mean | What to enter |
|---|---|---|
| "No fees" | The cost is in the price you are quoted | Spread only |
| "Low fee" | A fee plus a spread | Both |
| "Maker 0.x%, taker 0.x%" | An order book exchange fee | Fee only (market spread is usually small) |
| "Instant buy fee" | A simple purchase with its own fee | Fee, and a spread if the price differs from the order book |
Crypto spread calculator: published examples
Few providers publish a spread percentage, but some publish fees that sit alongside their quoted prices.
| Provider | What it publishes |
|---|---|
| eToro | 1% per crypto position; it states the market spread is not a cost it charges |
| SwissBorg | Exchange fees by tier and a market-liquidity adjustment in prices |
| Kraken | 1% fee on instant and recurring purchases; spreads may apply |
From the providers' own pages, checked 24 October 2026.
When a provider says a spread may apply but does not quantify it, the only way to measure it is to compare its prices with an order book at the same moment.
Measuring a spread: a step-by-step example
Example: you want to know the spread on a €500 Bitcoin purchase in an app.
- Open the app's buy screen: it quotes €50,500 per bitcoin (example).
- Open an exchange's order book at the same time: the best selling offer is €50,000 (example).
- Calculate the markup: (€50,500 − €50,000) ÷ €50,000 = 1%.
- Enter 1% in the spread calculator together with any visible fee.
Illustrative prices, not market data.
Prices move quickly, so repeat the comparison a few times and use a typical value.
Crypto spread calculator over many years
Spreads, volatility and timing
Spreads tend to widen when markets move fast, because prices change between quote and execution and providers protect themselves.
Buying in a calm moment rather than during a sharp move can therefore cost less, quite apart from the price itself.
Recurring purchases happen at a set time regardless of conditions, which is one reason to check the spread on recurring buys specifically.
Crypto spread calculator: questions to ask your app
- How is the price I see calculated, and does it include a margin?
- Is the margin different for small coins or during volatile periods?
- Is there also a fee, and is it shown before I confirm?
- Is the selling price set in the same way?
MiCA requires authorised providers to make their pricing, costs and fees policies publicly available, so the answers should be findable.
Frequently asked questions
What is a crypto spread?
It is the gap between the buying and selling price of a coin at the same moment. In broker apps it can include a margin set by the app, which is a cost to you.
How do I use the crypto spread calculator if the app does not show its spread?
Compare the app's buying and selling prices at the same moment, or compare its buying price with a large exchange's price. Half the gap is a rough estimate of the cost of buying.
Is a no-fee crypto app really free?
Usually not. If there is no separate fee, the cost is normally included in the price you are quoted.
Is the spread the same for every coin?
No. Large coins on busy markets usually have small spreads, while small coins can have wide ones.
Does the crypto spread calculator include selling costs?
No, it shows the cost of buying. Use the break-even calculator to include both buying and selling.
Is my data saved when I use the crypto spread calculator?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is stored or sent.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA), Article 66(2) and 66(4)
Every figure on this page is checked against the ESMA register, the exchange's own terms and fee pages or another primary source, and the sources are listed above. Editorial policy · How we rate