What crypto trading apps can you actually use right now?
Friends often ask me: besides Binance, what other crypto apps are out there? Honestly, there are dozens of exchange apps on the market, but only a handful are truly worth using. I've spent considerable time trying all the mainstream ones, so today I'll give you a comprehensive rundown. If you don't have any trading account yet, I'd suggest starting with Binance — register here and download the app here.
Centralized Exchange Apps
These are the most mainstream way to trade crypto — buying and selling through exchanges:
Binance The exchange with the most users and highest trading volume globally. The app has the most comprehensive features — spot, futures, P2P, earn, NFT, everything is included. Especially friendly for Chinese-speaking users with excellent Chinese support.
OKX An exchange with a large market share among Chinese-speaking users. The app is also well-made, with the Web3 wallet being a major selling point — seamless switching between exchange and on-chain wallets.
Bybit A rapidly growing platform in recent years with distinctive futures trading. Clean app interface with solid copy trading features.
Bitget Known for copy trading — ideal for users who don't want to research but still want to participate. Social features are well-developed.
Gate.io A veteran exchange with fast listing speeds — you can often find new coins here before they appear elsewhere. However, depth isn't as good as the top exchanges.
KuCoin Known as "altcoin paradise" with many small-cap coins. Features are fairly complete with a sizable overseas user base.
Coinbase A US-listed exchange with the strongest compliance. But fees are high, coin selection is limited, no futures support — better suited for overseas users.
Kraken A veteran US exchange with an excellent security record — never been hacked. But the app experience is average and Chinese support is limited.
Decentralized Trading Apps
Beyond centralized exchanges, there are decentralized options:
MetaMask The most well-known crypto wallet app. Can connect to decentralized exchanges like Uniswap for trading. Suitable for experienced users — the learning curve is steep for beginners.
Trust Wallet Binance's decentralized wallet supporting multiple chains. You can do decentralized trading directly within the app.
TokenPocket A multi-chain wallet that's friendly to Chinese-speaking users, supporting many chains with a built-in DApp browser.
Market Data and Utility Apps
Trading isn't the only thing you need — some auxiliary tools are very useful:
CoinMarketCap For checking market data — prices, market cap, volume, and other data for all cryptocurrencies at a glance.
TradingView A professional charting tool used by many traders, supporting various technical indicators and drawing tools.
Which apps to avoid
While there are many choices, stay away from these types:
- Apps from unknown small platforms
- Unknown apps recommended through messaging groups
- Apps promising guaranteed returns or unrealistically high yields
- Apps with no information available through mainstream channels
These are most likely scams or small exchanges at risk of disappearing.
My recommended setup
For most people, one main exchange app plus one market data app is enough:
- Main trading: Binance app — handles trading, deposits, and earn products
- Market data: CoinMarketCap or TradingView — aids in trading decisions
Don't install too many apps — it becomes a management hassle. Mastering one platform thoroughly is far better than spreading across five or six. Having funds scattered across multiple platforms not only makes management difficult but also increases security risks.