Coinbase
Best for beginners
- The beginner-friendly on-ramp, easiest first buy in the US.
- Affiliate note: 50% of trading fees for 3 months.
Buy
How to buy Bitcoin.
Three ways people actually get Bitcoin. Organized the way nobody else organizes them.
Buy with Fiat
The direct route: connect a bank account and buy bitcoin with dollars. Fees vary by payment method. Check the current schedule on each exchange before you buy.
Robinhood
Simplest if you already invest
- Buy BTC alongside your stocks: simple, familiar app.
- Referral note: sign up with a referral and get a free stock.
Kraken
For serious buyers
- For serious buyers: deep liquidity, low fees.
- Affiliate note: revenue share on referred traders.
Gemini
Security-focused
- Security-focused exchange with a BTC cashback credit card.
- Affiliate note: $25 per traded user.
Auto-Stack / DCA
Dollar-cost averaging: a fixed amount on a fixed schedule. It turns volatility into a feature. You buy more sats when the price dips, fewer when it rips.
River
Stack $1 of Bitcoin every hour using River. No fees. No thinking. Just stacking.
Bitcoin-only. Zero fees on recurring buys. Referral note: earn up to $100 in BTC through their tiered referral program: $5 on a $100 buy, $15 more at $1,000, and $80 more at $10,000.
Visit RiverFold
Bitcoin debit card: stack on spending.
Visit FoldStrike
Free ACH recurring buys plus Lightning.
Visit StrikeCash App
The easiest recurring buy. You probably already have the app.
Visit Cash AppEarn BTC Cashback
Spend dollars, get sats back. No buying required. Just route spending you already do through bitcoin-paying tools.
Gemini Credit Card
BTC back on everyday purchases. Crypto referral bonus: ~$50 in crypto when you sign up and trade.
Visit GeminiFold Card
Up to 20% BTC back on gift cards: Amazon, Starbucks, Uber, Target.
Visit FoldLolli
Browser extension: BTC back at 1,000+ online stores.
Visit LolliUphold
BTC back on debit and credit card purchases.
Visit UpholdWe may earn a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Your first buy in 6 steps
From zero to your first sats in about fifteen minutes.
- 1
Choose an exchange
Start with the fiat tab above and pick the exchange that fits how you invest.
- 2
Create your account
Sign up with your email. It takes a couple of minutes.
- 3
Verify your identity
KYC is required on regulated exchanges: a photo ID and a selfie are the usual ask.
- 4
Connect a payment method
Bank transfer usually has the lowest fees. Debit cards are faster but cost more.
- 5
Place your first buy
Starting small is fine. Most exchanges let you buy a fraction of a bitcoin.
- 6
Move it to a wallet you control
Exchanges are for buying, not storing. Learn how wallets work and move meaningful amounts to self-custody.
Exchange comparison
Side by side. Fee schedules change, so always confirm the current numbers on the exchange itself.
| Platform | Best for | Fee note | Affiliate note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | Beginners | Varies by payment method. Check the current schedule | 50% of trading fees for 3 months |
| Kraken | Serious buyers | Varies by payment method. Check the current schedule | Affiliate revenue share |
| Gemini | Security-focused buyers | Varies by payment method. Check the current schedule | $25 per traded user |
| Robinhood | Existing stock investors | Varies by payment method. Check the current schedule | Free stock via referral |
Hardware wallets
Not your keys, not your coins. For meaningful amounts, move bitcoin to a hardware wallet.
| Wallet | Open source | Display | Mobile app | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ledger | Secure element + open-source apps | Yes | Ledger Live app | Best all-round choice | See current price |
| Trezor | Fully open-source | Yes on most models | Trezor Suite | Best for open-source purists | See current price |
Prices change, so we never list them here. Check the current price at the link.