If youâre new to cryptocurrency and want to buy Bitcoin or Ethereum without getting lost in a maze of charts and complex orders, CoinJar might be the easiest place to start. But if youâre already trading daily, checking leverage ratios, or chasing altcoins no oneâs heard of, youâll quickly hit walls. CoinJar isnât trying to be Binance or Kraken. Itâs built for people who want to buy crypto, hold it, and maybe spend it - without needing a finance degree.
What CoinJar Actually Is
CoinJar launched in 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. That makes it one of the oldest crypto platforms still operating in its original form. Itâs not a flashy startup with a viral meme coin. Itâs a regulated, bank-grade service built for everyday users. You wonât find 1,000+ cryptocurrencies here. Youâll find about 60 - mostly Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and other top assets. No obscure tokens with 0.001% trading volume. No meme coins that vanish overnight. CoinJar keeps it simple on purpose.Itâs not just a crypto exchange. Itâs also a wallet, a payment tool, and even a debit card provider. The CoinJar Mastercard lets you spend your crypto like cash at any store that takes Visa. You can set up recurring buys for $10 a week. You can convert crypto to AUD, EUR, GBP, or USD and send it to your bank account - for free. Thatâs rare. Most exchanges charge you to move money in or out.
How Safe Is CoinJar?
Security isnât an afterthought here. Around 90% of customer funds are stored offline in cold wallets, protected by hardware devices that arenât connected to the internet. The rest is kept in hot wallets for quick access, but even those are shielded by multi-signature tech and real-time AI monitoring. CoinJar works with BitGo and Fireblocks - two of the most trusted names in institutional crypto security.They also use four levels of identity verification. You can start trading with just your email and phone number. To increase your limits, youâll need ID, proof of address, and sometimes a selfie holding your ID. Itâs not as fast as some apps, but itâs standard for regulated platforms. If youâre in Australia, the UK, or Ireland, youâre covered. CoinJar operates in 48 countries total - not global, but focused on regions with clear crypto laws.
Fees: Free Deposits, But Pay for Speed
Fees are where CoinJar gets interesting. On the basic app, buying crypto with a credit card costs 2%. Instant buy orders? 1%. Thatâs high - but itâs for convenience. If you want cheaper rates, switch to CoinJar Exchange. Thatâs a separate, more advanced interface. On the Exchange, trades start at 0.1%. Active traders can drop to 0.02% per trade. Thatâs competitive with top global exchanges.Hereâs the kicker: depositing AUD, EUR, or GBP via bank transfer, PayID, or SEPA is completely free. Withdrawing those same currencies? Also free. No hidden charges. No surprise fees. Most exchanges charge $5-$15 to pull your money out. CoinJar doesnât. Thatâs a huge win for long-term holders.
Only card deposits cost 2%. Thatâs normal. Even Coinbase charges that. But if youâre buying $500 a month, thatâs $10 in fees. Just use your bank instead. It takes 1-2 days, but itâs free.
Trading Features: Simple, Not Powerful
CoinJar Exchange gives you limit orders, stop-losses, and market orders. You can see depth charts and trade history. Itâs clean. Itâs fast. But itâs not advanced. No margin trading. No futures. No leverage. No options. No algorithmic bots. No API for automated trading (unless youâre a high-volume client, which most arenât).Thatâs not a flaw - itâs a design choice. CoinJar doesnât want you gambling. It wants you investing. If youâre trying to day trade Solana or short-chainlink, youâre in the wrong place. But if you want to buy $200 of Bitcoin every payday and forget about it? Perfect.
The interface switches between light and dark mode. The mobile app (iOS and Android) is smooth. It loads fast. No lag. No crashes. You can set price alerts, view your portfolio, and even see how much youâve earned in a year. Itâs designed to reduce stress, not create it.
Customer Support: Slow, But Reliable
You wonât find live chat. No phone number. No 24/7 help desk. Support is email-only, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 2 AM Australian time. Thatâs 17 hours a day, but itâs not global. If youâre in the U.S. and have an issue at 3 AM your time, youâre out of luck until morning.Response times vary. Some users get replies in under an hour. Others wait 24-48 hours. But when they do respond, theyâre helpful. No bots. No copy-paste answers. Real people who know the platform.
Trustpilot has over 1,000 five-star reviews. Most come from Australian users who appreciate the clarity and compliance. Google Play reviews are more mixed - mostly from users expecting Binance-level features. If youâre new, youâll love it. If youâre experienced, youâll feel restricted.
Who Is CoinJar For?
CoinJar is ideal for:- Beginners buying their first Bitcoin or Ethereum
- People in Australia, the UK, or Ireland who want local banking support
- Anyone who wants free bank deposits and withdrawals
- Users who value security and regulation over trading tools
- People who want to spend crypto via the CoinJar Mastercard
- Traders who need leverage or futures
- People chasing altcoins like Shiba Inu or Pepe
- Those who need 24/7 live support
- Users outside the 48 supported countries
- Anyone who wants hundreds of trading pairs
If youâre in the U.S., Canada, or most of Asia, CoinJar wonât even let you sign up. Thatâs a big limitation. But if youâre in the right region, itâs one of the most trustworthy places to get started.
How It Compares to Other Exchanges
| Feature | CoinJar | Coinbase | Binance | Kraken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptocurrencies | ~60 | 200+ | 500+ | 200+ |
| Trading Fees (spot) | 0.1%-2% | 0.5%-1.5% | 0.1%-0.16% | 0.16%-0.26% |
| Free Fiat Deposits | Yes (AUD/EUR/GBP) | No (bank fee applies) | Yes (some regions) | Yes (some regions) |
| Free Withdrawals | Yes (AUD/EUR/GBP) | No | Yes (some) | Yes (some) |
| Advanced Trading | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Debit Card | Yes (CoinJar Mastercard) | Yes | No | No |
| 24/7 Support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Beginners, Australia/UK/Ireland | Beginners, U.S. users | Active traders, global | Security-focused traders |
CoinJar doesnât compete on volume or features. It competes on simplicity and trust. If you care about knowing your money is safe and your transactions are transparent, itâs a strong pick. If you want to trade 100 different tokens with 5x leverage? Look elsewhere.
The Bottom Line
CoinJar isnât perfect. Itâs slow to update. It doesnât have everything. But itâs honest. It doesnât pretend to be something itâs not. For beginners, itâs one of the safest, easiest, and most transparent ways to enter crypto. For long-term holders in Australia or Europe, itâs a solid home base.Itâs not the cheapest. Itâs not the most powerful. But if you want to buy crypto, hold it, and spend it - without worrying about hacks, scams, or confusing interfaces - CoinJar delivers.
Is CoinJar safe to use?
Yes. CoinJar stores 90% of customer funds in offline cold wallets, uses multi-signature security, and partners with institutional providers like BitGo and Fireblocks. Itâs regulated in Australia and complies with anti-money laundering laws. Over a decade of operation without major security breaches supports its reputation as one of the more secure platforms in its region.
Can I use CoinJar in the U.S.?
No. CoinJar is only available in 48 countries, primarily Australia, the UK, Ireland, and parts of Europe. U.S. residents cannot sign up or use the service. U.S. users should consider Coinbase, Kraken, or Gemini instead.
What are the fees for buying crypto on CoinJar?
On the basic CoinJar app, instant buys cost 1%, and credit/debit card purchases cost 2%. On CoinJar Exchange, trade fees start at 0.1% and can drop to 0.02% for active users. Depositing AUD, EUR, or GBP via bank transfer is free. Withdrawals of those currencies are also free.
Does CoinJar have a mobile app?
Yes. CoinJar has official apps for iOS and Android. The iOS app has over 100,000 downloads and generally receives high ratings for its clean design and reliability. The Android app has over 50,000 downloads and has mixed reviews, with some users reporting occasional bugs or slower performance.
Can I trade altcoins on CoinJar?
Yes, but only the most established ones. CoinJar supports around 60 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and Polkadot. It does not list speculative or low-volume altcoins like Shiba Inu, Dogecoin (in some regions), or new DeFi tokens. The focus is on liquidity and safety, not variety.
Does CoinJar offer staking or earning interest?
No. CoinJar does not currently offer staking, yield farming, or interest-bearing accounts. Itâs strictly a buy, sell, and hold platform. If you want to earn passive income from crypto, youâll need to use another service like Kraken or Celsius (though note that interest-bearing products carry higher risk).
How long does verification take on CoinJar?
Basic verification (email and phone) takes minutes. To unlock higher limits, youâll need to upload ID and proof of address. This usually takes 1-3 business days. If your documents are clear and match your details, it can be faster. Delays happen if documents are blurry, expired, or mismatched.
Is CoinJar better than Coinbase for beginners?
For users in Australia, the UK, or Ireland, CoinJar is often better because it offers free bank deposits and withdrawals, local support hours, and a simpler interface. Coinbase is more global and has more coins, but charges fees on bank transfers and has a more complex UI. If youâre in the U.S., Coinbase is your only real option.
Gavin Francis
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