Best Apps to Buy Crypto in 2026

Introduction

Many apps let US residents buy crypto, but they differ on three points that matter more than design: the trading fee, who holds your coins, and how you fund your account. This comparison covers two apps available to US residents, SoFi and Interactive Brokers, using the fee schedules and product pages each publishes. We have not placed trades on these platforms ourselves.

Before you choose, keep in mind:

• Crypto is not insured. Crypto held on a platform is not a bank deposit. It is not covered by FDIC insurance, and SIPC does not protect digital assets that are not registered securities.
• Fees are usually a percentage of each trade. On small, frequent purchases, the difference between platforms adds up.
• Every sale is a tax event. The IRS treats digital assets as property.

A note on Revolut: its US terms state that, effective October 3, 2023, Revolut Technologies Inc. does not offer cryptocurrency services. US residents cannot buy crypto in the Revolut app, so it is not part of this comparison.

Comparison table

	SoFi Crypto	Interactive Brokers
Who provides the service	SoFi Bank, N.A.	Crypto execution and custody by Paxos Trust Company or Zero Hash LLC
Trading fee	1.90% up to $1k of monthly volume, 1.50% from $1k to $5k, 1.25% from $5k to $10k, 0.90% above $10k (fee sheet effective June 22, 2026)	0.12% to 0.18% of trade value, $1.75 minimum per order, capped at 1% of trade value
Account and custody fees	$0 setup, $0 monthly maintenance and custody	No custody fees from IBKR; a USD 0.15 monthly Paxos account fee is passed through for clients with an open Paxos account
Funding	From a SoFi Checking and Savings account (no processing fee), or debit card and mobile wallets	From your IBKR account, during US banking hours; trading then runs 24/7
Coins available	25+, including bitcoin, ether and solana	About 20, including bitcoin, ether and solana
Other crypto products	Recurring purchases	Crypto ETPs, futures and options on futures

On a $1,000 purchase: at SoFi’s first fee tier (1.90%), the fee is $19. At Interactive Brokers, 0.12% to 0.18% of $1,000 is $1.20 to $1.80. These are published rates only; the final price also depends on the market at execution.

Our top picks

Best if you already bank with SoFi: SoFi Crypto

SoFi lets you buy, sell and hold crypto in the same app as your SoFi Checking and Savings account. Transfers from that account are available to trade instantly, and SoFi converts the cash into a stablecoin to execute the order. Recurring purchases are available.

The trade-off is cost: the trading fee starts at 1.90% for the first $1,000 of monthly volume and falls to 0.90% above $10,000. SoFi’s fee sheet also says the final execution price may include a price-movement tolerance, typically up to 0.10%, which it does not treat as a separate fee. Funding and withdrawals are restricted to your connected SoFi account.

Pros

• Crypto in the same app as your bank account, funded instantly from SoFi Checking and Savings
• Recurring purchases
• No account, maintenance or custody fees

Cons

• Trading fees of 0.90% to 1.90% depending on monthly volume
• Requires a connected SoFi Checking and Savings account

See SoFi Crypto

Lowest published trading fee: Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers offers spot crypto trading through Paxos or Zero Hash, next to stocks, ETFs, options and futures in the same account. Its published commission is 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value, with a $1.75 minimum per order capped at 1% of trade value, and it states that it adds no spreads, markups or custody fees. You can hold USD in the crypto account, place non-marketable limit orders and withdraw to external wallets.

Crypto trading requires a specific trading permission, which Interactive Brokers says is typically approved overnight. The platform is built for active investors and is more complex than a banking app.

Pros

• Low percentage commission with a published minimum and cap
• Spot crypto, crypto ETPs and futures in one brokerage account
• Withdrawals to external wallets

Cons

• Crypto funding happens during US banking hours
• More complex platform for beginners

See Interactive Brokers

Other apps

Dedicated crypto exchanges such as Coinbase and Gemini, and brokerages such as Fidelity and Robinhood, also sell crypto to US residents. Their fees vary by order type and funding method, so compare each platform’s current fee schedule with the figures above before choosing.

Selection criteria

Fees

Compare the trading fee on your usual order size, not a headline rate. A percentage fee costs more on large orders; a per-order minimum costs more on small ones. Check funding fees too: SoFi charges no processing fee when you fund from SoFi Checking and Savings, but third-party fees can apply to debit card and mobile wallet funding.

Custody

Find out who holds your coins. At SoFi, the crypto service is provided by SoFi Bank; at Interactive Brokers, positions are held in your name with Paxos or Zero Hash, outside of IBKR. In both cases, crypto is not FDIC-insured, and SIPC does not cover it.

Transfers

If you want to move coins to a wallet you control, check that the app supports withdrawals and what it charges. Interactive Brokers supports withdrawals to external wallets; SoFi’s fee sheet says any outbound transfer fee is shown before you authorize the transfer.

FAQ

Can I buy crypto with Revolut in the US?

No. Revolut’s US terms state that, effective October 3, 2023, Revolut Technologies Inc. does not offer cryptocurrency services.

Which of these apps is cheaper?

Interactive Brokers publishes the lower trading fee (0.12% to 0.18%, $1.75 minimum capped at 1% of trade value). SoFi’s fee ranges from 0.90% to 1.90% depending on monthly volume.

Is crypto on these apps insured?

No. Crypto held on a platform is not an FDIC-insured deposit, and SIPC does not protect digital assets that are not registered securities.

Do I owe tax if I only buy and hold?

Buying with dollars and holding is not a taxable sale. Selling, exchanging or spending crypto can create a capital gain or loss, which the IRS treats as a property transaction.

Conclusion

For a SoFi customer who wants crypto in the same app as their bank account, SoFi Crypto is the most convenient of the two, at a trading fee of 0.90% to 1.90%. For lower published trading costs and crypto next to other investments, Interactive Brokers charges 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value. Whichever you choose, invest only what you can afford to lose and keep records of every sale.