Methodology
Last verified: See our sources
Every exchange on CompareCEX is scored using the same public formula: score = Σ (weight × criterion score). The version described below (v1) is our default profile, tuned for beginners — people opening their first exchange account or comparing a small number of well-known options. We plan to publish additional profiles (low fees, futures/derivatives, privacy, country-specific) as we build out more comparison tools.
The rule that matters most
Commission never affects an exchange's score. An exchange with no affiliate relationship with us is scored exactly the same way as one that pays us a commission on sign-ups. Commission can only influence where we place an exchange among others that already scored at a similar level — for example, ordering two exchanges that both qualify for a "top 5 for beginners" list. It is never an input to the score itself.
Scoring criteria (v1, beginner profile)
Each exchange is evaluated against nine criteria:
- Fees
- KYC / ease for beginners
- KYC / ease for beginners
- Country (GEO) coverage
- Security track record
- Security track record
- Regulation / licensing
- Payment methods
- Features
- Support
- Mobile app
Published weights
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Fees | 25% |
| KYC / ease for beginners | 15% |
| Country (GEO) coverage | 15% |
| Security track record | 10% |
| Regulation / licensing | 8% |
| Payment methods | 8% |
| Features | 8% |
| Support | 6% |
| Mobile app | 5% |
What each criterion means
Fees — maker/taker trading fees and withdrawal fee policy, sourced from each exchange's own fee schedule. KYC / ease for beginners — how much identity verification is required and how straightforward the sign-up flow is. GEO coverage — how many countries can legally use the exchange, and whether the reader's country is one of them. Security track record — proof-of-reserves availability and publicly disclosed security incidents. Regulation / licensing — whether the exchange holds licenses from recognized regulators. Payment methods — card, bank transfer, and other on-ramp options available. Features — spot, futures, staking, copy trading, and similar. Support and app — quality of customer support channels and the mobile app experience.
Data source
Every value used in scoring comes from our Knowledge Graph, where each field is stored with a source URL, a source type, and the date it was last checked. See our sources page for details on how we verify data.