There are hundreds of places to buy Bitcoin and most of them are wrong for a beginner. Either the fees are hidden, the interface looks like a stock-trading terminal, or the company is based somewhere you have never heard of. So I have narrowed it to three I would actually be comfortable sending a friend to.
Quick disclosure: some links below are referral links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you sign up through them. It costs you nothing extra, and I have only listed exchanges I would recommend regardless. Prefer not to use them? Just search the name directly, no hard feelings.
Best if you want it easy
Coinbase
The friendly high-street bank of crypto.
If your main worry is pressing the wrong button and losing everything, Coinbase is for you. Big buttons, plain wording, a genuinely good app, and support that exists. The trade-off is cost: convenience fees on small buys run higher, though for your first £25 that is a rounding error.
- Easiest signup and app for total beginners
- Reliable customer support
- Higher convenience fees on small buys
Best all-rounder
Kraken
The bike after the training wheels.
What I would nudge most people toward after their first week. Lower fees than Coinbase, a strong security reputation, and it has been around since the early days without a major disaster, which in this industry means something. The interface is a touch busier, but not scary.
- Lower fees than Coinbase
- Excellent long-standing security record
- Beginner-friendly main app
Worth a look in Europe
WhiteBIT
The strong European third option.
Less of a household name in the UK and US but big across Europe, and growing fast. Competitive fees, a clean app, and a good range of ways to buy. As with anything less familiar, start small, confirm you can buy and withdraw smoothly, then go from there.
- Competitive fees
- Popular and convenient across the EU
- Clean, modern app
How to choose in ten seconds
- Nervous and want it simple? Coinbase.
- Want the best balance of easy and cheap? Kraken.
- In Europe, or just like to compare? Add WhiteBIT to the shortlist.
Honestly, you cannot go badly wrong with any of the three. The bigger mistake is spending three weeks “researching” and never actually buying. Pick one, sign up, and read the step-by-step if you get stuck.
Fees and features change. I recheck this page periodically, but always confirm current rates on the exchange’s own site before you buy.