3-exchange fee comparator
Put in your monthly trading volume and VIP tier — find out which of Binance / OKX / Gate is cheapest at your level. Includes native-token discount math and a tier-based recommendation.
| Metric | Binance | OKX | Gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee rate | — | — | — |
| Monthly cost | — | — | — |
| After token discount | — | — | — |
Open user guide · 3-exchange fee mechanics · FAQ
1. How exchange fees actually work
Spot and perp fees are calculated as "trade size × fee rate." Maker means you placed a resting limit order that someone else then took; Taker means you crossed the spread and consumed an existing order. Maker is always cheaper than Taker — it's the industry standard, because makers provide liquidity that the exchange profits from.
Retail-tier spot fees (VIP0 / Lv1): Binance 0.10% / 0.10%, OKX 0.08% / 0.10%, Gate 0.20% / 0.20%. Perpetual fees are roughly identical at 0.02% / 0.05% across all three, and the divergence opens up as you climb the VIP ladder.
2. VIP tier mechanics, 3-way comparison
Binance VIP uses 30-day USD-equivalent volume + BNB balance. VIP1 needs ~1M USDT monthly or 25 BNB. VIP3 needs ~50M USDT monthly. The threshold is the highest of the three, but the discount cuts are aggressive — VIP3+ perp maker is 0%, which is what attracts high-frequency traders.
OKX uses 30-day volume + account balance. Lv2 lands at ~5M USDT monthly. The advantage is that at the same volume tier OKX spot is one step cheaper than Binance. Gate VIP1 has the lowest threshold (300K USDT monthly), but its base fee is higher to start — suits people who don't trade huge volume and don't want to chase tiers.
3. The real value of native-token discounts
BNB / OKB / GT discount fees to 75% of base, i.e. 25% off. Sounds great, has gotchas:
- BNB discount: Covers spot and perps, most mature mechanism. But BNB price can swing ±30% — hoarding BNB just for fees can backfire if the token tanks. I keep only enough BNB to cover a month's discount usage, no more.
- OKB discount: Mainly spot; perp coverage is patchy. Lower float than BNB, so price volatility is higher.
- GT discount: Mainly spot, perps only during promo windows. Gate's token discount is the weakest of the three — better to just push volume to VIP1 if you want to save on Gate.
4. What to actually do with the monthly cost number
This is where the tool earns its keep. Once you see the three monthly costs:
- Gap < $10/month: not worth migrating. Sunk costs are too high (API rewrite, mental account reset, copy-trader relationships break).
- Gap $10-$100/month: open the new position on the cheaper exchange, leave existing positions alone.
- Gap $100-$500/month: seriously consider migrating, but keep a small account on the old exchange as a hedge.
- Gap > $500/month: migrate, or ask for custom VIP terms (above 2M USDT monthly you can negotiate with the institutional desk).
5. How I personally pick
After 8 years and 20+ exchanges, I've narrowed it down to three: Binance perps (deeper book, large positions don't get wicked out as much), OKX copy trading (best product line of the three), Gate new listings (faster on altcoins). Fee rates almost don't enter my decisions anymore — at my volume, fees + funding + slippage net out to a fraction of what strategy and risk control decide.
For newcomers it's different. New traders have small volume and low loss tolerance, so a 5% fee differential is real money. My usual suggestion: start on OKX for the first 3 months (lowest retail-tier spot fee + clean UI), then move toward whichever exchange fits your developing strategy.
6. FAQ
Q1. Which of the three has the cheapest fees?
At retail tier (VIP0 / Lv1), OKX has slightly lower spot fees (0.08% / 0.10%). Perps are basically identical at 0.02% / 0.05%. As VIP climbs, Binance perp VIP3+ maker hits 0% — that's the real divergence.
Q2. How much do native-token discounts save?
BNB / OKB / GT cut fees to 75% of base, so you save 25%. Requires holding the token and enabling the discount toggle in your account. BNB covers spot + perps. OKB is mainly spot. GT is also mainly spot.
Q3. How are VIP tiers calculated?
All three blend 30-day volume + account balance. Binance VIP1 is ~1M USDT monthly or 25 BNB. OKX Lv2 is ~5M USDT monthly. Gate VIP1 is ~300K USDT monthly. Check the exchange's official tier page for current values.
Q4. How should I use the monthly cost number?
Sum your real 30-day trading volume, plug it in. If the gap is $50-200/month, migration is worth it. $5-10/month gap, don't bother — the friction costs more than the savings.
Q5. How often is the data refreshed?
Footer shows the verification date. I re-check quarterly or after any major exchange fee announcement. Source of truth is binance.com / okx.com / gate.io official fee pages. Spot a wrong number? Email privacy@1088ex.com — corrections logged on corrections.html.
7. Data note
Fee data verified 2026-05-27, based on each exchange's officially published standard tier. Actual fees may differ from the standard tier due to ongoing promos, market-maker contracts, or institutional customizations. Spot a difference between this tool and the exchange's official page? Email privacy@1088ex.com, I'll verify and patch within 7 days. Corrections logged on corrections.html.