Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro: What Happened to Pro, and What to Use Now
Short answer: Coinbase Pro no longer exists. Coinbase announced its phase-out in June 2022 and fully shut it down in late 2023, moving balances into the main Coinbase account. Its replacement is Coinbase Advanced, an order-book trading screen inside the regular Coinbase app with no spread and maker/taker fees. Today the real comparison is simple Coinbase vs Coinbase Advanced, and Advanced is usually cheaper.
A short history: GDAX to Coinbase Pro to Coinbase Advanced
- GDAX. Coinbase's original professional exchange was called GDAX (Global Digital Asset Exchange). It offered an order book, charts and limit orders for active traders.
- Coinbase Pro (2018). On May 23, 2018, Coinbase announced that GDAX was being rebranded as Coinbase Pro. Same idea: a separate site and app with maker/taker fees.
- Phase-out (2022). On June 22, 2022, Coinbase said it would phase out Pro and bring its features into the main app as Advanced Trade.
- Shutdown (late 2023). Pro was fully retired in late 2023. Remaining balances moved into users' main Coinbase accounts.
So if you searched "GDAX vs Coinbase" or "Coinbase Pro vs Coinbase," the modern answer is the same: compare the simple Coinbase experience with Coinbase Advanced.
Coinbase vs Coinbase Advanced: comparison table
| Simple Coinbase | Coinbase Advanced (replaced Pro) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it lives | Main Coinbase app and site | Same account, switch to Advanced in the app or on coinbase.com |
| Pricing | Spread in the price plus a fee | No spread; maker/taker fee per trade |
| Typical fee level | Spread commonly reported ~0.5% plus fee (varies; see preview) | Lowest tier commonly reported 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker, lower with volume |
| Order types | Instant buy/sell, recurring buys | Market, limit, stop-limit |
| Charts and order book | Basic price chart | Full charts, order book, trade history |
| Coinbase One zero-fee perk | Applies (spread still charged) | Does not apply |
| Best for | Occasional, small, simple buys | Anyone who wants lower costs or price control |
Both use the same balances, the same login and the same payment methods. There's no separate account to open, which is one improvement over the old Pro setup, where you had to transfer funds between Coinbase and Pro.
Coinbase Pro fees vs Coinbase fees (then and now)
The reason people searched "Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro fees" for years is that Pro was much cheaper than the simple app. That gap still exists, just under a new name. The simple screen adds a spread to the price plus a fee. Advanced charges only a maker or taker fee based on your 30-day trading volume.
A maker order adds liquidity (a limit order that waits on the book) and pays the lower rate. A taker order fills immediately (like a market order) and pays the higher rate. Check Coinbase's Advanced fee page for the current tiers, and see our full Coinbase fees explained page with a fee calculator.
Is Coinbase Pro free? How much does it cost?
Coinbase Pro was always free to use in the sense that there was no account or subscription fee; you paid a fee per trade. The same is true of Coinbase Advanced: it costs nothing to switch to it, and you pay maker/taker fees when you trade. It is not "free trading," and Coinbase One's zero-fee perk does not cover Advanced trades.
How to "upgrade to Coinbase Pro" today (switch to Advanced)
You can't upgrade to Pro anymore, but switching to Advanced takes seconds:
- Open your Coinbase account. Use the official Coinbase app or coinbase.com.
- Find the trading mode switch. In the app, look for the option to switch to Advanced (Coinbase moves this around between app versions; on the website, Advanced appears in the trading navigation).
- Choose a trading pair. For example, BTC-USD. You'll see the chart, order book and order form.
- Pick an order type. Market, limit or stop-limit. If you're new, read limit vs stop orders first.
- Review and place the order. The order form shows the estimated fee before you submit.
Coinbase Advanced tutorial: the basics
Reading the screen
The order book lists buy orders (bids) and sell orders (asks) at different prices. The gap between the best bid and best ask is the market spread, usually tiny on major pairs. The chart shows price history, and the order form is where you enter your trade.
Placing a limit buy
Choose Limit, enter the price you're willing to pay and the amount, then submit. If your price is below the current ask, the order waits on the book until the market reaches it (or you cancel), and it usually pays the maker fee. This is the most common way to cut costs on Coinbase.
Using a stop-limit
A stop-limit order triggers a limit order only once the price reaches your stop price. Traders use it to limit losses or to buy on a breakout. Our order types guide walks through examples.
Coinbase Advanced vs other exchanges
Advanced fixes most of Coinbase's cost problem, but it isn't the cheapest everywhere. Kraken Pro's first fee tier is 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker, and Gemini ActiveTrader's lowest tier is 0.60% maker / 1.20% taker, per their published schedules. See Kraken vs Coinbase, Gemini vs Coinbase and Binance vs Coinbase for the details.
Lower fees help, but the bigger driver of results is usually when you buy and sell, not where. If you're switching to Advanced to trade more often, read why most people buy high and sell low first.
Bottom line
Coinbase Pro and GDAX are history. If you used to choose Pro for lower fees, Coinbase Advanced is the direct replacement, inside the same account, with no spread and maker/taker fees. For anything beyond a small one-off buy, Advanced is usually the better choice. Start at our Coinbase review for the bigger picture.
FAQ
Does Coinbase Pro still exist?
No. Coinbase phased Pro out starting in 2022 and fully shut it down in late 2023. Coinbase Advanced, inside the main app, replaced it.
What is the difference between Coinbase and Coinbase Pro?
Historically, Coinbase was the simple buy app (spread plus fee) and Pro was a separate order-book exchange with lower maker/taker fees. Today that same split exists as simple Coinbase vs Coinbase Advanced, in one account.
Is GDAX the same as Coinbase Pro?
Yes. GDAX was renamed Coinbase Pro in 2018, and Pro was later replaced by Coinbase Advanced.
Is Coinbase Advanced cheaper than regular Coinbase?
Usually, yes. Advanced has no spread and charges maker/taker fees, while simple trades include a spread plus a fee. Compare the fee on both preview screens for your trade size.
What happened to my Coinbase Pro balance?
Coinbase moved Pro balances into users' main Coinbase accounts when Pro shut down. If you can't find funds, check your main account balances and contact Coinbase support through the official help center.
Sources
- Coinbase Blog — Announcing Coinbase Pro (checked Nov 2026)
- CoinDesk — Coinbase phasing out Pro exchange for Advanced mode (checked Nov 2026)
- NerdWallet — Coinbase vs Coinbase Pro (checked Nov 2026)
- Coinbase Help — Coinbase Advanced fees (checked Nov 2026)
- Coinbase Help — Coinbase pricing and fees (checked Nov 2026)
- Coinbase — Coinbase One (checked Nov 2026)
- Kraken — Fee schedule (checked Nov 2026)
- Gemini — ActiveTrader fee schedule (checked Nov 2026)