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This Shakepay vs Newton review is tailored specifically for novices in the Canadian crypto space. It aims to provide a straightforward guide to compare these two top crypto exchanges.
I’ll touch upon pros, cons, features, fees, spread, common risks, and debates among beginners, to help aid you in making an informed decision between Shakepay or Newton for your initial foray into cryptocurrency. My goal is to make your journey as smooth and rewarding as possible.
This comparison is based on my personal experience buying, selling, and trading on both of these exchanges for 3+ years. I regularly read comments on Reddit and social media to gauge community sentiment, how long transactions are taking to process, and any support or liquidity issues that may be cause for concern.
My Conclusion — If you’re new to buying Bitcoin in Canada, Shakepay is a great starting point. It’s user-friendly and perfect for beginners, allowing easy purchases with Interac e-Transfer. Use Newton if you want a larger altcoin selection and a lower spread fee when trading.
✅ TL;DR Newton vs Shakepay
- Newton caters more to users seeking a wider range of cryptocurrencies and slightly more advanced trading tools, with the advantage of a lower spread.
- Shakepay is excellent for those new to crypto, and looking for a straightforward, user-friendly experience with additional perks like Bitcoin rewards.
Summary — Choosing between the two largely depends on individual preferences, trading experience, and the importance of a broad crypto selection versus user experience. I use and am happy with and trust both exchanges.
Shakepay vs Newton Review Methodology
Buy and Sell Crypto on the App / Exchange
We use every app or service we review. Test how easy it is to use. How fast do funding and deposits happen.
Customer Service
We send in customer questions via multiple channels to measure helpfulness and response time.
Advanced or Uniquely Helpful Features
What makes it special or unique from the competitors.
Getting started in cryptocurrency can be a lot of new terminology to learn, websites, and apps to download and sign up for. This Newton vs Shakpay comparison is geared toward a beginner who wants to buy some Bitcoin easily on a trusted crypto exchange in Canada for the lowest fees possible and maximize referral rewards.
Quick Compare — Shakepay vs Newton
Ease of Use | Easy. Would recommend it for beginners. | Easy. Would recommend it for beginners. |
Sign Up Bonus | ||
Coins | Bitcoin, Ethereum | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, DOGE, Tether, Bitcoin Cash, Stellar Lumens, USD Coin, and QCAD |
Limit Orders | Has Limit buy & sell orders. | Has Limit buy & sell orders. |
Customer Service | Good | Good |
Deposit & Withdraw Options | Interac e-Transfer, wire transfers, crypto | Interac e-Transfer, wire transfers, pre-authorized debit, crypto |
Spread | ||
Transfer Fees | Covers fees to deposit to your wallet | |
Rewards | Refer friends, get $25. | |
Security | 2FA, SMS | 2FA with Authy, SMS |
Device Support | Web, IOS, Android | Web, IOS, Android |
Design / UI | OK | Very Nice |
Social Media | ||
Recuring Buys | Yes | No |
Review | ||
Notes | Simplicity and shaking satoshi rewards. Covers network fees for deposits to wallet. | Nice design. Low spread fees when buying. Lots more coins to buy and sell. |
Referrals |
*Prices and fees are subject to change. Compare more cryptocurrency exchanges in Canada.
Newton
Read my Newton Review
Newton Fees
- Deposits and withdrawals: $0
- Spread: ~0.75% to 1.5%
- Crypto withdrawal: Free up to $5 of network fees
- Check fees and prices on Newton
Funding & Withdrawal Options
- Interac E-Transfer
- Wire Transfer
- Bank Transfer
- Connect your bank account with Plaid
Cryptocurrencies: 70+
✅ Newton Pros
- Low spread fee on trades.
- Easy to use and nice design.
- Lots of altcoins to trade and more are always being added.
- Multi-network support
❌ Newton Cons
- Verifying an account when signing up can take time.
- Can have difficulty at peak times.
- Customer service can be overwhelmed and take time to respond or you need to post on the Newton subreddit to get help.
About — Newton Overview
- Company Summary: Newton, founded in 2017, is Toronto-based and focuses on providing a low-spread fee trading experience with a wider variety of cryptocurrencies compared to Shakepay.
- Fees: Newton boasts no fees on trading but earns from the spread, which is competitively lower, usually around 0.5% to 1%. Newton covers $5 of network fees on all crypto withdrawals.
- Security: Like Shakepay, Newton takes security seriously with cold storage, 2FA, and compliance with PIPEDA and FINTRAC.
- Customer Service: Offers robust support, but some users report slower response times compared to Shakepay.
- Features: Offers a larger selection of cryptocurrencies, advanced charting tools, and direct crypto transfers.
- Reputation and Reliability: Generally praised for its low spread and variety of offerings, but some users express concerns over occasional liquidity issues and platform stability.
Why I LIKE Newton
- Low Spreads
- Almost Instant eTransfer Deposits/Withdraws
- Recurring Buys
- Lots of Altcoins to Trade
- Usually Free to Withdraw Crypto
- Multi-network support
- Easy to use
Why I DON’T LIKE Newton
- Fee to withdraw crypto can be confusing
- Surge pricing
Shakepay
Read my Shakepay Review
Shakepay Fees
- Deposits and withdrawals: $0
- Spread: ~1 to 2%
- Crypto withdrawal: Free
- Check Fees and Prices
Funding & Withdrawal Options
- Interac E-Transfer
- Wire Transfers
- Pre-authorized Debit
Cryptocurrencies: 2
✅ Shakepay Pros
- No fee crypto withdraws
- Simple app UI/UX
- Earn Bitcoin cashback reward with a prepaid Visa debit card
- *NEW – Dark mode
- Shakepay ShakingSATS
- Shakepay Card for BTC Rewards
❌ Shakepay Cons
- Limited coin selection
- High spread fee
- Mobile app only
About — Shakepay Overview
- Company Summary: Established in 2015, Shakepay is a Montreal-based platform known for its simplicity and ease of use, catering to both beginners and experienced users in the Canadian crypto market.
- Fees: Shakepay stands out for having no direct fees on buy or sell orders. However, they make money on the spread, which is typically around 1.2% to 2.5%.
- Shakepay Card: A unique feature, this Visa card allows users to earn bitcoin on every purchase, enhancing the appeal for daily crypto enthusiasts.
- Security: Shakepay adheres to strong security protocols including cold storage, 2FA, and biometric security options. They are also registered as a Money Service Business with FINTRAC.
- Customer Service: Known for responsive and helpful support, accessible via email and in-app chat.
- Features: Simple buy/sell options, easy Canadian dollar deposits and withdrawals, and Bitcoin rewards.
- Reputation and Reliability: Generally positive reviews for ease of use and customer service, though some users note concerns about the spread.
Why I LIKE Shakepay
- Easiest crypto exchange to use
- No Fee – Free crypto withdraws is awesome
- Good for buying small amounts
- Features: recurring buys, limit/custom orders, pay bills
- Earn 2% Bitcoin cash back with a virtual Visa Prepaid Card
- Shaking SATs is an unbelievable way to earn free Bitcoin
- Trustworthy and safe Canadian cryptocurrency exchange
Why I DON’T LIKE Shakepay
- High spread fee
- Limited crypto options – BTC and ETH only
- App only. The website has limited functionality
- Lacks advanced trading features
Shakpay vs Newton — Comparative Analysis Summary
Fees and Spread
- Shakepay: Higher spread (1.2% to 2.5%). Free to withdraw crypto.
- Newton: Lower spread (0.5% to 1%), more cost-effective for frequent trading. Newton will cover up to $5 of network fees when withdrawing crypto.
Pros and Cons
- Shakepay Pros: Easy to use, Shakepay card rewards, strong customer service.
- Shakepay Cons: Higher spread, a limited selection of cryptocurrencies.
- Newton Pros: Lower spread, wider crypto selection, advanced features.
- Newton Cons: Potential liquidity and stability issues, slower customer service response.
Security
Both platforms maintain high-security standards, though users should always use additional personal security measures.
Compare Withdraw Fees & Spread Fee
There are fees when sending and receiving Bitcoin. These fees vary depending on how busy the network is.
Cryptocurrency exchanges in Canada make money on the spread between buying and selling cryptocurrency.
Each exchange has a different spread fee and network fee withdrawal structure.
It depends on how much Bitcoin you are buying or selling to get the best value for your purchase. You will need to calculate this for yourself.
Spread % | Withdraw Fee | Deposit Fee | # of Coins | ||
1 - 2% | $0 | $0 | 2 | ||
0.75-1.5% | Crypto: Free up to $5 | $0 | 60+ | ||
0.2% | Crypto:~$10 | $0 | 30+ | ||
0.5% | Fiat: $0 | $0 | 30+ | n/a | |
0 - 1.5% | Fiat: 1.5% | $0 | 25+ | ||
0.2 - 0.3% | Crypto: 0.00001 BTC | Fiat: 1.5% | 65+ | ||
VirgoCX | 0.5 - 2.5% | Fiat: $0 | $0 | 67+ | |
Coinbase | 0.5% | 1.49 - 3.99% | 1.49 - 3.99% | 100+ | |
Wealthsimple | ~1.5 - 2% | $0 | $0 | 49+ | |
Crypto.com | ~0.4% | Crypto:~$13 | $0 | 100+ | |
PayTrie | 0.6% | $0 | $0 | 7 stablecoins | n/a |
Bull Bitcoin | 0.5 - 1.25% | Crypto: you decide fee | $0 | 1 | n/a |
Coinsquare | 1.5% | Fiat: 0 - 1.5% Crypto: 0.0005 BTC | $0 | 39+ | n/a |
Bitcoin Well | 0.21% | Variable | $0 | 1 |
Click Here to find the best Canadian crypto exchange.
Canadian Crypto Exchange App Store Ratings and Reviews (Summary)
Compare app store ratings and the number of reviews for Canadian crypto exchange apps.
Exchange | Apple App Store Rating | Google Play Store Rating |
Shakepay | Rating: 4.6 · 20.4K reviews | Rating: 4.3 · 13K reviews |
Newton | Rating: 4.6 · 21.7K reviews | Rating: 4.5 · 7K reviews |
NDAX | Rating: 4.7 · 8K reviews | Rating: 4.6 · 2.3K reviews |
Netcoins | Rating: 4.9 · 75 reviews | Rating: 4.1 · 282 reviews |
Bitbuy | Rating: 4.5 · 6.7K reviews | Rating: 2.4 · 1.8K reviews |
Kraken | Rating: 4.7 · 8.4K reviews | Rating: 4 · 30.4K reviews |
Kraken Pro | Rating: 4.6 · 16K reviews | Rating: 4.6 · 36K reviews |
CoinSmart | n/a | Rating: 3.5 · 620 reviews |
VirgoCX | Rating: 4.4 · 315 reviews | Rating: 4.2 · 235 reviews |
Coinbase | Rating: 4.7 · 1.7M reviews | Rating: 4.6 · 854K reviews |
Wealthsimple | Rating: 4.6 · 125K reviews | Rating: 4.5 · 79K reviews |
Crypto.com | Rating: 4.6 · 46K reviews | Rating: 4.3 · 497K reviews |
Coinsquare | Rating: 4.6 · 5K reviews | Rating: 3.6 · 2K reviews |
The app review data in the above table was updated on: November 13, 2024
Shakepay and Newton on Reddit
Read more reviews of what members of all the Canadian crypto subreddits are talking about and any issues that the exchanges are having.
- r/BitcoinCA is a Reddit community for general cryptocurrency news and discussion in Canada. It’s a great place to keep up to date on the latest changes in Crypto.
- r/Newtonco – The official Newton Reddit.
- r/shakepay – The Shakepay Reddit official community forum.
Conclusion — Shakepay vs Newton?
My conclusion — both Shakepay and Newton are reliable and secure platforms for purchasing crypto in Canada. It’s wise to register on both, as using multiple exchanges offers flexibility and better price options when buying or selling Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies.
- Shakepay stands out for its user-friendly interface, attractive Bitcoin rewards card, and the unique ‘ShakingSats’ feature, which rewards you with satoshis for shaking your phone daily. It’s especially good for smaller transactions, thanks to its higher spread but free crypto withdrawal. The app remains stable even during peak times.
- Newton, offers better spread fees and a wider selection of altcoins, making it a potentially better choice for larger transactions. However, be aware of occasional glitches in the app during high-traffic periods, though their website tends to be more reliable.
Regular fee changes mean it’s smart to have options for the best deals. Having more than one platform also provides peace of mind, ensuring you have alternative methods for transactions if needed.
Remember, don’t solely rely on these platforms – transfer your crypto to a personal wallet for added security.
Both exchanges limit trading to Canadian dollars for crypto, without offering crypto-to-crypto trading pairs.
My advice to friends is to sign up for both platforms. This way, you can maximize sign-up bonuses and rewards, and it’s easier to complete the KYC process for both simultaneously while your documents are ready. Plus, in the event of technical issues or a platform going offline, you won’t be caught in a rush to find a new exchange along with everyone else.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.
Errors or corrections? Contact Us.
nooxli is basic how-to crypto guides, reviews, and information for beginners to get started with cryptocurrency in Canada. Personal investment disclosure: I am long BTC & ETH. I take profits when I feel like it. I trade altcoins in hot markets. NOT investment advice. Investing in cryptocurrency is risky. Do your own research.
Seen in: Finbold, CoinMarketCap, Times Tabloid, and TheBitTimes.com