Kraken fees

Why Is Kraken So Expensive? Just Paid £4.95 + £0.95 in Fees on a £100 Buy – Coming from Binance, This Feels Like a Rip-Off!

New to Kraken here, and I'm kinda baffled by the fees. I usually stick with Binance because their fees are super low – like, maker/taker fees starting at 0.1% and going down with volume or BNB use. But I decided to test out Kraken with a small £100 buy (in GBP, since I'm in the UK), and bam, I got hit with £4.95 in what I think is a payment processing fee plus another £0.95 in trading fees. That's almost 6% total! For such a small amount, it feels excessive compared to Binance, where I'd pay way less for the same trade.

Is this normal for Kraken? From what I've read, their fee structure includes variable trading fees (0.16% maker/0.26% taker for low-volume users) plus extra costs for fiat deposits or card purchases, which can add up quickly for smaller transactions. They seem to prioritize security and regulation, especially in places like the EU/UK, which might explain the higher costs versus more "wild west" exchanges like Binance. But still, why so pricey for noobs like me just dipping a toe in?

Also, hoping the community can help: How can I lower my fees on Kraken going forward? I've seen tips like using bank transfers instead of cards to avoid those hefty processing fees, trading higher volumes to drop into lower fee tiers, or maybe using their Pro platform for better rates. Any other hacks, like specific payment methods for UK users or loyalty programs? Would love advice to make this workable, 'cause I like Kraken's rep for being legit, but these fees are a buzzkill.

Thanks in advance – let's help out future members avoid the same sticker shock! What's your experience been?

TL;DR: Kraken fees stung me on a £100 buy; Binance is cheaper. Why the difference, and how to minimize costs on Kraken?