Kraken Desktop is the official Windows trading terminal for the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange, built for traders who want order entry, charts and the order book in a dedicated desktop window instead of a browser tab. It suits people who already trade on Kraken and prefer a faster, more focused workspace for active trading.
The program itself is free to download and install. The costs you pay are the exchange's trading fees, which apply to every order you place. Kraken Desktop is also available for macOS and Linux, but this page covers the Windows version. The current release is 1.34.0. Because the software is proprietary, you cannot inspect its source code, so trust depends on getting the file from the right source and checking it, which the installation and safety sections below explain.
What Is Kraken Desktop and How Does It Work?
Kraken Desktop is a client program that runs on your computer and connects to your Kraken account. Instead of loading the exchange in a browser, it opens a dedicated window that shows live prices, your order form and your open orders. The program works as an interface rather than a place to store coins. Your balances and orders sit on the exchange's side, so the app and the website show the same account.
Because the connection runs through your account, protecting your login matters more than the app itself. A desktop program can stay open all day, so it helps to set up your layout once and return to it each time you trade. The software is proprietary, which means you use it as the publisher built it, without access to the underlying source code.
Who Kraken Desktop Is For
The clearest fit is a trader who already holds funds on Kraken and places orders regularly. Someone watching one or two trading pairs, adjusting limit orders during the day and comparing the chart with the order book will often find a dedicated window more practical than a browser tab that gets crowded with other pages.
Consider a trader who sets a limit order below the current price and keeps the chart and order book open to see whether buyers step in at that level. The desktop layout keeps those views in front of them without juggling several browser windows.
The program is less necessary for occasional buyers. If you purchase a small amount a few times a year, the Kraken website covers that job, and you avoid installing one more program on your PC. A desktop app makes the most sense when your trading volume and screen time justify a dedicated tool.
Key Trading Terms Every Desktop Trader Should Know
Trading in a terminal becomes easier when you understand a few core terms. A trading pair is two assets exchanged against each other, such as a coin priced in US dollars or in another coin. The spread is the gap between the highest bid, the best price a buyer is offering, and the lowest ask, the best price a seller will accept. A narrower spread generally points to a more liquid market.
Market orders fill immediately at the best available price, which can differ from the last price you saw if the book is thin. Limit orders wait until the market reaches the price you chose. Slippage is the difference between the price you expected and the price you actually receive, and it tends to grow on large orders in thin markets.
Understanding these terms lets you read the order book with purpose. A cluster of bids close to the current price shows where buyers are willing to act, but it does not guarantee that the price will hold. Treat order book depth as one input alongside your own plan and risk limits.
Key features
Professional trading terminal
Fast order placement
Charts and order book together
Supported coins
Kraken Desktop trades the assets listed on the Kraken exchange, so the range of coins and trading pairs follows what Kraken offers at any given time. Listings change over time, so check the exchange for the markets currently open before you plan a trade.
How to install Kraken Desktop on Windows
- 1
Download the installer
Go to kraken.com and open the download section for the desktop app. Download only from the official website, not from links in ads, chat messages or third-party download sites.
- 2
Or install with winget
If you prefer the command line, open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run winget install Kraken.KrakenDesktop. The package ID is Kraken.KrakenDesktop. Check that the publisher shown matches Kraken before you confirm the install.
- 3
Verify the installer
Before you run a downloaded file, right-click it, choose Properties and open the Digital Signatures tab to confirm the signer is Kraken. If the official site publishes a SHA-256 checksum, run Get-FileHash installer.exe -Algorithm SHA256 in PowerShell and compare the result with the published value character by character.
- 4
Run the setup
Launch the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. Choose an install folder and finish the setup. The current release is 1.34.0, so if you want to confirm you have the latest build, compare the version after installation with that number.
-
Sign in and secure your account
Open the app and sign in with your Kraken account. Turn on two-factor authentication in your Kraken account settings before you add funds or place your first order.
How to use Kraken Desktop
Kraken Desktop is simple to start with once your account is ready. Set it up before your first trade so you are not learning the layout during a fast market.
- Sign in with your Kraken account and confirm that two-factor authentication is active.
- Open the trading pair you want to follow and set the chart timeframe.
- Place the order panel next to the order book so both are visible at once.
- Choose an order type: a limit order if you want a specific price, or a market order if speed matters more.
- Enter the amount, then review the total and the fee before you submit.
- Submit the order and watch the order book to see whether it fills or sits in the queue.
- Check your open orders and cancel any you no longer want.
- Close the program when you finish and keep your login details private.
Practice with small amounts first. Each step becomes quick once you know where things are, and a few test orders in a calm market teach you more than reading the menus.
Pros & cons
- Free to download, with costs limited to the exchange's trading fees
- Official Windows version published by Kraken
- Fast order entry from a dedicated window
- Charts and order book in one workspace
- Also available for macOS and Linux if you switch systems
- Proprietary software, so the code cannot be independently inspected
- Trading costs follow the exchange's fee schedule on every trade
- Useful only for trading on Kraken, with no connection to other exchanges
- Occasional buyers may find the website simpler for their needs
Is Kraken Desktop safe?
Kraken Desktop connects to a funded exchange account, so treat installation with care. Download only from the official website at kraken.com, or install through winget using the Kraken.KrakenDesktop package. Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published by the official source when one is available, and check the digital signature before running the installer. Never enter your seed phrase or account password on third-party websites, and never share them with anyone who contacts you claiming to be support staff. Because the program is proprietary, you rely on the publisher's build, so verify each download and check the latest version on the official website before updating.
- Official source only. Download from www.kraken.com. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Kraken Desktop has the same basic role as the desktop apps from other exchanges in this catalog, such as Binance Desktop and OKX Desktop: each is the exchange's own trading interface on a Windows PC. The practical difference comes down to where you hold your account. If your funds sit on Kraken, Kraken Desktop keeps you in one ecosystem. If you trade on several exchanges, you will run a separate app for each platform, so compare the markets and features each one offers before choosing.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Proprietary
- License
- Proprietary
- Latest version
- 1.34.0
- Last update
- —
- Windows support
- Yes (official Windows version)
- Official site
- www.kraken.com
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the program itself is free to download and use. You pay the trading fees charged by Kraken on each order, and those fees are set by the exchange rather than by the app. Check the fee schedule on the Kraken website before you trade, since costs depend on your account and the type of order you place.
It can be, as long as you get the installer from the official source. Download it from kraken.com or install with winget, check the publisher in the file's digital signature, and compare the SHA-256 checksum when one is published. Never share your seed phrase or password with anyone who contacts you about the app.
No, Kraken Desktop is designed for the Kraken exchange, so you sign in with a Kraken account to trade. It does not connect to other platforms. If you use several exchanges, you will need a separate app or website for each one, and you can keep them all open side by side.
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run winget install Kraken.KrakenDesktop. Winget downloads and installs the package for you, so you do not need to search for the file manually. After the install finishes, launch the app from the Start menu, sign in with your Kraken account and enable two-factor authentication.
An order book is a live list of buy orders, called bids, and sell orders, called asks, at different prices for a trading pair. Traders use it to see where liquidity sits and how wide the spread is. Kraken Desktop displays the order book next to the chart so you can read both views together while you place orders.
A market order executes immediately at the best available price, while a limit order fills only at the price you set or better. Market orders prioritize speed, and limit orders prioritize price control. Choose based on how much price movement you can accept, and remember that a limit order may never fill if the market does not reach your price.
Yes, Kraken lists the program for macOS and Linux as well as Windows. This page focuses on the Windows version, so the installation steps here apply only to Windows. Your account and trading features stay the same across platforms, which makes switching between computers straightforward.
It gives you the same exchange account in a different form. As a desktop program, Kraken Desktop offers a dedicated trading workspace that stays open alongside your other windows without browser tab limits. The website remains useful for quick tasks, while the desktop app suits longer sessions focused on active trading.
Verdict
Kraken Desktop is a sensible choice if you already trade on Kraken and want a dedicated Windows terminal for charts, the order book and fast order entry. It is free to download, and the exchange's trading fees are the real cost of using it. If you only buy occasionally, the Kraken website may be all you need. Keep two-factor authentication turned on and take the time to practice with small orders before relying on the app during fast markets.