CryptoLens vs Koinly: which is better for UK crypto tax?
Koinly is a global crypto tax tool with UK rules bolted on. CryptoLens is UK-first by design — Section 104, same-day, 30-day bed-and-breakfasting and SA108 export are core, not afterthoughts. £4.99/month (£59.88/yr)flat vs Koinly’s tiered £49 to £179 per year depending on your transaction count.
CryptoLens vs Koinly — feature by feature
| Feature | CryptoLens | Koinly |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC Section 104 pooling | ||
| Same-day rule | ||
| 30-day bed-and-breakfast rule | ||
| 2024/25 split-rate CGT (taxpayer-favourable AEA allocation) | partial | |
| SA108 form export | ||
| Free tier with real value (not just a preview) | partial | |
| 29 chains scanned from one paste | ||
| UK GBP-first pricing throughout | partial | |
| Starting price | £4.99/mo (£59.88/yr) | £49/yr (100 tx) |
| Price at 1,000 transactions | £4.99/mo (£59.88/yr) | £99/yr |
| Price at 10,000 transactions | £4.99/mo (£59.88/yr) | £179/yr |
| Fumble Checker (lost gains) | ||
| Wallet Zodiac / Roast | ||
| Stripe + UK bank refunds within 14 days |
Based on Koinly’s publicly listed UK plans at the time of writing. Koinly may update pricing or features at any time — check koinly.io for the latest.
Where Koinly wins
We’ll be honest — Koinly has been at it longer and has real advantages we don’t pretend to match:
- •Bigger exchange CSV library. Koinly auto-parses CSV templates from hundreds of exchanges. We cover the popular UK ones (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, Bitstamp, KuCoin, Crypto.com, OKX) and add new templates on request.
- •Longer track record. Koinly has been running since 2018 and has been through many tax cycles. CryptoLens is newer.
- •More languages and more countries. Koinly supports 20+ countries and a dozen languages. CryptoLens is UK-only by design.
- •Find-an-accountant directory.Koinly has a built-in directory of crypto-aware accountants. We don’t have one yet.
Where CryptoLens wins
- •UK-first, not bolted-on.HMRC’s matching order (same-day → 30-day B&B → Section 104 pool) is the default tax engine, with the 2024/25 split-rate CGT and £3,000 AEA pre-applied to the taxpayer’s benefit.
- •Cheaper above ~120 transactions a year. £4.99/month flat with no transaction caps. At 1,000 tx Koinly is £99/yr, at 10,000 tx Koinly is £179/yr — we’re still £59.88/yr.
- •Free tier with real features.Scan any wallet, see your portfolio, fumble checker, gas tracker, DCA simulator — all free, no card. Koinly’s free tier is a paywalled preview.
- •A founder you can email. support@cryptolens.uk reaches Hayden directly. Feature requests routinely ship the same week.
- •Transparent indie status.Pre-revenue, UK-based, no VC money, no corporate spin. Some users prefer that; some don’t. See /about for the full story.
Frequently asked questions
Is CryptoLens a genuine UK alternative to Koinly?▾
Yes. CryptoLens implements HMRC's matching order natively — same-day, then 30-day bed-and-breakfasting, then the Section 104 averaged pool — and exports a summary formatted for the SA108 capital gains pages of Self Assessment. Koinly supports UK rules but the product is built around global tax filing, with UK as one country among many.
Is CryptoLens cheaper than Koinly?▾
It depends on transaction count. Koinly starts at £49/year for 100 transactions, scales to £99/year at 1,000 tx and £179/year at 10,000 tx. CryptoLens is flat £4.99/month (£59.88/year) with no transaction caps. Below 100 transactions Koinly's entry plan is cheaper; above ~120 transactions per year, CryptoLens is the cheaper choice.
Can I import my Koinly transaction history?▾
Yes. Export your Koinly transaction history as CSV, then upload it under Import → CSV in CryptoLens. For on-chain wallets you don't need to re-import — just paste the public address and we re-scan from chain data.
Does CryptoLens handle DeFi, staking and NFTs the same way Koinly does?▾
We cover the common cases (swaps, LP deposits/withdrawals, staking rewards, NFT mints and sales) and treat them under HMRC guidance — staking and airdrops as miscellaneous income at receipt, then CGT on disposal. Koinly has been at it longer and has more exchange CSV templates; if you have an unusual exchange that we don't yet auto-parse, email support@cryptolens.uk and we'll add it.
What if I file in multiple countries?▾
Use Koinly. CryptoLens is intentionally UK-only. If you only file a UK Self Assessment, that focus is what makes our tax output cleaner and our pricing flat.
Try CryptoLens free — no card needed
Paste any wallet, get a full UK tax preview in seconds. Upgrade only if it’s useful.