dYdX alternatives: cheaper and similar options (Oct 2026)
The best dYdX alternatives are Lighter (0% round trip, Ethereum, not available in the US); Paradex (0% round trip, Paradex, not available in the US); Ostium (0.06% round trip, Arbitrum, not available in the US). 8 of the 8 listed charge less than dYdX (0.1% round trip).
Checked 2026-10-17Why look beyond dYdX
- dydx.trade terms block US, UK and Canadian persons.
- Malicious dYdX client packages were published to npm and PyPI in February 2026.
- Fee schedule and staking discounts can be changed at any time by governance.
dYdX alternatives for US traders →
Cheaper than dYdX
Lighter 0%, Paradex 0%, Ostium 0.06%, Aster 0.08%, Pacifica 0.08%, Hyperliquid 0.09%, Avantis 0.09%, edgeX 0.09% — against dYdX at 0.1% per round trip. Platform fee only; spreads and network fees are extra.
The alternatives
-
Lighter
Ethereum · 0% round trip · US: not available
Non-US, non-UK retail perps traders who want zero trading fees and can accept slower taker execution than paid accounts.
+ The default Standard account charges 0% maker and 0% taker on perps and spot.
Open Lighter — 10% off fees -
Paradex
Paradex · 0% round trip · US: not available
Non-US traders who place orders manually through a web UI and want zero-fee perps plus options from one margin account.
+ Retail orders pay 0% maker and 0% taker on perps, spot and options.
Open Paradex -
Ostium
Arbitrum · 0.06% round trip · US: not available
Traders who want onchain leveraged exposure to stocks, forex, commodities and indices from a self-custodied wallet, outside the US.
+ Covers 75 pairs across stocks, ETFs, commodities, indices, forex and crypto, which most crypto perp venues do not list.
Open Ostium -
Aster
Aster Chain · BNB Chain · Arbitrum · 0.08% round trip · US: not available
Non-US, non-UK traders who want zero maker fees on order-book perps, very high leverage modes, or privacy-shielded orders.
+ Maker fees are 0% at every VIP tier on order-book perps since February 2026.
Open Aster -
Pacifica
Solana · 0.08% round trip · US: not available
Solana perp traders who want a published volume ladder, 50x leverage on majors and exposure to RWA and pre-IPO markets, and who are outside the United States.
+ Fee schedule is published with eight tiers and a 0% maker fee at the VIP tiers.
Open Pacifica -
Hyperliquid
Hyperliquid · 0.09% round trip · US: not available
Perps traders outside the US who want onchain order-book trading from their own wallet, with fees that drop by volume and HYPE staking.
+ Base perps fees are 0.045% taker / 0.015% maker, falling to 0.024% / 0% at the top volume tier.
Open Hyperliquid — 4% off fees · dYdX vs Hyperliquid -
Avantis
Base · 0.09% round trip · US: unverified
Traders who want crypto, forex, commodities and US or Korean equity exposure from one USDC balance on Base.
+ Zero maker and taker commission on real-world asset markets while in growth mode.
Open Avantis -
edgeX
Ethereum · 0.09% round trip · US: not available
Non-US, non-Canadian perps traders who want an Ethereum-settled order book with stock and forex perps and an email login option.
+ Settles to Ethereum, with V1 built on the StarkEx ZK-rollup engine and V2 anchoring state roots to Ethereum L1.
Open edgeX
Cost compared
Cost of a round trip (buy + sell). Platform fee only; network and pool fees are extra.
| Venue | Rate (round trip) | You pay |
|---|
FAQ
What is the best alternative to dYdX?
For most people, Lighter: Non-US, non-UK retail perps traders who want zero trading fees and can accept slower taker execution than paid accounts.
Why do people switch from dYdX?
dydx.trade terms block US, UK and Canadian persons. Malicious dYdX client packages were published to npm and PyPI in February 2026.
Is there a cheaper alternative to dYdX?
Yes: Lighter (0%), Paradex (0%), Ostium (0.06%), Aster (0.08%), Pacifica (0.08%), Hyperliquid (0.09%), Avantis (0.09%), edgeX (0.09%) charge less per round trip than dYdX (0.1%).
Which dYdX alternatives work in the US?
None of the close alternatives we track list the US as fully available.