shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use CoinMarketCap?

Top cryptocurrency prices and charts, listed by market capitalization. Free access to current and historic data for Bitcoin and thousands of altcoins. - coinmarketcap.com

Depends. Use the free site and apps for price checks and rankings - nearly everyone in crypto does, and the API runs in production at Coinbase and Chainlink. Don't connect wallets from the site, and compare API vendors before paying, given two documented security incidents and accuracy complaints.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~30 public sources: security reports, official case studies, app-store and Reddit reviews. API prices and Trustpilot rating were not visible in snippets.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo direct support evidence in sources
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Website & apps

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
API ProPaid tiers (amounts not visible in sources)

Best for

  • Casual crypto price-checkers
  • Altcoin watchers tracking thousands of coins
  • Devs needing a market-data API
  • Mobile portfolio trackers

Not for

  • Anyone connecting wallets via site links or pop-ups
  • Traders needing verified, exchange-grade price accuracy
  • Users unwilling to manage breach-related password risk

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Never connect a wallet or approve pop-ups on the site - one exploit drained 76 wallets

high

Your email was likely in the 2021 breach; don't reuse that password anywhere

medium

API has paid tiers but prices weren't visible in sources; verify current rates before committing

medium

Community reports CMC prices can diverge from exchange quotes; cross-check before trading

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free current and historic prices for thousands of coins
  • iOS and Android tracker apps available
  • Pro API runs in production at Coinbase, Chainlink and GOPAX
  • Funding-rates dashboard adds derivatives intelligence
  • Free crypto glossary and Academy education content

Cons

  • June 2025 frontend exploit served a phishing pop-up; 76 wallets drained
  • October 2021 breach exposed 3.1 million user accounts
  • Redditors question its price-data accuracy and reliability
  • 841 Trustpilot reviewers plus dedicated complaint sites signal friction

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/20/2026 - 10 sources - Two documented incidents: October 2021 breach (3.1M accounts) and June 2025 frontend phishing exploit (76 wallets drained).

official x2review x5security x2news x1
  • Frontend phishing exploit (June 2025), A compromised pop-up promoted a fake token airdrop; 76 wallets were drained before the fix, and MetaMask flagged the site.
  • Data breach (October 2021), 3.1 million account records appeared on Have I Been Pwned; the company stated its investigation found no evidence of a compromise of its systems.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 4/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 4/5. Core data free; API paid, prices undisclosed
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Popular apps, positive store feedback
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Historic data, funding dashboard, API, glossary
  • Support quality. No direct support evidence in sources
  • Security posture: 2/5. 2021 breach plus 2025 phishing exploit
  • 841 Trustpilot reviews rating not visible in sources
  • Yes Free tier site and apps free; API has paid plans
  • 3.1M accounts 2021 data breach October 2021, per Have I Been Pwned
  • 76 wallets drained June 2025 exploit frontend phishing pop-up, per Blockworks

Pricing

Website & apps

Free

  • Live and historic prices
  • Market-cap rankings and charts
  • Mobile tracker apps

API Pro

Paid tiers (amounts not visible in sources)

  • Market-data endpoints
  • Multiple plans on pricing page
  • Used by Coinbase, Chainlink, GOPAX

Security

Two documented incidents: October 2021 breach (3.1M accounts) and June 2025 frontend phishing exploit (76 wallets drained).

  • Frontend phishing exploit (June 2025)A compromised pop-up promoted a fake token airdrop; 76 wallets were drained before the fix, and MetaMask flagged the site.²
  • Data breach (October 2021)3.1 million account records appeared on Have I Been Pwned; the company stated its investigation found no evidence of a compromise of its systems.¹

What users say

App-store users like the free tracker, but Reddit threads flag data-accuracy doubts and security scares.

“I love the platform.”
Apple App Store review
“Does Coinmarketcap seem really unreliable?”
Reddit, r/CryptoCurrency
“Coinmarketcap has been hacked - DO NOT INTERACT”
Reddit, r/Bitcoin

Companies that use it

  • Coinbase⁹
  • Chainlink
  • GOPAX
Full analysis

Based on ~30 public sources: security reports, official case studies, app-store and Reddit reviews. API prices and Trustpilot rating were not visible in snippets.

Free, handy crypto price tracker - but two security incidents and accuracy gripes mean caution with wallets or the paid API

Methodology

Based on ~30 public sources: security reports, official case studies, app-store and Reddit reviews. API prices and Trustpilot rating were not visible in snippets.

Sources

  1. CoinMarketCap Data Breach - Have I Been Pwnedhaveibeenpwned.com
    security
  2. 76 wallets drained in CoinMarketCap frontend exploit - Blockworksblockworks.com
    security
  3. CoinMarketCap Briefly Exploited With Wallet Phishing Pop-Up - CoinDeskcoindesk.com
    news
  4. Trustpilot reviews of coinmarketcap.comtrustpilot.com
    review
  5. Stop relying on Coin Market Cap - Reddit r/btcreddit.com
    review
  6. Coinmarketcap has been hacked - Reddit r/Bitcoinreddit.com
    review
  7. CoinMarketCap: Crypto Tracker - App Storeapps.apple.com
    review
  8. CoinMarketCap API Pricing Planscoinmarketcap.com
    official
  9. How Coinbase Uses CoinMarketCap APIcoinmarketcap.com
    official
  10. CoinMarketCap Review: Pros, Cons, and More - BitDegreebitdegree.org
    review

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