✓ What is Kraken Pro? (Professional trading platform with lower fees — explained).
✓ Step-by-step: how to access Kraken Pro from your regular Kraken account.
✓ Dashboard anatomy: understanding the 5 main sections (Chart, Order Book, Recent Trades, Order Entry, Open Orders).
✓ How to customize your layout — move, resize, and rearrange widgets.
✓ How to add TradingView indicators and drawing tools to your chart.
✓ How to set up multiple chart timeframes (1m, 5m, 1h, 4h, 1d).
✓ Order entry customization: Limit, Market, Stop-Limit orders explained.
✓ Saving and loading custom layouts (workspace templates).
✓ Using Dark Mode and other visual settings.
✓ Real example: setting up a layout for fast Bitcoin scalping.
✓ Common mistakes and how to fix them.
Cryptocurrency trading carries significant risk. This guide is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Kraken Pro is not available to all residents; check your eligibility. Always do your own research (DYOR) before trading. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
1. 📌 What Is Kraken Pro? (Lower Fees, Advanced Tools)
Kraken Pro is the professional trading platform offered by Kraken. Unlike the simpler “Buy/Sell” interface for beginners, Kraken Pro provides advanced charting (powered by TradingView), real-time order book data, multiple order types, and significantly lower trading fees (starting at 0.16% maker / 0.26% taker on spot, with discounts for volume).
Kraken Pro is accessible directly from your existing Kraken account — no separate signup required. You just toggle between “Buy Crypto” (simple) and “Kraken Pro” (advanced).
✓ Lower fees: 0.16% maker / 0.26% taker vs higher spreads on simple buy/sell .
✓ Price control: Use Limit Orders to set exact entry/exit prices .
✓ Advanced charting: Full TradingView suite with indicators .
✓ Real-time data: Live order book, depth chart, recent trades .
✓ Faster execution: Direct market access for active traders.
2. 🔓 Step-by-Step: How to Access Kraken Pro from Your Account
1 Log into your Kraken account (web browser recommended for setup).
2 Click on “Trade” in the top navigation bar .
3 Select “Kraken Pro” from the dropdown menu .
4 You are now in Kraken Pro . The default dashboard includes: Chart, Order Book, Recent Trades, Order Entry, Open Orders.
5 Select your trading pair — for example, BTC/USD or ETH/USDT — from the top left.
Once you’re in Kraken Pro, bookmark the URL (https://pro.kraken.com). This lets you go directly to the pro interface without clicking through menus every time .
3. 🏗️ Dashboard Anatomy: Understanding the 5 Main Sections
| Widget | Location | What It Shows | Essential? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Chart | Top Left (largest area) | TradingView chart with candles, indicators, drawing tools | ✅ Essential |
| Order Book | Top Right
一道Real-time buy (bids) and sell (asks) orders from other traders | ✅ Essential | Recent Trades | Below Order Book
一道List of recent executed trades (price, time, size) | ✅ Essential | Order Entry | Bottom Right
一道Where you place Limit, Market, and Stop-Limit orders | ✅ Essential |
| Open Orders / Positions | Bottom Left
一道Your active orders and current positions | ✅ Essential |
✓ Price Chart: Shows historical price movement. Use it to identify trends and support/resistance levels .
✓ Order Book: Shows current buy (bids) and sell (asks) orders. The depth indicates liquidity .
✓ Recent Trades: Shows actual executed trades. Useful for seeing real-time market activity .
✓ Order Entry: Where you place your trades. This is where the action happens .
✓ Open Orders: Shows your pending Limit Orders. You can cancel them here.
4. 🎨 How to Customize Your Layout (Move, Resize, Add Widgets)
1 Click “Layout” in the top navigation bar (next to “Trading”).
2 To move a widget: Click and drag the widget’s title bar to a new position .
3 To resize a widget: Hover over the edge of the widget until the cursor changes, then click and drag .
4 To add a new widget: Click “Add Widget” → Choose from: Depth Chart, Trading View, Order Book, Recent Trades, Open Orders, Trade History .
5 To remove a widget: Click the “X” in the top right corner of the widget .
6 Save your layout — Click “Layout” → “Save Layout As” → Give it a name (e.g., “My Daily Trading Setup”).
| Widget | Position | Size | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Chart (TradingView) | Top Left | Large (60% width)
一道Most important for analysis — needs space . | |
| Order Book | Top Right | Medium (20% width)
一道Essential for understanding liquidity . | |
| Recent Trades | Middle Right (under Order Book) | Small (20% height)
一道Shows real-time execution . | |
| Order Entry | Bottom Right | Medium (20% width, 50% height)
一道Where you place trades — needs to be accessible . | |
| Open Orders | Bottom Left (under chart) | Medium (60% width, 50% height)
一道Track your pending orders . |
Create separate layouts for different trading styles :
– “Scalping” layout: Large Order Book + Recent Trades, smaller chart .
– “Swing Trading” layout: Large chart with multiple timeframes, smaller order book .
– “Mobile-like” layout: Simplified widgets for quick checks on desktop .
You can switch between saved layouts in one click .
5. 📈 Customizing the TradingView Chart (Indicators, Timeframes, Drawing Tools)
The chart is the heart of Kraken Pro. Here’s how to customize it for your trading style .
📊 Change Timeframe: Click the timeframe buttons at the top (1m, 5m, 15m, 1h, 4h, 1d, 1w, 1M) .
📈 Add Indicators (e.g., RSI, MACD, Moving Averages): Click the “Indicators” button (f(x) icon) → Search for indicator → Click to add .
✏️ Draw on the Chart: Use the drawing tools panel (left side) → Trend lines, Fibonacci retracements, horizontal lines, etc.
🔧 Chart Type: Click the candlestick icon → Choose Candles, Line, Bar, Area, Heikin Ashi .
💾 Save Chart Template: Click the “Save” icon → Name your template → Load it anytime.
| Indicator | What It Does | Best Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (Relative Strength Index)
一道Shows overbought (>70) and oversold (<30) conditions | 15m, 1h, 4h | Moving Average (MA 20, MA 50, MA 200)
一道Shows trend direction. Price above MA = uptrend, below = downtrend | All timeframes |
| MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence)
一道Shows momentum and trend changes (histogram crosses) | 1h, 4h, 1d | |
| Bollinger Bands
一道Shows volatility — price touching outer bands suggests reversal | 15m, 1h |
6. ⏱️ Setting Up Multiple Timeframes for Better Analysis
Professional traders analyze multiple timeframes to confirm trends. Here’s how to set up multiple charts in Kraken Pro .
1 Add a second chart widget — Click “Layout” → “Add Widget” → “Chart”.
2 Position the charts — drag one to the left, one to the right, or stack them vertically.
3 Set different timeframes — For example:
– Chart 1: 1-hour candles (short-term trend)
– Chart 2: 4-hour candles (medium-term trend)
– Chart 3: Daily candles (long-term trend)
4 Save this layout — Name it “Multi-Timeframe Analysis”.
A 15-minute chart might show an uptrend, while the 4-hour chart shows a downtrend. The 4-hour trend is more reliable for swing trading. Using multiple timeframes prevents you from making decisions based on short-term noise .
7. 🛒 Order Entry Customization: Limit, Market, Stop-Limit
The Order Entry widget is where you place trades. Here’s how to customize it for your needs .
📌 LIMIT ORDER
Best for: Controlling exact entry/exit price .
How to use: Select “Limit” → Enter Price and Amount → Click “Buy” or “Sell”.
Fee: Maker fee (as low as 0.16%) .
Risk: Order may not fill if price never reaches your limit .
⚡ MARKET ORDER
Best for: Immediate execution, urgent entries/exits .
How to use: Select “Market” → Enter Amount (in base currency or quote) → Click “Buy” or “Sell”.
Fee: Taker fee (as low as 0.26%) .
Risk: Slippage during high volatility .
🛡️ STOP-LIMIT ORDER
Best for: Automatic profit-taking or stop-loss .
How to use: Select “Stop-Limit” → Enter Stop Price (trigger) and Limit Price → Amount → Click.
Risk: In fast markets, price may skip your stop price .
⚙️ Order Entry Settings to Customize:
- Default Order Type: Set your preferred order type (Limit is recommended) .
- Order Amount Presets: Create buttons for 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% of your available balance .
- Post Only Mode: Ensures your order is placed as a maker order (lower fee) .
- Order Confirmation: Enable pop-up confirmation to prevent accidental clicks .
8. 💾 Saving and Loading Custom Layouts (Workspace Templates)
Once you’ve customized your dashboard, save it so you never lose your setup .
💾 To Save a Layout:
- Click “Layout” → “Save Layout As” .
- Enter a name (e.g., “My Weekly Trading Setup”).
- Click “Save”.
📂 To Load a Saved Layout:
- Click “Layout” → “Load Layout” .
- Select your saved layout from the list.
- The dashboard instantly reconfigure to your saved setup.
🗑️ To Delete a Layout:
- Click “Layout” → “Manage Layouts” → Delete unwanted layouts.
9. 🌙 Dark Mode & Visual Settings (Reduce Eye Strain)
1 Click your profile icon in the top right corner.
2 Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
3 Choose “Dark” or “Light” theme — Dark is recommended for extended trading sessions .
4 Adjust chart colors — In the chart widget, click the gear icon → Change candle colors, background, grid lines .
5 Enable “Sound Alerts” — Get audible notifications when orders fill .
Dark mode reduces eye strain, especially in low-light environments. Also consider reducing screen brightness and enabling a blue light filter on your monitor. Take breaks every 60 minutes to rest your eyes.
10. 📋 Real Example: Setting Up a Layout for Fast Bitcoin Scalping
🎯 Goal: Execute multiple small trades quickly during high volatility.
Layout Configuration:
- Chart: 1-minute candles + 5-minute candles (split screen vertically).
- Indicators: RSI (14) + Volume + 9 EMA + 20 EMA.
- Order Book: Enlarged to see depth clearly .
- Recent Trades: Positioned above order entry for real-time fills .
- Order Entry: Default to Limit orders, preset buttons for 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% .
- Open Orders: Positioned below chart to monitor active orders .
Workflow:
1. Monitor 1m chart for entry signals (RSI oversold + EMA crossover).
2. Check order book for support/resistance levels.
3. Place Limit order at support level with 25% of capital .
4. Monitor open orders until filled .
5. Set Take-Profit limit order at resistance level.
6. Repeat.
11. 📱 Kraken Pro Mobile App (iOS & Android)
The Kraken Pro mobile app offers similar customization options .
| Feature | Desktop (Web) | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|
| Charting | Full TradingView suite | Basic TradingView charts |
| Order Book | Detailed depth view
一道Simplified view | |
| Multiple timeframes | Yes | Yes (tap to change) |
| Custom layouts | Yes (save multiple) | Limited (one layout) |
| Drawing tools | Full set | Limited |
12. ❌ Common Kraken Pro Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
| Mistake | Consequence | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Using Market Orders for large trades
一道Slippage — paying more than expected 一道Use Limit Orders for all trades over $1,000 . | ||
| Not saving your layout
一道Loss of customization after browser reset 一道Click “Layout” → “Save Layout As” after every major change . | ||
| Too many indicators on chart
一道Analysis paralysis, conflicting signals 一道Stick to 2-3 indicators maximum . | ||
| Not checking order book before trading
一道Place orders where there’s no liquidity 一道Always check the order book for support/resistance levels . | ||
| Accidentally clicking wrong order type
一道Market order instead of Limit — unexpected price 一道Enable order confirmation pop-ups . |
13. ❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Kraken Pro)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Kraken Pro free to use? | Yes — no subscription fee. You only pay trading fees (0.16% maker / 0.26% taker for spot). |
| Do I need a separate account for Kraken Pro? | No — it’s the same login as your regular Kraken account . |
| Can I use Kraken Pro on mobile? | Yes — download the Kraken Pro app from iOS App Store or Google Play . |
| Can I customize the color of candles? | Yes — in the chart widget, click the gear icon → “Chart Settings” → Change bull/bear colors . |
| What’s the difference between Kraken and Kraken Pro? | Kraken (simple) is for beginners — higher fees, simpler interface. Kraken Pro is for active traders — lower fees, advanced tools . |
| Can I trade futures on Kraken Pro? | Yes — Kraken Pro supports futures trading in select jurisdictions . |
🏆 FINAL VERDICT: Is Kraken Pro Worth Learning?
✅ YES — Kraken Pro is the best platform for active traders who want lower fees and advanced tools.
Why Kraken Pro is worth the learning curve:
✓ Lower fees: Save 50-80% compared to simple buy/sell interface .
✓ Full price control: Limit orders prevent slippage .
✓ Professional charting: TradingView integration with hundreds of indicators .
✓ Customizable dashboard: Your layout, your workflow .
✓ Faster execution: Direct market access for active traders.
📌 YOUR FIRST STEPS TODAY:
1. Log into Kraken → Click “Trade” → “Kraken Pro”.
2. Spend 15 minutes moving widgets, resizing, exploring .
3. Add a few indicators to the chart (start with RSI and Moving Averages).
4. Set up multiple timeframes (1h, 4h, 1d).
5. Customize the Order Entry widget (default to Limit orders).
6. Save your layout (Layout → Save Layout As → “My First Setup”).
7. Practice with a small trade ($10-20) to get comfortable .
8. After 1 week, refine your layout based on your trading style .
9. Never go back to the simple interface again.
✅ Start with the default layout — Don’t customize everything on day one. Use the default layout for your first 5-10 trades to understand what each widget does .
✅ Add one widget at a time — After you’re comfortable, add a Depth Chart. Then a second timeframe. Slowly build your perfect dashboard .
✅ Keyboard shortcuts are your friend — Learn ‘L’ for Limit order, ‘M’ for Market, ‘C’ for cancel .
✅ Use Limit Orders by default — Only use Market orders for urgent exits .
✅ Save your layout weekly — As you refine your setup, save new versions (e.g., “Layout v2”, “Layout v3”).
✅ Don’t ignore the order book — The best traders spend as much time reading the order book as watching the chart .
✅ Practice with paper trading — Kraken doesn’t have a paper trading mode, but you can practice with very small amounts ($1-5).
✅ Keep learning — Kraken Pro has a help center with video tutorials for every feature .
🚀 READY TO MASTER KRAKEN PRO? Log in, start customizing, and make your first trade. The learning curve is worth it — lower fees and better execution will pay for the time you invest in learning the platform.
Cryptocurrency analyst with 7+ years of market experience. I write detailed, practical guides to help you navigate crypto with confidence. Follow me on LinkedIn — let’s grow together. 👇
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