Today, the Binance cryptocurrency exchange is the biggest in the world, with over 20 million users in a range of different countries. This popular exchange also offers a mobile app to buy, sell, and trade your crypto funds. But this app doesn't come in just one form; it's split into Binance Lite and Binance Professional.

So, what are the differences between these two app modes, and in what way are they similar?

What Is Binance Lite?

Binance Lite is the default mode you'll see when you initially download the Binance app. This version of the app is designed to have high usability for all users, regardless of experience in the crypto industry. It has a simple interface that's easy to navigate, with features that are limited to more beginner or intermediate crypto users. This helps ensure that you don't get overwhelmed if you're still figuring out how to invest in cryptocurrencies.

Using Binance Lite, you can buy or sell a range of cryptocurrencies, from big names to market newbies. You can also take a look at the price and recent activity of specific coins, read up on each coin's properties or origins, as well as check your Binance wallet (with which you can deposit or withdraw funds). It essentially offers a quicker and less convoluted way to perform your typical crypto exchange actions.

Binance Lite is free to access via the Binance app, but the platform charges small fees for certain actions. The company takes a 0.1% fee for trading and a 0.5% fee for conducting an instant buy or sell action. If you want to withdraw any kind of crypto using the Binance app, charges occur based on the type of crypto you're withdrawing.

Some coins have no fee at all, but the majority do (though such fees are usually minimal for more common, established coins). Depositing funds into your wallet, however, is always free with Binance.

Additionally, you can't use Binance Lite to perform more advanced functions, like auto-investing, swap farming, and strategy trading. These are reserved for Binance Professional, which we'll discuss next.

What Is Binance Professional?

Binance Professional is designed for more advanced crypto users or those who want to make use of the app's additional features. Its interface is still pretty user-friendly but isn't as simple as that of Binance Lite. In a nutshell, anyone can use Binance Professional, but not everyone needs to, and here's why.

Binance Professional offers a range of features not offered by Binance Lite, but this doesn't necessarily make it "better". Both app modes are focused on different kinds of users. So, what features draw the line between them?

Firstly, Binance Professional has an Earn section. This contains an array of different features, including staking, which you can read all about here. Staking differs depending on the mechanism being used on a specific blockchain, but it usually involves putting forward something valuable, such as a portion of crypto funds, to become a validator.

Related: What Is a Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (DEX)?

Binance Lite does have an Earn section, but the features are extremely limited, given that this mode isn't made for advanced functions. So, it's best to head over to Binance Professional if you want to make the most of this section.

Binance Professional also offers a Futures section. This part of the app offers another set of intriguing features, including strategy trading, which involves buying and selling crypto on the same day in accordance with certain strategies. Additionally, you can make use of its auto-invest feature in order to earn a passive income, but it's important you read up on this before you get stuck in.

There is a range of other features offered by Binance Professional that you won't get on Binance Lite, including liquidity farming, slot auctions, and more. The metrics for coins are also a little more in-depth. You can check trading volume, a coin's 24-hour price change, and which coins are gaining or losing value. This version of the app also offers a real-time trading chart, along with a risk ratio and both cross margin and isolated margin settings.

On top of this, Binance Professional allows you to view trading pairs and add your top pairs to your favorites section. You can choose from hundreds of different pairs here, including fiat and non-fiat pairings.

However, like Binance Lite, Binance Professional isn't free to use in some cases. You'll still incur a 0.1% trading fee and a $15 fee per wire transfer. Other functions also incur fees, like performing limit and stop-limit orders.

So, we now know the differences between Binance Lite and Professional, but in what ways are they the same?

Do Binance Lite and Professional Have Any Similarities?

There are functions that you can perform on both Lite and Professional. In short, you can also perform any function you can perform on the Binance app's Lite version on Professional.

The app's Lite mode is simply there to create a concise and convenient experience for users. So, if you only want to perform the basic functions offered by Lite, there's probably no need to switch to Professional. But you can do this, and the switching process is incredibly easy.

How Do I Switch Between Binance Lite and Pro?

You can switch between Binance Lite and Pro super easily. Firstly, click on the profile icon at the top left of your screen. Then, near the top of the screen, you'll see a toggle named "Binance Lite" you can simply tap on this toggle to switch between Lite and Professional.

Say, for example, you're currently using the app's Professional mode—and you'd like to switch to Lite. After switching the toggle and activating Lite Mode, you'll see a quick transition screen, and then you're in!

Binance Caters to Novices and Experts, Making It a Great Choice for All

Regardless of your skill level within the crypto industry, the Binance app will ensure that you'll be satisfied.

Whether you want a simple interface and a super streamlined experience or something a little more advanced, it won't take you too long to figure out which mode is the right one for you on the Binance app. And now you've read this guide, you've got all the information you need to help you make a better decision.