Bitstamp has a clearer and more transparent fee structure than the convoluted, two-tier system that Coinbase users have to navigate. But Coinbase has a larger selection of coins and offers more services and products. Another differentiator that steers some investors toward Coinbase is that it's the first and only publicly traded cryptocurrency exchange, which lends it an extra degree of credibility. Its shares are traded on the Nasdaq.
Beyond that, both exchanges are comparable, offering excellent security, good customer service and slick, user-friendly interfaces both on their desktop and app versions.