21bitcoin vs Bitvavo Comparison
In our overall rating 21bitcoin leads with 4.0 out of 5 points, ahead of Bitvavo with 3.3. On disclosed fees Bitvavo is cheaper: € 2.50 instead of € 12.90 per €1,000 purchase. If you care most about usability, features, stability, and support, 21bitcoin has the better sub-scores. Bitvavo lists more cryptocurrencies (428) than 21bitcoin (1).
| 1.29 to 1.49 % | Fees | 0.25 % |
| € 12.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 2.50 |
| 1 | Cryptos | 428 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | iDEAL | Wero, Bancontact, SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
| MiCAR authorisation of FIOR Digital GmbH as a crypto-asset service provider from the Austrian FMA since 27 November 2025 | Regulation | MiCA license via Netherlands AFM |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, calculated from the disclosed trading fee. A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 12.90 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 2.50 |
| 1.29 to 1.49 % | Fees | 0.25 % |
| 1,000 sats | Wallet transfer | € 1.30 |
| Yes | Cost transparency | Yes |
| € 10 | Minimum Amount | € 5 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | iDEAL | Wero, Bancontact, SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
On disclosed fees you pay €10.40 less at Bitvavo per €1,000 purchase.
Not enough reviews available.
Bitvavo charges maker and taker fees that fall with your trading volume over the last 30 days. SEPA deposits and crypto deposits are free, and all 427 coins trade directly against the euro.
| Transaction | Cost at Bitvavo |
|---|---|
| Crypto against euro, entry tier | 0.15% maker, 0.25% taker |
| Trading from EUR 100,000 volume in 30 days | 0.10% maker, 0.20% taker, falling further to 0.00% and 0.02% from EUR 100 million |
| Trading on USDC markets | 0.05% maker and taker |
| Stablecoin pairs such as USDC/EUR | 0.10% maker and taker, EURC/EUR 0.00% maker and 0.01% taker |
| Deposit via SEPA, iDEAL or Bancontact | free |
| Deposit via credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal | 1% |
| Deposit via EPS transfer | 1.75%, up to EUR 1,000 |
| EUR withdrawal via SEPA | free |
| Crypto deposit | free |
| Crypto withdrawal | fixed fee per coin, e.g. 0.000018 BTC (about EUR 1.25) or 0.00035 ETH (about EUR 0.71) |
| Margin trading | borrowing fee 0.0023% per hour, liquidation fee 2% |
| Recovery of crypto deposited incorrectly | EUR 50 administration fee |
How to save: Trading as a maker, i.e. placing a limit order on the order book, costs EUR 1.50 instead of EUR 2.50 as a taker on EUR 1,000. Deposit via SEPA instead of by card, which saves EUR 10 on EUR 1,000. Bundle crypto withdrawals, since the fee applies per withdrawal. We compare other exchanges with maker and taker fees in our crypto exchange comparison.
As of 1 November 2026 according to the Bitvavo fee page (accessed from Germany, deposit fees may differ by country) and the Bitvavo API (coin count, withdrawal fees; euro values at the 1 November 2026 rate).
Bitvavo bonus and referral programme
Bitvavo runs a referral programme: if you open your account through an existing customer's personal link, you both receive a benefit whose type and amount Bitvavo sets per campaign. The conditions are part of Bitvavo's user agreement (version of 15 July 2025). As of 24 October 2026.
Pros & Cons
- 0% service fee in the savings plan from day 8 onwards, with purchases hourly, daily, weekly, every two weeks or monthly
- Instant purchases at a 1.49% service fee, 1.29% with a referral code, with no ongoing account charges
- Euro deposits, account management and Bitcoin custody cost €0, deposits also via SEPA instant transfer
- Limit orders at a target price and variable interest of 1.21% p.a. on the euro balance, paid in Bitcoin on request
- Withdrawals to your own wallet at a flat fee of 0.00001 BTC, automatically once a set balance is reached if you wish
- MiCAR authorisation from Austria’s FMA for FIOR Digital GmbH, decision of 27 November 2025; cold-wallet custody via BitGo Europe GmbH, which holds a MiCAR authorisation from BaFin
- Bitcoin only, the lack of altcoins is criticised by some users
- The 0% in the savings plan only applies from day 8; the first seven days cost 0.99% (0.79% with a referral code)
- Limit orders and instant sales cost 1.49%, a euro withdrawal €1
- Two-factor authentication needs work, according to users
- The €10 minimum order is higher than at some competitors
- MiCA licence from the AFM since 26 June 2025, valid across the EU
- All 427 coins tradable directly against the euro, no detour via a stablecoin
- Trading from 0.15% maker and 0.25% taker, falling to 0.00% and 0.02% with volume
- Free SEPA deposits and free euro withdrawals
- Account guarantee of up to €100,000 for unauthorised account access
- Savings plan, staking and leverage of up to ten times on 20 coins
- Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal cost 1% each
- Staking and lending currently outside MiCA supervision, according to Bitvavo
- Euro balances held as e-tokens, without a statutory deposit guarantee
- Crypto withdrawals carry a fixed fee per coin, 0.000018 BTC for Bitcoin
Score Comparison
User Experiences
AI AnalysisUser reviews paint a broadly positive picture of 21bitcoin. What owners value most is the clean, intuitive app and how easy it is to use, while individual voices see room for improvement on fees and on the feature set.
Users generally report mostly positive experiences with Bitvavo, especially regarding usability and costs. In the reviews, the clear app and low fees are often praised, while support and technical reliability are also mentioned more critically.
Provider details (fees, licences, pros and cons) editorially reviewed: November 2026. This analysis is based on 608 user reviews analysed by AI from the Apple App Store, Trustpilot and the Google Play Store. The total number of reviews on each platform may be higher, the platform ratings (star ratings) shown refer to all reviews available there. The ratings displayed reflect users' experiences and do not represent the site operator's own assessment. All information without guarantee. As of: March 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| available | Savings plan | available |
| not available | Staking | available |
| available | Wallet transfer | available |
| available | Automatic wallet transfer | not specified |
| not available | Credit card payment | available |
| available | FMA regulation (Austria) | not specified |
| not available | Web platform | available |
| available | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| available | SEPA instant transfer | available |
| not specified | Cost transparency | available |
| not specified | 2FA security | available |
| not specified | Anti-phishing code | available |
- Automatic transfer to your own wallet above set amounts
- FMA-regulated and based in Austria
- Service fee of 1.49% on instant purchases, 1.29% with a referral code, 0% in the savings plan from day 8
- Deposits via SEPA and SEPA instant transfer
- Limit orders and 1.21% p.a. interest on the euro balance
- MiCA licence from the AFM, valid in 30 EEA countries
- 427 coins, all directly against the euro
- Trading from 0.15% maker and 0.25% taker
- Account guarantee of up to €100,000 and cold-wallet custody
- Free SEPA deposits
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
On fees and costs the picture is mixed. Users describe the pricing as fair, though some point to costs they consider high. A few also note that the tax side has to be organised by the user, and that the resulting tax burden feels heavy.
Users particularly highlight Bitvavo's low and affordable fees. According to reviews, the costs are often mentioned positively. Critical remarks about fees play only a minor role in the available user opinions.
Usability & User Experience
Reviewers frequently describe the app as intuitive, uncluttered and self-explanatory, and ease of use is the single most praised aspect. A few users report problems getting into their account, but overall usability comes across positively.
Users particularly praise Bitvavo for its clear design and intuitive app. According to reviews, the platform is often described as easy to use, which makes getting started especially simple. In some cases, users also report errors when launching the app or problems while using it.
Features & Offering
The savings plan is the feature users appreciate most. At the same time they ask for more in several places: additional coins, more savings-plan options, price notifications and a wallet inside the account. Limit orders and weekly savings plans, which some reviews ask for, are now part of the offer according to 21bitcoin.
When it comes to features and the offering, users especially want a profit/loss display in percentages, portfolio analysis, and information on the average purchase price or buy-in at Bitvavo. A larger selection of coins and a dollar view are also occasionally requested in the reviews.
Stability & Security
On stability and reliability, users mostly report trouble-free day-to-day use and describe the app as dependable. Access issues come up occasionally and are the one area some users would like to see improved.
When it comes to stability and reliability, users report connection issues, technical problems, and an app that occasionally crashes according to reviews. Errors on startup are also mentioned, which is why some users view this area critically.
Customer Support
Support is frequently described as fast, with users reporting prompt replies. Individual contact channels are occasionally seen as having room for improvement.
Experiences with support are mixed according to reviews. Some users report fast support, while other feedback describes customer service as less easy to reach or notes that replies can take some time. Overall, users perceive support differently.
Details
| FIOR Digital GmbH | Company | Bitvavo B.V. |
| 2021 | Founded | 2018 |
| MiCAR authorisation of FIOR Digital GmbH as a crypto-asset service provider from the Austrian FMA since 27 November 2025 | Regulation | MiCA license via Netherlands AFM |
| € 10 | Minimum Amount | € 5 |
| Photo ID | KYC | Photo ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating 21bitcoin leads with 4.0 against 3.3 for Bitvavo.
On disclosed fees you pay €10.40 less at Bitvavo per €1,000 purchase.
For most investors 21bitcoin is therefore the better choice.
21bitcoin has established itself as an Austrian Bitcoin app across German-speaking Europe and deals exclusively in Bitcoin. On instant purchases the provider charges a service fee of 1.49%, or 1.29% with a referral code; limit orders and instant sales cost 1.49%, and OTC orders from €100,000 cost 0.49% to 0.99%. In the savings plan no service fee applies from day 8 onwards, while the first seven days cost 0.99%. According to 21bitcoin, euro deposits, account management and Bitcoin custody are free of charge; a euro withdrawal costs €1.
Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) granted FIOR Digital GmbH authorisation as a crypto-asset service provider under Article 63 of the EU’s MiCAR regulation by decision of 27 November 2025, so a clearly identifiable European supervisor stands behind the app. Customer Bitcoin is kept separate from the company’s own holdings; the cold-wallet keys are held by BitGo Europe GmbH, which itself holds a MiCAR authorisation from BaFin.
The savings-plan approach is refreshingly uncomplicated: purchases run hourly, daily, weekly, every two weeks or monthly from the euro balance, and the flat wallet-transfer fee of 0.00001 BTC is widely seen as fair. Users single out the automatic transfer to a personal wallet above defined thresholds as a genuinely useful security feature. 21bitcoin now also offers limit orders at a target price and variable interest of 1.21% p.a. on the euro balance; the interest is granted by Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte eG, and 21bitcoin converts it into Bitcoin free of charge on request.
Because Bitcoin is the only asset on offer, 21bitcoin is not aimed at investors who want a broad crypto portfolio, a limitation some users do point out. Two-factor authentication in the app and the €10 minimum order are also seen as leaving room for improvement. That makes 21bitcoin a good fit for Bitcoin-focused investors in German-speaking Europe who save regularly and care about automatic wallet transfers and Austrian regulation.
In short: Bitvavo is one of the cheapest crypto exchanges for investors who trade in euros: 427 coins, all directly against the euro, trading from 0.15% as a maker and 0.25% as a taker, free SEPA deposits. The exchange holds a MiCA licence from the Dutch regulator AFM and serves customers across the EU, including Germany. A savings plan, staking and leveraged trading of up to ten times complement spot trading.
Is Bitvavo safe and licensed in the EU?
Yes, Bitvavo may serve customers across the EU. Bitvavo B.V., based in Amsterdam, has been authorised as a crypto-asset service provider under Article 63 MiCA since 26 June 2025, licensed by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Through the EU passport the licence covers 30 EEA countries, including Germany, France and Spain (ESMA register, file of 30 October 2026). It covers custody, operating the trading platform and transfers of crypto assets. Customers resident in Germany have their own country annex to the user agreement (version of 15 July 2025). In early 2024 Bitvavo temporarily stopped onboarding new customers from Germany; today the exchange lists Germany among its supported countries.
Custody and account guarantee: Bitvavo keeps most crypto assets offline in cold wallets with two custody providers, which according to the exchange are insured for up to $755 million; larger transfers require approval by several people. If a third party gains unauthorised access to your account and withdraws crypto, Bitvavo's account guarantee refunds up to €100,000 per incident, once per user. Transfers you send to scammers yourself are not covered (Bitvavo security page).
Euro balances, staking and lending: Bitvavo holds euros on your account as e-tokens in a separate e-token wallet. According to the user agreement it is not a deposit or investment account, and no statutory deposit guarantee applies. Staking and lending currently fall outside MiCA supervision, as Bitvavo states; lending is provided by the sister company Bitvavo Custody B.V.
What you can do yourself: turn on two-factor authentication, an anti-phishing code and a withdrawal address whitelist, keep larger amounts on your own hardware wallet and watch delisting dates. Bitvavo removes individual coins from trading, most recently Across Protocol on 27 October 2026, with Portal To Bitcoin (PTB) to follow on 6 November 2026.
Who is Bitvavo for?
Bitvavo suits investors in the EU who want to trade cheaply against the euro, deposit by SEPA and pick from a large range of coins without a detour via stablecoins; a savings plan and staking are included. If you want crypto, stocks and ETFs in one app, look at Bitpanda; for order-book trading with professional tools, Kraken Pro. An alternative with a listed parent company is Coinbase. All licensed providers are listed in our comparison of regulated crypto exchanges.