Backpack vs Bitvavo Comparison
| 0.08 % Maker / 0.10 % Taker, Swap: 0.85 % | Fees | 0.25 % |
| not comparable | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 2.50 |
| ~50+ | Cryptos | 428 |
| Card, bank via Banxa; SEPA limited | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer |
| VARA (Dubai); EU rollout via FTX EU only now | 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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| not comparable | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 2.50 |
| 0.08 % Maker / 0.10 % Taker, Swap: 0.85 % | Fees | 0.25 % |
| Not disclosed | Wallet transfer | € 1.31 |
| No; tiers + hidden swap costs | Cost transparency | Yes |
| Unclear | Minimum Amount | € 5 |
| Card, bank via Banxa; SEPA limited | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer |
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 428 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 1.31) or 0.00033 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 22 October 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 22 October 2026 rate).
Pros & Cons
- Low maker fees starting at 0.08% and taker fees starting at 0.10%
- Staking is available
- Wallet and exchange in one ecosystem
- VARA license in Dubai
- Cost transparency is seen as room for improvement – hidden costs occasionally criticized
- Wallet transfer fees are not disclosed
- No savings plan available
- Swap fees of 0.85% occasionally criticized
- All 428 tradable coins trade directly against the euro, with no detour through a stablecoin (measured on 22 October 2026 via Bitvavo's public API)
- MiCA authorisation since June 2025, supervised by the Dutch AFM, registration number 41000010
- Low trading fees: 0.15 % maker and 0.25 % taker at the entry tier
- SEPA, iDEAL and Bancontact deposits are free, as are EUR withdrawals
- Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal cost 1% each, EPS 1.75%
- Bitvavo Custody B.V. is, by its own user agreement, not supervised by any authority
- Lending, margin trading and staking are explicitly not MiCA-regulated
- Crypto withdrawals carry a fixed fee per coin, 0.000018 BTC for Bitcoin
User Experiences
AI AnalysisNot enough reviews available.
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.
This analysis is based on 606 user reviews from Apple App Store, Trustpilot, and Google Play Store evaluated with AI. The total number of reviews on the respective platforms may be higher; the platform ratings shown (star ratings) refer to all reviews available there. The reviews presented reflect user experiences and do not represent the site operator’s own assessment. All information is provided without guarantee. Status: April 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| not available | Savings plan | available |
| available | Staking | available |
| not available | Wallet transfer | available |
| not available | Cost transparency | available |
| available | 2FA security | available |
| not available | SEPA transfer | not specified |
| not available | Credit card | available |
| not available | Minimum amount | not specified |
| available | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| available | Web platform | available |
| not specified | Anti-phishing code | available |
| not specified | SEPA instant transfer | available |
- Maker fees starting at 0.08% are considered low
- VARA license in Dubai
- Wallet and exchange on one platform
- MiCA-licensed by the Dutch AFM, active in Germany via the EU passport (as of October 2026)
- Taker fee 0.25%, 0.20% from EUR 100,000 volume in 30 days
- Transparent fee structure without hidden costs
- SEPA deposits and crypto deposits are free
- Minimum investment from EUR 5
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
Not enough reviews available.
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
Not enough reviews available.
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
Not enough reviews available.
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
Not enough reviews available.
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
Not enough reviews available.
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
| Trek Labs (FTX ties) | Company | Bitvavo B.V. |
| Dubai (VARA) | Headquarters | — |
| 2023 | Founded | 2018 |
| VARA (Dubai); EU rollout via FTX EU only now | Regulation | MiCA license via Netherlands AFM |
| Unclear | Minimum Amount | € 5 |
| Yes | KYC | Photo ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating Bitvavo leads with 3.3 against 2.1 for Backpack.
Neither provider reaches 4.0 out of 5 in our rating, so we do not give an unreserved recommendation here.
Backpack is operated by Trek Labs, a team that also includes former FTX employees. The exchange holds a VARA license in Dubai, but does not have EU regulation – according to comparison data, EU access is provided via FTX EU. The low maker fees starting at 0.08% and the integration of wallet and exchange in one ecosystem are appreciated by users.
Cost transparency is seen as room for improvement – in particular, the undisclosed wallet transfer fees and swap fees of 0.85% are occasionally criticized. The selection of around 50 cryptocurrencies is limited compared with larger exchanges, and the lack of a savings plan limits the options for long-term investors.
The connection to former FTX employees is viewed differently in the market. Backpack is aimed primarily at technically savvy users who are looking for low trading fees and integrated wallet features and are willing to make compromises on cost transparency, coin selection, and regulatory coverage in the EU.
Bitvavo is valued for combining a MiCA licence with low trading fees of 0.15% maker and 0.25% taker. With 428 cryptocurrencies, all tradable directly against the euro, and EUR 2.50 for a EUR 1,000 purchase as a taker, the platform is in the lower fee range among the providers compared. The transparent fee structure without hidden costs is viewed positively by users.
The contracting party is Bitvavo B.V. in Amsterdam, authorised under MiCA by the Dutch AFM since 26 June 2025 and active in Germany and other EU countries via the EU passport. SEPA deposits are free, while credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal cost 1% each. Crypto withdrawals carry a fixed fee per coin, currently 0.000018 BTC for Bitcoin. There is room for improvement in that the savings plan is only available in the app.
Bitvavo is considered particularly suitable for cost-conscious investors who prefer a MiCA-regulated platform with low fees and a transparent cost structure and deposit via SEPA.