Bitpanda vs Relai Comparison
| 0.99 % | Fees | 0.9 % |
| € 9.90 | Cost for €1,000 | € 9.00 |
| 650+ | Cryptos | 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer, Instant SEPA (EU), Credit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
| MiCA authorisations in Austria (FMA), Germany (BaFin) and Malta | Regulation | Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Switzerland and MiCAR license applied for |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, including all fees and spreads.
| € 9.90 | Cost for €1,000 | € 9.00 |
| 0.99 % | Fees | 0.9 % |
| € 2.91 | Wallet transfer | Network fees (Mempool fees set by the user) |
| Yes | Cost transparency | Yes |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 50 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer, Instant SEPA (EU), Credit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
On a €1,000 purchase you pay €0.90 less at Relai.
Pros & Cons
- Over 650 cryptocurrencies available
- BaFin license for custody and proprietary trading available
- Savings plans and staking are offered
- Stocks, ETFs, and precious metals also tradable on one platform
- Wide range of payment methods: SEPA, SEPA instant transfer, credit card, and PayPal
- Minimum investment possible from 1 €
- Trading fees of 0.99 % are room for improvement compared with some competitors
- Total costs of 9.90 € per trade occasionally criticized
- Security features beyond 2FA (TOTP) are room for improvement
- Self-custody wallet directly in the app – Bitcoin is held in your own wallet
- Savings plan available for weekly or monthly Bitcoin purchases
- Wallet transfer to your own and external wallets (incl. hardware wallets) possible
- VASP license in Switzerland and MiCAR application submitted
- Deposits via SEPA bank transfer and credit card
- Only Bitcoin tradable – altcoin selection occasionally criticized by users
- Minimum amount of 50 € is room for improvement compared with other providers
- Setup of external wallet transfers, according to users, is room for improvement
Score Comparison
User Experiences
AI AnalysisAccording to reviews, Bitpanda is frequently praised for its clear design and intuitive app. Users also report that the platform is perceived as easy to use. In reviews of the costs, it repeatedly stands out that they are described as high or too expensive. Support also receives frequent praise from many users for quick replies and prompt help, while occasionally there is also critical feedback about response times.
According to the analyzed user data, Relai is frequently praised by users for its intuitive and clear app. At the same time, users occasionally report hurdles with support, verification, and individual app launches, so the overall experience varies depending on the usage situation.
This analysis is based on 1930 user reviews evaluated by AI from the Apple App Store, Trustpilot, and Google Play Store. The total number of reviews on the respective platforms may be higher — the displayed platform ratings (star ratings) refer to all reviews available there. The ratings shown reflect users’ experiences and do not represent the website operator’s own assessment. All information without guarantee. As of March 2026. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cost transparency | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA security | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA instant transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card | ✓ |
| ✓ | PayPal | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Self-custody wallet | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | VASP license (Switzerland) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Hardware wallet support | ✓ |
- One of the few EU-based exchanges with a BaFin license
- Multi-asset platform: crypto, stocks, ETFs, and precious metals in one place
- Savings plans available from a 1 € minimum amount
- Investment in fractional shares possible
- Bitcoin-only approach with self-custody directly in the app
- Savings plan with automatic transfer to your own wallet or hardware wallet
- Swiss company with VASP license and MiCAR application
- Relai Private from 100.000 CHF/EUR and Relai Business for companies
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
According to reviews, users often express criticism regarding fees and costs. The fees are repeatedly described as high or too expensive. Overall, users tend to perceive the cost area rather negatively in the reviews.
When it comes to fees and costs, the user data paints a mixed picture. Some users describe Relai as cost-effective, while others rate the fees as high. Overall, opinions on the costs differ clearly.
Usability & User Experience
Users especially appreciate Bitpanda’s clear interface and intuitive app. According to reviews, the platform is often described as easy to use, which is highlighted particularly positively when getting started. However, some users occasionally report that the app does not always work smoothly.
Users particularly appreciate Relai’s intuitive app, which in many reviews is described as clear and easy to use. According to reviews, getting started also works without much prior knowledge, which stands out positively, especially in everyday use. Occasionally, however, users report that the app does not open directly.
Features & Offering
Users would like an iPad app, a chart widget, the display of the average price, as well as limit buys. In addition, some users suggest a larger coin selection. An Apple Watch widget and a widget for favorites are also occasionally requested.
In the analyzed user reviews, some users would like dark mode, automatic orders, tax documents, or a settlement account. In addition, precautionary transfers, coins on the homepage, and more coins are mentioned. Overall, the feedback on features mainly relates to such additional requests.
Stability & Security
According to user reports, there is occasional criticism of Bitpanda’s app functionality. Some users report that the app does not always work or crashes in individual cases. In addition, some users describe experiences with a blocked account.
Regarding stability and reliability, individual reviews report that the app does not start, cannot be opened, or crashes. Overall, this area is occasionally criticized by users.
Customer Support
Support is frequently praised by users for quick help, prompt replies, and competent feedback. According to reviews, many users report positive service experiences, especially regarding response speed. However, it is occasionally criticized that inquiries are not answered or that support does not respond as expected.
According to reviews, the sentiment around support is rather critical. While competent service is mentioned occasionally, users also criticize in some cases that support is not reachable or that responses take a long time. Overall, users report mixed experiences with support.
Details
| Bitpanda GmbH | Company | Relai AG (CH) / Relai EU SASU (EU) |
| — | Headquarters | & |
| 2014 | Founded | 2020 |
| MiCA authorisations in Austria (FMA), Germany (BaFin) and Malta | Regulation | Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Switzerland and MiCAR license applied for |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 50 |
| eID, Photo ID | KYC | Photo ID, NFC passport verification |
Verdict
Both providers are practically level in our overall rating (4.3 to 4.2).
On a €1,000 purchase you pay €0.90 less at Relai.
Bitpanda is considered one of the most established crypto platforms in the German-speaking region. With over 650 tradable cryptocurrencies, a BaFin license for custody and proprietary trading, as well as access to stocks, ETFs, and precious metals, the platform is valued by many users as a versatile all-in-one solution. The option to invest from just 1 € and set up savings plans is rated especially positively by beginners.
The fee structure, with 0.99 % trading fees and total costs of 9.90 € per trade, is room for improvement compared with cheaper providers. Nevertheless, the transparent cost overview and the variety of payment methods — including SEPA, credit card, and PayPal — are seen as an advantage. The security features beyond 2FA are considered in need of improvement.
Overall, Bitpanda is especially regarded as suitable for investors who want to invest not only in cryptocurrencies but also in other asset classes, while placing value on a regulated, EU-based platform with a BaFin license.
Relai has established itself in the DACH region as one of the best-known Bitcoin-only apps and is especially appreciated by the Bitcoin community. The Swiss company follows a consistent self-custody approach: Bitcoin is held directly in the in-app wallet, and transfers to external wallets — including hardware wallets — are possible. With a VASP license in Switzerland and an ongoing MiCAR license application, Relai is considered to be on solid regulatory footing.
The savings plan functionality is particularly valued, enabling automatic Bitcoin purchases with direct transfer to your own wallet or a hardware wallet. For investors who see Bitcoin as a long-term store of value and place importance on self-custody, Relai is regarded as one of the most accessible solutions. Fees of 0.9 % are in the mid-range of the brokers compared.
Since only Bitcoin can be traded, Relai is not suitable for investors interested in altcoins — something occasionally criticized by some users. The minimum amount of 50 € and the setup of external wallet transfers are also seen as room for improvement. Relai is therefore especially suited to Bitcoin-focused investors who want to combine self-custody and automated saving with Swiss regulation.