Bitvavo vs Relai Comparison
In our overall rating Relai leads with 4.2 out of 5 points, ahead of Bitvavo with 3.3. On disclosed fees Bitvavo is cheaper: 0.25 % instead of 1 % trading fee, which means € 2.50 instead of € 10.00 per €1,000 purchase. If you care most about usability, features, stability, and support, Relai has the better sub-scores.
| 0.25 % | Fees | 1 % |
| € 2.50 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 428 | Cryptos | 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | Instant SEPA transfer, credit and debit card (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay |
| MiCA license via Netherlands AFM | Regulation | MiCA licence (CASP) from the French AMF since 23 Oct 2025 (no. A2025-006), passported across the EU incl. Germany, Austria and Spain. Switzerland: Relai AG is a member of the SRO VQF |
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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 2.50 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 0.25 % | Fees | 1 % |
| € 1.31 | Wallet transfer | € 0 (Bitcoin network fee only, variable) |
| Yes | Cost transparency | Yes |
| € 5 | Minimum Amount | € 50 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | Instant SEPA transfer, credit and debit card (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay |
On disclosed fees you pay €7.50 less at Bitvavo per €1,000 purchase.
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).
Not enough reviews available.
Pros & Cons
- 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
- 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 AnalysisUsers 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.
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 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
| available | Savings plan | available |
| available | Staking | not available |
| available | Wallet transfer | available |
| available | Cost transparency | not specified |
| available | 2FA security | not specified |
| available | Anti-phishing code | not specified |
| available | SEPA instant transfer | not specified |
| available | Credit card | available |
| available | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| available | Web platform | not available |
| not specified | Self-custody wallet | available |
| not specified | VASP license (Switzerland) | available |
| not specified | Hardware wallet support | available |
- 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
- 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
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.
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 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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
| Bitvavo B.V. | Company | Relai AG (CH) / Relai EU SASU (EU) |
| — | Headquarters | & |
| 2018 | Founded | 2020 |
| MiCA license via Netherlands AFM | Regulation | MiCA licence (CASP) from the French AMF since 23 Oct 2025 (no. A2025-006), passported across the EU incl. Germany, Austria and Spain. Switzerland: Relai AG is a member of the SRO VQF |
| € 5 | Minimum Amount | € 50 |
| Photo ID | KYC | ID card or passport (with MRZ), NFC chip scan, selfie |
Verdict
In our overall rating Relai leads with 4.2 against 3.3 for Bitvavo.
On disclosed fees you pay €7.50 less at Bitvavo per €1,000 purchase.
For most investors Relai is therefore the better choice.
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.
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.