Bitvavo vs Relai Comparison
| 0.25 % | Fees | 1 % |
| € 2.50 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 426 | 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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.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 % |
| € 0.40 | 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.
Pros & Cons
- All 426 tradable coins trade directly against the euro, with no detour through a stablecoin (measured on 3 September 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 deposits are free, as are Apple Pay and Bancontact
- Credit card costs 1 %, Giropay and EPS 1.75 % each, PayPal 2 %
- 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
- The current deposit promotion of up to 10 % APY ends on 30 September 2026 and, by the provider's own maths, works out at roughly 2.7 % on net new deposits over the period
- 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
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cost transparency | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA security | ✓ |
| ✓ | Anti-phishing code | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA instant transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Self-custody wallet | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | VASP license (Switzerland) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Hardware wallet support | ✓ |
- BaFin-licensed with operations in Germany via Hyphe Markets GmbH
- Total costs of €2.60 are considered particularly low
- Transparent fee structure without hidden costs
- Low wallet transfer fees of around €0.40
- Minimum investment from €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
| Hyphe Markets GmbH | Company | Relai AG (CH) / Relai EU SASU (EU) |
| — | Headquarters | & |
| 2021 | 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 BaFin license with low trading fees of just 0.25%. With total costs of €2.60 per trade and more than 350 tradable cryptocurrencies, the platform is in the lower fee range among the providers compared. The transparent fee structure without hidden costs is viewed positively by users.
It should be noted that Bitvavo B.V. temporarily suspended services for German customers in 2024 and operations were resumed via Hyphe Markets GmbH — a point that is occasionally criticized. The restriction to SEPA as a payment method and the availability of the savings plan only via the app are also room for improvement. The wallet transfer fees of around €0.40, however, are perceived as very low.
Bitvavo is considered particularly suitable for cost-conscious investors who prefer a BaFin-regulated platform with low fees and a transparent cost structure and can do without payment methods such as credit card or PayPal.
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.