Bitvavo vs Scalable Capital Comparison
In our overall rating Bitvavo leads with 3.3 out of 5 points, ahead of Scalable Capital with 2.9. On disclosed fees Bitvavo is cheaper: 0.25 % instead of 0.99 % trading fee, which means € 2.50 instead of € 9.90 per €1,000 purchase. Bitvavo has the better score in all five sub-ratings.
| 0.25 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 2.50 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.90 |
| 428 | Cryptos | 32 (as ETPs) |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Transfer |
| MiCA license via Netherlands AFM | Regulation | BaFin license as a securities institution |
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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.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 | € 9.90 |
| 0.25 % | Fees | 0.99 % |
| € 1.31 | Wallet transfer | – |
| Yes | Cost transparency | Yes |
| € 5 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer | Payment Methods | SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Transfer |
On disclosed fees you pay €7.40 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
- BaFin license as an investment firm headquartered in Germany
- Savings plans for crypto and ETFs possible from just €1
- Staking for crypto ETPs is offered
- Device-bound 2FA is considered a solid security solution
- Broad range of stocks and ETFs in addition to crypto
- Wallet transfers to personal wallets not possible — occasionally criticized by users
- Crypto selection with 32 coins is room for improvement compared with specialized providers
- Deposit methods limited to SEPA bank transfer and SEPA direct debit — additional options are 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 reviews, Scalable Capital presents a mixed user picture: some users appreciate the clear and intuitive app as well as everyday use that is perceived as reliable. At the same time, users report login and 2FA issues, as well as occasional delays with withdrawals and support.
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 specified |
| available | Wallet transfer | not 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 | not available |
| available | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | available |
| available | Web platform | available |
| not specified | Staking (via ETPs) | available |
| not specified | BaFin regulation | available |
| not specified | Stocks & ETFs | available |
| not specified | SEPA direct debit | 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
- Neobroker with stocks, ETFs, and crypto in one place
- BaFin-regulated with headquarters in Germany
- Crypto savings plans from €1 for regular investing
- Staking available via crypto ETPs
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.
There is only limited concrete feedback in the user data regarding fees and costs. According to reviews, users mainly comment on usability, login, and features in comparison, while pricing questions are mentioned less often.
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.
According to reviews, users particularly appreciate Scalable Capital for its clear and partly intuitive app, which some also describe as easy to learn. At the same time, users also report a confusing interface and login problems. From the user perspective, usability is therefore perceived differently.
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.
According to reviews, Scalable Capital is used by users primarily for long-term investing, and some also highlight the cash account positively. At the same time, users express several wishes, including a trailing stop-loss, an overall profit and loss overview, more ELTIFs, and more savings plans. Users also want changes to the dark design and the YTD view, as well as a group watchlist and less analysis in the free area.
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.
According to reviews, users describe Scalable Capital as reliable in part. At the same time, users report technical issues such as a black screen, OTP codes not being sent, as well as app problems and crashes. Stability is therefore perceived differently 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, users occasionally report rather negative experiences with support, especially in connection with login or 2FA topics. Some feedback describes customer service as slow or not very helpful.
Details
| Bitvavo B.V. | Company | Scalable Capital GmbH |
| 2018 | Founded | 2014 |
| MiCA license via Netherlands AFM | Regulation | BaFin license as a securities institution |
| € 5 | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Photo ID | KYC | eID, Video-ID, PostIdent |
Verdict
In our overall rating Bitvavo leads with 3.3 against 2.9 for Scalable Capital.
On disclosed fees you pay €7.40 less at Bitvavo per €1,000 purchase.
Neither provider reaches 4.0 out of 5 in our rating, so we do not give an unreserved recommendation here.
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.
Scalable Capital has made a name for itself in the DACH region primarily as a robo-advisor and ETF broker and has also offered cryptocurrency trading for some time now. With a BaFin license as an investment firm and a headquarters in Germany, the provider is considered well positioned from a regulatory standpoint. The crypto offering currently includes 32 coins traded via crypto ETPs — an approach that is appreciated by security-conscious investors.
The savings plans starting from €1 enable an especially low-threshold entry, and staking via ETPs is seen as a meaningful addition. The device-bound two-factor authentication is considered a solid security solution. For investors who primarily invest in stocks and ETFs and want to hold crypto as an allocation in the same portfolio, Scalable Capital is seen as a practical solution.
However, the crypto selection with 32 coins is considered room for improvement compared with specialized providers. Wallet transfers to personal wallets are also not possible, which is occasionally criticized by users. Scalable Capital is therefore primarily suitable for mainstream investors who are looking for a regulated German broker with a broad securities offering and want to use crypto as a supplementary component.