Coinbase vs Relai Comparison
| 1.49 % | Fees | 0.9 % |
| € 14.90 | Cost for €1,000 | € 9.00 |
| 260+ | Cryptos | 1 |
| SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer, Instant SEPA (EU), Credit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
| First company with BaFin crypto license. Deficiencies flagged in 2022, since remediated. MiCA via Luxembourg. | 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.
| € 14.90 | Cost for €1,000 | € 9.00 |
| 1.49 % | Fees | 0.9 % |
| € 0.24 | Wallet transfer | Network fees (Mempool fees set by the user) |
| No | 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 €5.90 less at Relai.
Pros & Cons
- First company with a crypto license from BaFin
- Over 260 cryptocurrencies available
- Savings plan and staking are offered
- Payment methods: SEPA instant transfer, credit card, and PayPal
- Educational program with cryptocurrency rewards for completed modules
- Minimum investment possible from 1 €
- Trading fees of 1.49 % are room for improvement compared with competitors
- Total costs of 14,90 € per trade are occasionally criticized
- Cost transparency is rated as limited
- 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 the analyzed user data, Coinbase is described by many users as intuitive, clear, and particularly suitable for a quick start. At the same time, users repeatedly report high fees as well as support and access issues.
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 1317 user reviews analyzed by AI from the Apple App Store, Trustpilot, Google Play Store. 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 ratings shown reflect user reviews and do not constitute our own assessment by the website operator. All information without guarantee. Status: 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 | ✓ |
- First crypto license from BaFin in Germany
- Educational program with crypto rewards for completed learning modules
- Low wallet transfer fees of approx. 0,24 €
- On the market since 2012 – one of the oldest crypto companies
- 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
When it comes to fees, many users report high costs. In the reviews, this point is repeatedly criticized.
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 Coinbase for its intuitive app as well as its simple and clear experience. According to reviews, beginners in particular find the interface easy to use, as many processes are described as fast and user-friendly. However, some users occasionally report login issues.
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
According to reviews, many users describe the basic offering as easy to access. At the same time, users want more exchange features, candlestick charts, and a larger selection of smaller coins. Additional functions such as customizable notifications, adding a beneficiary, Cash App/Apple Pay, more crypto services, and a dust button are also mentioned.
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
Regarding stability, users occasionally report that the app does not start, freezes, or cannot be opened. Login issues are also mentioned in the reviews.
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
Regarding support, users repeatedly report difficulty reaching customer service in the reviews. According to user data, it is also mentioned that help does not come in a timely manner or that responses are missing.
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
| Coinbase Global, Inc. | Company | Relai AG (CH) / Relai EU SASU (EU) |
| — | Headquarters | & |
| 2012 | Founded | 2020 |
| First company with BaFin crypto license. Deficiencies flagged in 2022, since remediated. MiCA via Luxembourg. | Regulation | Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Switzerland and MiCAR license applied for |
| € 1 | Minimum Amount | € 50 |
| eID, VideoIdent | KYC | Photo ID, NFC passport verification |
Verdict
In our overall rating Coinbase leads with 4.8 against 4.2 for Relai.
On a €1,000 purchase you pay €5.90 less at Relai.
For most investors Coinbase is therefore the better choice.
Coinbase is regarded as one of the best-known crypto exchanges worldwide and is valued for obtaining the first BaFin crypto license in Germany. With over 260 tradable cryptocurrencies, a savings plan, and staking, the platform offers a solid range of services. In particular, the educational program, in which users receive crypto rewards for completing learning modules, is viewed positively as an innovative addition.
The trading fees of 1.49 % and total costs of 14,90 € per trade are room for improvement compared with cheaper providers. The limited cost transparency is also occasionally criticized. On the other hand, the low wallet transfer fees of approx. 0,24 € and the variety of payment methods are seen as advantages.
Coinbase is especially considered suitable for beginners who prefer a BaFin-regulated platform with educational offerings and easy-to-use features and who can accept compromises on trading fees.
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.