Relai vs Smartbroker+ Comparison
| 1 % | Fees | 0.9 % |
| € 10.00 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.00 |
| 1 | Cryptos | 39 |
| Instant SEPA transfer, credit and debit card (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer |
| 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 | Regulation | Crypto custodian Tangany GmbH has a BaFin license |
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 A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| € 10.00 | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 9.00 |
| 1 % | Fees | 0.9 % |
| € 0 (Bitcoin network fee only, variable) | Wallet transfer | – |
| Yes | Cost transparency | Limited |
| € 50 | Minimum Amount | € 0.01 |
| Instant SEPA transfer, credit and debit card (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer |
On disclosed fees you pay €1.00 less at Smartbroker+ per €1,000 purchase.
Pros & Cons
- 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
- 39 cryptocurrencies tradable alongside stocks, ETFs, and derivatives
- Savings plans available for crypto and securities
- Crypto custodian Tangany GmbH with BaFin license
- Minimum investment possible from just 0.01 €
- App available for iOS, Android, and web use
- Wallet transfer to personal wallets not possible – occasionally criticized by users
- Staking features currently not available – room for improvement
- Deposits only via SEPA transfer – additional payment methods have room for improvement
- Waiting time after registration until first trade is occasionally criticized
Score Comparison
User Experiences
AI AnalysisAccording 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.
According to reviews, Smartbroker+ is generally often described as clear and easy to understand. Users particularly appreciate the simple app experience as well as low fees and conditions, while support-related topics and individual technical points are perceived by some users as having room for improvement.
This analysis is based on 796 user reviews analyzed 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 reviews 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 | ✓ |
| ✓ | Self-custody wallet | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | VASP license (Switzerland) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Hardware wallet support | ✓ |
| ✓ | BaFin-regulated custodian | ✓ |
| ✓ | Stocks & ETFs | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA transfer | ✓ |
- 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
- Neobroker with stocks, ETFs, derivatives, and crypto on one platform
- BaFin-licensed crypto custodian Tangany GmbH
- Savings plans from 0.01 € for accessible investing
- Trading fees of 0.9 % for crypto
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
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.
According to reviews, Smartbroker+ fees are often viewed positively. Users particularly appreciate the low fees and conditions, which are generally perceived as inexpensive. Overall, the pricing data gives a largely positive impression.
Usability & User Experience
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.
Users particularly appreciate the clear and intuitive operation of the Smartbroker+ app. According to reviews, the application is often perceived as easy to use, which makes getting started easier. However, some users also report that the interface can be confusing, so this area is described in individual cases as having room for improvement.
Features & Offering
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.
Some users would like additional convenience features such as direct debit for savings plans, instant or real-time transfers, and notes for the watchlist. According to reviews, the newsletter is also occasionally perceived as rather limited.
Stability & Security
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.
Regarding stability and reliability, users occasionally report technical issues or longer loading times. Overall, the available reviews in this area do not point to a clearly positive or negative picture.
Customer Support
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.
When it comes to support, users in the reviews report mixed experiences comparatively often. In some cases, poor customer service, unanswered email requests, or a lack of support are mentioned, which is why this area is considered to have room for improvement from the users' perspective.
Details
| Relai AG (CH) / Relai EU SASU (EU) | Company | Smartbroker AG |
| & | Headquarters | — |
| 2020 | Founded | 2019 |
| 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 | Regulation | Crypto custodian Tangany GmbH has a BaFin license |
| € 50 | Minimum Amount | € 0.01 |
| ID card or passport (with MRZ), NFC chip scan, selfie | KYC | eID, Video-ID, PostIdent |
Verdict
In our overall rating Smartbroker+ leads with 4.4 against 4.2 for Relai.
On disclosed fees you pay €1.00 less at Smartbroker+ per €1,000 purchase.
For most investors Smartbroker+ is therefore the better choice.
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.
Smartbroker+ is perceived in the DACH region as a multi-asset broker that combines cryptocurrencies with stocks, ETFs, and derivatives on one platform. With 39 tradable cryptocurrencies and custody via the BaFin-licensed Tangany GmbH, the provider is considered to be on solid regulatory footing. Trading fees of 0.9 % for crypto are in the mid-range among German neobrokers.
The option to set up savings plans from as little as 0.01 € is appreciated, as it enables an especially accessible entry point. The platform is available via app and web and is aimed at investors who want to manage different asset classes centrally. For users who already invest in stocks and ETFs and want to add crypto as an additional component, Smartbroker+ is seen as a practical solution.
Wallet transfers to personal wallets are currently not possible, and staking features are not offered — both are occasionally criticized by users. The limited deposit methods, restricted to SEPA transfers, and the waiting time after registration are also considered to have room for improvement. Smartbroker+ is therefore particularly suitable for securities investors in the DACH region looking for a German broker with BaFin-regulated crypto custody and a broad product range.