Bitvavo vs Paybis: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bitvavo and Paybis This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Bitvavo

Paybis

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Bitvavo is ideal if:

Europe-based beginners: Bitvavo’s clean design, intuitive mobile and web platform, and supportive onboarding make it a strong match if you're new to crypto in the EU.
Security-conscious traders: With regulated operations, cold-storage protection, multi-signature transfers, and a clear regulatory standing in Europe, it’s a solid pick for those prioritizing safety.
Passive holders: Features like built-in staking or “Earn” options give you a straightforward way to generate passive income from your crypto holdings (without complexity).

Paybis is ideal if:

Great for beginners seeking a fast, simple fiat-to-crypto gateway—no need to navigate complex spot or derivatives trading.
Strong if you value diverse payment flexibility and global reach, with many regional options and coverage in most countries.
Not the best fit if you're aiming for advanced trading tools or a wide altcoin selection, as it's streamlined rather than comprehensive.

Bitvavo isn’t ideal if:

Outside EU? Bitvavo only serves SEPA-zone residents, so if you live outside Europe, you won’t be able to register or use the platform.
Advanced traders only? If you're into derivatives, margin, futures, or algorithmic (bot) trading, Bitvavo lacks those features.
Prefer full 24/7 support? Customer support isn't available round-the-clock, so off-hours support might be delayed.

Paybis isn’t ideal if:

If you're chasing advanced trading features, Paybis might fall short—it lacks charts, derivatives, leverage, and complex order types.
Not the best fit if you want deep altcoin variety or emerging tokens—its selection is narrower than bigger exchanges.
May feel limiting for regular traders seeking low-cost frequent trades, as it's optimized more for convenience than cost efficiency.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Maker/taker fees are tiered based on your 30-day trading volume across Euro markets, with rates decreasing as volume increases; makers pay less than takers, and trading pairs involving USDC generally offer slightly lower fees.

Paybis operates as a fiat-to-crypto gateway rather than a traditional exchange with maker/taker tiers, so those terms don’t apply—fees are built into the overall service cost, which may vary by payment method and amount.

Futures/Derivatives

Bitvavo does not support futures or derivatives trading in any form, so maker, taker, or funding fees for such instruments are not applicable.

Paybis does not offer futures or derivatives trading—it’s purely focused on straightforward buy/sell crypto transactions without margin, leverage, or funding fees.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

In instant (spot) trades, there is a modest spread for liquid pairs like BTC/EUR or ETH/EUR (around a small fraction of a percent), though this is eliminated when using advanced limit orders on their pro interface.

Paybis doesn’t publish typical spot spreads for pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT; instead, the rate incorporates market price plus service margin as a bundled rate.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

You can deposit and withdraw euros via SEPA and popular local methods—for example, iDEAL or Bancontact—with no charges and typical settlement in a few business days; card or PayPal options are faster but carry a small percentage-based cost.

You can deposit or withdraw fiat via methods like bank transfer (ACH, SEPA), Cards, Apple Pay, Skrill, Neteller, and transfers typically arrive within minutes to one business day; fees depend on method but are integrated into the service cost rather than listed separately.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals carry a dynamic, network-based fee that aligns with blockchain conditions to ensure timely processing, and may include a markup compared to a private wallet to cover infrastructure and security.

Crypto withdrawals carry a network (blockchain) fee dictated by the network; Paybis applies no markup—they simply pass along the required fee, and users can choose low/medium/high speed.

Hidden Costs

Bitvavo maintains transparent pricing with no inactivity fees, no hidden charges, and no premium for expedited KYC; indirect costs may stem from fiat conversion if your account currency differs or from wider spreads during volatility.

There are no hidden fees—Paybis transparently defines a service fee plus actual network fee per transaction; additional costs may include foreign currency conversion charges or optional expedited KYC, but nothing unexpected.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

For instance, a €500 purchase of BTC via market order would incur a small combined effect of a liquidity fee plus a minimal spread, and later withdrawing that BTC would require paying a network-based withdrawal fee—altogether still relatively modest compared to industry norms.

When buying €500 worth of BTC, you pay Paybis’s service fee embedded in the rate plus the blockchain network fee; the total cost equals that combined; withdrawals or conversions would add the relevant network or FX fee—presented clearly during the transaction.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Bitvavo supports over 200 crypto assets in more than 400 trading pairs, with its top-20 by volume typically including high-liquidity EUR pairs such as BTC/EUR, ETH/EUR, XRP/EUR, SOL/EUR, ADA/EUR, and others.

Paybis supports about 80–90 cryptocurrencies for buying or selling, including the majority of top-cap coins (around 13 of the top 20 by market cap), but it doesn’t offer traditional trading pairs like BTC/USDT for spot market depth.

Product Range

Bitvavo offers spot trading, recurring buys (automatic DCA), staking and lending (“Earn”), but it does not support margin, derivatives, options, crypto ETFs, copy trading, grid bots, or similar advanced instruments.

The platform is limited to fiat-to-crypto transactions only—no spot order book, margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, staking, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or DCA automation are available.

Liquidity

Bitvavo’s daily spot trading volume can reach into the high hundreds of millions to over a billion USD, with deep order book depth in BTC/EUR and ETH/EUR enabling tight spreads and smooth execution in large orders.

Paybis does not provide published liquidity metrics or order book depth data for BTC or ETH—its model bypasses exchange-style markets and instead uses a broker-like pricing approach for instant fiat purchases.

Tools

You can use market, limit, stop-limit, and “price guarantee” orders, with advanced time-in-force options; the platform includes native TradingView charts, REST and WebSocket APIs for live data and trading, though no OCO or conditional chains.

It offers just a basic buy/sell interface with no advanced trading tools—no limit/stop/OCO orders, alerting, charting, TradingView, but it does support a simple API for integration purposes.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain features—like lending (earn)—are restricted in select jurisdictions (for example, Germany), and advanced products like derivatives are globally unavailable, reflecting regional regulatory limits.

Since it lacks complex products like derivatives, geographic restrictions mostly affect fiat access; for example, it’s not supported in U.S. states like New York, Hawaii, or Louisiana for any services.

Innovation

Bitvavo continually enhances its Earn program with both Flex (on-demand access) and Fixed (locked, higher-return) staking and lending structures, though it doesn’t currently offer launchpad or launchpool-style token events.

While it doesn’t run a launchpad or flexible vs locked earn, Paybis does offer value through its own crypto wallet, a fiat-to-crypto gateway, a crypto price comparison tool, and broad fiat payment flexibility for ease of access.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Bitvavo is operated by Bitvavo B.V., founded in 2018 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Paybis is operated by Paybis Poland Sp. z o.o. (founded in 2023 with legal registration in Warsaw, Poland) and Paybis USA Ltd. (incorporated in Delaware in 2021), with distinct branches serving Europe and the United States respectively.

Licenses/Registration

Bitvavo holds a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license granted by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets, allowing it to offer regulated crypto services across the European Economic Area.

The platform holds Money Services Business (MSB) registration with FinCEN (US), operates as a VASP in Poland, and also registers with FinTRAC in Canada, reflecting compliance with key regulatory frameworks across these jurisdictions.

Custody

Assets are held with external, insured custody providers like Coinbase Custody and Copper; Bitvavo publishes quarterly independent Proof of Reserves attestations showing assets are fully backed, with a significant majority stored in cold, multi-signature custody.

Paybis functions as a non-custodial service for most users, meaning you provide your own wallet and Paybis routes funds directly; for its optional in-platform wallet, custody is handled via Fireblocks, leveraging strong security (MPC, secure enclaves, ISO/SOC certifications), though no public proof of reserves or cold storage percentage is published.

Insurance & Protection Funds

User funds in custody are covered by a large insurance policy held by custodial partners, and Bitvavo offers an internal “Account Guarantee” that may reimburse eligible users up to €100,000 in cases of unauthorized access.

The platform does not offer insurance or external protection schemes for stored assets—users retain control of their own funds, and any wallet held by Paybis (via Fireblocks) is not backed by an insurance fund.

Incident History

Bitvavo has had no known hacks, but did experience technical outages and a brief data exposure incident, all resolved transparently, with no loss of assets or fines reported.

Paybis has not experienced any security breaches, service-wide freezes, or regulatory penalties to date, maintaining a clean operational record since its inception.

Risk Controls

The platform supports strong security controls including mandatory 2FA, anti-phishing codes, API key restrictions with granular permissions, but does not offer sub-accounts or address whitelisting.

Security is enforced by default through two-factor authentication (email-based on desktop, fingerprint on mobile), encrypted connections, anti-phishing practices, and in its corporate product, customizable authorization policies for enhanced access control.

Transparency

Bitvavo promotes transparency through quarterly Proof of Reserves attestations and clear regulatory disclosures—though it does not publish public wallet addresses, detailed monthly reports, or formal SLAs.

While Paybis does not publish periodic reserve reports or real-time wallet addresses, it offers clear terms of service, visible registration details, and a public-facing support structure—though there is no formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) or public wallet audit summary.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

You can deposit euros via SEPA bank transfers, local options like iDEAL or Bancontact, as well as card payments and PayPal; SEPA and iDEAL support high maximums with no fees and settle in 1–2 business days, while PayPal and card top-ups are instant but carry percentage-based charges.

Paybis accepts a wide range of fiat deposit options including credit/debit cards, bank transfers (SWIFT, SEPA, ACH), PayPal, AstroPay, M-Pesa, PIX, various local e-wallets, and mobile payment systems; minimums typically start around $5 depending on method, and processing can be instant for cards and wallets or take several business days for bank transfers.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Full identification is mandatory to use the platform—there is no basic or limited mode; until you complete KYC (uploading ID and a short selfie video), deposits, trades, and withdrawals are blocked, while enhanced limits and quicker large transfers may require further compliance documentation.

Users must complete a streamlined KYC process involving ID upload, address, and a selfie check, typically done in under 15 minutes; once verified, the account unlocks higher transaction limits like roughly up to $20,000 per day or $50,000 per month, while unverified accounts have very constrained functionality.

Withdrawals

Daily withdrawal capacity is capped (around €25,000 combined fiat and crypto) unless you provide source-of-funds documents; crypto withdrawals use only one approved network per asset—typically the native chain (e.g., ERC-20 for Ethereum)—and are processed as blockchain confirmations allow.

Fiat withdrawals are possible via the same payment rails used for deposits (cards, SEPA, SWIFT, wallets), while crypto withdrawals allow multiple networks—fees follow network conditions and limits vary by method, with completion times ranging from instant to a few business days depending on the channel.

Customer Support

You can reach support via email and access a comprehensive Help Center for documentation; while there’s no guaranteed 24/7 live chat, response times are reasonable and often backed up with detailed FAQ articles covering common scenarios.

Paybis offers 24/7 assistance via live chat and email, with response times typically fast and backed by a comprehensive knowledge base and FAQs for self-service.

Languages & Localization

The interface is fully localized in multiple languages including English, displayed in euros by default, and aligned with EU/EEA regulations to ensure local compliance and intuitiveness for European users.

The platform operates primarily in English, displays pricing in major base fiat currencies like EUR or USD depending on region, and adapts payment methods and availability to match local regulatory and compliance frameworks.

App Quality & Stability

Bitvavo’s mobile and web apps are known for smooth stability with minimal crashes, and they receive regular updates to improve performance and roll out pro features, maintaining a solid user experience across devices.

Paybis provides both mobile (iOS/Android) and web applications noted for their simplicity and reliability; performance appears stable with minimal reported crashes, and the platform sees regular updates, although detailed metrics like crash rates are not publicly disclosed.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Bitvavo offers a user-friendly “Lite” mode for beginners and a powerful “Pro” interface tailored for advanced users, featuring resizable dashboards, keyboard shortcuts, and integrated TradingView charts—making adoption smooth whether you’re new or experienced.

The Paybis platform is intuitive and designed for simplicity, with no separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes—it’s streamlined so users can quickly execute fiat-to-crypto buys without navigating advanced panels, making it ideal for first-time buyers.

Performance

Bitvavo Pro is optimized with faster chart interactions and order execution, scaling well even during high-volatility spikes; while onboarding may slow slightly during bull markets, the platform remains reliable under load.

Transactions generally process rapidly, even during market surges; there are seldom notable slowdowns or delays, and KYC queues are minimal—even in high-demand periods, account verification remains largely efficient.

Education

Bitvavo Learn delivers structured, multilingual educational modules—from beginner to intermediate—covering crypto fundamentals and trading concepts, although there are currently no live simulators or Spanish-specific demo environments.

While Paybis does not offer a full-fledged academy, simulator, or demo environment, it provides clear how-to guides and walkthroughs—some localized in Spanish—to help users understand the purchase process and relevant crypto basics.

Community

Bitvavo maintains an active help center and a referral program that rewards users for inviting others, but does not run its own public forums, Discord, or Telegram community channels.

Community support is facilitated via official social media and messaging channels; they maintain active presence on platforms like Telegram and X (Twitter), and offer a referral program, although there is no dedicated forum or Discord community for users.

Integrations

The platform integrates seamlessly with TradingView for chart-based trading and offers REST/WebSocket APIs for developers—supporting external bots and connection to third-party tax or accounting tools.

The platform lacks integration with trading tools like TradingView, external bots, tax services, or accounting workflows—its focus remains narrow on fiat-to-crypto access rather than trading or post-purchase tools.

Who Each One Is Best For

Bitvavo Lite is ideal for casual and new crypto users, while Bitvavo Pro is built for active or professional traders needing advanced analysis and execution tools—giving each group the right balance of simplicity or sophistication.

Paybis is best suited to casual users or beginners who want a fast, hassle-free way to purchase crypto via familiar payment channels; it’s less appropriate for experienced traders or those seeking advanced tools, analytics, or community-driven features.