Relai Review: Is it the Best Swiss Bitcoin App?

Easy Bitcoin Purchases

Relai excels at minimizing friction during the buying process, making it faster than many competitors.

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  Beginner-friendly UI: The interface is intentionally minimal, with clear buy/sell buttons and simple portfolio tracking.
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  Fast SEPA integration: Using a bank transfer (Überweisung) is the most cost-effective way to buy. Relai supports quick SEPA payments, making BTC purchases seamless for EU users.

Self-Custody Wallet

Relai operates a non-custodial wallet. When you buy bitcoin, the coins are sent directly to a digital wallet on your phone, where only you hold the 12-word recovery phrase.

By giving users self-custody, Relai eliminates counterparty risk.

If the company were ever hacked, shut down, or failed, your bitcoin would remain safe and accessible only to you using your recovery phrase. This is the ultimate form of digital security and financial sovereignty, separating Relai from most major exchanges that hold your wallet’s private keys for you.

Multiple Payment Options

Relai bridges the gap between traditional finance and bitcoin, offering several payment methods tailored to your needs for speed or cost-efficiency.

Here are some available options:

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  Credit/Debit Cards: If you need to buy bitcoin instantly, perhaps to catch a dip, you can use your card for instant purchases. The convenience comes with a 3% additional fee on top of the base rate.
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  Apple Pay & Google Pay: For the ultimate one-tap experience, Relai integrates Apple and Google Pay. Like card payments, these are instant but carry the same settlement fees.
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  Bank Transfer: This is the recommended method for most users. It incurs 0% additional processing fees from Relai’s side, though your bank might charge a nominal fee. With Instant SEPA support, funds often arrive in minutes, allowing you to lock in the bitcoin price quickly.

Recurring Bitcoin Investments (DCA)

Relai’s standout feature is its Bitcoin Savings Plan, which enables users to implement dollar-cost averaging strategies.

You can set up a recurring weekly or monthly buy order for as little as 25 CHF/EUR. Once set up, you simply create a standing order from your bank account. Relai handles the rest. Every time your money arrives, it is automatically converted to bitcoin and sent to your wallet.

DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging), or in this case, CHF/EUR-cost averaging, helps smooth out price volatility and encourages consistent long-term investment habits. Relai was one of the first Swiss apps to make automated bitcoin savings this accessible, and it remains a significant reason many users choose the Relai App in Switzerland over multi-asset trading apps.

Security

Relai prioritizes Swiss-grade protection as a VQF SRO member under FINMA oversight, complying with Anti-Money Laundering laws, and has a MiCA license for the European Union. Its ISO 27001 certification ensures end-to-end encryption, while the on-device wallet generation prevents server-side vulnerabilities.

Recovery is straightforward via your 12-word phrase, with optional biometric locks. Partnerships like Sygnum Bank add layers for high-value users, including bitcoin-backed loans.

Fees & Limits

Relai’s fee structure is transparent and rewards consistent investors.

The standard fee is a base of 1.0% per transaction. Users can also get reduced costs by using a friend’s referral code, which permanently drops the fee to 0.9%.

Relai offers 0% fees on the first 100 CHF/EUR of your purchase, once per month, which is perfect for small DCA savers. It also covers the Bitcoin network fees when you buy. You only pay network fees when you send or sell bitcoin.

Verified users can trade up to 100,000 CHF/EUR per year (and higher upon request for Relai Private clients), accommodating everyone from students to high-net-worth individuals.

How to Use Relai, Step-by-Step

Getting started with Relai requires just a few simple steps:

1. Download the Relai app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. The app is available across Switzerland and the Eurozone.
2. Set up your wallet: During onboarding, your private keys are generated on-device. You’ll receive a 12-word recovery phrase that you must write down and store securely offline.
3. Complete quick verification. Identify yourself with a passport, email, and phone number. The KYC process is streamlined and typically takes just minutes.
4. Choose a payment method. Select from Kreditkarte, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or Überweisung. Bank transfers offer the lowest fees, while card payments provide instant convenience.
5. Buy or sell bitcoin in seconds. Enter your desired amount and confirm the transaction. Your bitcoin will be sent directly to your self-custody wallet.
6. Set up recurring buys for automated DCA. Configure weekly or monthly auto-invest plans to gradually build your position. Use a standing order with your bank or choose automatic card payments to streamline the process.

Customer Reviews & Ratings

Relai has earned recognition as an award-winning Bitcoin app, boasting a 4.6-star rating on the App Store from over 100,000 satisfied users across Switzerland and the Eurozone.

Users consistently praise the app’s straightforward navigation. The intuitive design and the recent, clarity-focused redesign have made Relai particularly popular among bitcoin beginners seeking a frictionless entry point.

Advanced users appreciate the self-custody architecture and bitcoin-only focus, which aligns with best practices in the Bitcoin community. The zero-fee monthly auto-invest feature receives particular acclaim among long-term savers who implement dollar-cost averaging strategies.

Some users note the lack of a desktop interface as a limitation, though Relai is actively developing this feature. Others mention the 3% credit card fee as higher than preferred, but recognize the trade-off between instant convenience and cost savings available through bank transfers.

Pros and Cons of Relai

Here are some benefits and drawbacks of the Relai app that you should keep in mind.