Fold vs River: Which is Best? [2025]
Key differences
- Fold offers 0% fees for members, while River offers 0% for DCA orders only.
- River provides mining services and interest on cash balances; Fold does not.
- River supports large volume trades with tiered fees, while Fold has flat fees.
- River isn't available in NY or NV, while Fold is available nationwide.
Fold vs River Fees Calculator
We built this fee calculator to help you compare the fees of Fold and River.
Enter the amount you want to buy and we'll show you the estimated fees for each exchange.
Fold vs River in Comparison
Description
Fold tries to make buying bitcoin simple. 1.5% fees for buying bitcoin for non-members, 0% for Fold+ members ($100 per year membership fee).
River is a trusted Bitcoin-only exchange based in the USA.
Supported Countries
1 (United States)
USA
Supported Cryptocurrencies
BTC
Bitcoin-only
Fees
- Fold+ Plan Fees:
- Buy BTC: 0%
- Auto-Stack: 0%
- Round-Ups: 0%
- Direct Deposit: 0%
- Sell to Card: 0%
- Spread: 0.88%
- On-chain Withdrawals: Network fee
- Free Plan Fees:
- Buy BTC: 0.95%
- Auto-Stack: 1.0%
- Round-Ups: 1.0%
- Direct Deposit: 1.0%
- Sell to Card: 1.0%
- Spread: 0.88%
- On-chain Withdrawals: Network fee
- Order Size: Up to $1,000,000 | Fee: 1.00%
- Order Size: >$1,000,000 to $5,000,000 | Fee: 0.70%
- Order Size: >$5,000,000 to $15,000,000 | Fee: 0.40%
- Order Size: >$15,000,000 | Fee: 0.25%
- Order Size: All recurring buy orders | Fee: 0.00%
Payment Methods
Debit CardACH TransferDirect DepositFold Card Round-UpsGift CardEmployer Payroll
ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer
Do These Exchanges Allow you To Earn Interest on Crypto?
3.8%
Earn 3.8% interest on FDIC-insured cash, paid out in Bitcoin. No fees or minimums. Withdraws allowed anytime.
Mobile App Ratings
iOS Rating: 4.2 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android Rating: 3.8 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
iOS Rating: 4.8 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android Rating: 4.9 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
Storage
Bitcoin is stored in institutional-grade cold storage via Qualified Custodians (Fortress Trust and BitGo)
River holds client Bitcoin in full reserve with no lending. They built their own custody systems from the ground up to minimize third-party dependencies. Security includes regular independent audits, mandatory 2FA, real-time notifications, 24/7 monitoring, and bcrypt password hashing. Users can verify holdings via Proof of Reserves.
Have These Exchanges Been Hacked Before?
None reported
No. Has never lost customer funds in any way.
Official Site
Exchange Review
No review available
"Being a Foldie feels like the company actually wants to bless you—it's like they planned your birthday party and gave you the best surprises. You can't be sorry."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot
"I really like the app so far. It does what it's supposed to and paired with the desktop web app, I could not personally ask for more. Great customer service and lots of upcoming features in the pipeline from my understanding."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot
Fold vs River Comparison
Fee Structures
Fold has two plans:
- Fold+ Plan ($100/year):
- Buy BTC: 0%
- Auto-Stack: 0%
- Round-Ups: 0%
- Direct Deposit: 0%
- Sell to Card: 0%
- Spread: 0.88%
- On-chain Withdrawals: Network fee
- Free Plan:
- Buy BTC: 0.95%
- Auto-Stack: 1.0%
- Round-Ups: 1.0%
- Direct Deposit: 1.0%
- Sell to Card: 1.0%
- Spread: 0.88%
- On-chain Withdrawals: Network fee
River uses a tiered fee structure:
- 1.20% for orders under $250,000.01
- 1.00% for orders up to $1M
- 0.70% for $1M–$5M
- 0.40% for $5M–$15M
- 0.25% for over $15M
- 0% for recurring buys
Feature Set
Fold offers round-up purchases, direct deposit stacking, and a prepaid Fold Card. Fold+ users access zero-fee services. No interest or mining options.
River includes recurring buys, IRA accounts, cash balance interest (3.8%), mining hardware, and hosting services. Also offers a Private Client option for large purchases.
Geographic Availability
Fold is available throughout the United States. River is available in 48 U.S. states. Not available in New York or Nevada.
Security Features
Fold uses custody via Fortress Trust & BitGo with cold storage, and is SEC Custody Rule compliant.
River uses custom-built custody systems with full reserve, proof of reserves, and is FinCEN Registered MSB with state licenses.
Payment Methods
Fold supports Debit Card, ACH Transfer, Direct Deposit, Fold Card Round-Ups, Gift Card, and Employer Payroll. River supports ACH, Bank Account, and Wire Transfer.
Customer Support
Fold provides limited customer support details. River offers high-rated customer support with Private Client support available.
Additional Features
Fold offers a gamified rewards experience with the Fold Card, round-ups, and membership tiers.
River provides interest on USD balances (3.8%), mining services, Private Client options, and IRA accounts.
Mobile Apps
Fold has mobile apps for both iOS (4.2/5 rating) and Android (3.8/5 rating). River has mobile apps for both iOS (4.8/5 rating) and Android (4.9/5 rating).
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