MoonPay vs River: Which is Best? [2026]

River

River is a trusted Bitcoin-only exchange based in the USA.

MoonPay

Simple app to buy Bitcoin with your bank or debit card. Works in most countries but has very high fees.

River

USA

MoonPay

Available in 160+ countries. Regulated globally with licenses in major jurisdictions including UK, US, EU, Canada, and Australia.

River

Bitcoin-only

MoonPay

160+ cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT, DAI and many more

River

• 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%

MoonPay

• Deposit Fees:
• Bank Transfer: 1%
• Credit/Debit Card: 4.5%
• Apple Pay/Google Pay: 4.5%
• PayPal: 4.5%
• MoonPay Balance: 0%
• Withdrawal Fees:
• Bank Transfer: 1%
• PayPal: 3.4%
• BTC: Network fees apply

River

ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer

MoonPay

Bank Account, Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal

River

3.8%

Earn 3.8% interest on FDIC-insured cash, paid out in Bitcoin. No fees or minimums. Withdraws allowed anytime.

River

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.

MoonPay

iOS Rating: 4.2 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.

Android Rating: 4.0 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.

River

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.

MoonPay

Advanced security infrastructure with multi-signature wallets, cold storage solutions, and regular security audits. Features include 2FA authentication, biometric verification, and compliance with global regulatory standards.

River

No. Has never lost customer funds in any way.

MoonPay

No. No publicly reported major hacking incidents.

River

river.com

MoonPay

moonpay.com

River

Read our River review

"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

MoonPay

No review available

"MoonPay has been fantastic for buying crypto quickly and easily. The verification process was smooth, and I love having multiple payment options. Their zero-fee feature with MoonPay Balance is a game-changer."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot