River vs Uphold: Which is Best? [2026]
Key differences
River vs Uphold in Comparison
Description
River is a trusted Bitcoin-only exchange based in the USA.
Popular exchange based in the USA with support for multiple payment methods.
Supported Countries
USA
Available in over 180 countries globally including US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Japan. Serves over 30 million users worldwide.
Get started with one of these exchanges
Supported Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin-only
Over 250 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, Stellar, AAVE, BAT, ADA and many more
Fees
- 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%
- Stablecoins & major FX: 0.25%
- BTC, ETH: 1.4% - 1.6%
- Altcoins: 1.9% - 2.95%
- Precious Metals: 1.9% - 2.95%
Ready to start buying Bitcoin?
Payment Methods
ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer
ACH, Bank Account, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Credit Card, Debit Card, SEPA, Interac e-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.
2 - 4.65%
Earn up to 4.65% APY on USD balances of $1,000 or more, or 2% APY on balances below $1,000 in Uphold's USD Interest Account.
Mobile App Ratings
iOS Rating: 4.9 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android Rating: 4.6 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
iOS Rating: 4.6 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android Rating: 4.7 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
Storage
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.
Uphold maintains full reserves of customer assets with no lending. Platform features industry-standard security including 2FA, real-time monitoring and notifications. Regular third-party audits verify holdings and security practices.
Have These Exchanges Been Hacked Before?
No. Has never lost customer funds in any way.
No major hacks, though a third-party communications vendor had a security incident in July 2022. No customer funds were affected.
Official Site
Exchange 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
No review available
"I am a big fan of Uphold. Its super straightforward and simple. You can swap between lots of tokens and easily select your bank to buy new ones. They have all customer assets backed. Perfect 👌. My only gripe is that once you own something and click on that token it does not show you the market price and market graph it shows your own account balance and change over time."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot
River vs Uphold Comparison
Fee Structures
River uses tiered fees based on order size, ranging from 1.00% down to 0.25% for large orders. Notably, River charges 0% for recurring buys (DCA). Uphold charges variable spreads typically between 0.8% to 1.2% for crypto trades, with no explicit trading fees but spread costs built into prices.
Supported Assets
River is exclusively focused on Bitcoin, making it ideal for Bitcoin maximalists. Uphold supports over 250 cryptocurrencies, plus stocks, precious metals, and fiat currencies - all tradeable against each other.
Geographic Availability
River is available in 48 U.S. states, excluding NY and NV. Uphold is available in 180+ countries with varying feature availability.
Security Features
River ensures security through in-house custody, two-factor authentication (2FA), proof of reserves, regular independent audits, and 24/7 monitoring. Uphold provides transparency through real-time reserve reporting, 2FA, and bug bounty programs.
Unique Features
River offers Bitcoin mining services and the ability to earn interest on USD paid in BTC. Uphold allows direct trading between any supported asset (crypto-to-stock, metal-to-crypto, etc.) without converting to fiat first.
Mobile Apps
River's mobile apps are available on iOS with a 4.9 out of 5 rating and on Android with a 4.6 out of 5 rating. Uphold's mobile apps are available on iOS with a 4.6 out of 5 rating and on Android with a 4.0 out of 5 rating.
USA Only
