Unchained vs Onramp Bitcoin: Which is Best? [2025]


Key differences
- With Unchained you control your own keys. With Onramp a group of insitutions share control.
- Onramp requires a $50/month membership to access trading.
- Unchained has IRA and inheritance support, Onramp has institutional-grade insurance.
- Unchained supports multiple states; Onramp's availability is more limited.
Unchained vs Onramp Bitcoin Fees Calculator
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Unchained vs Onramp Bitcoin in Comparison
Description

US-based Bitcoin-only financial services company. Offers Bitcoin trading desk. Supports ACH & wire transfers with 1% fees.

Onramp offers a full-suite Bitcoin financial services platform. $50 per month in order to buy BTC, with 0.75% buying and selling fees.
Supported Countries

Available in all U.S. states besides New York, New Jersey, South Dakota, and North Carolina

United States (limited to certain states)
Supported Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin only.

BTC
Fees

- Trading Fees:
- 1.00% for trades up to $100,000
- 0.75% for trades $100,000 - $1,000,000
- 0.50% for trades $1,000,000 - $5,000,000
- Custom rates for trades over $5,000,000
- Minimum Trade Size: $2,000

- Trading Fees (by account tier):
- Onramp Trade: 0.75%
- Onramp Standard: 0.65%
- Onramp Private: 0.32%
- Bank transfers: Free
- On-chain BTC withdrawals: Not specified
No debit or credit card support at this time.
Payment Methods

ACH, Wire Transfer, Bank Account

Bank TransferWireACH
Do These Exchanges Allow you To Earn Interest on Crypto?


Mobile App Ratings

iOS Rating: 4.8 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android App: Not Available

iOS App: Not Available
Android App: Not Available
Storage

Unchained uses a collaborative custody model with 2-of-3 multisignature security. You control two keys stored in separate locations, while Unchained secures a backup key. This ensures your bitcoin remains safe even if one key is lost or stolen. All bitcoin is stored offline in cold storage under your control - not on exchanges or hot wallets.

Bitcoin is held in secure multi-institution custody across Onramp, BitGo, and Coincover using a 2-of-3 multisig model with no single point of failure. Vaults are insured and monitored.
Have These Exchanges Been Hacked Before?

No customer funds have been lost. However, in March 2022, Unchained disclosed that their former email marketing provider ActiveCampaign was compromised. The breach exposed some client data including email addresses, usernames, and account status. No client funds or sensitive personal information was compromised.

None reported
Official Site


Exchange Review

"Great company, I’ve been a customer since 2021. Though they offer a free service, I opted for concierge onboarding and also opted for their inheritance option. I also plan to move my tradition and Roth IRAs from itrustcaptial to Unchained in the near future. Love that they now have an app 😎"
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot

No review available
"There is no safer custody model for Bitcoin, or frankly any other asset, than Multi-Institution Custody, now with insurance, brought to you by @OnrampBitcoin"
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot
Unchained vs Onramp Bitcoin Comparison
Fee Structures
Unchained charges tiered fees based on trade volume:
- 1.00% for trades under $100K
- 0.75% for $100K-$1M
- 0.50% for $1M-$5M
- Custom rates over $5M
Onramp requires a $50/month subscription to trade, with tiered trading fees:
- Trade: 0.75%
- Standard: 0.65%
- Private: 0.32%
Feature Set
Unchained includes Bitcoin IRA, inheritance planning, collaborative custody vaults, and a concierge onboarding service.
Onramp features multi-institution custody with insurance, private wealth services, and institutional-grade vault infrastructure.
Geographic Availability
Unchained is available in most U.S. states except NY, NJ, SD, and NC.
Onramp is available in the U.S., but only in select states (not fully disclosed).
Security Features
Unchained uses a collaborative custody model with 2-of-3 multisignature security. You control two keys stored in separate locations, while Unchained secures a backup key.
Onramp implements multi-institution custody across Onramp, BitGo, and Coincover using a 2-of-3 multisig model with insurance coverage.
Payment Methods
Unchained supports ACH transfers, wire transfers, and Apple Pay (in select states). Onramp supports ACH, wire transfers, and bank transfers. Neither service supports debit or credit card purchases.
Customer Support
Unchained offers high-touch white-glove support with concierge onboarding. Onramp provides limited detail about their customer support structure.
Additional Features
Unchained offers Bitcoin IRA support, inheritance planning, and direct vault trades. Onramp provides institutional insurance and multi-institution custody.