Unchained vs Swan Bitcoin: Which is Best? [2025]
Key differences
- Unchained's vault storage is $250 per year, while Swan Vault is $240 per year or more depending on the size of the vault.
- Swan IRA charges $240/year minimum or 0.25% annually if above $100k; Unchained IRA charges a $250 annual fee (first year free).
- Unchained charges 1.0% while Swan charges 0.99% with a 0.25% spread fee.
- Swan's vault only works with Blockstream Jade, while Unchained's works with Trezors, Ledgers and Coldcards.
Unchained vs Swan Bitcoin Fees Calculator
We built this fee calculator to help you compare the fees of Unchained and Swan Bitcoin.
Enter the amount you want to buy and we'll show you the estimated fees for each exchange.
Unchained vs Swan Bitcoin in Comparison
Description
US-based Bitcoin-only financial services company. Offers Bitcoin trading desk. Supports ACH & wire transfers with 1% fees.
Swan is a US-based Bitcoin-only exchange focused on making Bitcoin investing safe & simple.
Supported Countries
Available in all U.S. states besides New York, New Jersey, South Dakota, and North Carolina
United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands
Supported Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin only.
Bitcoin-only
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
- Purchasing Fees: 0.99% for all purchases and sales.
- No inactivity, withdrawal, overdraft, custody, or fiat withdrawal fees.
- IRA Fees: Small monthly fee
Payment Methods
ACH, Wire Transfer, Bank Account
ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer
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 Rating: 4.8 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android Rating: 4.3 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
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.
Swan encourages users to store their Bitcoin in cold storage. Swan does not charge its users any withdrawal fees.
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.
Swan Bitcoin was affected by a data breach at HubSpot in March 2022, which also impacted BlockFi, NYDIG, and Circle. The breach involved unauthorized access to user information stored in HubSpot, but internal systems and treasuries were not compromised. Additionally, in August 2022, Swan Bitcoin experienced a data leak due to a phishing attack on its newsletter provider, Klaviyo. This incident led to the exposure of email addresses and some user data, but no evidence of misuse has been found.
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
"Stackin' sats with Swan! With Swan you can stack your precious sats and withdraw on a schedule to your cold storage. Swan is about education for its customers and offers a wide variety of articles, podcasts etc in the app. Dashboard allows you to view your total bought, current balance, available sats to withdraw, a smash buy button etc."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot
Unchained vs Swan Bitcoin Comparison
Fee Structures
Unchained uses a tiered fee structure starting at 1.00% for trades up to $100,000, decreasing to 0.75% for $100K-$1M, and 0.50% for $1M-$5M. Swan Bitcoin offers a flat 0.99% fee on all purchases and sales, with no additional custody, withdrawal, or inactivity fees.
Feature Set
Unchained specializes in collaborative custody with multisig security, offering personalized vaults and inheritance planning. Swan Bitcoin focuses on auto-DCA setup and educational content, with a mobile-friendly dashboard and smash buy feature.
Geographic Availability
Unchained is available in all U.S. states except NY, NJ, SD, and NC. Swan Bitcoin serves the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, and Virgin Islands.
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