European investors who want to buy and hold bitcoin have multiple investment apps to pick from, each approaching the job differently. Some apps focus solely on accumulating bitcoin over the long term, while others treat bitcoin as another asset within a broader investment or banking setup.
These design choices affect how often you invest, how much control you have over your Bitcoin, and how involved you need to be day-to-day. Read on to discover five of the best Bitcoin investment apps available to European investors and what sets them apart.
Top Bitcoin Investment Apps for European Investors
Let's look at the five Bitcoin investment apps commonly used by European investors, each offering a distinct approach to custody, cost, and user experience.
Relai
The Swiss-made Relai app is a compliant, bitcoin-only investment app designed for European investors seeking a simple way to accumulate Bitcoin over time.
Core Features:
- Recurring investment plans: The app allows you to automate weekly or monthly bitcoin purchases.
- Non-custodial option: Users can hold Bitcoin in wallets they fully control.
- Simple user interface: Relai has a clean layout through which sign-up is quick, and buying or storing bitcoin doesn’t require a manual.
- Bitcoin-only: Relai focuses exclusively on Bitcoin without distractions from altcoins.
- Europe-first onboarding: Designed specifically for European users with euro-based onboarding and recurring purchases.
Suitable For
Relai is ideal for European investors who plan to buy bitcoin regularly for the long haul and hold it in their own wallet under direct ownership, and who don’t want active portfolio management. The automated buys and lack of altcoin distractions are particularly favorable to this end.
Revolut
Revolut is a multi-asset fintech app from the UK that operates in line with European regulatory requirements and offers bitcoin alongside traditional banking, payments, and savings tools.
Core Features:
- Integrated bitcoin access: Users can buy and hold Bitcoin directly within the Revolut app.
- Custodial storage model: Revolut keeps your bitcoin for you within the app.
- Instant access for existing users: Bitcoin can be purchased directly from existing euro balances without separate onboarding.
- Subscription-based feature access: Bitcoin functionality varies depending on the user’s Revolut plan and region.
Suitable For
Revolut works well for users already using it for banking, as it provides casual Bitcoin exposure without requiring another app or managing wallets.
Bitpanda
Bitpanda is a regulated multi-asset investment platform based in Austria that allows users to manage Bitcoin and a range of other assets from a single account.
Core Features:
- Custodial model: Bitcoin is held by Bitpanda within the platform on behalf of users.
- Unified portfolio view: Users can view and manage Bitcoin alongside other investments from a single dashboard.
- Built-in performance tracking: Users can monitor portfolio performance over time directly in the app.
- Localised European onboarding: Account setup and buying flow are built for European residents using euro-based accounts.
Suitable For
Bitpanda is a good option for investors who want to manage Bitcoin as part of a broader, regulated investment portfolio, but holding it as a standalone long-term holding isn’t their investment style.
Bison
Bison is a regulated crypto investment app from Germany that focuses on straightforward buying and selling of Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies through simplified tools.
Core Features:
- Custodial model: Bison manages bitcoin on behalf of users.
- Regulated structure: Bison operates within established regulatory frameworks.
- Straightforward buy/sell flow: Bitcoin purchases follow a simplified order process designed for occasional investors.
- Simple user interface: Designed to make buying and holding bitcoin accessible.
Suitable For
Bison is popular among German investors who want a regulated, custodial way to buy and sell bitcoin occasionally and avoid the complexity of full exchange-style trading tools.
Coinbase
Coinbase is a US-based custodial crypto exchange that operates under European regulatory frameworks and offers Bitcoin, along with a wide range of other digital assets.
Core Features:
- Custodial model: Coinbase manages Bitcoin held on the platform by default.
- User experience: The app is structured to support both simple buying and more detailed account management.
- Multi-asset accounts: Bitcoin is managed alongside other supported digital assets.
Suitable For
Investors who want access to advanced trading tools, detailed account controls, active portfolio management, and support for multiple digital assets will feel at home with Coinbase.
What Bitcoin Investment App Should You Use?
There is no single best Bitcoin investment app in Europe. Pick the one that matches how you want to treat bitcoin, whether you treat it as a trading instrument or an asset to accumulate in the long run.
Custodial multi-asset platforms such as Coinbase, Bitpanda, Revolut, and Bison integrate Bitcoin into broader fintech or investment ecosystems. Relai takes a different approach, focusing solely on bitcoin, recurring investing, ease of use, and user-controlled ownership.
If you view bitcoin as long-term savings and not something to actively trade, Relai’s user-friendliness and narrow focus are hard to beat.