Bitrefill review: Pay for goods and services with bitcoin
Bitrefill is a website and an app where you can use bitcoin to buy digital gift cards and phone refills. In a few countries, you can also pay bills with bitcoin.
Description
Bitrefill is an e-commerce site and app where you can use Bitcoin to purchase digital gift cards, phone refills, and even make bill payments in select countries. Additionally, Bitrefill offers a Bitcoin card, allowing you to top up in EUR, spend with ease, and cash out to euros via SEPA transfer. The platform has also integrated the Lightning Network for faster, cheaper Bitcoin transactions.
Michael Grünberger, Michel Gustavsson and Sergej Kotliar founded Bitrefill in 2014 in Sweden. The platform is a great help to allow you to live off with bitcoin. Prepaid cards and gift cards can be bought with bitcoin for travel, entertainment, and in many countries even for groceries. You can use those gift cards to pay for goods in shops or online.
Bitrefill products and services
Travel anywhere around the world with bitcoin. Bitrefill helps you book flights and hotels anywhere in the world using bitcoin, and earn up to 10% rewards.
- Bitrefill prepaid card. Bitrefill’s Bitcoin card allows you to hold your Bitcoin wherever you like and spend it with ease. You can top up your card with EUR using Bitcoin, check real-time conversion rates, view comprehensive transaction history, and cash out to euros via SEPA transfer.
- Buy gift cards. You can buy gift cards with Bitcoin. Over 5,000 gift cards are available from a variety of retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Walmart, Steam, Google Play, Pick Pay, Incredible Connection, and others. Once you pay, you will instantly receive an email with your gift card code/PIN.
- Prepaid mobile refill. Choose your preferred mobile company and package. Then enter your phone number, select a payment method, and complete the transaction. Bitrefill will automatically send out the refill as soon as the transaction payment is fully confirmed. Sometimes, there may be delays.
- Travel anywhere with Bitcoin. You can buy flight tickets with Bitcoin and book accommodation using Bitcoin through Bitrefill.
- Bill pay. Customers in supported countries such as the US and El Salvador can use Bitcoin to pay for a variety of bills, including home and auto loans, insurance, credit cards, property taxes, healthcare, and other services. A fee of 32.99% is applied to the total amount paid.
Hugo is a delivery service in El Salvador that allows you to order almost anything and have it delivered right to your door. You can order fast food, takeout food, groceries, health and beauty supplies, pharmacy products, retail products, and clothes with bitcoin using Bitrefill.
How to use Bitrefill
This is how Bitrefill works. You are not required to create an account with Bitrefil to shop, but the option is available. If you open a Bitrefill account, you will be able to keep a balance on the platform that can be used to pay for goods or services without paying miner fees or waiting for payment confirmation. If you don’t want an account, you can go ahead and use the platform without signing in.
You can fund your account using the traditional bitcoin transactions or the Lightning Network. Once you top up your account, you may keep the amount you transfer as BTC balance in your account or convert it instantly to USD or EUR balance. With the USD/EUR balance credited to your account, you can purchase gift cards or mobile refills. During checkout, just select USD/EUR account balance as your payment method. You cannot convert your USD or EUR balance back into bitcoin. Furthermore, USD and EUR balances cannot be refunded and can only be used at Bitrefill. With a Bitrefill account, you can also enable two-factor authentication, view your order history, and take part in referral and loyalty programs.
In addition to funding your account, Bitrefill offers a prepaid Bitcoin card. You can top it up with Bitcoin, convert it to EUR, and use it for online or in-store purchases at supported merchants. You can also cash out the balance in your Bitrefill card to euros via SEPA transfer, giving you more flexibility in how you spend your Bitcoin.
The Bitrefill balance is not a wallet, and the funds are not withdrawable. Funds sent to Bitrefill balance are intended to be used to buy gift cards and phone refills on Bitrefill.
To create your account, you can use your email, Google account, Apple ID or connect your dekstop wallet or scan WalletConnect compatible mobile wallets such as MetaMask, Coinbase and Trust Wallet.
Purchasing a mobile refill is a simple process. You can either enter your phone number or select one of the available refill products for your country from the website or app. You can add it to your cart or buy it as a gift once you’ve entered the money and phone number. If you want to make a gift purchase, you will be asked to input the recipient’s name, email address, an optional note, and your name. The gift can be delivered instantly or scheduled for a later date, such as the recipient’s birthday.
Payment can be made using on-chain Bitcoin by scanning a QR code or copying a Bitcoin address. Additionally, Lightning-compatible wallets/platforms can be selected at checkout, including BlueWallet, Phoenix, Muun, Alby, Bitnob, Breez, ZEBEDEE, and Strike.
Bitrefill payment methods
Bitrefill offers multiple ways to pay for goods and services, such as gift cards, bills, and mobile refills. You can pay directly with Bitcoin or use gift cards from major retailers like Amazon and iTunes if you don’t have immediate access to Bitcoin. Additionally, you can use USD or EUR balances and rewards earned through promotions and referrals.
For even more flexibility, Bitrefill provides a prepaid Bitcoin card. You can top up the card with Bitcoin, convert it to EUR, and spend it seamlessly at supported merchants or withdraw to euros via SEPA transfer. Frequent users can also take advantage of Bitrefill’s prepaid card option, which helps save on fees and hedge against Bitcoin price volatility, ensuring a smoother transaction experience.
It’s important to note that combining different Bitrefill balances (BTC, EUR, USD, rewards) for a single transaction with an external wallet is not currently supported.
Bitrefill rewards
Every Bitrefill account holder earns a minimum of 1% of the total purchase price in Satoshis when they use Bitrefill to buy gift cards and mobile refills. You can use your accumulated sats to buy gift cards and mobile refills directly with your rewards balance earnings, or you can combine them with your existing bitcoin or USD/EUR balance to buy gift cards or mobile refills.
Supported wallets and exchanges
You can use Bitcoin to buy goods and services by sending funds from your custodial or non-custodial wallets to Bitrefill. Bitrefill supports the following wallets and exchanges:
Wallets
Exchanges
Find out where to spend bitcoin
Bitrefill limits
| Limits | |
|---|---|
| Maximum orders per day | 15 |
| Purchase amount | $5000.00 per day and $10000.00 per month |
| Phone refill | $500.00 per day and $2000.00 per month |
The maximum amount you can top up on Bitrefill is 2,000.00 USD, or the equivalent in your balance currency. Additionally, the total amount of your Bitrefill balances cannot exceed 10,000.00 USD. If you exceed these limits with top-ups or balance fluctuations, your balance will be frozen, and you will be required to undergo mandatory identity and address verification.
You can increase your limits by verifying your identity. For Bitrefill verification, you will need the following documents.
- a photocopy of an ID (e.g. your passport or driving licence)
- a proof of address (digital versions accepted: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf)
- a live selfie
Bitrefill fees
Depending on the types of services you use, Bitrefill charges a service fee of 2-3%. You also need to factor in miner fees, which vary depending on the network. You can avoid network fees if paid directly from a Coinbase account, or have much lower fees if you pay with lightning.
Bitrefill taxes
Bitrefill and similar platforms generally do not report transactions to tax authorities like the IRS (USA) directly. However, it’s essential to note that Bitcoin tax regulations can vary by jurisdiction, and they are subject to change. Moreover, Bitrefill does not provide any legal or tax advice regarding your purchases at Bitrefill in your home country. The responsibility for reporting Bitcoin transactions and potential tax implications ultimately falls on you.
In many countries, tax authorities expect individuals to report their Bitcoin transactions and capital gains for tax purposes. You are advised to consult tax professionals or seek guidance from tax authorities in their respective jurisdictions to ensure compliance with local tax laws. Furthermore, tax software such as Koinly help you calculate and file taxes related to Bitcoin.
Further reading: Koinly Review: Bitcoin Tax Software
Supported Countries
You can use Bitrefill in over 170 countries around the world including US, UK, Greece, Netherlands, Germany, China, France, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, and El Salvador.
Bitrefill Alternatives
Here are other platforms that are similar to Bitrefill:
- Cryptorefills
- Coinsbee
- CoinsGate
- Travala (pay for hotel and flights with Bitcoin)
More information
Bitrefill FAQs
Does Bitrefill report to IRS?
No, Bitrefill itself isn't typically required to report directly to the IRS on your behalf. However, Bitcoin transactions themselves are considered taxable events by the IRS. This means you, the taxpayer, are responsible for reporting any gains or losses from your Bitcoin activity, including using Bitrefill. You can use Bitcoin tax software such as Koinly.
How does Bitrefill make money?
Bitrefill charges service fees on purchases made on their platform. These fees typically range from 2% to 3%, depending on the country and product you're buying.
Additional information
| Bitcoin Only | |
|---|---|
| Lightning Network | |
| LNURL | |
| 2FA | |
| SegWit | |
| KYC | |
| Mobile App | Yes |
| Operating System (OS) | |
| Referral Program | Yes |
| Year Launched | 2014 |
| Made in | Sweden |
Shumaiya –
I’ve good experience with bitrefill. I use this site mostly to pay my mobile bill & buying appstore cards. I prefer Bitcoin lightning payment method as it works really fast.
Dayo King –
Bitrefill is one of the best means to buy digital gift cards using your Lightning wallet. I have been using it for over a year now with no regret. They have a reasonable discount and reward for being a regular user. Swift delivery!
Sean adrian –
I have been using Bitrefill to pay my electricity bill in Nigeria for some months now, and I have thoroughly enjoyed their service delivery. If you are stacking sats, this is the platform to spend them wisely as they have plenty of gift cards, airtime, and bundles of various types to choose from. Highly recommended.
George –
I also have been using Bitrefill to pay my electricity bill in Nigeria for some months now, and I have thoroughly enjoyed their service delivery. If you are stacking sats, this is the platform to spend them wisely as they have plenty of gift cards, airtime, and bundles of various types to choose from. But if you want an alternative, I personally use Noones, which is on the same level of services.
Karin –
Bitrefill is one of the best means to buy digital gift cards using your Lightning wallet just like NoOnes. I have been using it for over a year now. They have a reasonable discount and reward for being a regular user and very fast delivery!