What a bridge actually does
Bridges connect blockchain networks so that tokens, messages and contract calls can move between them (Ethereum.org). The mechanisms differ: ethereum.org names lock and mint, burn and mint, and atomic swaps, the last of which liquidity networks use.
Why one route has several prices
Each provider sets its own price for a transfer, so the same transfer between the same two networks is worth comparing every time rather than once. A provider that is cheapest on one route can be the most expensive on the next, and on the same route an hour later.
Why an exchange sits in the same table
If the money is already on an exchange, withdrawing it directly to the destination network is a real alternative to bridging, and it sits in the table whether or not it is the cheaper one. We show that row from the exchanges’ own published fee pages, with the date of each check,.
What we do not do
We do not predict prices, rank providers by what they pay us, or fill gaps with estimates. Where a provider returns no figure, the table says “no data”. Our fee is added only to quotes from providers we execute transfers through, and there it is already inside the fee shown, never on top; quotes from every other provider are shown at their own price.
Questions
What is a bridge in crypto?
A service that connects two blockchains so that value can move between them. The token does not travel: one side locks or burns it and the other issues or releases an equivalent, or assets are swapped between the two chains.
How do I bridge crypto?
Pick the two networks and the token, then choose between a bridge, which moves the funds across in one transaction, and an exchange withdrawal, which delivers them from the exchange's reserves. Both are compared here for the amount you enter.
How do I transfer crypto between wallets on different networks?
Either through a bridge, in one transaction, or through an exchange — deposit on one network and withdraw on another. Both are compared here, because which one costs less changes with the route and the amount.
How do I move crypto from an exchange to a wallet?
Withdraw it, choosing the destination network on the withdrawal screen rather than assuming it from the address. The exchange fee for that network is in the table beside the bridge quotes.
Which bridge is the cheapest?
It changes by route, by token, by amount and by hour, which is why this site quotes live rather than publishing a ranking. The table sorts by total cost, including fees some providers charge on top in the network's native coin, and we keep the record of how that has moved over time.
Sources
- Ethereum.org — blockchain bridges · checked 2026-09-12