UNIFY / FEES
Swap and bridge fees explained
Understand net received amounts, network gas, included bridge fees and the cost of small transfers.
Start with the amount you receive
The quote displays estimated token output and a protected minimum. Net value subtracts estimated network gas and any separately paid source fees. Fees already included in the quoted output are not subtracted a second time.
Costs have different jobs
- Network gas: execution and, where relevant, data costs paid to the chain. Approval can require a separate transaction.
- Included fees: pool, bridge or delivery charges already reflected in output.
- Separately paid fees: an extra source-network charge not included in the receive amount.
- Value difference: all-in estimated difference from the priced input; not the same thing as a router fee.
Price impact, different reference prices and stale valuations can also affect that difference. Inspect the fee breakdown; a high difference is not proof that Unify charged it.
Small bridge amounts
Fixed bridge and destination costs can dominate small transfers, particularly to Ethereum. Compare source-network USDC, another destination, or the available source-collection option before signing. A cheaper alternative is not guaranteed, and it is never selected without your review.
Unify does not promise free bridges or lower fees on every corridor.
Protocol references
Circle CCTP ↗ · LI.FI documentation ↗ · Relay documentation ↗
Network-specific route guides
Base · Robinhood Chain · Arbitrum · Arc
Base stock-token contracts and checks · Robinhood stock buy/sell checks
A worked example
This illustration is not a live quote. Suppose your priced input is $100 and the output estimate is $99.20. If network gas is $0.10 and an additional source fee is $0.05, the estimated net value is $99.05. A $0.60 delivery fee already included in the output is disclosed, not deducted again.
| Illustrative component | USD |
|---|---|
| Priced input | 100.00 |
| Quoted output, included fees already reflected | 99.20 |
| Network gas paid separately | 0.10 |
| Additional source fee paid separately | 0.05 |
| Estimated net value: 99.20 − 0.10 − 0.05 | 99.05 |
| Total value difference: 100.00 − 99.05 | 0.95 |
The minimum received is a separate token-denominated limit. A token can change in dollar value even when that limit is respected. Portfolio reference values and live execution prices can differ.
Choose the trade-off you actually want
| Preference | Selection basis | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Best net | Estimated return after comparable network gas and additional source charges. | Comparable destination valuation must be available. |
| Fastest | Shortest available provider-reported duration; net ranking breaks ties. | Unknown times do not get invented estimates. Delivery is not guaranteed. |
| Fewer steps | Estimated wallet actions, including applicable approval stages. | Existing allowances and wallet batching can change the actual count. |
Changing the preference refreshes an existing quote. If the chosen metric is unavailable for every valid candidate, the app falls back to net ranking and explains that limitation. Speed and simplicity can return less than the highest net estimate.
Ways to compare costs
- Open Fee details to separate included charges from extra source-chain costs.
- Compare destinations for small transfers: a fixed delivery cost can be large relative to the amount.
- Inspect Standard and Fast bridge options when both are executable; a faster mode is not necessarily cheaper.
- Compare a source-network swap if you do not need to bridge. This changes your destination and requires your review.
- Keep a native gas reserve. A reserve left in your wallet is not a fee paid to Unify.
Unify direct routes add no Unify service fee. External venues, liquidity pools, bridges and networks can still charge fees. Rates and available paths change between quoting and execution.
Common questions
Why is a small bridge expensive?
Source transactions and destination delivery can have fixed costs. A small amount does not make those costs disappear. If no economical validated path exists, the app can show no route rather than promise a free bridge.
Does 1% slippage mean a 1% service fee?
No. Slippage sets tolerated output deterioration; it is not a charge collected by Unify. Pool fees, gas, bridge charges and price impact are different concepts.
Can gas still be spent on a failed transaction?
A transaction that is included on-chain and reverts can consume gas. A wallet rejection before submission is different. Inspect the transaction hash to distinguish them.