TL;DR

  • Phantom adds a 0.85% fee on select in-app swaps… you also pay normal network gas.
  • Cross-chain swaps include a bridge provider fee around 0.3%… plus gas on both chains.
  • On Solana mobile, gasless swaps can route without SOL in your wallet… the all-in fee is 1.5% when the trade qualifies.

What you’ll learn

  • The moving parts behind swap quotes and bridge quotes.
  • Where “network fee” ends and “wallet fee” begins.
  • A simple playbook to cut costs and avoid failed transactions.

Why fees feel confusing

Every quote blends several components… Phantom’s own swap fee where applicable… a bridge provider fee for cross-chain routes… and the underlying network gas. Gas is not set by Phantom… it rises and falls with network demand or with priority settings you choose.

Fees by action

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco California
Photo by Modestas Urbonas / Unsplash

Same-network swap

  • Phantom swap fee on select pairs… 0.85%.
  • Network gas… paid in the chain’s native token.

Cross-chain swap / bridging

  • Bridge protocol fee… roughly 0.3%.
  • Network gas on the origin chain and the destination chain.
  • Phantom swap fee may apply on any swap legs involved.

Gasless swaps on Solana (mobile)

  • All-in 1.5% fee… deducted from the token you’re swapping from… so you don’t need SOL in wallet for the trade itself when it qualifies. Minimum trade size applies… typically over $15.
  • The preview quote shows the full fee breakdown before you confirm.

Practical limits you’ll hit in real life

  • Keep a SOL buffer: Non-gasless actions on Solana still need a little SOL. Aim to keep around 0.02 SOL to avoid failures.
  • Bridge liquidity and tokens: Illiquid or exotic tokens may not route… low liquidity can break quotes.
  • On-ramp limits: If you buy crypto inside Phantom, payment provider limits and fees vary by region and method… card vs bank will differ.

Fee maths… three quick examples

1) Same-network swap
Quote = output tokens after the 0.85% Phantom fee… plus a small network fee in SOL, ETH, POL, etc.

2) Cross-chain swap
Quote = output tokens after the bridge fee (~0.3%) and any eligible swap fee… plus gas on both chains. Expect two gas lines in the breakdown.

3) Gasless Solana swap (mobile)
Quote = output tokens after the 1.5% all-in gasless fee… no SOL required in wallet for the trade itself.

Cut your costs… a simple playbook

gray metal part
Photo by Pixo Mixo / Unsplash
  1. Pick the right rail… prefer same-network swaps when possible… only bridge when you must.
  2. Use gasless on Solana (mobile) when your trade qualifies… it removes the “no SOL” headache.
  3. Mind network conditions… gas is set by the chain… during busy windows costs rise. Consider waiting or lowering priority where safe.
  4. Keep a small SOL buffer even if you plan to use gasless… it helps with token account inits and non-gasless actions.
  5. Avoid failed bridges… confirm the destination chain and token match what your target app expects before you send.
  6. Check provider options on EVM swaps… routing can change fees and gas. If a quote looks rich, back out and retry later.

Risks and how to avoid them

  • Quote drift during volatility… refresh the quote if price moves.
  • Out of gas… top up native tokens first or use gasless where eligible.
  • Illiquid tokens… swaps can fail repeatedly; consider routing via a liquid intermediate token.
  • Bridge mistakes… sending to the wrong network or token address can strand funds. Double-check chain and asset every time.

Mini FAQ

Why did my network fee spike?
Gas is set by the network and changes with demand or priority… Phantom doesn’t set it.

Do I need SOL to swap on Solana?
Only for non-gasless routes… on mobile, eligible swaps can use gasless routing with a 1.5% fee taken from the input token.

What’s in a cross-chain quote?
Bridge protocol fee (~0.3%)… gas on both chains… and any eligible swap fee.

Is there a minimum for swaps?
Keep at least 0.02 SOL so non-gasless Solana swaps don’t fail. Some gasless routes also require a minimum trade size around $15.

If this saved you money… join Alpha Insider for deeper wallet walkthroughs, safer cross-chain routes, and weekly timing windows. We keep it simple… fewer mistakes, cleaner execution, more conviction.