Unocoin vs Changenow: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Unocoin and Changenow This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Unocoin

Changenow

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Latin America

India

Yes

China

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Unocoin is ideal if:

Great for ease of entry – Offers a clean and intuitive interface with mobile apps, making it especially friendly for newcomers stepping into crypto trading.
Secure and self-custody options – Emphasizes safety with features like cold storage, paper wallets, AES-256 encryption, and mandatory KYC/2FA.
Built for Indian users – Seamlessly supports INR deposits and local payment methods, tailored to the Indian market and regulatory environment.

Changenow is ideal if:

You value privacy and self-custody — ChangeNOW is non-custodial and doesn’t require registration for most swaps, keeping you in full control of your funds.
You seek convenience and speed — It enables fast, no-account-needed swaps across a wide range of cryptocurrencies, ideal for quick, frictionless trades.
You want flexibility to upgrade — With ChangeNOW Pro, you can access optional perks like cashback, enhanced security, and better transaction tools when you're ready to level up.

Unocoin isn’t ideal if:

International traders excluded – Only accessible to Indian residents and supports just the Indian rupee as fiat, making it a non-starter for global users.
Limited advanced features – Lacks sophisticated trading tools and broader crypto asset coverage favored by experienced traders.
Support may lag – Users report limited documentation and slow response times from customer service, potentially frustrating for those needing prompt assistance.

Changenow isn’t ideal if:

You want advanced trading features — If you're into charting tools, order types, margin, or futures, ChangeNOW's simple swap interface might feel too basic.
You expect swift, direct support — Without live chat or phone options, help is slower, often via tickets or messaging channels.
You prioritize strict regulation — ChangeNOW operates without formal licensing from leading financial regulators, which may concern users who value regulatory oversight.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Unocoin applies a tiered maker/taker fee structure for spot trading, with lower rates (including zero maker fees) available to users with high 30-day trading volumes; there are no discounts tied to a native token.

ChangeNOW doesn’t operate with traditional maker/taker fee tiers—its costs are embedded in floating (or optionally fixed) exchange rates that vary by currency pair and volume, with no public tier schedule or explicit native-token discounts, though using the NOW token can yield rebate perks through cashback mechanisms.

Futures/Derivatives

Unocoin does not offer futures or derivative trading, so there are no maker/taker or funding fees applicable.

ChangeNOW does not currently offer futures or derivative trading, so there are no maker/taker or funding fees of that type.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Specific or average spread data for BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT is not published prominently on Unocoin’s platform or support materials.

While ChangeNOW doesn’t publish spread data, it sources liquidity from partners and embeds margin within the quoted floating rate—spreads are typically competitive and dynamically adjusted based on real-time market conditions.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

You can deposit and withdraw INR using methods like NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI, and instant options, with nominal or no fees for bank transfers and quick settlement—though third-party instant deposits (e.g., via Mobikwik) may incur a small percentage charge plus taxes.

Fiat purchases on ChangeNOW are facilitated through third-party providers (e.g., Simplex, Transak, Guardarian) using Visa or Mastercard; fees depend on the provider (typically a few percent), and processing times range from near-instant to several minutes.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals are subject to network (miner) fees that vary dynamically per blockchain congestion rather than fixed amounts, and these are displayed at the time of withdrawal.

ChangeNOW doesn’t charge separate withdrawal fees—network (mining) fees are passed through as dynamic costs based on the chosen blockchain (e.g., BTC, ETH, TRX), reflected in the quoted rate rather than stated separately.

Hidden Costs

There are no hidden conversion or KYC-express fees, but an inactivity-based custodial fee applies if your account remains idle—typically a small monthly Bitcoin-based charge.

ChangeNOW doesn’t impose inactivity penalties or hidden fees; currency conversion and network fees are included in the exchange quote, and express KYC (if triggered) depends on transaction specifics, with any associated costs transparently presented before confirmation.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

A real cost example isn’t feasible as Unocoin doesn’t support euro deposits, and detailed spread or consolidated cost data for such a scenario isn’t publicly available.

Suppose you buy €500 worth of BTC via ChangeNOW’s fiat gateway—the quote would include the provider’s purchase margin (around a few percent), underlying spread to liquidity, and on-chain sending fee, all bundled in the total you see before confirming purchase.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Unocoin supports over 90 to 120 cryptocurrencies overall and includes most of the top 25 market-cap coins—though the exact number varies by source, the platform mainly offers pairs with INR and a few crypto-crypto options.

ChangeNOW supports over 1,225 cryptocurrencies and more than a million exchange pairs, giving you access to virtually any major or niche token in the market.

Product Range

Unocoin offers spot trading, an OTC desk, and a Systematic Buying Plan (SBP), alongside staking-like passive-income options and affiliate/referral programs, but lacks margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, grid bots, copy trading, or lending services.

ChangeNOW offers instant spot swaps, non-custodial swaps, native wallet staking, and crypto-backed loans via ChangeNOW Pro, but it does not currently provide margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, copy trading, grid bots, or automatic DCA.

Liquidity

Trading volume is relatively modest compared to global platforms—typical 24-hour volume sits in the tens of thousands USD range—and order book depth for BTC/ETH remains limited due to its domestic focus.

Liquidity is aggregated through multiple exchange partners, ensuring robust 24-hour volumes and order depth for major assets like BTC and ETH—even though precise statistical metrics are not publicly disclosed.

Tools

Traders can use market, limit, and advanced order types like Split, Ladder, and Stack; the platform offers web-based TradingView charts, mobile apps, and API/WS access, though alerting tools are not clearly highlighted.

The platform refrains from offering advanced tools—no limit, stop, OCO orders, custom alerts, charting, TradingView integration, or APIs are openly provided; its focus is on simplicity and instant swaps rather than complex trading infrastructure.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

All features on Unocoin are only available to Indian residents; derivatives and higher-risk instruments are broadly unavailable both by design and regulatory limitations.

As a swap-first platform, ChangeNOW does not typically impose product-based geographic blocks, but advanced features like Pro loans or staking may have regional restrictions depending on local compliance and third-party partner availability.

Innovation

Unocoin includes periodic investment (SBP), affiliate programs, Elite and Crypto Wealth Clubs for VIP support, and offers staking-like earn options, but lacks innovative features like launchpad/launchpool or flexible vs locked earn tiers.

While ChangeNOW lacks crypto ETFs or launchpad offerings, it has innovated in token utility—offering automatic staking of its native NOW token in Pro accounts, flexible crypto loans collateralized with major coins, and easy wallet-integrated staking in NOW Wallet.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Unocoin is operated by Unocoin Technologies Pvt Ltd, incorporated in 2015 and based in Bengaluru (formerly Tumkur), India, while functioning as a wholly owned subsidiary of a Singapore-based parent company.

ChangeNOW is operated by CHN Group LLC, registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with roots dating back to 2017 and additional administrative presence in the Netherlands. (Information compiled from official sources.)

Licenses/Registration

As a domestic crypto exchange in India, Unocoin is registered with the Indian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act rather than holding a formal license like VASP in more regulated jurisdictions.

While it doesn’t hold specific exchange licenses or operate as a regulated VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) under frameworks like MiCA, ChangeNOW complies with global AML/KYC mandates by triggering identity checks when its risk engines flag transactions.

Custody

Most user funds are held in cold storage (offline wallets secured with strong encryption), while live balances are held by Unocoin internally; there’s no publicly disclosed Proof of Reserves or formal audit percentage published.

The platform is primarily non-custodial—users send and receive directly from their own wallets—but offers optional custodial service via ChangeNOW Pro Custody (a hot wallet model). It does not publicly share PoR, audit results, or precise cold storage ratios.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Unocoin does not publicly offer exchange-backed insurance or compensation funds to cover losses from hacks or operational failures.

There’s no public mention of insurance coverage or dedicated asset protection funds, though ChangeNOW demonstrates active anti-fraud and risk-response measures when unauthorized activity is detected or reported.

Incident History

There are no known major hacks or public penalties involving Unocoin; their operations have continued uninterrupted, and regulatory authorities have not issued enforcement actions.

ChangeNOW has a strong track record of catching suspicious transactions in real time—successfully halting and assisting recovery of funds in cases like SIM-swap thefts and phishing scams, working with law enforcement to return millions to victims.

Risk Controls

User accounts benefit from security measures like AES-256 encryption, mandatory two-factor authentication, and cold storage, though advanced features like whitelisted addresses, sub-accounts, or granular API permissions are not emphasized.

The platform enforces automated AML checks, address whitelisting for Pro users, and KYC triggers as needed. However, it doesn’t offer typical user security features such as 2FA, sub-accounts, granular API permissions, or anti-phishing tools.

Transparency

Unocoin does not publish regular reserve audits or monthly transparency reports, nor does it provide public wallet addresses or a formal uptime/service-level agreement (SLA).

ChangeNOW publishes trust-focused updates—highlighting recovered funds and AML activity—but does not provide continuous transparency tools like public wallets, monthly reserve reports, or service-level agreements (SLAs).

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Unocoin supports INR deposits via NEFT/RTGS/IMPS and unique virtual bank accounts, with daily minimums of around ₹100 (instant) or ₹1,000 (bank transfers) and maxima in the lakhs to crores range; funds typically hit your account within the hour when using virtual deposit, while traditional transfers may take longer.

ChangeNOW facilitates fiat-to-crypto purchases through third-party partners such as Simplex, Transak, and Guardarian, enabling payment via Visa/MasterCard, Apple/Google Pay, SEPA, SWIFT, PIX, Revolut, and more. Minimum purchase amounts typically start around $50 (or equivalent), with no firm maximum on classic exchanges, and most transactions finalize within minutes though timing can vary by provider and method.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Unocoin requires full identity verification—including PAN card, address proof, and selfie—before enabling deposits, withdrawals, and trading; there are no multi-level tiers like basic or advanced, just one verified status that unlocks all functions.

ChangeNOW generally operates registration-free and KYC-free for smaller transactions, but it may prompt identity verification via its third-party partner if transactions are large or flagged. Completing KYC under the Pro tier unlocks higher transaction and withdrawal limits, rate advantages, and additional Pro features, with verification typically processed in minutes.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals incur dynamic network fees and are processed on standard blockchain networks (e.g., ERC-20 or TRC-20 where supported), while INR withdrawals to your linked bank account are fee-free and usually settled via NEFT/RTGS/IMPS according to banking times; specific per-coin limits are not prominently published.

On-chain crypto withdrawals occur across supported networks—like ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20, etc.—and are processed in real time based on network conditions; there are no preset withdrawal limits for classic exchanges, though Pro users may benefit from elevated thresholds.

Customer Support

Support is available through email, a help-center ticket system, and social channels; there’s no 24/7 live chat, and while Unocoin offers a knowledge base with FAQs, user feedback suggests response times are moderate rather than instant.

ChangeNOW offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email/ticket systems, backed by a comprehensive help center. Response times are generally quick (particularly via live chat), and its self-help knowledge base covers most common topics—though dedicated response patience may vary depending on case complexity.

Languages & Localization

The platform is localized for Indian users with English as the primary interface language and prices displayed in INR—not in euros or dollars—and it operates under India’s local crypto regulatory environment.

The platform supports multiple languages (around 15) and displays pricing in common fiat formats (€, $, etc.), offering localized experiences in many regions; however, availability of features and compliance may differ by jurisdiction.

App Quality & Stability

Unocoin’s mobile app (3.5/5 on Android) offers essential trading and wallet features, and while it is generally functional with regular updates, user reviews note occasional stability issues and room for performance improvements.

The ChangeNOW mobile apps are available on Android and iOS and deliver a streamlined experience for swaps; while formal crash-rate data isn’t public, user rankings are strong (around 4.7–4.8/5 on app stores), and the app receives regular updates to enhance performance and fix bugs.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Unocoin boasts a clean, beginner-focused interface that makes getting started in crypto straightforward, though it doesn’t offer differentiated “Lite” or “Pro” modes; the unified experience emphasizes simplicity across both web and mobile platforms.

The platform features a clean, intuitive interface ideal for beginners—swaps proceed in just a few clicks—while the Pro tier introduces a richer dashboard with transaction history, analytics, cashback tracking, and more advanced features tailored to power users

Performance

The platform generally handles everyday trading efficiently with responsive order execution, but users have reported occasional delays during peak volatility and in processing KYC verifications when market activity surges.

ChangeNOW delivers near-instant swap execution thanks to its aggregator model, even during volatile periods; KYC processing within Pro remains efficient, and there’s no known backlog during bull-market surges.

Education

Unocoin provides a comprehensive beginner-focused trading course—covering theory, strategy, and technical analysis—but it doesn’t include demo accounts, simulators, or educational content in Spanish.

While there’s no formal academy or simulation tools, ChangeNOW provides educational articles (especially via its blog) covering topics like crypto strategy and security practices—though Spanish content appears limited

Community

There’s an active affiliate/referral program and initiatives like community seminars and events, though the platform does not appear to run official forums or Discord/Telegram channels.

Community engagement centers around Telegram, Twitter Spaces AMAs, and blogs; additionally, ChangeNOW rewards referrals with customizable affiliate links offering commission—developers and partners can integrate swaps via widget, API, or bot for seamless referrals

Integrations

Unocoin supports TradingView-style charts on its platform and exposes an API via third-party integrations like SnapTrade, but it lacks built-in support for external bots or purpose-built tax/accounting tools.

ChangeNOW offers a robust API with 99.99% uptime and sub-second response times, enabling integration into bots, widgets, or partner platforms; while there’s no native TradingView or tax tool, users can export swap history via CSV for external accounting or analytics

Who Each One Is Best For

This platform is ideal for Indian beginners looking for a simple, mobile-friendly entry into crypto, whereas advanced or international traders may find its feature set and localization too basic for their needs.

The platform shines for users who seek fast, private, no-frills crypto swaps—regular users will appreciate the simplicity of the Lite experience, while frequent traders and businesses benefit from Pro’s added tools, cashback, loans, and AML features.