Coins.Ph vs Changenow: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Coins.Ph 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

Coins.Ph

Changenow

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Coins.Ph is ideal if:

Beginners & Everyday Users: Ideal for users seeking a safe, intuitive mobile wallet that integrates crypto trading with daily tasks like bill payments and mobile top-ups.
Philippines-Based Users: Perfect if you're operating primarily in the Philippines and want a regulated, locally compliant hub for both crypto and fiat transactions.
Casual to Moderate Traders: Great for casual or moderate trading needs with straightforward tools—Coins Pro adds more control, but advanced features remain limited.

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.

Coins.Ph isn’t ideal if:

Global Traders & Non-Regional Users: Limited availability—primarily restricted to the Philippines and Thailand—so it's not a fit if you're outside those markets.
Advanced Traders: Lacks advanced tools like margin trading, passive income options, or demo features, which may limit strategic trading capabilities.
Users Needing High Trust: Some users report frequent negative feedback and unresolved support issues, potentially affecting reliability.

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

Coins.ph uses a tiered maker-taker model where fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume grows, and there is no native token to grant additional fee discounts—just volume-based VIP tier reductions.

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

At present, Coins.ph does not offer any futures or derivatives trading, so there are no maker/taker or funding fees associated with these instruments.

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

While you can use the “Convert” feature for zero headline fees, spreads still apply and reflect global market conditions, and such spreads may be wider on liquid pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT.

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 Philippine Pesos using methods like InstaPay, PESONet, or over-the-counter remittance centers, each with its own handling fee structure and typical processing times ranging from near-instant for e-wallets to same-day or next-day for cash pickups.

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

Cryptocurrency withdrawals are subject to network fees that are dynamic per blockchain—displayed clearly before you confirm a withdrawal—and these vary by coin (e.g., BTC, ETH, TRX) and network congestion, rather than being fixed by the platform.

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 minimal hidden costs—currency conversions happen at market-informed rates, there’s no explicit inactivity fee or premium for faster KYC, but conversion spreads may still subtly affect your effective rate.

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

If you were to buy around €500 worth of BTC using the Convert tool, you’d see no trading fee but an implicit spread in the exchange rate, and when withdrawing on-chain you’d pay the network fee displayed—so your total cost would be the combined effect of that spread plus the network fee on top of your purchase.

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

Coins.ph offers support for over 50 cryptocurrencies in its basic offering, alongside more than 90 spot trading pairs on Coins Pro, including the top 20 by liquidity in leading crypto-to-PHP and USDT combinations.

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

The platform provides straightforward spot trading and “Convert” functionality, and includes features like crypto-leveraged lending; however, it does not support margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, copy-trading, grid bots, automatic DCA, or staking/earn products.

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

While exact 24-hour volume and order book depth figures are not publicly shared, the platform handles robust local trading activity in key pairs like BTC and ETH, supported by competitive pricing, though it is not designed as a deep-liquidity venue like major global exchanges.

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

Coins Pro offers essential tools including limit, market, stop-limit, and stop-market order types, and integrates TradingView charts; it also provides REST/FIX APIs, although alerting, OCO orders, or more advanced charting remain limited.

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

Several advanced trading features such as derivatives or earning products are unavailable outside the Philippines and Thailand, as the platform’s expanded offerings are geo-restricted based on regulatory boundaries.

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

Coins.ph includes features like Launchpool for new token projects and supports flexible or locked crypto-leveraged lending, but currently does not offer formal staking launchpads or earn-program variations commonly found on global platforms.

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

The platform is operated by Betur Inc., also associated with DCPay Philippines Inc., legally registered and headquartered in the Philippines, with operations dating back to its virtual asset and e-money licensing between 2016 and 2017 under BSP oversight.

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

Coins.ph holds multiple licenses under Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas—including remittance agent, electronic money issuer (EMI), and virtual asset service provider (VASP)—and complies with the Anti-Money Laundering Act, ensuring full regulatory alignment.

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

Custody of fiat-backing assets, particularly for its PHPC stablecoin, is handled via segregated local bank accounts, supported by internal audit-based proof of reserves attestations showing assets meet or exceed liabilities.

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

There is no formal insurance protection or deposit insurance for cryptocurrency holdings—virtual assets are not covered by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, underscoring the importance of regulatory compliance but no insured guarantee.

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

The exchange faced a notable incident in late 2023 when a hack led to an XRP shortfall, which was flagged in their audited financial statements as a “going concern,” though recovery efforts are underway and capital solutions are being pursued by management.

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

The platform implements standard security measures such as SSL encryption and AES-256 data protection, along with user-controlled risk mechanisms including two-factor authentication and biometric logins, though advanced features like API permissions or sub-account segregation are limited.

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

Coins.ph is subject to regular BSP audits, especially for proof of reserves and operational security, but does not publish public monthly financial reports or provide transparent SLA details—suggesting strong regulatory visibility but modest public reporting.

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

Coins.ph lets users cash in via bank transfers (InstaPay, PESONet) or over-the-counter outlets; minimums and maximums vary by method and verification level, with near-instant timing for e-wallets and same- or next-day processing for banks or OTC.

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)

There are tiered verification levels—Basic (limited access, small buy/sell only), Identity Verified (ID + selfie), and Enhanced (adds income proof)—each unlocking progressively higher deposit and withdrawal limits based entirely on your verification status.

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

Withdrawals are available once Identity Verified, subject to daily/monthly caps; timing and network options vary by method (e.g. blockchain networks for crypto or bank/OTC for fiat), and network choice must match to avoid loss.

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 offered via in-app chat (around 7 AM–9 PM daily), email/contact forms, and phone lines, alongside a robust help center—response times are typically same-day, supported by a detailed knowledge base for self-service.

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 interface is primarily in English, with fees and balances displayed in Philippine Peso (₱)—users won’t see €/USD unless using external conversion tools; the platform is tailored for local regulatory and user context.

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

The mobile app receives regular updates and improvements, with stable performance and few reported crashes, ensuring users enjoy a smooth experience on both iOS and Android.

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

The app offers a clean, intuitive interface that’s ideal for beginners, with a seamless transition into a more advanced Coins Pro mode offering richer trading tools once you’re ready to level up.

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

Order execution is smooth in most conditions, though during high-volatility or promotional periods slight delays or temporary spikes in KYC processing may occur, though system stability remains largely consistent.

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

Coins.ph features an in-house “Academy” with clear educational materials and crypto basics, but it lacks live demo trading or simulators and does not currently provide Spanish-language content.

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

The platform supports an active community via its official Telegram channels and social media, and it also runs a referral program that rewards users for inviting friends, though it does not host independent public forums.

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

Coins.ph integrates TradingView-style charts, but lacks support for external trading bots, tax reporting tools, or formal accounting integrations—making it lightweight but less extensible for advanced workflows.dates

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

Coins.ph is best suited for newcomers, casual users, and Filipino-based everyday users who want a user-friendly ecosystem combining crypto, payments, and digital finance in one app.

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.