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

Trying to choose between Simpleswap 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

Simpleswap

Changenow

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Simpleswap is ideal if:

Great for quick, no-registration swaps: Ideal if you want to exchange coins swiftly and privately, without creating an account or going through KYC.
Perfect for privacy-focused users: Its non‑custodial design helps you maintain full control over your assets throughout the transaction.
Suited for users exploring a wide range of coins: Offers an expansive selection of crypto assets—from mainstream to lesser-known altcoins—making it handy for flexibility and experimentation.

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.

Simpleswap isn’t ideal if:

Not for beginners needing fiat on-ramps: If you don’t already own crypto, SimpleSwap doesn’t support seamless fiat-to-crypto purchases without extra partner steps.
Limited for advanced traders: No margin, futures, charting tools, or sophisticated order types—only basic instant swaps.
Less suitable during network congestion: Transactions can slow when blockchains are busy, affecting speed and predictability.

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

SimpleSwap doesn’t distinguish between maker and taker fees—instead, all costs are embedded within the quoted exchange rate, so there are no separate fee tiers or native-token discounts to worry about.

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

SimpleSwap does not offer futures or other derivatives at all, so there are no associated maker, taker, or funding fees to consider.

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

Spread details aren’t openly published, but market comparisons suggest a mark-up hovering around 1.2%, meaning the price you see already includes a slight premium over market rates.

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

Fiat transactions are handled via a partner (like Mercuryo), typically using Visa or Mastercard, with fees built into the exchange rate and shown upfront—there’s no platform-stated flat rate or set timing for processing.

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

There’s no separate withdrawal fee charged by SimpleSwap—only the blockchain’s own network (gas) fees apply, which vary by network and reflect real-time congestion levels.

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 inactive-account fees or express-KYC charges; any currency conversion or rate-related cost is already baked into the exchange price, so you face no surprises beyond the displayed 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 exchange €500 to BTC, the platform displays the rate including a small mark-up (around 1–2%) at the time, and then the final BTC received reflects that pricing, minus network fees; there are no extra line-item charges added afterward.

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

SimpleSwap supports over 1,500 cryptocurrency assets for instant swaps; while there’s no public list of the top 20 by trading volume, it’s safe to infer that mainstream heavyweights like BTC, ETH, USDT-based pairs, and other popular altcoins lead the most frequently exchanged.

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

SimpleSwap is designed solely for instant, spot crypto-to-crypto swaps and staking through integrated programs; it does not offer margin, futures/perps, options, crypto ETFs, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA features.

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

Exact liquidity metrics like 24-hour trading volume or order-book depth aren’t published, but SimpleSwap sources liquidity from multiple partner exchanges, enabling smooth execution for BTC and ETH swaps via aggregation rather than a unified internal book.

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

The platform is minimalist—neither limit nor OCO orders are available beyond fixed-and-floating rate swaps; it lacks advanced charting or alerts, though it does offer integration tools like APIs and widgets rather than a native TradingView interface.

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

Since SimpleSwap doesn’t offer derivatives, there are no region-based limitations on those products specifically, but its fiat-to-crypto service is restricted in a set of countries flagged by regulatory or partner 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

While SimpleSwap doesn’t run launchpads or launchpools, it does innovate in passive earning via its loyalty and affiliate programs, offering flexible cashback and staking-like benefits rather than locking funds into fixed-term products.

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

SimpleSwap is operated by SimpleSwap Limited, established in 2018 and based in George Town, Cayman Islands, functioning under that jurisdiction while also listing a U.S. office in San Francisco for support operations.

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

The platform operates under money transmitter licenses where applicable, respecting relevant regulatory frameworks without explicitly holding licensing such as VASP registration or MiCA compliance, though its services may vary regionally to meet local requirements.

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

As a non-custodial exchange, SimpleSwap never holds user assets, reducing exposure to custodial risks; the platform does not currently offer public Proof of Reserves, cold reserve percentages, or external audit disclosures.

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 public program offering insured coverage or asset protection funds—security relies on infrastructure practices like SSL encryption and secure transaction channels rather than third-party insurance.

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

SimpleSwap has maintained a clean record—no documented security breaches, funds seizures, or regulatory enforcement actions appear in public sources, reflecting a history free from major incidents.

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 enforces strong security protocols including SSL encryption, optional two-factor authentication for added account safety, and compliance-driven KYC escalation in higher-risk cases; however, features like address whitelists, sub-accounts, granular API controls, or anti-phishing mechanisms are not prominently offered.

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

SimpleSwap does not provide regular reporting like monthly reports or SLAs, nor does it maintain public wallet addresses; its transparency relies on its non-custodial structure and clear service terms rather than open reserve disclosures or performance metrics.

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

SimpleSwap supports fiat deposits exclusively through its partner Mercuryo, typically via Visa or Mastercard, including virtual, debit, and credit cards, zero stated minimums or maximums, and instant payment processing, though processing limits are influenced by third-party policies.

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)

SimpleSwap enables anonymous crypto-to-crypto swaps without KYC, but using fiat services or large transactions may trigger partner-enforced identity verification (e.g., basic KYC via Mercuryo) depending on risk assessments, without predefined tiers disclosed.

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

Since SimpleSwap is non-custodial, withdrawals simply reflect on-chain transfers to your wallet, with no platform-imposed limits; completion typically takes between several minutes up to an hour depending on network load and chosen blockchain.

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

SimpleSwap offers 24/7 live chat and email support with generally fast response times, backed by a detailed FAQ and blog guides that serve as a robust self-help resource.

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 available in around 10 languages on the website (with app support in 6), displays pricing and rates in common fiat like EUR or USD based on your region, while service availability is tailored to local regulatory environments.

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

SimpleSwap’s mobile app is designed for smooth, user-friendly crypto swaps and applies the same core functionalities as the web platform; while precise crash rates aren’t published, user feedback reports high stability and ongoing updates to expand asset availability and app performance.

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

SimpleSwap’s interface shines with its minimalist design—there’s no “Lite” or “Pro” toggle, but the intuitive layout makes the learning curve nearly nonexistent, allowing users of all levels to initiate swaps quickly and effortlessly on both desktop and mobile.

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 executes instant swaps with low latency by sourcing multiple liquidity providers; while it doesn’t face order system overloads, swaps may take slightly longer during high blockchain congestion—there’s no bulk KYC process since accounts aren’t required.

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

SimpleSwap offers robust educational support via its blog, guides, and FAQs—but lacks demo or simulator tools; however, it caters to Spanish speakers with translated articles and interface options for enhanced accessibility.

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

Community engagement thrives through its ambassador and affiliate programs, offering users access to private Telegram groups, content support, and cashback incentives—though public forums or Discord channels aren’t prominently advertised.

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

SimpleSwap doesn’t embed TradingView charts or offer native bot support, but it does provide a transparent API and widget for smooth integration with external tools and developer workflows; no built-in tax or accounting tools are included.

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

SimpleSwap is ideal for both newcomers and seasoned crypto users who value instant, no-account swaps with strong privacy and multi-language support—especially useful when speed, simplicity, and broad coin access matter more than advanced trading tools.

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.