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

Trying to choose between Wazirx 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

Wazirx

Changenow

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

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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Wazirx is ideal if:

Great for INR-based traders seeking seamless deposits and withdrawals via Indian banking rails and P2P exchanges.
Ideal if you value a clear, user-friendly interface and mobile app with advanced charts and straightforward navigation.
Perfect choice when you want a local platform with global reach, offering many cryptocurrencies plus features like WRX-token incentives and Smart Token Fund partnerships.

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.

Wazirx isn’t ideal if:

If you rely on instant crypto withdrawals, this platform may not suit you due to ongoing limitations and partial access issues following recent security events.
If you're an advanced technical analyst, you'll likely find the charting tools and order types (e.g. no market orders) too simplistic for complex trading strategies.
If you need responsive customer support, WazirX may fall short—user feedback points to frequent delays and limited support channels.

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

WazirX uses a tiered maker/taker model where fees decrease based on 30-day trading volume and WRX token holdings, encouraging active trading and WRX ownership for ongoing fee discounts.

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

WazirX currently focuses exclusively on spot trading and does not offer futures or derivatives, so there are no maker/taker or funding fees associated with those 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

Liquid pair spreads like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT are typically narrow and market-competitive, reflecting high liquidity and fast matching, without meaningful average spread markup.

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

INR fiat deposits and withdrawals work through local Indian banking channels (such as UPI and NEFT/IMPS), with generally quick processing for deposits and moderate processing times for withdrawals, depending on banking partners and verification status.

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 use dynamic network fees that adjust based on blockchain congestion, meaning the cost varies across networks like BTC, ETH, or TRX rather than a flat fixed rate.

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 few hidden costs—minor currency conversion charges may apply if depositing or withdrawing in a non-INR currency, and expedited account verification might help speed processes but doesn’t incur extra public fees.

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

Buying €500 worth of BTC would involve paying a trading fee (discountable via WRX token), a tight market spread, and then paying a dynamic blockchain withdrawal fee to transfer the BTC on-chain—resulting in a slightly lower net BTC amount received than the €500 spent.

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

WazirX lists over 250 to 300 cryptocurrencies and supports hundreds of trading pairs, with its top 20 pairs generally involving major coins like BTC, ETH, and USDT in high-volume 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 is focused mainly on spot trading, P2P markets, NFT marketplace and copy-style features like Smart Token Fund, and doesn’t offer margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, staking, loans, or automated bots like grid or DCA.

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

BTC and ETH markets benefit from deep liquidity powered by connection to Binance, meaning order books are healthy and 24-hour volume remains solid for core pairs—creating tight spreads and swift execution.

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

WazirX provides limit and stop-limit orders, alert notifications, integrated TradingView charts, and API/WebSocket access, offering a robust toolkit for spot traders without overly complex derivatives features.

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

Some advanced products like derivatives and lending aren’t available globally; WazirX restricts offerings based on user location and compliance rules, limiting access to certain tools in select jurisdictions.

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

The platform includes creative features like a Smart Token Fund (akin to copy trading) and occasionally hosts token launch initiatives, while its P2P liquidity engine remains a standout innovation in fiat-to-crypto access.

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

WazirX is operated by Zanmai Labs Pvt. Ltd., founded in 2018 and headquartered in Mumbai, India, with its crypto operations under Zettai Pte. Ltd. based in Singapore for restructuring purposes.

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

While India currently lacks formal crypto licensing, WazirX aligns with VASP-style requirements under FIU-India rules and is increasingly moving toward global compliance readiness, including potential future MiCA adherence.

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

User assets are held in a mix of on-chain wallets and third-party custodians, with an internal and third-party-verified Proof of Reserves system to back solvency and asset holdings, supported by periodic audits and real-time transparency dashboards.

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

The exchange is actively pursuing third-party custodial solutions offering insurance coverage, and its recovery plan includes allocating a portion of trading fees into a user protection reserve.

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

In July 2024, WazirX suffered a major hack resulting in loss of over $230 million and suspensions of trading and withdrawals, prompting a restructuring process and implementation of new custody and recovery systems.

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

Security measures include mandatory 2FA (via SMS, email, authenticator apps, or even biometrics), anti-phishing alerts, and internal protocols—though features like API permission granularity and sub-accounts remain 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

WazirX issues regular transparency reports and complies fully with law enforcement inquiries; it also publishes wallet data and Proof of Reserves dashboards, though SLA metrics and public wallet tracking remain periodically updated rather than real time.

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

WazirX accepts INR deposits via UPI, IMPS, NEFT, and RTGS, with minimums as low as ₹100 and maximums up to ₹50 lakh per transaction; UPI deposits are instant, while bank transfer methods usually complete within a few hours during business hours, up to a maximum of around 72 hours.

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)

WazirX applies a tiered Re-KYC process annually with varying document requirements; basic identity validation unlocks most features, and advanced verification may be prompted for higher volumes or full-feature access, with timing ranging from instant to up to 72 hours.

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

INR withdrawals are processed via linked bank accounts only, with no third-party transfers allowed; withdrawals typically clear within a few hours up to 72 hours depending on the bank, and fees differ by transfer mode (e.g. NEFT vs instant). Crypto withdrawals allow network-specific address tagging, especially for assets like XRP/XLM, and fees are dynamic based on blockchain conditions.

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

WazirX offers in-app live chat around the clock, along with email and blog support, plus dedicated phone support Monday to Sunday during Indian daytime hours; response times vary but the chat feature and support center help ensure timely assistance.

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 fully localized for English speakers, displays amounts in INR but allows traders to conceptualize values in € or $ mentally, and operates under Indian regulatory guidelines—even though fiat is exclusively INR-based.

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 is stable and well-maintained, with frequent updates and minimal reported crashes—keeping enhancements rolling smoothly for a reliable user experience.

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

WazirX’s revamped 3.0 interface delivers a clean, intuitive layout with order book and open orders adjacent to trading, requiring minimal learning effort for both beginners and experienced traders.

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 latency is generally responsive and smooth thanks to streamlined UI, though users may occasionally notice slower response or brief interface lag during extreme market volatility or peak traffic 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

WazirX offers a “Learn & Earn” campaign with quizzes tied to real trading, plus a dedicated Crypto Learning Zone and partner educational programs, but lacks a simulated demo or practice account for risk-free trading.

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

WazirX maintains an active presence on social platforms like Telegram and Reddit, runs educational contests and “Learn & Earn” campaigns, and supports referral programs to incentivize user growth.

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

Traders benefit from integrated TradingView-style charts and API access, while official support for third-party bots or tax-accounting tools is limited—though the platform’s API allows flexible automation for developers.

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

WazirX suits crypto novices who want a clear and efficient interface with educational rewards, and suits mid-tier traders comfortable with API tools—but is less ideal for those needing a virtual demo, heavy automation, or advanced pro-trader environments.

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.