ChangeNOW vs ChangeHero 2025
As crypto adoption grows, more users want exchanges that don’t require accounts, let you keep custody of your funds, and deliver a swap in minutes. Two names that stand out are СhangeNOW and ChangeHero.
At first glance, they look alike: both are non-custodial, sign-up free, promising quick swaps with fiat on/off ramps and beginner-friendly flow [1] [2].
In this article, we’ll compare them across fees, assets, speed, UX, support, and trust.
By the end, you’ll know which platform fits better depending on your value of variety, fiat access or simplicity.
Key Takeaways
- ChangeNOW: Supports a broad spectrum of crypto and fiat currencies, fixed and floating rates, offers permanent wallet addresses and Pro account with perks such as cashback, and executes swaps just in minutes. Trustpilot: 4.5★ with thousands of reviews [5].
- ChangeHero: Simpler overall, with fewer assets, gives you the choice between fixed and floating rates. The interface is clean and minimalistic, though swaps usually take a little longer. On Trustpilot it’s rated 4.3★ based on a smaller but steady user base.
- Both are non–custodial and require no registration. KYC pops up only if a transaction is flagged for compliance.
Let’s have a look at the comparison sheet.
Comparison sheet
Feature | ChangeNOW | ChangeHero |
---|---|---|
Platform Type | Instant, no sign-up. Mobile/web. | Web only. Simple flow. No mandatory sign-up. |
Fees & Pricing | Transparent. Fees already included in the displayed rate. The final rate reflects market conditions. Fixed rates include ~0.7–1% markup [9]. | Fixed rates include ~0.7–1% markup [9]. |
Supported Assets | ~1,400+ crypto assets and over 1M pairs. 60+ fiat currencies via Visa, Mastercard, SEPA, Apple Pay, Google Pay, local providers [1]. | ~250+ crypto assets, 40,000+ pairs listed (as of September 25, 2025) [7]. Fiat: mainly USD/EUR/JPY. Card-based purchases and selected local providers. |
Swap Transaction Speed | ~2 minutes average [11]. Delays possible for large transactions or congested chains. | Average ~5 minutes. Depends heavily on asset, network, and load. |
AML/KYC Policy | No mandatory KYC. Only if flagged. Publishes AML studies [1][3]. | Some users report AML checks. No official case studies are published. |
UX & Apps | Beginner-friendly interface, iOS + Android apps. | Simple, web–only UI. Predictable swap flow. |
Customer Support | 24/7 multilingual support (15+) via live chat, email, ticket system etc. Praised for effective assistance, including fund recovery [1]. | Support available; branded "SupportHeroes”. Responsiveness good for basic queries; for more complex issues sometimes slower [2]. |
Unique Features | Pro account (staking, loans, cashback), permanent addresses, B2B APIs, clear fixed/floating rate options. | Bug bounty program; clear fixed/floating rate options. |
Summary: both platforms enable non-custodial swaps. СhangeNOW combines simplicity with scale offering a beginner-friendly flow plus broader asset and fiat coverage, along with extra features for those who want them. СhangeHero narrows the focus to clean design and predictable fixed rates, making it especially appealing for first-time users.
Summary: both platforms enable non-custodial swaps. СhangeNOW combines simplicity with scale offering a beginner-friendly flow plus broader asset and fiat coverage, along with extra features for those who want them. СhangeHero narrows the focus to clean design and predictable fixed rates, making it especially appealing for first-time users.
1. Fees & Pricing
On ChangeNOW, what you see is what you pay. Rates are inclusive: displayed prices include fees and network costs. Users may choose floating (market-linked) or fixed (locked in quote) rates. Minimum swap sizes start around $2 for most coins [3]. ChangeHero charges a low fee of 0.5% for the Best Rate transactions and 0.7% for the Fixed Rate exchanges [9].
2. Supported Assets & Fiat Options
ChangeNOW offers one of the largest crypto selections in the industry with more than 1,400 assets and over 1 million trading pairs. Beyond leading coins like BTC, ETH, and stablecoins, ChangeNOW supports:
- Meme coins (DOGE, SHIB, PEPE) for speculative traders and users
- DeFi tokens (UNI, AAVE, CRV, COMP) powering lending and DEX ecosystems
- GameFi & Metaverse tokens (AXS, SAND, MANA, GALA)
- Wrapped assets (WBTC, WETH, renBTC) for cross-chain liquidity
- Ecosystem coins (ATOM, DOT, ADA, SOL) with staking or governance use cases
- Specialized Portals for meme coins and DeFi tokens, offering quick access to trading assets
On the fiat side, ChangeNOW accepts 60+ national currencies, including major (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY) and emerging market currencies (BRL, INR, MXN). Supported methods include:
- Visa & Mastercard (worldwide)
- SEPA transfers (EU)
- Apple Pay & Google Pay
- Regional providers tailored to local markets
ChangeHero, by contrast, focuses on a smaller but straightforward set of around 250+ cryptocurrencies and 40,000+ pairs (as of September 2025). While it doesn’t match ChangeNOW’s depth, it covers all the major market coins (BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, ADA, SOL, TRX, DOGE, USDT) and most popular ERC-20 tokens. Provides a dedicated on-ramp and off-ramp service. Users can buy or sell crypto with 40+ fiat currencies according to the exchange calculator [17]. Local payment methods are supported depending on the region (e.g., PIX in Brazil, Spei in Mexico, BriVa in Indonesia). Supported methods include credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Revolut Pay, and third-party providers such as FinchPay and Mercuryo.
3. Swap Transaction Speed
ChangeNOW processes most swaps completing in about 2 minutes, according to the company’s official blog, Сryptopolian and Coin Gape articles [11] [4]. Delays are rare but possible during network congestion or larger transactions. The platform explains that delays can occur during high blockchain congestion or when processing large-value transactions, but in most cases the system aims for near-instant settlement. The service’s wide liquidity partnerships help maintain speed even under network load.
ChangeHero provides a more conservative time window. According to its official swaps transaction info, “Best rate” swaps usually take around 5–30 minutes, depending on the asset, network, and market volatility [12].
In practice, user reviews suggest the majority of transactions settle closer to the lower end (~4–5 minutes), but spikes in volatility or slower blockchains can extend confirmation times. The platform positions this as a predictable process, trading some speed for stability.
4. Security & Trust
ChangeNOW is a fully non–custodial platform, which means your funds move directly between your wallet and the exchange, never stored on the platform. Automated risk prevention and KYC is triggered only if required by compliance via SumSub. Beyond just policies, ChangeNOW has demonstrated transparency by publicly sharing case studies of fraudulent transactions it helped prevent. For instance, in one case [13], ChangeNOW intercepted and returned $100,000 worth of XRP that criminals attempted to launder through fake “Ripple giveaways”. This not only helped victims recover their assets but also showcased how the platform actively collaborates to protect the ecosystem.
ChangeHero is also non-custodial, meaning funds go directly to user wallets without being held by the service. Some swaps may trigger AML/KYC checks based on a risk-scoring system, and the company reserves the right to involve third-party providers. However, ChangeHero does not disclose who these providers are [18], nor does it publish official AML case studies. While its framework follows standard security practices, it lacks the same level of public transparency and documented success stories.
5. Privacy
ChangeNOW does not require an account. Only wallet address and amount are needed; email optional. KYC triggered only if flagged [14].
ChangeHero follows the same model; full KYC only if compliance issues arise [15].
We continue our comparison of ChangeHero and ChangeNOW. So far, we’ve looked at fees, the number of supported coins, security, and more. Next, we’ll explore what users think about each platform and take a closer look at their B2B solutions. Our reviews are based on a methodology you can check out here: https://changenow.io/blog/review-methodology
6. Customer Support and Real User Opinions
ChangeNOW provides support 24/7 via live chat, email, ticket system, Telegram and it's available in 15 languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Persian, Arab, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Turkish [1]. The support team is not limited to answering basic questions, according to the official blog [3] and TrustPilot reviews [5], they’ve successfully guided users through complex cases such as resolving stuck swaps and assisting with fund recovery.
One notable case: ChangeNOW’s automated monitoring flagged a phishing-related transfer linked to a fake Uniswap app. The suspicious transaction was withheld, and 60 ETH were ultimately returned to the rightful owner. This is a real example of support and security working together to protect victims [16].
Trustpilot rating: ~4.5★(12,700+ reviews). Users often note smooth fiat transactions and responsive support [5].
Once, a customer reported feeling "deceived" because they received less crypto than expected during their swap. They claimed the final payout was lower than what they anticipated. ChangeNOW replied the same day, clarifying that:
- The amount received always matches what is shown on the final confirmation screen before the user sends their deposit.
- The issue most likely stemmed from using the “standard rate exchange” option, where rates can fluctuate slightly due to market movements during processing.
- They encouraged users to double-check the displayed rate before confirming.
Support invited the customer to provide their transaction ID for a deeper investigation and assured them of ChangeNOW’s commitment to smooth experiences. This highlights one of the main challenges of instant exchanges – crypto market volatility. While ChangeNOW gave a transparent explanation and showed willingness to investigate further, this case demonstrates that misunderstandings about fixed vs. floating rates can lead to dissatisfaction.
ChangeHero also provides 24/7 support with a unique twist: “SupportHeroes” [2]. It currently supports three languages: English, French and Russian. Their assistance is generally fast and friendly, the focus tends to be on straightforward issues like delays or clarifications.
Trustpilot rating: 4.3★ (400+ reviews). Users appreciate its simplicity and reliability. Some point out the smaller selection of assets [6].
However some users report slower responses in urgent matters. For instance, a TrustPilot reviewer described how their BSV → ADA swap was delayed for 48 hours without clear updates, explaining that a technical issue with deposit detection caused the delay and that the order had been processed, recommending users use live chat for urgent requests. The case was settled, but it illustrates that handling more complicated matters may take longer.
7. Unique Features
ChangeNOW has evolved beyond being a simple swap service, offering a suite of advanced tools and perks for active users:
- Permanent Exchange Addresses simplifies repeat transactions by allowing users to reuse addresses for frequent swaps.
- ChangeNOW Pro account with premium utilities, including:
- Cashback rewards in NOW tokens for completed swaps.
- Staking of NOW tokens, enabling passive income.
- Crypto loans that let users leverage holdings without selling assets.
- Specialized Portals for meme coins and DeFi tokens, offering quick access to trending assets.
- NOW Token is an internal utility token that unlocks discounts, staking, governance proposals, and cashback.
- Hardware & Software Wallet integrations (e.g. Trezor Ledger, Guarda), which proves that even large partners trust the service.
- Fiat side: users can buy or sell crypto directly with credit cards and bank transfers.
These additions make ChangeNOW more than just a basic swap service, appealing to active users.
ChangeHero takes a different route, prioritizing simplicity and security:
- Through its bug-bounty program ChangeHero invites ethical white-hat hackers to test the system and help to strengthen its security.
- Does not overload users with tools, instead offering a straightforward setup suitable for basic swaps.
- By encouraging external audits through its Bug Bounty Program, ChangeHero has built a community-driven security model, where vulnerabilities should be found and fixed proactively.
Business Use Cases
ChangeNOW extends beyond individual swaps and caters strongly to business and developer needs, positioning itself as a flexible B2B partner:
- White-label solutions for companies aiming to launch their own crypto exchange
- Merchant tools to accept crypto payments in different currencies
- NOW Wallet and NOWPayments integrations to simplify transactions across platforms (websites, apps, and wallets)
- Referral Program gives you the opportunity to generate revenue through links, widgets, or even embedded exchange modules that integrate directly into their platforms
- Customizable API Access allows developers to build advanced crypto functionalities into apps and trading systems
This set of tools may be useful for active users and traders to B2B partners who need more flexibility, but also startups, merchants, and financial platforms that want to expand into crypto without building everything from scratch.
ChangeHero keeps its business offering simpler, focusing on accessibility over scale:
- API Integration enables websites and wallet providers to add crypto swap functionality with minimal setup
- A referral-based affiliate program is suitable for influencers, bloggers or small partners who want to earn by sharing links and promotions.
While ChangeNOW’s toolkit, ChangeHero offers a low-barrier entry point for solo creators, smaller projects, and businesses that don't need advanced merchant or white-label exchanges.
Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
ChangeNOW and ChangeHero remain strong options in the non-custodial swap market, but they serve slightly different audiences in 2025.
Both ChangeNOW and ChangeHero deliver on their promise of fast, non-custodial crypto swaps, but they shine in different ways. ChangeNOW positions itself as a versatile, full-scale platform with broad asset and fiat coverage, advanced tools, and business integrations. It suits users who want speed, variety, and extra features like staking, cashback, and merchant solutions. ChangeHero takes a simpler approach, keeping the process clean. Its minimalistic design, fixed and floating rate options, and focus on security make it especially appealing to newbies and those who just want quick, reliable swaps without distractions.
In short: ChangeNOW is built for users who value scale and flexibility, while ChangeHero is tailored for those who prefer simplicity and predictability. Both remain safe and trusted choices in 2025.
Bottom line:
- ChangeNOW is the go-to for users who want variety, speed, and advanced features.
- ChangeHero is best for those who value simplicity, predictable swaps, and a no-frills experience. Both are safe, non-custodial, and trusted by their communities in 2025.
Resources
This comparison is based on publicly available data, official documentation, and content from reputable sources:
- ChangeNOW Blog – FixedFloat vs ChangeNOW: Features, Fees, and User Experience Compared
- ChangeHero Blog – ChangeHero’s Achievements in 2024
- ChangeNOW Asset Listing – Official list of supported cryptocurrencies
- Coin Gape – ChangeNOW introduces Sub-2-minute swaps - Redefines Crypto Speed Standards
- Trustpilot – ChangeNOW user reviews
- Trustpilot – ChangeHero user reviews
- About ChangeHero
- ChangeHero’s Bug Bounty Program
- FAQ – ChangeHero
- СhangeNOW Meme-Coins Portal
- Cryptopolitan – ChangeNOW Redefines Crypto Speed Standards with Sub-2-Minute Swaps
- ChangeHero’s Exchange Transaction Timing
- Ripple Giveaway and ChangeNOW – Medium
- ChangeNOW – Registration Requirement
- ChangeHero Legal – Terms of Use
- ChangeNOW Recovers 60 ETH from Phishing Scam | Crypto AML in Action
- ChangeHero’s Exchange Calculator
- ChangeHero – Anti-Money Laundering and KYC Policies
- Fiat-to-Crypto On-Ramp on ChangeHero: Overview & Updates