ChangeNOW Review: Crypto Swaps, Trading Fees & More
ChangeNOW Review: Crypto Swaps, Trading Fees & More
ChangeNOW is a well known and popular crypto swap platform that is used to instantly exchange one crypto to another, without limits or registration. Users have the luxury of swapping to over 170 different cryptocurrencies in a matter of minutes directly to your hardware wallet.
In this ChangeNOW review, we will assess the popular crypto trading platform used by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and provide an overview of its features, user-interface and trading fees.
While we aim to always provide you with accurate information, we suggest that you visit their site from time to time in case some updates occur afterward. So without further ado, let's jump into it!
Before getting started, we recommend using a Bitcoin hardware wallet such as the Ledger Nano X when trading cryptocurrency. If you don't have a wallet, read our guide on the best cryptocurrency hardware wallets.
What Is ChangeNOW?
ChangeNOW is a non-custodial service that is widely known for their instant and simple-to-use crypto-to-crypto service. The platform offers competitive trading fees, has over 170 cryptocurrencies available to exchange and does not hold any limits. You can swap as much crypto as you want such as Bitcoin to Ethereum or another cryptocurrency instantly and without any lengthy sign-up process. ChangeNOW allows you to buy cryptocurrency using a debit/credit card (Visa or MasterCard) through a third-party partner and receive directly to your hardware wallet.
How Does ChangeNOW Work?
ChangeNOW aggregates crypto prices from the world's largest and most popular trading exchanges. It will search for the best possible at the time price and locks it in until the user completes the transaction and it is confirmed on the blockchain.
To use ChangeNOW, follow these simple steps:
1- Select the currency you want to swap
2- Enter your wallet address
3- Review the details and confirm the transaction
4- Generate a deposit address and send crypto to that address
5- Receive your coins to your nominated hardware wallet
ChangeNOW Compared
Beginner friendly and ease of use are an important features on ChangeNOW. This comparison table lists other popular crypto exchanges that allows users to swap crypto instantly using a simple to use website.
Is ChangeNOW Legit?
ChangeNOW appears to be a legitimate crypto exchange service that has been operating since 2017. The online crypto platform has gained the trust of users from all over the world and continues to grow. The ChangeNOW platform and its mobile app attract hundreds of thousands of visitors monthly according to its website.
Is ChangeNOW Safe?
ChangeNOW appears to be a safe cryptocurrency exchange that is non-custodial. This means users’ funds are NOT stored by the platform which reduces the risk of fraud, theft and hackers. Suspicious user activity is detected on the platform, an internal risk management system will be triggered that will require the user to provide additional KYC verification.
How To Swap Cryptocurrency Using ChangeNOW
The process to exchange cryptocurrency on ChangeNOW is easy to do and even a beginner can swap crypto such as from Bitcoin to Ethereum in a matter of minutes. To start, users will need to visit the ChangeNOW website and use the widget on the homepage as shown below.
To swap crypto instantly, use the drop down arrow to select the cryptocurrency that you want to swap (or sell) and the amount. Then, following a similar process select the crypto you wish to buy. You will see that the amount will automatically populate in the 'You Get' box. The amount will differ depending on the rate you chose, which we will explain further in this review article. To proceed to the next step, click on 'Exchange'.
Here, the transaction details will appear again which you can choose to modify. Otherwise, you can enter in the address to send the cryptocurrency which you are about to purchase. It is best that you send the crypto direct to your hardware wallet, so enter in the address as shown below.
Once you have entered your wallet address where you will receive the cryptocurrency, the next step is to confirm the order. Before you confirm the order, ensure your wallet can accept that cryptocurrency. For example, if you want to purchase Ethereum, you will need to enter in your Ethereum address, not Bitcoin or another crypto. Otherwise, your coins can be lost and difficult to recover. Once you are satisfied with the order, accept the T&Cs and click on 'Confirm'.
The final step is to deposit the crypto that you want to sell (swap) to the ChangeNOW address. When your payment is completed, ChangeNOW will send the crypto to your designated wallet address. Orders take about 5-10 minutes to process, subject to the load on the blockchain network. If you don't receive anything in your wallet for a few hours, make sure to contact the ChangeNOW help desk.
Buy Crypto With A Debit / Credit Card
ChangeNOW acts as a fiat-to-crypto-exchange to allow users to purchase crypto with a fiat currency such as USD, GBP, AUD, NZD, JPY, EUR and many more. Users can purchase crypto on ChangeNOW using a debit card or credit card through their partnership with Simplex.
To buy crypto with a debit card, follow these simple steps:
1- Choose your currency from the widget (e.g. USD or EUR)
2- Enter the amount of fiat you want to spend and select the crypto you want to buy
3- ChangeNOW will calculate the estimated final amount with the best exchange rate
4- Review the rate displayed and the amount of crypto you will receive
5- Type in your cryptocurrency wallet address and email address
6- Fill in your debit/credit card details (i.e. VISA or Mastercard)
7- Complete the Simplex verification process and submit identification documents
8- Complete the transaction and receive the crypto directly in your wallet
ChangeNOW Fees
Swap Fees
Exchange fees need to be evaluated before deciding to use a cryptocurrency exchange. This is important when swapping a large amount of crypto to another crypto. The website does not state the crypto swap fees. However, based on our estimates, the conversion or swap fee appears to be between 0.5% to 1.5% (at the time of writing) which are included in the proposed swap.
Deposit & Withdrawal Fees
As ChangeNOW does not have its own wallet to store cryptocurrencies, there is no deposit or withdrawal fees. There is a minimum network fee that is determined by the blockchain. This fee varies depending on the network load and for each crypto coin.
Debit & Credit Card Fees
If you purchase cryptocurrency using a debit or credit card, there is an additional fee of approximately 5% is applied in addition to ChangeNOW's fee. Therefore, the overall fees to purchase crypto using the platform is quite high.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need To Complete Account Verification?
Yes, if you are using ChangeNOW to convert fiat currency into digital assets, you will need to complete a KYC process in accordance with financial regulations. To verify your account, the following documents can be uploaded:
- International passport
- National ID card
- Driving license
What Coins Are Available?
ChangeNOW supports over 170 cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, EOS, Stellar, Monero and many more. To view the full list of supported cryptocurrencies, you can visit the available coins page. The offering of coins is less than its competitors such as Exolix which has more than 326 coins that can be swapped.
What Countries Does ChangeNOW Support?
ChangeNOW is a supported exchange in the United States to buy crypto and other countries around the world such as the UK, Australia, Europe and Canada. If you are unsure whether ChangeNOW is available in your country, visit changenow.io/terms-of-use for more information.
Conclusion
To conclude our ChangeNOW review, using the online platform to swap crypto to crypto is simple and without any hassles or complications. The widget on the homepage is suited to investors of all ages and the best part is you do not have to create an account to swap crypto.
PROS
- - Simple and easy to use crypto swap service
- - Available in multiple countries worldwide
- - Supports over 170 cryptocurrencies
- - Transfer crypto directly to hardware wallet
- - Mobile trading app
CONS
- - Swap fees are a little high
- - 5% credit card surcharge
- - Limited deposit methods