Pick FixedFloat if you want a published fee (0.5% floating, 1% fixed), SideShift.ai if speed matters most, ChangeNOW or Changelly if you need to buy with a card, and SimpleSwap or StealthEX for long-tail tokens, provided your country is not on their block lists.
Checked on October 20, 2026. We compared 8 instant crypto exchanges, and every figure comes from the exchange’s own website, terms, FAQ or fee page.
None of these eight services is KYC-free in every case. All eight keep the right, in their own terms, to pause a swap, ask for documents and hold the funds during a review. The real differences are who gets checked by default, how long a hold can last and what getting your money back costs.
| Service | Fee model | Minimum swap | Coins (as stated) | KYC trigger | Account | Swap time (as stated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChangeNOW | Fixed or floating, fee built into rate, % not published | From about $2; under $10 may not process | 1,000+ | Mandatory for residents of the EU, US, Japan and 6 more; risk alerts for others | No (optional Pro) | About 1 min average |
| SimpleSwap | Fixed (20 min lock) or floating, from 0.2% on some assets | Varies by pair, can be $0.50 or less | 2,800+ | Red flags from monitoring, at its discretion | Optional | 1 to 60 min |
| Changelly | Floating: 0.25% of output; fixed: dynamic fee | Varies by pair ($20 on LTC to DOGE) | 1,000+ | Risk scoring flags a swap | Optional | 5 to 40 min |
| FixedFloat | Floating 0.5% or fixed 1%, plus network fee | Shown live (about $13 for BTC to ETH) | Not published | Suspected fraud or criminal funds | No | Not published |
| SideShift.ai | Fixed (15 min lock) or variable, fee in rate | Dynamic, $3 default floor | 300+ | Risk system flags deposit or address | Created automatically | About 56 sec on its BTC/ETH page |
| Exolix | Fixed (60 min lock) or floating, no separate fee | Varies by pair | Thousands across 200+ chains | Funds flagged as suspicious | No | 5 to 30 min |
| StealthEX | Fixed (20 min) or floating, % not published | Varies by pair | 2,000+ | Risk-based, before, during or after a swap | No | 5 to 30 min |
| GoDex | Fixed (30 min lock) or floating, about 0.5% / 0.7% per its blog | Per pair; advises against orders of $30 or less | 960 (its FAQ says 300+) | Suspected criminal funds | No | 5 to 30 min |
Only services that publish a figure; network fees come on top. ChangeNOW, SideShift.ai, StealthEX and Exolix build the fee into the rate. Checked October 20, 2026.
How we compared the instant crypto exchanges
We read each service’s Terms of Use, AML/KYC policy, FAQ and fee pages on October 20, 2026, and took numbers only from those pages. Where a site contradicts itself, for example a homepage and an FAQ giving different coin counts, we show the homepage figure and flag the conflict. We did not take any figure from review sites or other listicles.
We also ran a live quote on FixedFloat for 0.01 BTC to ETH, and searched both Google and Bing for each brand name. That search produced the most useful warning in this guide. On Bing, for the query “simpleswap exchange”, six of the top ten results were look-alike domains, not simpleswap.io, and some ranked above the real site. For “fixedfloat exchange”, the first result was a misspelled clone. Type the official domain yourself instead of clicking a search result.
The same pattern held for “changelly exchange”: six of the top ten Bing results were look-alike domains, with the official changelly.com first appearing at position 6. We did not open or link any of the clones.
Bing, US market, English, October 20, 2026. Our own checks; clone domains are not linked.
Listing a token, not just swapping one: instant exchanges add coins that already trade with real volume and a clean contract, and their users find new tokens through the same media and creators that drive every launch. Flexe.io runs marketing and PR for crypto and fintech companies, including exchange listing support.
ChangeNOW: best for fast swaps with a card on-ramp
ChangeNOW has been running since 2017 and is operated by CHN Group LLC, registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It lists 1,000+ coins on 110+ blockchains, quotes an average swap time of about one minute, and sells crypto for fiat through Guardarian, Banxa and Transak from $20.
The honest downside is that “no registration” no longer applies to everyone. Section 3.2 of its Terms of Service makes KYC mandatory before use for residents of the EU, US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, Australia and Canada. Everyone else can still be stopped by its risk system and given a three-day window to verify or take a refund. Its FAQ says a declined check is refunded within 24 hours minus network fees, and the sending address may be blacklisted.
The freeze clause is wide. ChangeNOW may hold a swap “for any period of time necessary” and move the funds to cold storage during the check. A deposit error such as a wrong network costs a $50 refund fee.
SimpleSwap: best for broad asset coverage, outside the EU, UK and US
Launched in 2018, SimpleSwap is a non-custodial swap aggregator that routes orders across 20+ CEX and DEX liquidity providers. It lists 2,800+ assets, the largest catalog in this comparison, from Bitcoin and stablecoins to privacy coins such as Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC). Swaps go wallet to wallet, and the service picks the route, so you do not compare providers yourself.
Both fixed and floating rates are available, with the service fee built into the rate. By its own FAQ the fee can start from 0.2% on some assets, and the minimum can be $0.50 or less for some pairs. Floating-rate swaps have no hard upper limit, subject to liquidity and internal checks. An optional account adds loyalty discounts of 5% to 20% on the service fee.
Homepage figures, October 20, 2026. Exolix says "thousands"; FixedFloat publishes no count.
The downside is access. Section 4.3 of its Terms lists restricted locations that include all 27 EU member states, the US, the UK, Japan, India and China. Its current English Terms also name no legal entity.
No account is needed, and SimpleSwap says most crypto-to-crypto swaps finish without identity checks. The KYC clause is still discretionary: verification can be requested under AML rules, at an authority’s request, or when a transaction check flags links to third-party activity, which SimpleSwap notes does not by itself mean wrongdoing. Getting frozen funds back is the costly part. Section 8.2 of the SimpleSwap Terms asks for ID and proof of ownership and charges 1% of the returned amount, with a $100 minimum.
Changelly: best for a known brand with a stated floating fee
Changelly launched in April 2015, the oldest service here, and its Terms say it is operated by Marella under the laws of England and Wales. It is one of only two services that state a set percentage fee: 0.25% of the output on floating-rate swaps. Fixed-rate swaps carry a dynamic fee instead. It lists 1,000+ coins and routes card purchases through MoonPay, Simplex, Banxa and others.
The downside is time. Changelly quotes 5 to 40 minutes for a normal swap, slower than most rivals. If its scoring system flags a swap, the AML/KYC policy says the transaction is put on hold and ID is collected: full name, date of birth, address and a photo ID. Its homepage adds that basic KYC with a passport covers trading up to €10,000 per 48 hours.
Its own KYC FAQ admits a check can take “several weeks or even months”. Neither the Terms nor the AML policy include a refund rule for flagged transactions. The restricted list includes the US, UK, Germany, Austria, Japan, India and Turkey.
FixedFloat: best for transparent, predictable fees
FixedFloat publishes the clearest fee schedule in this group. Its FAQ states 1% plus network fee for a fixed rate and 0.5% plus network fee for a floating rate. Launched in 2018, it is run by FFGX Group LLC in Georgia. No account is needed, and the live minimum for BTC to ETH was 0.00015512 BTC, about $13, on October 20, 2026.
The honest history: FixedFloat lost $26.1 million in a hack on February 16-17, 2024, and was attacked again on March 31, 2024. By its own account the losses came from its liquidity, not user funds, and it paused for two months. It also offers no fiat on-ramp and publishes no coin count or typical swap time.
On KYC, Section 7.1 of its Terms says an order can be suspended when funds are “clearly related to criminal activity”. If the sending address cannot be established, funds stay frozen until a law enforcement request arrives.
SideShift.ai: best for speed on major pairs
SideShift.ai, operated by Paradigm Ltd with a mailing address in St. Kitts, has run since 2018. Its BTC to ETH page shows an average shift time of about 56 seconds, the fastest stated figure here. A shift starts after one blockchain confirmation. It offers fixed rates locked for 15 minutes and variable rates, with a default minimum floor of $3 in its docs.
The downside is geography and catalog. The Terms block the US, and a separate access page adds Russia, Belarus, Thailand and Eritrea. It lists 300+ coins, far fewer than SimpleSwap or StealthEX, and publishes no card purchase option.
Its risk management policy says flagged shifts are paused for human review. If a shift is rejected, the account is suspended and the deposit refunded after a holding period whose length is not published. Users who verify may get the refund sooner.
Exolix: best for long fixed-rate windows
Exolix, launched in 2018, guarantees a fixed rate for 60 minutes in Section 4 of its Terms, the longest lock in this comparison. That helps if your deposit needs many confirmations. The Terms say Exolix charges no separate fee: the quoted amount is what you receive. It quotes 5 to 30 minutes per swap and claims thousands of tokens across 200+ blockchains.
The downside is opacity. Exolix publishes no legal entity, no restricted-country list and no status page, and its own pages disagree on whether a maximum swap limit exists.
The KYC wording is precise. Exolix promises never to ask for KYC over a transaction error, but that promise does not cover funds its system flags as suspicious. In that case it may ask where the funds came from, and if you refuse, it says it is not responsible for a refund. Its AML policy also allows suspension without prior notice.
StealthEX: best for large floating-rate swaps
StealthEX has operated since 2018, lists 2,000+ coins and says it has no maximum limit on floating-rate swaps. It quotes 5 to 30 minutes per swap. Card purchases run through Mercuryo, Simplex and Guardarian, and its FAQ says those providers skip KYC only while purchases stay under $700 per user.
The downside is that a floating swap fails if the rate moves more than 5% before it executes, so you contact support for a new rate or a refund. The service fee is a percentage of the deposit, but the percentage is not published, and the country of registration for StealthEx Ltd is not stated.
The KYC clause is broad. Section 2.2 of its Terms allows a request for ID or source of funds “at any time”, including after a swap executes. During a compliance review, the assets are not exchanged or released until the review ends.
GoDex: best for crypto-only users who want a 30-minute fixed rate
GoDex, operated by Nrnb Ltd in the Seychelles, locks a fixed rate for 30 minutes under its Terms and states no upper limit on swap size. Its blog puts typical fees at about 0.5% floating and 0.7% fixed. It quotes 5 to 30 minutes per swap and does not handle fiat at all.
The downsides are inconsistency and refund rules. Its homepage claims 960 currencies, while its FAQ says more than 300. The Terms advise against orders of $30 or less, refund only when an order shows “Overdue”, and reject refund requests after 90 days. A fixed-rate swap can be returned if the market moves 3% or more.
On KYC, the Terms let GoDex refuse, postpone or cancel any swap it links to criminal funds. Its blog promises no KYC at any size, yet its AML policy describes ID checks against passports or national IDs.
Fixed vs floating rate: which one costs less
A floating rate usually costs less, and a fixed rate costs more because it includes insurance against price moves. Our live check on FixedFloat for 0.01 BTC to ETH on October 20, 2026 showed the gap in money.
| Rate type | Send | Quoted receive | Value received | Cost vs $829.24 sent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floating (0.5%) | 0.01 BTC | about 0.3354878 ETH | $824.22 | $5.02 (0.61%) |
| Fixed (1%) | 0.01 BTC | 0.3338009 ETH | $820.08 | $9.16 (1.10%) |
Live FixedFloat quotes, October 20, 2026, on $829.24 sent: floating cost 0.61%, fixed cost 1.10%.
The fixed quote paid 0.0016869 ETH less, about $4.14 on an $829 swap. In exchange, the fixed amount is guaranteed, while the floating amount is an estimate that can end higher or lower once your deposit confirms.
Network fees change the picture for small swaps. The same page quoted $49.21 in ETH for a $50 floating swap, a 1.6% cost, because the payout network fee does not shrink with the order. Floating suits liquid pairs and calm markets. Fixed suits slow-confirming coins and volatile days.
How long a fixed quote holds also differs, and a longer window means the operator prices in more risk:
| Service | Fixed-rate lock (per its own terms or help pages) |
|---|---|
| FixedFloat | 10 min; if the market moves over 1.2%, you pick a refund or the new rate |
| SideShift.ai | 15 min |
| Changelly | 15 min; 20 min for BTC, XMR, LTC and 5 more coins |
| SimpleSwap | 20 min |
| StealthEX | 20 min |
| GoDex | 30 min |
| Exolix | 60 min |
| ChangeNOW | Not published |
From each service's terms or help pages, October 20, 2026. ChangeNOW does not publish one; FixedFloat voids the rate if the market moves over 1.2%.
When instant crypto exchanges are the wrong choice
An instant exchange is the wrong tool if your country is on its restricted list. SimpleSwap blocks the EU, UK and US, Changelly blocks the US, UK and Germany, and ChangeNOW requires full KYC for EU and US residents. ChangeNOW’s Terms also ban VPN and proxy use outright.
It is also wrong for very large or very frequent swaps. Exolix and Changelly name transaction size as a review trigger without a number, and StealthEX’s AML policy lists swaps above $32,000 as a risk indicator. A centralized exchange where you verify once is often faster for repeat volume.
Skip instant swaps for coins from mixers or flagged addresses, for amounts under about $20 where network fees dominate, and for anything you cannot afford to have frozen for weeks.
For swaps that never leave your wallet, a DEX is the alternative. Our list of 30 decentralized exchanges ranks them by volume, the cross-chain DEX guide covers swaps between networks, and the DEX aggregator comparison shows which routers find the best price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do instant crypto exchanges require KYC?
Not by default for most users, but all eight reserve the right to ask. ChangeNOW requires KYC upfront for residents of the EU, US and seven other jurisdictions. The others verify when their risk system flags a deposit, an address or an unusual amount.
Which instant exchange has the lowest fees?
Among those that publish a percentage, Changelly charges 0.25% of the output on floating swaps and FixedFloat 0.5%. SimpleSwap says its fee can start from 0.2% on some assets. Network fees come on top and matter more on small swaps.
Can an instant exchange freeze my crypto?
Yes. Every service here can hold a swap during a compliance review. Changelly says a check can take weeks or months, and SimpleSwap charges 1% (minimum $100) to return frozen funds. FixedFloat keeps funds frozen until a law enforcement request arrives if the sending address cannot be established.
Is a fixed or floating rate better?
Floating was cheaper in our check: on FixedFloat it cost $5.02 versus $9.16 fixed on a 0.01 BTC swap on October 20, 2026. Fixed is better when the market is volatile or your coin confirms slowly.
How do I avoid fake exchange sites?
Type the official domain yourself: changenow.io, simpleswap.io, changelly.com, ff.io, sideshift.ai, exolix.com, stealthex.io or godex.io. On October 20, 2026, Bing ranked several look-alike domains for “simpleswap exchange” and “fixedfloat exchange”, some above the real sites.
Who made this comparison
Flexe.io is a marketing and PR agency for crypto and fintech companies, running KOL campaigns, crypto PR and exchange listings since 2018. Token teams we work with ask where their holders can swap without an exchange account, so we read the terms of the instant crypto exchanges those holders actually use. No service in this comparison paid to be included, and we earn nothing when you use one.
Related reading
Before swapping into a new token, check its pool depth and price history in our 11 DEX screener tools compared, with chain coverage, pricing and API access side by side.
To confirm that a swap has landed, paste the transaction hash into the right explorer from our list of 17 blockchain explorers by chain, which also records each one’s free API limits.
Centralized venues are ranked in our guide to top-rated crypto exchanges. Teams preparing a listing can start with the CEX listing application guide, and projects that need media coverage around a launch can see how our crypto PR works.