StealthEX vs ChangeNOW vs SimpleSwap — Compared

StealthEX, ChangeNOW, and SimpleSwap are three of the most popular instant crypto swap services. All three offer no-registration swaps, support hundreds of coins, and have been operating for years. But which one actually gives you the best deal?

We compared them head-to-head across the metrics that matter: rates, speed, privacy, coin selection, and reliability.

Overview

StealthEX launched in 2018. Non-custodial, no registration required. Supports 700+ coins with both fixed and floating rates. Aggregates liquidity from multiple providers.

ChangeNOW launched in 2017. One of the largest instant swap services by volume. Supports 900+ coins. Offers both fixed and floating rates. Has their own exchange engine plus additional liquidity partners.

SimpleSwap launched in 2018. Clean, minimalist interface. Supports 1500+ coins. Floating and fixed rates. Aggregates from multiple liquidity sources.

Rate comparison

Rates fluctuate constantly, so any snapshot is just a moment in time. In our repeated testing across multiple pairs:

BTC → ETH: ChangeNOW and SimpleSwap typically edge out StealthEX by 0.3-0.8%. ChangeNOW's deep liquidity helps on major pairs.

BTC → XMR: Closer competition. StealthEX occasionally beats ChangeNOW here. SimpleSwap is usually in the middle. Differences are typically under 1%.

Small amounts (under $100): StealthEX often wins because their minimum amounts tend to be lower. ChangeNOW and SimpleSwap may have higher minimums on certain pairs.

Large amounts (over $5,000): ChangeNOW typically offers better rates at scale due to their deeper liquidity pool. StealthEX and SimpleSwap rates may widen on larger swaps.

Verdict: No consistent winner. Rates vary by pair, amount, and time. This is exactly why rate aggregators exist — check nokycswaps.com before every swap instead of assuming one exchange is always cheapest.

Speed

StealthEX: Average completion time 5-15 minutes. Depends on blockchain confirmation and their processing. Generally reliable but not the fastest.

ChangeNOW: Average 2-10 minutes. Their higher volume means they often have pre-funded wallets, reducing processing time. They offer a "lightning fast" option on some pairs.

SimpleSwap: Average 5-15 minutes. Similar to StealthEX. Reliable but not notably fast or slow.

Verdict: ChangeNOW is usually fastest. StealthEX and SimpleSwap are similar and perfectly acceptable.

Privacy

This is where the three diverge most:

StealthEX: No registration, no email required. States they don't log IPs. Privacy policy is relatively clean. Historically hasn't flagged transactions for KYC. Good choice for privacy-focused users.

ChangeNOW: No registration for standard swaps. However, they explicitly reserve the right to pause transactions and request KYC for "risk assessment." This has happened to users on large or pattern-matching swaps. If privacy is your primary concern, this is a significant consideration.

SimpleSwap: No registration required. Similar to StealthEX in terms of stated privacy policy. Less aggressive than ChangeNOW on flagging. A solid middle ground.

Verdict: StealthEX has the strongest privacy stance. SimpleSwap is close. ChangeNOW is the weakest on privacy due to their KYC escalation policy.

Coin selection

StealthEX: 700+ coins. Covers all major cryptos and most popular altcoins. Occasionally missing newer or very niche tokens.

ChangeNOW: 900+ coins. Excellent coverage including many tokens across multiple networks (ERC-20, BEP-20, TRC-20 variants). Usually the first to add trending new coins.

SimpleSwap: 1500+ coins. The largest selection of the three. If a coin exists, SimpleSwap probably supports it. Great for niche altcoin swaps.

Verdict: SimpleSwap wins on pure numbers. ChangeNOW is excellent for mainstream coins. StealthEX covers everything most users need.

User interface

StealthEX: Clean, modern design. Easy to use. Good mobile experience. Swap tracking is clear with step-by-step status updates.

ChangeNOW: Professional interface. More features visible (estimated time, network status). Can feel slightly cluttered compared to simpler alternatives. Mobile app available.

SimpleSwap: Minimalist and focused. Arguably the cleanest interface of the three. Very beginner-friendly. Gets out of your way and lets you swap.

Verdict: Subjective, but SimpleSwap's simplicity is appealing. All three are perfectly usable.

Reliability and track record

All three have operated for 7+ years without major security incidents or exit scams. That's notable in the crypto space where services regularly disappear.

StealthEX: Clean record. No known incidents of lost funds or security breaches. Community reputation is positive.

ChangeNOW: Largest volume of the three, which provides confidence but also attracts more regulatory attention. Some users have reported KYC requests on large transactions. No security breaches known.

SimpleSwap: Clean record. Low-profile operation. Fewer complaints visible online compared to ChangeNOW (likely due to lower volume and less aggressive KYC).

Verdict: All three are reliable. ChangeNOW's KYC escalation policy is the main differentiator.

Summary table

Best rate: Varies — always compare using a live aggregator
Best speed: ChangeNOW
Best privacy: StealthEX
Most coins: SimpleSwap
Cleanest UX: SimpleSwap
Best for large swaps: ChangeNOW
Best for small swaps: StealthEX

Our recommendation

Don't pick one exchange. Use all of them — through a rate aggregator. nokycswaps.com shows you live rates from StealthEX, ChangeNOW, SimpleSwap, and five other exchanges simultaneously. The best exchange for your specific swap changes every few minutes as rates adjust.

If you're forced to pick just one: StealthEX for privacy, ChangeNOW for speed and large swaps, SimpleSwap for niche altcoins.