Short answer: FixedFloat (now at ff.io) is the one with posted prices: 0.5% on a float rate and 1% on a fixed rate, plus the network fee. It also supports Bitcoin over Lightning, and it needs no registration. ChangeNOW covers far more coins and chains (1,000+ assets on 110+ blockchains), but it publishes no fee percentage and makes KYC mandatory for residents of the EU, US and several other countries. FixedFloat lost about $26 million in a February 2024 hack and roughly $2.8 million more in April 2024. Users were not reported to have lost swap funds, but those losses are part of its track record. SideShift is a third option with similar no-account swaps, and we compare it below.
People who search for "FixedFloat vs ChangeNOW" usually want one thing: the cheaper, less hassle way to swap without an account. Both services hold your coins only while the swap runs, and both can freeze a flagged deposit. The useful differences are in pricing, coverage, refunds and history. Everything below comes from each service's own FAQ, terms and AML policy as of October 2026, from reputable news coverage of the incidents, and from SwapRaven's listing data. This is general information, not financial advice.
FixedFloat vs ChangeNOW at a glance
| FixedFloat | ChangeNOW | |
|---|---|---|
| Running since | 2018 | 2017 |
| Operator | FFGX Group LLC (Georgia) | CHN Group LLC (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) |
| Fee | Float 0.5%, fixed 1%, plus network fee | Not published; included in the rate |
| Coverage | About 70 currency/network options, including BTC Lightning | 1,000+ assets on 110+ blockchains |
| Account | None; "no data is required" | None for swaps (Pro is account-based) |
| KYC | Funds may be frozen pending source-of-funds checks; ID may be requested | Risk-based holds, plus mandatory KYC for residents of the EU, US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, Australia and Canada |
| Rate-move protection | Fixed orders: refund or market rate if the price moves more than 1.2% before your deposit appears | Fixed orders: refund or market rate if the price moves 3% or more |
| Costly mistakes | Missing memo/tag: 10% of the amount; wrong network: $10 fee (deposits over $20) | $50 fee on refunds caused by user error |
| US users | Not allowed | Main service no; with an account under ChangeNOW Pro |
| SwapRaven grade | C | C |
Fees
FixedFloat is unusually open about its pricing. Its FAQ states a 0.5% fee for float-rate orders and 1% for fixed-rate orders, each plus the coin's network fee. So locking the rate costs half a percentage point extra, and on a calm market the float rate is usually cheaper. On a volatile one, the fixed rate is the insurance you pay for. See fixed vs floating rates for when each makes sense.
ChangeNOW says its fee "is included in the final rate" and adds a reserve to fixed-rate quotes. Since there's no posted percentage, the only fair comparison is the amount you'll actually receive. Quote the same pair and amount on both at the same time, or let an aggregator such as Trocador line them up for you.
Coin coverage
This is ChangeNOW's clearest win. It lists over a thousand assets, and SwapRaven's listing tracks more than 1,000 of them. FixedFloat sticks to a short list of about 70 currency and network combinations, with each USDT network counted separately. That list covers the majors, popular stablecoins and Monero. FixedFloat does have one feature most rivals lack: Bitcoin over Lightning, which is handy for small, fast BTC moves. More on that in our Lightning swaps guide.
KYC, holds and refunds
Neither service asks for ID on a routine swap. Both reserve the right to stop a deposit that trips their risk checks:
- FixedFloat's terms say funds "may be frozen until information about the source and legality of the funds is received". Users may be asked to verify their identity. The terms also allow FixedFloat to hold funds to return them to victims of theft.
- ChangeNOW can freeze an exchange "for any period of time necessary" during a review. Its terms also make KYC mandatory for residents of the EU, US and the other countries listed above, regardless of the size of the swap.
Mistakes cost money on both. FixedFloat charges 10% of the amount to recover a deposit sent without a required memo or tag. A wrong-network or unsupported-token deposit costs $10 and must be worth more than $20 to be refundable. ChangeNOW charges $50 to refund any user-error deposit and will only refund to the original or stated refund address. Read common instant swap mistakes before your first swap with either.
Security history: the 2024 FixedFloat hacks
On February 18, 2024, attackers took at least $26 million in BTC and ETH from FixedFloat. The company confirmed the incident, and the service later moved from fixedfloat.com to ff.io. A second incident in April 2024 drained about $2.8 million from a hot wallet, and Tether froze around $400,000 of it. Reports described both as access-control failures rather than a flaw in how swaps work. The service kept operating. A swap service only holds your funds briefly, so your direct exposure is small. Even so, a hot-wallet breach is still a reason to keep each swap modest and to check a service's uptime before sending. ChangeNOW has no comparable public incident that we found.
Where does SideShift fit?
SideShift.ai is the other name that comes up in "FixedFloat vs" searches. It's a no-account, direct-to-wallet exchange that supports 200 to 300+ assets. On its main site it doesn't publish a fee percentage. Its fixed rate locks for 15 minutes "including all fees", but you must send the exact quoted amount or the deposit is refunded. Flagged deposits are paused for human review, and serious flags require verification before a refund. The main sideshift.ai site blocks US users; a separate US service, SideShift.us, launched in 2026 for most states.
Which should you pick?
- Common coins, lowest posted fee, or BTC over Lightning: FixedFloat.
- A token or chain FixedFloat doesn't list: ChangeNOW (or an aggregator).
- EU or US resident who wants to avoid ID: not ChangeNOW. Its terms require KYC for you. FixedFloat also excludes US residents.
- Exact-amount fixed swaps from a wallet you control: SideShift works well, as long as you send precisely the quoted amount.
All three are graded C or B on SwapRaven. If you want a service with a stated never-KYC policy or a higher grade, see our list of no-account alternatives, the Changelly vs ChangeNOW comparison, or the best exchange aggregators, which compare FixedFloat and ChangeNOW quotes side by side.
FAQ
Is FixedFloat safe after the hack?
FixedFloat kept operating after the 2024 incidents and moved to the ff.io domain. Make sure you're on the real domain, because phishing copies are common. Swap modest amounts and check recent reviews and uptime on its SwapRaven listing.
Does FixedFloat require KYC?
Not for normal swaps. It needs no registration or personal data, but it can freeze a flagged deposit and ask for source-of-funds information or ID.
Which is cheaper, FixedFloat or ChangeNOW?
For common pairs, FixedFloat's posted 0.5% float fee is hard to beat. ChangeNOW doesn't publish a percentage, so compare the final received amount for your exact pair.
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