So, you’ve decided to get yourself some crypto. Where to start? Picking a reliable platform is half the battle when it comes to buying cryptocurrencies.
A huge number of offers out there can overwhelm even a mature crypto investor, let alone a newbie. The crypto services industry provides vast opportunities indeed, but it also has pitfalls. After all, scams happen. In this review, we have picked five platforms that have earned the trust of thousands of users around the globe based on ratings on Trustpilot, a popular independent platform aggregating comments on businesses from various industries worldwide.
Platform | Trustpilot score | Min./Max. Limits on BTC | Choice of coins | Payment methods | Mobile apps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BC Bitcoin | 4.9 | 200 EUR / 1,000 EUR daily with a bank card and no limit on bank transfers | Over 150 coins | Bank transfers and bank cards | None |
ChangeNOW | 4.8 | 50 USD / 20,000 USD daily | Over 400 crypto and nearly 60 fiat currencies | VISA/Mastercard SEPA transfers | iOS and Android |
Easy Crypto | 4.7 | 100 AUD / No maximum limit | Over 300 coins | Bank transfers (Account2Account) | None |
ChangeHero | 4.7 | 27 EUR/ 10,000 EUR monthly | 100 crypto and 5 fiat currencies | VISA/Mastercard | iOS |
StealthEX | 4.4 | 27 EUR/ 10,000 EUR monthly | Over 400 crypto and 12 fiat currencies | VISA/Mastercard | None |
BC Bitcoin
Pros:
- GDPR compliant
- coin storage option
- fast customer support
Cons:
- only EUR and GBP are accepted
- high minimum limit
- registration via email is required
- no mobile apps
BC Bitcoin is a crypto brokerage firm based in Lithuania. Except for crypto purchases, it enables coin swaps and coin storage. To buy bitcoins or altcoins, a user needs to select a payment method (a bank transfer or a bank card) and indicate a wallet address to receive coins. The platform does not run its own wallet, but a list of recommended wallets is provided. Only registered users can buy crypto with BC Bitcoin, so you will be asked to specify your email address which can be confusing for those who hate sharing their personal data. After all, anonymity is the key characteristic of crypto.
Summarizing Trustpilot reviews, many customers note helpful and dedicated tech support, faultless service, and quick execution of transactions.
ChangeNOW
Pros:
- a choice of 400+crypto assets and almost 60 fiat currencies
- no need to register an account
- in-house non-custodial wallet
- transparent pricing
- iOS and Android mobile apps
- a vast ecosystem providing lucrative crypto solutions
- high speed of transactions
- 24/7 support
Cons:
- customer support is available in English only
ChangeNOW is a non-custodial crypto exchange platform that has gained wide recognition with about 4 million satisfied clients as put on the website. The range of products offered by ChangeNOW is really impressive. Apart from crypto-to-crypto and fiat-to-crypto swaps, the platform provides crypto loans, facilitates airdrops, and offers an in-house crypto wallet. With the biggest choice of nearly 60 fiat currencies, buying or selling crypto with ChangeNOW is easy and convenient. It is also fast as crypto-to-crypto swaps are handled in 5 minutes on average.
On their website, ChangeNOW advertises a no-extra-fees policy, meaning that all fees are already included in the spread. So, clients face no unpleasant surprises when receiving the final amount.
Another positive aspect is that ChangeNOW requires no registration whatsoever. You can buy, sell, and exchange coins without sharing your personal data. However, KYC is a general requirement across the industry when it comes to buying crypto for fiat. So, you may be asked to provide proof of identity by a third party, which is Guardarian or Simplex in ChangeNOW’s case.
You can buy bitcoins or altcoins on the ChangeNOW website or in iOS and Android apps. For that, you only need to select the needed pair and specify your wallet address. In case you need to create a wallet, you won’t have to go looking for another provider because the platform provides this solution as well.
The Trustpilot reviews show that customers of ChangeNOW value its honesty, prompt and helpful responses of the support team, quick and reliable service, as well as easy and hassle-free exchanges.
Easy Crypto
Pros:
- auto-buy orders enabling automatic purchases
- a big choice of available coins
Cons:
- registration via email or social networks is required
- bank cards are not supported
- no mobile apps
As put on the website, Easy Crypto is a crypto shop service. It is oriented on specific regions: Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Brazil. Here we review Australia’s branch.
Easy Crypto provides a wide choice of over 300 coins and invites its users to vote for new coins to be added which is a thoughtful move displaying adherence to clients’ comfort. The Auto-Buy order is a service for purchasing coins in a few clicks. Users can create templates specifying what coins to buy and at what ratio, and send any amount on a preset schedule.
The service is not quite transparent about costs and charges though, stating that all fees are already included in the rates quoted on the website. Besides, only registered users can buy and sell crypto on this platform.
According to the Trustpilot reviews, users like Easy Crypto for competitive fees, helpful support with fast reaction, and high speed of transactions.
ChangeHero
Pros:
- fast processing of transactions
- no registration is required
Cons:
- a poor choice of supported currencies compared to other platforms reviewed here
- no app for Android
- no bank transfers
ChangeHero is a non-custodial crypto exchange platform running from 2017. It offers crypto-to-crypto and fiat-to-crypto swaps with no registration. The average processing time is stated as 13 minutes. ChangeHero has just released its iOS app, however the application for Android users is still on the go.
Purchases on ChangeHero are done through a third-party payment processor, Mercuryo. If you plan to exchange 900 euro or more, you will be required to pass the KYC procedure. It may, however, be necessary to provide proof of identity when you buy a smaller amount if certain local regulations stipulate that.
Customers’ reviews on TrustPilot say that ChangeHero ensures fast and seamless processing of transactions, provides improved user experience, and offers helpful customer support.
StealthEX
Pros:
- registration-free
- a big choice of supported cryptocurrencies
Cons:
- no mobile apps
- no bank transfers
- slow exchanges
StealthEX is a non-custodial crypto exchange service that facilitates swaps of over 400 coins with no registration. All transfers are handled wallet-to-wallet.
As in the case with ChangeHero, purchases on StealthEX are also powered by Mercuryo. So, the same conditions apply: up to 900 EUR can be spent for buying crypto without verification. If you deal with bigger sums, you will be asked to provide proof of identity.
Trustpilot reviewers note smooth transactions, solid and helpful customer service, and quick dealing with technical issues. However, some users express frustration with the slow exchange process.
Bottom Line
The described services for buying cryptocurrencies have been selected based on Trustpilot reviews. We are not giving kudos to any specific platform. All of them have pros and cons. ChangeHero and ChangeNOW ensure seamless processing and transparent pricing, while Easy Crypto has a unique auto-buy option. Remarkably, ChangeNOW is the only platform in our review that provides a crypto wallet and mobile apps. Ultimately, reliability, convenience of use, and the speed of transactions are the key criteria to pay attention to.
Kseniia is the Chief Content Officer of Coinspeaker, holding this position since 2018. Now she is very passionate about cryptocurrencies and everything connected with it, so she tries to ensure that all the content presented on Coinspeaker reaches the reader in an understandable and attractive way. Kseniia is always open to suggestions and comments, so feel free to contact her for any questions regarding her duties.
Source: https://www.coinspeaker.com/try-trusted-platforms-buy-bitcoin-altcoins/