GhostSwap vs SimpleSwap (2026)

Updated 15 October 2026 · Written by GhostSwap. This compares us with a rival, so every SimpleSwap fact below links to SimpleSwap’s own page.

GhostSwap and SimpleSwap are both instant, non-custodial swap services. You don’t need an account: you send one coin and receive another in your own wallet.

SimpleSwap has run since 2018. It calls itself a “self-custodial multi-source swap aggregator”. It lists 2,800+ cryptocurrencies, offers fixed and floating rates, and has mobile apps, card purchases and an optional account with a loyalty program.

GhostSwap is a narrower, privacy-first swap:

• a floating rate with the fee already in the quote;
• no account, email or ID upload to swap;
• a Tor mirror;
• a focus on Monero, Zcash and other privacy coins.

Key takeaways

• Cost. Neither service is cheaper on every pair. Both use an all-in rate, so compare the amount you receive for the same pair and amount, quoted at the same minute.
• Rate types. SimpleSwap offers a fixed rate, locked for 20 minutes, and a floating rate. GhostSwap offers a floating rate only.
• Account and ID. Most SimpleSwap swaps need no account. Its KYC policy says it can ask for ID, proof of funds and a live selfie check on any transaction, and hold the swap while it checks. GhostSwap asks for no account, email or ID upload to start a swap.
• Speed. SimpleSwap gives “1 to 60 minutes” as a rough guide. On GhostSwap, most swaps finish within minutes.
• Coins and features. SimpleSwap lists more coins (2,800+ against 1,600+) and has apps and a loyalty program. GhostSwap adds a Tor mirror, a Telegram bot, a public API and an MCP server that lets AI agents run swaps.

At a glance

Features, coin lists and payment options change. Everything above was checked on 11 October 2026.

Fees and rates

SimpleSwap uses an all-in-one rate. The network fee on the receiving side is included. The network fee for sending your deposit is paid by you, as it is on any service. It offers two rates:

• a fixed rate, locked for 20 minutes, as long as your deposit gets a confirmation within that window;
• a floating rate, with no time limit or upper amount limit.

GhostSwap has one floating-rate flow. Before you send anything, the quote shows the amount you’ll receive with our fee already included, the network fee and the minimum and maximum. The final amount follows the market until your deposit confirms.

Verdict. Neither can honestly be called cheaper for every swap. Compare the receive amount for the same pair and amount on both sites at the same moment. Our pair pages, such as BTC to XMR, show live quotes with all fees included and a timestamp. If you need a locked rate, only SimpleSwap offers one.

Account, ID and privacy

SimpleSwap. Its FAQ says most crypto-to-crypto swaps need no account, but it “may request KYC or additional information in certain cases”, for example when a transaction is seen as suspicious. Its KYC policy (last updated 30 October 2025) goes further:

• the no-sign-up flow applies only to swaps it rates as low risk;
• it can require ID, information on the source of your funds and a live selfie check against your ID document;
• it can hold a transaction while it checks.

GhostSwap. No account, no email, no sign-up and no ID upload. You pick the two coins, paste the address that should receive them and send the deposit. The swapped coins go straight to your wallet. You can also reach GhostSwap through its Tor onion mirror.

Verdict. Both start a swap without an account. GhostSwap asks for less (not even an email) and adds a Tor route. SimpleSwap’s written policy allows ID and selfie checks on any transaction.

Speed

SimpleSwap says many swaps finish within a few minutes. It gives “1 to 60 minutes” as a rough reference, which is not a guarantee.

GhostSwap: most swaps finish within minutes. A swap starts once the deposit has enough confirmations on its own chain, so a Bitcoin deposit takes longer than a Solana or Tron one.

You can follow every swap on its public status page.

Verdict. For both services, the deposit chain sets most of the wait.

Coins and privacy coins

SimpleSwap lists 2,800+ cryptocurrencies, including Monero and Zcash.

GhostSwap lists 1,600+ coins. Monero (XMR), Zcash (ZEC), Dash and Pirate Chain (ARRR) have dedicated pages, such as the Monero exchange and the Zcash exchange.

Apps and extras

SimpleSwap has iOS and Android apps, card purchases for 30+ coins, and an optional customer account. The account adds exchange history, price alerts and loyalty discounts.

GhostSwap works in the browser, through a Telegram bot, through the partner API and widget, and through an MCP server that lets AI assistants quote and create swaps. It has no mobile app and no loyalty program.

Pros and cons

GhostSwap

• ✓ No account, email or ID upload to swap
• ✓ Tor onion mirror
• ✓ Fee shown inside the quote before you send
• ✓ Monero, Zcash, Dash and Pirate Chain
• ✓ Public API and MCP server for AI agents
• ✗ Floating rate only
• ✗ No mobile app or loyalty program
• ✗ Younger service (live since October 2024)

SimpleSwap

• ✓ Fixed rate option (20-minute lock)
• ✓ 2,800+ coins
• ✓ iOS and Android apps, card purchases, a loyalty program
• ✓ Long track record (since 2018)
• ✗ Written policy allows ID, proof-of-funds and selfie checks on any swap
• ✗ No Tor mirror advertised

Which one should you choose?

Pick SimpleSwap if you want a locked rate, the widest coin list, a phone app or loyalty discounts.

Pick GhostSwap if you want to swap without giving an email or ID, prefer to connect over Tor, are swapping Monero, Zcash or another privacy coin, or want to swap through an AI assistant.

For anything else, quote the same pair on both and take the better receive amount.

Looking at other services too? See SimpleSwap alternatives.

How we compared

• We used only each service’s own public pages, checked on 11 October 2026: homepages, FAQs, policies and product pages.
• We didn’t run test swaps for this page, and we don’t claim speeds or fees we can’t show.
• Where a number is SimpleSwap’s own claim, we say so.
• Corrections are welcome at support@ghostswap.io. We update this page when either service changes.

Sources (accessed 11 October 2026)

• SimpleSwap homepage: https://simpleswap.io/ (“Sign-up is not required”, “2800+ cryptocurrencies”, “Non-custodial … we don’t store it”, card purchases for 30+ coins)
• SimpleSwap FAQ: https://simpleswap.io/faq (operating since 2018; self-custodial multi-source swap aggregator; fixed rate locked 20 minutes; floating rate; “1 to 60 minutes”; when KYC may be requested; mobile apps; customer account and loyalty program)
• SimpleSwap KYC policy, last updated 30 October 2025 (sections 3.4 and 4.1–4.6)
• SimpleSwap About: https://simpleswap.io/about
• SimpleSwap Zcash page: https://simpleswap.io/coins/zcash and BTC to ZEC: https://simpleswap.io/crypto-to-crypto/btc-zec
• GhostSwap: https://ghostswap.io/, swap status page https://ghostswap.io/txs/?id=…, API docs https://partners.ghostswap.io/docs, MCP server https://mcp.ghostswap.io/mcp

Rival details come from each service’s own website and may have changed since; check their current terms before you swap.

FAQ

Is SimpleSwap custodial?

No. SimpleSwap says crypto is sent directly to your wallet and isn’t stored on its service. GhostSwap works the same way.

Is GhostSwap or SimpleSwap cheaper?

It depends on the pair, the amount and the moment. Both include their fee in the rate. Quote the same swap on both at the same time and compare what you’d receive.

Does SimpleSwap require KYC?

Not for most swaps. Its FAQ and KYC policy say it can ask for ID, source-of-funds information and a selfie check when it decides a transaction needs a check, and it can hold the swap until then.

Does GhostSwap require KYC?

GhostSwap is a no-KYC crypto exchange: there’s no account, and we never ask for your name, email, phone number or identity documents to start a swap.

Does either have a fixed rate?

SimpleSwap does, locked for 20 minutes. GhostSwap uses a floating rate only and shows the quote, with fees included, before you send.

Can I swap Monero and Zcash on both?

Yes. Both list Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC). GhostSwap also lists Dash and Pirate Chain, and it has dedicated Monero and Zcash pages.