The cheapest swap depends on the pair: Curve stable pools charge 0.005% to 0.02%, while Uniswap v3 volatile pairs sit in 0.05% to 1% tiers. All seven DEXs here are non-custodial, so you trade from your own wallet and pay network gas on top. We rank them on fees, chains, audits and track record, with fees taken from each project's docs.
Quick answer
Uniswap is the best default DEX for Ethereum and its layer 2s, with fee tiers from 0.01% to 1%. Use Curve for stablecoin swaps, PancakeSwap for BNB Chain, Aerodrome on Base, and Orca on Solana.
- 01Uniswap: Best overall
- 02Curve Finance: best for stablecoins
- 03PancakeSwap: best for BNB Chain
- 04Aerodrome: Best on Base
- 05Orca: Best on Solana
The 6 best decentralized exchanges
Uniswap runs v2, v3 and v4 pools on Ethereum and other networks. v3 fee tiers are 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.30% and 1%, so stable and major pairs can trade at the low end. Its v4 core code is open source.
- Chains
- Ethereum, L2s and other L1s
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android, API
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Fees
- v2 0.3% (0.25% LP + 0.05% protocol where fees are on); v3 tiers 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.30%, 1%; no Labs interface fee since Dec 27, 2025
- Token
- UNI
Pros
- v3 fee tiers as low as 0.01% and 0.05%
- Pool contracts are public on GitHub
- UNIfication proposal included burning 100 million UNI from the treasury
Cons
- v2 LP fee of 0.3% on every swap
- Protocol fees take 1/4 of LP fees on 0.01% and 0.05% v3 pools where enabled
- Ethereum mainnet gas adds cost to small swaps
Skip it if you only trade on Solana: Uniswap is an EVM-first exchange.
Curve Stableswap pools charge 0.005% to 0.02% on most pegged-asset trades, the lowest pool fees on this list. Its audits include Trail of Bits, MixBytes and ChainSecurity.
- Chains
- Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Fees
- Stableswap 0.005% to 0.02%; Cryptoswap about 0.05% to 0.4%
- Security audits
- Trail of Bits, MixBytes, Quantstamp, ChainSecurity, StateMind
Pros
- Most Stableswap pools charge 0.005% to 0.02%
- Audits by Trail of Bits, MixBytes, Quantstamp and ChainSecurity
- Dynamic fees raise the fee on swaps that unbalance a pool
Cons
- Cryptoswap pool fees can reach about 0.4%
- Some pool types are not supported on sidechains or Layer 2 networks
- Pool-by-pool fees make costs harder to compare
Skip it if you trade volatile tokens: Cryptoswap pools can charge about 0.4%.
PancakeSwap is live on 11 chains, including BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana and Base, with farms and Syrup Pools for CAKE rewards. Audits by PeckShield, SlowMist and others.
- Chains
- BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, Aptos, ZKsync, Linea, Monad, Robinhood, opBNB
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Chains
- 11 chains: BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, Aptos, ZKsync, Linea, Monad, Robinhood, opBNB
- Security audits
- PeckShield, SlowMist, BlockSec, Cyfrin, HashDit
Pros
- Available on eleven chains
- Audits by PeckShield, SlowMist, BlockSec, Cyfrin and HashDit
- No account or registration needed to swap
Cons
- veCAKE and gauge voting retired in April 2025
- Fee tier varies by pool; shown only in swap details
- Many earlier products moved to an archive
Skip it if you want a fixed fee: the fee tier varies by pool and shows only in swap details.
Aerodrome is the liquidity hub on Base, launched August 28, 2023, with contracts audited by Spearbit and ChainSecurity. veAERO voters direct AERO rewards and earn pool fees.
- Chains
- Base
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Launched
- August 28, 2023
- Security audits
- Spearbit, ChainSecurity
Pros
- Launched August 2023 with no VC backing or token sale
- Contracts audited by Spearbit and ChainSecurity
- veAERO voters receive fees from the pools they vote for
Cons
- Only on Base until the planned 2026 merger with Velodrome
- Terms bar US persons from unregistered or Reg S tokenized securities on the site
- Emergency Council can kill and revive gauges
Skip it if you need other chains: Aerodrome runs on Base only.
Orca runs Whirlpools concentrated liquidity pools on Solana with fee tiers from 0.01% to 2%; 87% of trading fees go to liquidity providers. The US is not on its blocked-regions list.
- Chains
- Solana
- Platforms
- Web, SDK, API
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Fees
- 0.01% to 2% by pool fee tier
- Token
- ORCA, launched August 9, 2021
Pros
- Fee tiers as low as 0.01%
- 87% of trading fees go to liquidity providers
- No interface fee on standard swaps
Cons
- Adaptive fee pools can charge more than the base tier in volatile markets
- Some tick ranges need a non-refundable account costing about 0.07 SOL
- UI blocked in over 20 sanctioned countries and regions
Skip it if you need EVM chains: Orca is Solana only.
Balancer supports weighted, stable, boosted and liquidity bootstrapping pools on Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base and other chains. Flash loans are free in v3.
- Chains
- Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, Polygon and others
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Fees
- Protocol share: 25% of swap fees, 10% of yield fees (v3); flash loans free
- Token
- BAL (emissions halted Q2 2026)
Pros
- Flash loans carry no fee in v3
- Liquidity bootstrapping pools for token launches
- Public v3 monorepo on GitHub with audit reports
Cons
- Protocol takes 25% of swap fees in v3 (50% in v2)
- BAL emissions halted and veBAL discontinued in Q2 2026
- Pool swap fees vary by pool and can be changed by authorized accounts
- BIP-928 proposes moving pools to withdrawals only on October 30, 2026
Skip it if you want a growing rewards token: BAL emissions were halted in Q2 2026.
Not on this list
Meteora: Terms exclude US residents: it is not offered to US residents, citizens or US-incorporated entities.
Raydium: Terms exclude US residents: Raydium's disclaimer excludes US residents.
LFJ: LFJ’s terms list the United States as a Restricted Territory, so US users cannot use it (checked Oct 1, 2026).
Decentralized Exchanges compared
Select a name to jump to its review.
| Name | Best for | US availability | Fees | Chains | Custody |
|---|
| Uniswap | Ethereum and L2 swaps | Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions | v2 0.3% (0.25% LP + 0.05% protocol where fees are on); v3 tiers 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.30%, 1%; no Labs interface fee since Dec 27, 2025 | Ethereum, L2s and other L1s | Non-custodial |
|---|
| Curve Finance | Stablecoin and LST swaps | Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions | Stableswap 0.005% to 0.02%; Cryptoswap about 0.05% to 0.4% | Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains | Non-custodial |
|---|
| PancakeSwap | BNB Chain and multichain | Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions | V3 tiers 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.25%, 1%; V2 fixed 0.25% | BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, Aptos, ZKsync, Linea, Monad, Robinhood, opBNB | Non-custodial |
|---|
| Aerodrome | Trading and LPing on Base | Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions | Swap fee set per pool and adjustable to volatility; fees of staked LPs go to veAERO voters | Base | Non-custodial |
|---|
| Orca | Solana concentrated liquidity | The US is not on Orca’s blocked-regions list | 0.01% to 2% by pool fee tier | Solana | Non-custodial |
|---|
| Balancer | Weighted and boosted pools | Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions | Protocol share: 25% of swap fees, 10% of yield fees (v3); flash loans free | Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, Polygon and others | Non-custodial |
|---|
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank decentralized exchanges
- 01Pool fees: the fee each pool charges per swap, from the DEX's own docs. A lower fee on the pairs people trade most ranks higher.
- 02Chains: which networks the DEX runs on natively.
- 03Audits: named audit firms on the project's own security page.
- 04Track record: years live and dated incidents the project discloses.
- 05Extra fees: platform fees on top of pool fees, such as a fee on limit orders.
No project paid to be listed or ranked. Full rules: methodology.
What we did not test
- We did not open accounts, deposit money or place trades with these services.
- We did not audit smart contracts, reserves or security claims ourselves; we report what the project and its auditors publish.
- Fees, limits and availability change; the list date shows when we last checked them.
Rubric last updated Oct 1, 2026. Crypto assets are not insured by the FDIC or SIPC, and you can lose all the money you put in. This page is educational content, not financial advice.
How to choose
01Match the DEX to your chain
A DEX cannot trade tokens on a chain it does not run on. Uniswap and PancakeSwap cover the most chains; Aerodrome is Base only; Orca is Solana only.
02Read the pool fee before you swap
Fees are set per pool. The same pair can have a 0.05% and a 1% pool on Uniswap v3, and the app may route to either. Check the fee line in swap details.
03Consider an aggregator for large trades
Aggregators such as 1inch on EVM chains split orders across these DEXs to cut price impact.
04Liquidity providers take extra risk
Providing liquidity earns fees but exposes you to impermanent loss, and concentrated positions on Orca or Uniswap v3 need active range management.
Who should skip all of these
- First-time buyers with dollars in a bank account: a DEX does not take card or bank payments. Start with a US exchange from our best crypto exchanges list.
- Anyone who cannot store a seed phrase: every DEX here needs a self-custody wallet.
- Traders who want leverage: see our best DEX futures list.
Bottom line
Use Uniswap on Ethereum and its layer 2s, Curve for stablecoins, and Orca on Solana. Check each pool's fee in swap details before confirming.
For large trades, compare the DEX quote with an aggregator, and keep gas in mind on Ethereum mainnet.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
FAQ
Which DEX has the lowest fees?
±
For stablecoin pairs, Curve Stableswap pools charge 0.005% to 0.02%. For volatile pairs, Uniswap v3 and Orca offer tiers from 0.01%, but most volume sits in 0.05% to 0.30% pools. Network gas is extra.
Can I use a DEX in the US?
±
The DEXs on this list are non-custodial smart contracts you reach with your own wallet. Orca says the US is not on its blocked-regions list; check each front end's terms before you trade. Meteora's and Raydium's terms exclude US residents, so they are not on this list.
Is a DEX safer than a centralized exchange?
±
You keep your keys, so an exchange failure cannot freeze your funds. The risks move to smart contract bugs, bad approvals and phishing sites; Raydium lost funds in a December 2022 pool authority compromise.
What is the difference between a DEX and a DEX aggregator?
±
A DEX runs its own pools. An aggregator such as 1inch routes one trade across many DEXs to find a better price.
Uniswap or PancakeSwap: which is cheaper?
±
They match at the low end: both have 0.01% and 0.05% pool tiers, and Uniswap Labs has charged no interface fee since December 27, 2025. Uniswap v3's middle tier is 0.30% against 0.25% on PancakeSwap V3, and PancakeSwap V2 pools charge a fixed 0.25% against 0.3% on Uniswap v2. Gas depends on the chain you use.
What changed in this list
2026-09-26First version: 9 DEXs, pool fees checked on each project's own docs.
2026-09-26Moved Meteora to Not on this list: its terms exclude US residents
2026-09-26Moved Raydium to Not on this list: its terms exclude US residents. List now ranks 7 DEXs.
2026-10-01Added a Uniswap vs PancakeSwap pool fee FAQ.
2026-10-01Removed LFJ (Trader Joe): its terms close the service to US users.
Who made this page
✓
Fact check
Checked against 10 sourcesLast check: Oct 1, 2026
A value we could not confirm on the project’s own pages is marked “Not verified” instead of estimated.
How we review