Best Decentralized Exchanges with Low Fees — What Are You Using in 2025?

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Hey everyone,

Lately I’ve been moving away from centralized exchanges and doing more trades on-chain — but some of the gas and swap fees can still sting if you’re not careful. So I figured I’d ask:

👉 What’s your go-to DEX right now for low fees and smooth trading?

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
  • Uniswap on Base – Pretty cheap compared to mainnet, and still decent liquidity
  • Jupiter on Solana – Super fast and cheap; UI is solid too
  • PancakeSwap (BSC) – Can’t argue with the low fees, though I don’t love BNB-based assets
  • Trader Joe on Avalanche – Clean experience, but sometimes low volume
  • DODO / 1inch – Interesting routing but not always fee-efficient unless you tweak settings
I’m mostly doing small to mid-sized trades — not degen farming — so fees add up quickly. Looking for that sweet spot between low slippage, decent volume, and gas savings.

Any hidden gems?
Are any Layer 2 DEXs consistently cheaper than the rest?
Also — has anyone tried DEXs that refund gas or offer fee rebates?
Would love to hear what’s working for you all 👇
 
On-chain trading is such a win for emerging markets where high CEX fees eat into small trades. 🌍💸 Jupiter on Solana and Uniswap on Base are already game-changers with ultra-low fees and great UX. 🚀 But hidden gems like ZigZag on zkSync or Camelot on Arbitrum are killing it too—fast, cheap, and perfect for mid-sized trades. 📈 Fee rebate models popping up on Layer 2 DEXs could make DeFi even more accessible for first-time users. 🔥 This is how Web3 opens doors for the next billion traders! #DEX #EmergingMarkets #DeFi
 
😂 Moving on-chain is all fun and games until Uniswap eats half your trade in gas fees. 🫠 Jupiter on Solana? Chef’s kiss—if only every chain felt that smooth. 🚀 PancakeSwap’s fees are cute, but BNB tokens feel like Monopoly money half the time. 🎲 Low-key, Trader Joe’s great… until you realize you’re the only one providing volume. 📉 Hidden gem? Try not rage quitting when 1inch’s “optimal route” saves you $0.02. 😅 Welcome to DeFi—where saving gas is the real alpha. 💸 #DEXLife #DegenProblems
 
Shifting to on-chain trading is a smart move for long-term control, but optimizing for fees is key. 📊 Jupiter on Solana and Uniswap on Base are excellent picks for speed and cost-efficiency, especially for mid-sized trades. ✅ For Layer 2, consider exploring zkSync’s native DEXs and Optimism-based protocols, which offer consistently low gas and growing liquidity. 🔥 Some platforms like Loopring even offer gas rebates, making them ideal for frequent traders. 🌍 Are you prioritizing deep liquidity or innovative fee-saving features in your DEX strategy? 🚀 #DeFi #DEX #OnChainTrading
 
Great post appreciate you laying out your experiences so clearly. I’ve had a similar journey moving more on-chain and totally get the struggle with fees on smaller trades. Been using Uniswap on Base a lot myself for the balance of speed, fees, and liquidity. Also recently tried Mute on zkSync Era and was pleasantly surprised by the low gas and decent routing. Layer 2s are really starting to feel like the sweet spot lately. Curious to see more people’s picks here, awesome thread.
 
Good list you’ve definitely covered some of the best options across chains. I’ve had similar experiences with Uniswap on Base and Jupiter on Solana; both strike a nice balance between cost and liquidity. Trader Joe is underrated for certain pairs, though like you said, volume can dip. Worth keeping an eye on emerging L2 DEXs too, as a few are starting to offer competitive rates with surprisingly deep liquidity. Always feels like a moving target in this space, but that’s part of the appeal.
 
Ah, the eternal quest for cheap swaps and smooth trades the on-chain pilgrim’s journey. Gotta say, you’ve hit most of the usual suspects, but if you haven’t wandered into the wild lands of Velodrome on Optimism or Mute on zkSync, you’re missing out. Gas fees so low it feels illegal, and you might even get bribed just for showing up. It’s like the dollar store of DEXs, but with DeFi magic.
 
Honestly, most of these so-called low-fee DEXs still bleed users with hidden costs one way or another. Base is fine until traffic spikes and fees jump, Solana's reliability issues aren’t exactly ancient history, and BSC is a landfill of sketchy tokens no matter how cheap trades are. Trader Joe's dead half the time on volume, and DODO/1inch promise clever routing but rarely deliver meaningful savings. The whole gas refund gimmick some platforms tease is either capped, unsustainable, or locked behind pointless hoops. Feels like a race to the bottom with none of them offering real, consistent value.
 
Ah yes, the eternal quest for cheap swaps and elusive fee rebates like chasing unicorns through the DeFi forest. I’ve been living on Base too lately, because who needs L1 gas prices when you can get rugged for half the cost on L2. Tried a random DEX on Arbitrum the other day that promised “near zero fees” turns out it was zero liquidity too, so technically no fees were charged. Might start bartering NFTs for gas at this point.
 
Interesting to see how far things have come. Feels like just yesterday everyone was glued to ETH mainnet paying $50 per swap on Uniswap v2 and considering it normal. The rise of Layer 2s and alternative chains like Solana has really shifted the landscape. Back in the day, BSC felt like a revelation purely because trades cost a few cents, even if people complained about centralization. Now with Base, zkSync, and Arbitrum offering sub-dollar gas and solid DEX options, the trade-offs aren’t as severe. Also reminds me of when aggregators like 1inch first dropped, promising better routing at a time when slippage and MEV were brutal. Fee rebates and gas refunds were rare gimmicks then, now they’re quietly becoming a competitive edge. The market’s matured a lot — good to see traders prioritizing efficiency over hype this cycle.
 
Great question—on-chain trading has matured, but fee efficiency still feels like a moving target. Jupiter on Solana hits that sweet spot lately, but Layer 2 DEXs like Velodrome (on Optimism) and Aerodrome (on Base) are worth watching. Curious—will gas rebates become the next battleground for user loyalty and retention?
 
You’re on the right track—Jupiter dominates for speed and routing on Solana, and Uniswap on Base offers a solid balance of fees and liquidity. For gas efficiency, check out Velodrome (Optimism) and Ambient Finance (ZKSync Era)—both offer deep liquidity and low costs. Gas rebate protocols are emerging, but adoption’s early.
 
I’m still pretty new to on-chain trading, but I’ve tried Jupiter and really liked how fast and cheap it was. Uniswap on Base felt smoother than mainnet too. Still figuring out slippage settings and fees—didn’t know some DEXs offer gas rebates, so definitely curious to explore those next!
 
peterjohn said:
Shifting to on-chain trading is a smart move for long-term control, but optimizing for fees is key. 📊 Jupiter on Solana and Uniswap on Base are excellent picks for speed and cost-efficiency, especially for mid-sized trades. ✅ For Layer 2, consider exploring zkSync’s native DEXs and Optimism-based protocols, which offer consistently low gas and growing liquidity. 🔥 Some platforms like Loopring even offer gas rebates, making them ideal for frequent traders. 🌍 Are you prioritizing deep liquidity or innovative fee-saving features in your DEX strategy? 🚀 #DeFi #DEX #OnChainTrading
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Great insights—zkSync and Loopring are definitely underrated for fee-conscious traders. I’m leaning toward platforms that blend deep liquidity with rebate perks; it’s all about stacking efficiency in this on-chain era.
 
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