If you’re exploring decentralized exchanges (DEXs), two names rise above the rest: Uniswap and 1inch. They are both essential to the DeFi ecosystem—but they serve very different purposes.

Uniswap is a DEX where you swap tokens directly in liquidity pools.
1inch is an aggregator, a smart platform that scans dozens of DEXs—including Uniswap—to find the best possible price.

So which one should you use?
This guide compares both platforms in detail so you can choose the right tool for your trading style.


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What Is Uniswap? (The World’s Leading Decentralized Exchange)

Uniswap is the original automated market maker (AMM) DEX. Instead of using an order book, it uses liquidity pools that allow anyone to swap tokens instantly.

Key Features

  • Deep liquidity on thousands of trading pairs

  • Simple swap interface

  • Available across many chains (Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, BNB Chain)

  • Uniswap v3 offers concentrated liquidity—efficient, low-slippage trades

Uniswap is the benchmark for DEX trading because of its liquidity depth, ease of use, and massive ecosystem.


What Is 1inch? (The Smart DEX Aggregator)

1inch is not a DEX—it's a DEX aggregator, meaning it compares prices across multiple decentralized exchanges and gives you the best possible rate.

It routes your trade through the optimal path, sometimes splitting it across several DEXs to minimize slippage and fees.

Key Features

  • Best price routing across 40+ DEXs

  • Lower slippage for large trades

  • Multiple networks supported

  • Customizable gas settings

  • Advanced features like limit orders and MEV protection

1inch shines when trade efficiency matters most.


1inch vs. Uniswap: What’s the Main Difference?

Uniswap = where trades happen
1inch = finds the best place to trade

Uniswap is the liquidity provider.
1inch uses Uniswap (and many others) to find you a better price.

This means:

  • On small trades, the difference may be small.

  • On large trades, 1inch can save you significantly by routing your order across multiple pools.


Trading Fees: Which Is Cheaper?

Uniswap Fees

Fees depend on the pool:

  • 0.05%

  • 0.3%

  • 1.0%

No extra aggregator fees.

1inch Fees

1inch itself does not charge trading fees, but:

  • You still pay the underlying DEX fee (e.g., Uniswap’s 0.3%).

  • Gas fees may be slightly higher because routing is more complex.

Winner: Small Trades → Uniswap

Winner: Large Trades → 1inch


Slippage: Who Offers Better Pricing?

Uniswap uses a single pool for the pair you select. If liquidity is thin or your order is large, slippage rises.

1inch solves this by:

  • Splitting your order between multiple pools

  • Finding deeper liquidity

  • Combining pricing across chains and DEXs

Winner: 1inch (especially for large trades)


Liquidity Comparison

Uniswap Liquidity

  • Some of the deepest liquidity in DeFi

  • Best pricing on the most popular pairs (ETH, USDC, WBTC, major altcoins)

1inch Liquidity

  • Pulls liquidity from Uniswap, SushiSwap, Curve, Balancer, and others

  • Effectively gives access to all major liquidity sources

Winner: 1inch (because it aggregates everything)


Speed & User Experience

Uniswap UX

  • Simple

  • Clean

  • Beginner-friendly

  • Fast swapping

1inch UX

  • More advanced interface

  • Extra settings (slippage tolerance, routing view, gas optimization)

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners

Winner: Beginners → Uniswap

Winner: Advanced Users → 1inch


Gas Fees: Which One Uses Less Gas?

  • Uniswap is generally more gas-efficient because the transaction interacts with one pool.

  • 1inch may use more gas** because trades can route through multiple DEXs.

On Layer-2 networks (Base, Arbitrum, Optimism), this difference is often tiny.

Winner: Uniswap


Security Comparison

Uniswap Security

  • Extremely battle-tested

  • One of the safest smart contracts in DeFi

  • Backed by a massive developer team

1inch Security

  • Uses audited aggregation contracts

  • Does not custody funds

  • Has never had a major hack

Both are considered safe, but Uniswap’s simple architecture gives it a slight edge in terms of attack surface.

Winner: Uniswap (slightly)


Advanced Features: Who Offers More Tools?

Uniswap Features

  • Swap

  • Liquidity providing

  • Concentrated liquidity ranges

  • NFT marketplace (UniswapX)

  • Cross-chain swaps (via UniswapX routing)

1inch Features

  • Aggregated swaps

  • Limit orders

  • RFQ orders (more efficient for large trades)

  • MEV protection

  • Gas token support

  • Better tools for pro traders

Winner: 1inch for advanced traders


1inch vs. Uniswap: Best Choice by Use Case

Here’s the simple breakdown:

Use Uniswap if:

  • You want an easy, fast DEX

  • You’re making small swaps

  • You prefer top-tier security

  • You want the simplest interface

  • You're providing liquidity

Use 1inch if:

  • You want the best price

  • You’re trading large amounts

  • You want lower slippage

  • You want advanced features (limit orders, MEV protection)

  • You trade across multiple chains


Comparison Table: 1inch vs. Uniswap (2025)

Feature Uniswap 1inch
Type DEX DEX aggregator
Fees 0.05–1% Underlying DEX fees only
Slippage Moderate Lowest
Liquidity Very high Extremely high (aggregated)
Best Price Good Best
Gas Fees Lower Higher
UX Simple Advanced
Ideal For Beginners Large trades + pros
Security Top tier Excellent

Final Verdict: 1inch or Uniswap — Which Should You Use?

Choose Uniswap if you want:

  • Fast, easy swaps

  • Simple UX

  • High security

  • Best experience for newcomers

Choose 1inch if you want:

  • Best possible price

  • Lowest slippage

  • Complex routing for large trades

  • Advanced trading tools

Most users should use BOTH:

  • Check prices on 1inch

  • Execute on the platform with the best rate

1inch will often route the trade back through Uniswap anyway—but with better pricing.



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Disclaimer: The above content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always do your own research and consider consulting with a licensed financial advisor or accountant before making any financial decisions. Panaprium does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the above content, nor is responsible for it in any manner whatsoever. Any opinions expressed here are based on personal experiences and should not be viewed as an endorsement or guarantee of specific outcomes. Investing and financial decisions carry risks, and you should be aware of these before proceeding.

About the Author: Alex Assoune


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