Synchronization of complex networks with time‐varying coupling matrices is studied in this paper. Two kinds of time‐varying coupling are taken into account. One is the time‐varying inner coupling in the node state space and the other is the time‐varying outer coupling in the network topology space. By respectively setting linear controllers and adaptive controllers, time‐varying complex networks can be synchronized to a desired state. Meanwhile, different influences of the control parameters of linear controllers and adaptive controllers on the synchronization have also been investigated. Based on the Lyapunov function theory, we construct appropriate positive‐definite functions, and several sufficient synchronization criteria are obtained. Numerical simulations further illustrate the effectiveness of conclusions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.