BitPay is one of the oldest crypto payment processors, founded in 2011, and offers regulated fiat settlement for established businesses. It charges tiered processing fees starting at 2% + $0.25 and settles fiat payouts in one to two business days.
The best option among BitPay alternatives in 2026 is NOWPayments. It supports 300+ digital assets and 30+ stablecoins, charges 1% for single-currency deposits and 1.5% for multi-currency deposits with partner rates as low as 0.3%, and clears 99% of payments in under one minute.
Here are the best BitPay alternatives
- NOWPayments
- CoinGate
- BTCPay Server
- Crypto.com Pay
- CoinPayments
- Blockonomics
| Feature | 🥇 NOWPayments | 🥈 BitPay | 🥉 CoinGate | BTCPay Server | Crypto.com Pay | CoinPayments | Blockonomics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | 0.3%–1.5% | 1%–2% + $0.25 |
1% + payouts |
0% + hosting |
0% + payouts |
0.5%–1% | 1% |
| Speed | <1 min (99%) |
T+1–T+2 fiat |
BTC 10–60 min; stables <10 sec |
Lightning <1 sec; BTC ~10 min |
~1 sec | 10–15 min | 2 confirmations |
| Fiat | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Via partners |
❌ |
| Stablecoins | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Limited | ✅ | ✅ | Limited |
| Custody | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Best For | High-volume businesses |
Enterprise fiat |
EU merchants |
Bitcoin teams |
Crypto.com users |
Altcoins | Direct settlement |
*Fee rates, supported assets, and speed change frequently. Verify current terms on each provider’s official site before signing up.
Why Merchants Look for BitPay Alternatives
BitPay works well for established businesses that want regulated fiat settlement and a recognized payment brand. However, several pain points lead merchants to evaluate BitPay competitors:
- Lower starting fees than BitPay’s 2% + $0.25 entry rate.
- Faster settlement than T+1–T+2 fiat payouts.
- Self-custody or alternative custody models to reduce counterparty risk.
- Mass payouts, email payouts, and cross-border disbursements as core products.
- Better support responsiveness for high-volume operations.
- Broader altcoin coverage or stablecoin-specific infrastructure.
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NOWPayments
Best for: high-volume businesses that want a crypto business ecosystem with stablecoin payments, mass payouts, and cross-border settlement.
NOWPayments is a strong BitPay alternative that combines payment acceptance, mass payouts, conversions, custody wallets, and treasury workflows into one account. The platform is stablecoin-first, with deep USDT and USDC support across major networks. Funds are held in a custodial balance by default, with scheduled withdrawals, auto-conversion, and mass payouts managed inside the same account.
Transaction Fee. NOWPayments uses a transparent service-fee model that depends on volume, verification level, and payout setup. Single-currency deposits start at 1%, while multi-currency and auto-conversion deposits start at 1.5%. Eligible partners can reduce the deposit service fee to 0.3% through KYC/KYB, ChangeNOW Pro payouts, and long-term partnership discounts. Payouts carry 0% service fee, and ChangeNOW Pro email payouts have $0 network and service fee.
| Transaction Type | NOWPayments | BitPay |
| Single-currency deposit | 1%; down to 0.3% | 2% + $0.25 |
| Total cost example ($1,000) | $10; down to $3 | ~$20.25 |
| Multi-currency deposit | 1.5% | 2% + $0.25 |
| Total cost example ($1,000) | $15 | ~$20.25 |
| Conversion | 0.5% | Included in rate |
| Total cost example ($1,000) | $5 | Variable |
| Standard payout | 0% service fee | 1% via BitPay Send |
| Total cost example ($1,000) | $0 service fee | ~$10 |
| Email payout | 0% service fee | ❌ |
| Total cost example ($1,000) | $0 service fee | ❌ |
Settlement Speed. NOWPayments reports that 99% of crypto payments complete in under one minute once required blockchain confirmations are reached. Payouts to crypto wallets or custody accounts are typically near-instant. The ecosystem email payout solution can deliver funds in under one second because it uses internal off-chain transfers. Fiat withdrawals run through integrated partners and depend on the selected corridor and verification tier.
| Settlement Option | NOWPayments | BitPay |
| Crypto confirmation | <1 min for 99% | Blockchain dependent |
| Wallet payout | Near-instant | Daily batch |
| Email payout | <1 sec | ❌ |
| Fiat withdrawal | 1–2 business days via partner | T+1 EUR / T+2 USD |
Supported Payment Methods. NOWPayments focuses on stablecoin-first settlement, supporting USDT and USDC across multiple chains, including Ethereum, Tron, BSC, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, and Avalanche. It also supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 300+ other cryptocurrencies for businesses that want broader coverage. Fiat withdrawals run through integrated partners and usually take 1–2 business days, depending on corridor and verification.
| Feature | NOWPayments | BitPay |
| USDT | ✅ | ✅ |
| USDC | ✅ | ✅ |
| Altcoins | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fiat | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mass payouts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custody payouts | ✅ | ❌ |
| Email payouts | ✅ | ❌ |
Why choose NOWPayments over BitPay:
BitPay’s Trustpilot profile is dominated by complaints about KYC verification loops, account freezes, and slow support responses. NOWPayments counters the slow-support issue with 24/7 live assistance and dedicated account optimization for enterprise clients. Trustpilot reviewers frequently praise fast payouts and helpful support. For merchants that need mass payouts, email disbursements, and cross-border stablecoin operations, NOWPayments offers a more complete infrastructure.
If your workflow includes crypto payouts, stablecoin settlements, or global contractor payments, explore NOWPayments as a BitPay alternative.
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CoinGate
Best for: EU-focused merchants that need MiCA-aligned licensing and EUR settlement.
CoinGate is a Lithuania-based crypto payment gateway founded in 2014. It has built a reputation for transparent pricing, EU compliance, and broad e-commerce plugin support. The company holds a MiCA CASP license and a Bank of Lithuania Payment Institution license, which gives European operators local regulatory coverage. It is a common choice for merchants that want SEPA-based fiat settlement inside the European Economic Area.
Transaction Fee. CoinGate charges a flat 1% transaction fee on its Standard plan, with custom volume pricing available on Enterprise. Crypto payouts cost €0.50 plus 0.5%, and FX conversions cost €0.50 plus 1.5%. SEPA withdrawals are free above the minimum threshold, while SWIFT withdrawals carry a 0.5% fee. There are no setup or monthly fees for standard merchant accounts.
| Transaction Type | CoinGate |
| Transaction fee | 1% |
| Crypto payout | €0.50 + 0.5% |
| FX conversion | €0.50 + 1.5% |
Settlement Speed. CoinGate settles crypto payments after on-chain confirmation. Bitcoin payments typically take 10 to 60 minutes, while stablecoin payments clear in under 10 seconds. Standard-plan fiat settlements are processed weekly. Enterprise accounts can receive daily or on-demand settlements, with SEPA transfers usually landing within 1 business day. Invoice expiry is configurable from 15 minutes up to 24 hours.
| Settlement Option | CoinGate |
| Crypto confirmation | BTC 10–60 min; stablecoins <10 sec |
| Fiat withdrawal | Weekly Standard; 1 business day Enterprise |
| Invoice expiry | 15 min–24 h |
Supported Payment Methods. CoinGate supports 70+ cryptocurrencies and stablecoins across Ethereum, TRON, Solana, Polygon, Arbitrum, and other Layer-2 networks. European merchants should confirm whether USDT, DAI, and other stablecoins are currently available for their account and settlement model. The platform provides plugins for WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Shopware, Magento 2, OpenCart, WHMCS, and WIX. It also supports Bitcoin Lightning, bulk payouts, and a gift-card marketplace.
| Feature | CoinGate |
| USDT | Region dependent |
| USDC | ✅ |
| Altcoins | ✅ |
| Fiat | ✅ |
| Mass payouts | ✅ |
| MiCA license | ✅ |
Why choose CoinGate over BitPay:
BitPay is a U.S. MSB with strong American credentials, but EU merchants often need MiCA-aligned licensing for local compliance. CoinGate provides exactly that through its Bank of Lithuania Payment Institution and MiCA CASP authorizations. Trustpilot merchant reviewers praise easy integration and stable processing, while gift-card buyers report slower support. BitPay’s tiered pricing starts at 2% + $0.25 and only reaches 1% at $1 million monthly volume; CoinGate offers a flat 1% with no volume minimum. For EU merchants that value regulatory clarity and EUR settlement, CoinGate is the more appropriate regulated option.
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BTCPay Server
Best for: technical teams and Bitcoin-first businesses that want zero transaction fees and full control.
BTCPay Server is an open-source, self-hosted payment processor designed primarily for Bitcoin and Lightning payments. Funds can move directly to wallets controlled by the merchant, removing the need for a custodial payment balance. This model suits technical teams that value control, but it also makes the merchant responsible for hosting, security, backups, updates, and liquidity management.
Transaction Fee. BTCPay Server charges 0% for both platform and processing fees. Merchants pay Bitcoin network fees plus hosting costs, which typically range from $10 to $40 per month depending on server specifications and Lightning setup. There are no setup, monthly subscription, or per-transaction platform fees.
| Fee Type | BTCPay Server |
| Transaction fee | 0% |
| Hosting | $10–$40/month |
| Network fees | Blockchain dependent |
Settlement Speed. BTCPay Server settles Lightning Network payments in under one second once channels are properly funded. On-chain Bitcoin payments are marked paid at zero confirmations and become settled after the merchant-defined number of confirmations, commonly one to six. Settlement speed depends entirely on the merchant’s own infrastructure and configuration. There is no built-in fiat settlement; conversion requires third-party plugins or external services.
| Settlement Option | BTCPay Server |
| Lightning Network | <1 sec |
| On-chain BTC | ~10 min |
| Fiat settlement | ❌ |
Supported Payment Methods. BTCPay Server natively focuses on Bitcoin and Lightning. Support for other assets may depend on community plugins or external integrations, which can differ in maintenance quality, security, and feature coverage. Businesses requiring managed multi-asset or stablecoin acceptance may therefore prefer a hosted gateway. The platform provides plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify V2, PrestaShop, Magento 2, Drupal, OpenCart, and WHMCS.
| Feature | BTCPay Server |
| USDT | ❌ |
| USDC | ❌ |
| Altcoins | Via plugins |
| Fiat | ❌ |
| Mass payouts | ✅ |
| Self-custody | ✅ |
Why choose BTCPay Server over BitPay:
BitPay’s Trustpilot reviews repeatedly mention KYC verification failures, account freezes, and balances disappearing from accounts. BTCPay Server eliminates these risks entirely because it is non-custodial and self-hosted: funds route directly to the merchant’s wallet, and there is no provider account to freeze. BTCPay Server’s merchant reviewers praise zero platform fees and full sovereignty. BitPay charges 2% + $0.25 at entry and holds funds during conversion; BTCPay Server charges 0% platform fees and gives the merchant complete control.
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Crypto.com Pay
Best for: merchants whose customers already use the Crypto.com app.
Crypto.com Pay is the merchant payments arm of the Crypto.com ecosystem. It offers merchants 0% incoming transaction fees and deep integration with Crypto.com wallets and rewards programs. The product targets Shopify and WooCommerce stores, in-person retail via the merchant mobile app, and businesses whose buyers already hold CRO or use the Crypto.com app.
Transaction Fee. Crypto.com Pay charges 0% incoming transaction fee to merchants on standard payments. Payout and settlement fees are not publicly disclosed. They are shown inside the merchant dashboard and vary by corridor. Merchants should verify local payout terms before going live.
| Transaction Type | Crypto.com Pay |
| Incoming fee | 0% |
Settlement Speed. Crypto.com Pay confirms the checkout event in approximately 1 second. Funds credit instantly to the merchant’s Crypto.com Pay balance. Fiat withdrawal timing is not publicly specified. It depends on the merchant’s region, settlement currency, verification status, and payout method.
| Settlement Option | Crypto.com Pay |
| Checkout event | ~1 sec |
| Balance credit | Instant |
| Fiat withdrawal | Region-dependent |
Supported Payment Methods. Crypto.com Pay supports 20+ cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, CRO, SHIB, DOGE, and APE. Stablecoin support includes USDC, USDT, DAI, and PYUSD, with network options configured in the merchant dashboard. The platform provides plugins for Shopify and WooCommerce, plus a REST API, mobile SDK, and webhooks. Customer-facing features include CRO cashback rewards and QR-code payments.
| Feature | Crypto.com Pay |
| USDT | ✅ |
| USDC | ✅ |
| Altcoins | ✅ |
| Fiat | ✅ |
| Mass payouts | ✅ |
| CRO rewards | ✅ |
Why choose Crypto.com Pay over BitPay:
Crypto.com Pay removes the incoming transaction fee entirely, which directly addresses BitPay’s high starting rate of 2% + $0.25. It also offers instant balance credit and a mobile POS app, features that BitPay does not emphasize. However, Crypto.com’s overall Trustpilot score is relatively low, with dominant complaints about slow support, withdrawal holds, and account restrictions. Merchants already embedded in the Crypto.com ecosystem may still prefer it for checkout cost and user familiarity, but they should verify regional payout terms inside the dashboard.
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CoinPayments
Best for: online stores and marketplaces that want to accept a wide variety of altcoins and tokens.
CoinPayments is a veteran crypto payment gateway founded in 2013. It supports thousands of cryptocurrencies and offers instant crypto settlement with batch-withdrawal tools to save network fees. The platform is custodial by default, with auto-forward and vault options for merchants that want more control. It is a common choice for crypto-native audiences and industries such as iGaming and digital goods.
Transaction Fee. CoinPayments charges 0.5% for native-coin payments and 1% for token and stablecoin payments. Crypto-to-crypto conversions cost approximately 1.5% plus a partner fee. A 0.5% subscription fee applies to monthly volumes above $15,000. Optional setup packages cost $299 Basic or $599 Full. Withdrawal and partner fees may add to the total cost.
| Transaction Type | CoinPayments |
| Processing fee | 0.5%–1% |
| Cost on $1,000 | ~$5–$10 |
| Crypto conversion | ~1.5% + partner fee |
| Subscription fee | 0.5% above $15K/month |
Settlement Speed. CoinPayments detects incoming transactions within seconds and can credit the merchant balance before full blockchain confirmation. Bitcoin deposits typically require 1 to 3 on-chain confirmations, which usually takes 10 to 15 minutes under normal conditions. Final availability for withdrawal or conversion depends on the asset and network. Fiat withdrawal timing is not publicly specified and depends on the partner provider and region.
| Settlement Option | CoinPayments |
| Crypto confirmation | 10–15 min |
| Wallet settlement | Instant balance credit |
| Fiat withdrawal | Partner dependent |
Supported Payment Methods. CoinPayments supports more than 2,300 wallet coins and a wide payment coin menu, making it one of the most inclusive gateways available. Stablecoin support includes USDT, USDC, and PYUSD on Solana and other networks. The platform provides plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart, WHMCS, and ZenCart. It also offers hosted invoices, payment links, QR codes, a POS interface, and a Telegram payment bot.
| Feature | CoinPayments |
| USDT | ✅ |
| USDC | ✅ |
| Altcoins | ✅ |
| Fiat | ✅ |
| Mass payouts | ✅ |
| Altcoin breadth | 2,300+ |
Why choose CoinPayments over BitPay:
BitPay supports roughly 100 curated cryptocurrencies; CoinPayments supports thousands of wallet coins and a wide payment coin menu. This addresses a common limitation for merchants whose customers pay in niche or community tokens. CoinPayments also undercuts BitPay’s 2% + $0.25 entry rate with 0.5%–1% processing fees. Trustpilot reviews for CoinPayments have positive feedback highlighting easy integration and broad coin support, while negative reviews focus on wrong-network recovery fees and dormant-account charges. BitPay is the stronger choice for regulated fiat settlement, while CoinPayments is better for altcoin breadth and instant crypto settlement.
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Blockonomics
Best for: Bitcoin-only merchants that want non-custodial settlement without setup complexity.
Blockonomics is a Bitcoin-first payment gateway founded in 2015. It routes customer payments directly to the merchant’s HD wallet via xPub and never holds funds or requires KYC. The platform supports Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and USDT on Ethereum. It is the simplest self-custody BitPay alternative for merchants that value privacy and direct wallet settlement.
Transaction Fee. Blockonomics charges 1% per transaction after a free tier of 10 to 20 transactions. There are no setup or monthly fees for standard merchant accounts. Merchants may optionally subscribe to the Address Watcher service for higher transaction volumes. Blockchain network fees apply as usual and are paid by the sender or deducted from the payment.
| Fee Type | Blockonomics |
| Transaction fee | 1% |
| Free tier | First 10–20 transactions |
Settlement Speed. Blockonomics settles payments directly to the merchant’s wallet on the blockchain. Payments are confirmed after two on-chain confirmations, which takes roughly 10 minutes under normal Bitcoin network conditions. Checkout invoices use a 10-to-30-minute price-lock timer, while peer-to-peer invoices expire after seven days if unpaid. There is no built-in fiat settlement or conversion.
| Settlement Option | Blockonomics |
| On-chain BTC | ~10 min |
| Fiat settlement | ❌ |
Supported Payment Methods. Blockonomics supports Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and USDT on Ethereum. It does not support USDC, altcoins, or fiat settlement. The platform provides plugins for WooCommerce, WHMCS, PrestaShop, Shopify, Magento, OpenCart, Joomla, Easy Digital Downloads, Telegram, and Invoice Ninja. It also offers payment buttons, encrypted peer-to-peer invoices, WebSocket callbacks, and address watching.
| Feature | Blockonomics |
| USDT | ERC-20 only |
| USDC | ❌ |
| Altcoins | ❌ |
| Fiat | ❌ |
| Mass payouts | ❌ |
| Self-custody | ✅ |
Why choose Blockonomics over BitPay:
Blockonomics offers the simplest non-custodial Bitcoin setup among BitPay competitors. It has no KYC, no custody risk, and direct wallet settlement, which directly addresses BitPay’s most common Trustpilot complaints about verification failures and account freezes. Blockonomics’ reviewers praise responsive 24/7 support and quick setup. BitPay charges 2% + $0.25 and holds funds during conversion; Blockonomics charges 1% and passes funds straight to the merchant.
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How to Choose the Best BitPay Alternative
Compare providers based on the criteria that matter for your business:
- Fees: flat-rate, tiered, or self-hosted models
- Speed: authorization and settlement time
- Mass payouts: for marketplaces, affiliates, and contractors
- Supported countries: where businesses can operate and settle
- Payment methods: crypto, stablecoins, and fiat
- Crypto support: available coins, tokens, and networks
- Integrations: plugins, APIs, and accounting tools
- Risk policy: KYC, reserves, and supported industries
Crypto Payment Processor Fees Compared
Advertised rates rarely tell the full story. Network fees, conversion spreads, payout fees, and fixed per-transaction charges all affect what a merchant actually pays. The table below shows the platform fee, any fixed fee, and an estimated total cost on a $1,000 same-currency sale for each gateway.
| Solution | Platform Fee | Fixed Fee | Cost on $1,000 |
| NOWPayments | 0.3%–1.5% | $0 | ~$3–$15 |
| BTCPay Server | $0 | Hosting + network fees | ~$0–$5 |
| CoinPayments | 0.5%–1% | Partner fees may apply | ~$5–$10+ |
| CoinGate | ~1% | Payout fees | ~$10+ |
| Crypto.com Pay | 0% | Payout fees | ~$0–$10+ |
| Blockonomics | 1% | $0 | ~$10 |
| BitPay | 1%–2% | $0.25 | ~$10.25–$20.25 |
Source: Official pricing pages and documentation, July 2026.
*Estimates assume a same-currency checkout with no auto-conversion and exclude blockchain network fees unless they are part of the provider’s fixed fee. Real costs depend on volume, asset, network, and withdrawal method.
Crypto Payment Solutions Comparison: Custodial vs. Non-Custodial
Custody models define who controls funds, keys, and payout operations.
Custodial:
- ✅ NOWPayments ⭐️
- ✅ BitPay
- ✅ CoinGate
- ✅ Crypto.com Pay
- ✅ CoinPayments
The provider manages funds, keys, payouts, and fiat settlement infrastructure.
Self-hosted / non-custodial:
- BTCPay Server
- Blockonomics
The merchant runs the software or wallet, keeps full control, and handles setup, security, and maintenance.
Custodial platforms reduce operational complexity and support business payment flows. Self-hosted non-custodial tools offer maximum control but require more technical resources.
When to Choose Each Crypto Payment Solution: Decision Framework
Use the checklist below to choose the best BitPay alternative for your business.
Choose NOWPayments if you:
- Want stablecoin payments and settlement
- Need mass, custody-balance, or email payouts
- Operate across borders
- Prefer provider-managed custody
- Need 300+ cryptocurrencies and volume pricing
Choose CoinGate if you:
- Focus on EU customers
- Need EUR settlement and MiCA-aligned services
- Want a flat 1% fee and ecommerce plugins
Choose BTCPay Server if you:
- Can self-host and maintain the infrastructure
- Want zero platform fees and self-custody
- Mainly accept Bitcoin and Lightning
- Prioritize control and privacy
Choose Crypto.com Pay if:
- Your customers already use Crypto.com
- Your store runs on Shopify or WooCommerce
- You want a familiar checkout with no incoming fee
Choose CoinPayments if:
- You need broad altcoin and token support
- You want major ecommerce plugins
- Your customers use niche cryptocurrencies
Choose Blockonomics if:
- You want direct-to-wallet Bitcoin payments
- You do not need fiat settlement or broad asset support
- You prefer a simple non-custodial setup
Stick with BitPay if you:
- Are a U.S. enterprise or high-volume merchant
- Need regulated fiat settlement
- Want enterprise compliance and account management
- Accept its tiered fee structure
Conclusion
BitPay remains a solid crypto payment gateway for U.S. enterprises that want regulated fiat settlement and a recognized payment brand. However, the best BitPay alternatives in 2026 cover a wider range of use cases, from self-hosted control with BTCPay Server to EU compliance with CoinGate, and from altcoin acceptance with CoinPayments to stablecoin Lightning payments with Crypto.com Pay.
If you are looking for a BitPay competitor that supports crypto payments, mass payouts, and cross-border settlement, explore NOWPayments. Its ecosystem ties together acceptance, payouts, conversions, wallets, and treasury workflows at a lower entry cost than BitPay and with faster settlement times.