BTCPay Server vs NOWPayments: Self-hosted or managed?
BTCPay Server is a free, open-source payment processor for on-chain Bitcoin and Lightning payments. NOWPayments is a crypto gateway supporting more than 350 assets and 75 fiat currencies. The main split is custody: BTCPay routes funds directly to merchant-controlled wallets, while NOWPayments provides checkout, conversion and payout tools through a gateway account.
Processing fees on BTCPay sit at 0%, leaving merchants to cover only network and hosting costs. NOWPayments starts at 1% per transaction, excluding blockchain fees, and charges 1.5% for multi-currency deposits. BTCPay requires merchants to run or arrange server infrastructure. NOWPayments provides APIs, SDKs, plugins, auto-conversion and fiat settlement without a self-hosted option. An August 2026 vulnerability exposed Lightning credentials on unpatched BTCPay servers; NOWPayments incorporates account controls such as two-factor authentication and withdrawal whitelisting.
Quick verdict
The deciding difference is control versus breadth. BTCPay Server keeps settlement in merchant-controlled wallets and removes processing fees, but the merchant manages hosting, wallet connections and patching. NOWPayments handles the gateway layer and supports crypto or fiat settlement, but its 1% starting fee excludes network charges, and funds can be affected by conversion timing, provider availability and gateway custody processes.
Choose BTCPay Server if 0% processing fees, Bitcoin and Lightning support, direct self-custody and no KYB requirement matter more than turnkey deployment. Its WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento and other integrations cover common commerce setups, while the self-hosted model fits operators able to maintain servers and respond to security issues such as the August 2026 Lightning credential exposure.
Choose NOWPayments if the business needs more than 350 cryptocurrencies, 75 fiat currencies, auto-conversion, recurring billing or mass payouts. It fits merchants operating in international markets subject to its restrictions who prefer APIs, SDKs, plugins and managed checkout tools over running infrastructure, and who accept a starting fee of 1% per transaction.
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Our score | 4.1/5 | 4.1/5 |
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Fees | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Integrations | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Settlement options | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Reliability | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Support | 3.0 | 4.5 |
| Specs | ||
| Processing fee | 0% | 1% |
| Settlement | Crypto | Crypto, Stablecoins, Fiat, Auto-conversion |
| Coins supported | Not disclosed | 350 |
| Integrations | WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart, Odoo, Wix, Pretix, BigCommerce, Zapier, Drupal, Ghost, Invoice Ninja | API, SDKs, Plugins, Shopify |
| Invoicing | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring payments | Yes | Yes |
| Mass payouts | Yes | Yes |
| Point of sale | Yes | Not disclosed |
| Self-hosted option | Yes | No |
| Business verification (KYB) | No | Not disclosed |
| Settle in stablecoins | No | Yes |
| Merchant countries | Not disclosed | International, subject to restrictions |
| API & SDKs | Yes | Yes |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2017 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Investors | Tether, Kraken, OKCoin, Square Crypto | Not disclosed |
| Strengths and weaknesses | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Best for | Self-custodial e-commerce merchants, Technical operators running Bitcoin nodes, Stores wanting zero processing fees | Online stores accepting crypto, Businesses needing recurring billing, Merchants sending mass payouts |
Highlighted cells show the stronger value in each row. Data comes from each provider's site and public sources; check details before you sign up.
FAQ
Is BTCPay Server cheaper than NOWPayments?
Yes, BTCPay Server charges 0% processing fees, while NOWPayments starts at 1% per transaction. BTCPay merchants still pay Bitcoin or Lightning network fees and hosting costs, while NOWPayments' rates exclude blockchain fees.
Which platform is self-hosted?
BTCPay Server is self-hosted, while NOWPayments has no self-hosted option. BTCPay can run on cloud instances, private hardware or shared servers.
Which one supports fiat settlement?
NOWPayments supports fiat processing and auto-conversion into fiat, while BTCPay Server settles in Bitcoin or Lightning payments. NOWPayments also supports 75 fiat currencies.
Which one supports more cryptocurrencies?
NOWPayments supports more than 350 cryptocurrencies, while BTCPay Server supports Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. BTCPay focuses on direct Bitcoin settlement rather than broad asset coverage.
Which platform has stronger account security controls?
NOWPayments lists two-factor authentication, role-based access and withdrawal whitelisting, while BTCPay Server gives merchants control of their own wallet and server setup. An August 2026 BTCPay vulnerability exposed Lightning credentials on unpatched servers.