Flexa vs NOWPayments: Retail POS vs Web Multi-Asset Checkout
Flexa and NOWPayments take different approaches. Flexa concentrates on physical point-of-sale setups, mobile software development kits, and payments collateralized by the AMP token. It accepts 99+ digital assets across checkout links and mobile applications, charging 0% custody and conversion fees on merchant payouts. Licensed in the United States and active across Canada, El Salvador, and 37 SEPA territories, Flexa requires business verification before onboarding.
NOWPayments is a non-custodial gateway for online commerce, recurring subscriptions, and mass payouts. The platform supports over 350 cryptocurrencies and 75 fiat currencies, connecting to online storefronts through Shopify plugins, SDKs, and APIs. Processing fees start at 1% per transaction, excluding network costs. While Flexa provides point-of-sale settlement through dedicated hardware and mobile SDKs, NOWPayments delivers wider coin coverage and automated subscription billing for digital merchants.
Quick verdict
The primary distinction lies in merchant infrastructure, licensing, and asset variety. Flexa operates as a regulated payment network with US state licensing. The platform focuses on in-person commerce, hardware point-of-sale setups, and zero-fee payout conversions backed by AMP collateral. In contrast, NOWPayments is an international ecommerce gateway supporting more than 350 coins across multiple blockchains, with invoicing and recurring crypto billing.
Choose Flexa if you operate a physical retail store or native mobile app in the United States, Canada, or SEPA territories, require sub-second checkout authorization with zero chargebacks, and want zero percent conversion and custody fees on payouts.
Choose NOWPayments if you run an online business requiring support for more than 350 cryptocurrencies, need automated subscription renewals or mass email payouts, and want non-custodial processing through ecommerce plugins such as Shopify.
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Our score | 4.1/5 | 4.1/5 |
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Fees | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Integrations | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Settlement options | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Reliability | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Support | 3.0 | 4.5 |
| Specs | ||
| Processing fee | Not disclosed | 1% |
| Settlement | Crypto, Stablecoins, Fiat, Auto-conversion | Crypto, Stablecoins, Fiat, Auto-conversion |
| Coins supported | 99 | 350 |
| Integrations | Base Pay, iOS SDK, Android SDK, React Native SDK | API, SDKs, Plugins, Shopify |
| Invoicing | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Recurring payments | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Mass payouts | Yes | Yes |
| Point of sale | Yes | Not disclosed |
| Self-hosted option | No | No |
| Business verification (KYB) | Yes | Not disclosed |
| Settle in stablecoins | Yes | Yes |
| Merchant countries | United States, Canada, El Salvador | International, subject to restrictions |
| API & SDKs | Yes | Yes |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2018 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | United States | — |
| Investors | Pantera Capital, 1kx, Access Ventures, Nima Capital | Not disclosed |
| Strengths and weaknesses | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Best for | Multichannel crypto acceptance, Self-custody wallet integrations, SEPA-region merchants | 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 Flexa cheaper than NOWPayments?
Flexa lists 0% conversion and custody fees on merchant payouts, along with a $0 chargeback fee. NOWPayments charges a 1% standard processing fee for single-currency transactions, plus separate network fees.
Which platform supports more cryptocurrencies?
NOWPayments supports more than 350 cryptocurrencies across networks including Bitcoin, Ethereum, TRON, and Solana. Flexa supports 99+ digital assets and uses the AMP token on Ethereum to collateralize authorizations.
Can both gateways handle physical point-of-sale payments?
Flexa provides direct in-person checkout through Flexa Terminal, QR codes, and Mini App Payments. NOWPayments focuses primarily on web integrations, ecommerce plugins, and digital invoicing rather than dedicated in-person hardware.
Does Flexa or NOWPayments support recurring billing?
NOWPayments provides recurring billing and automatic renewals through NOWPayments Subscriptions. Flexa does not offer recurring billing tools, concentrating instead on push payments authorized at point of sale or checkout.