For a closer look at the topic, consider cryptocurrency payment gateways alternatives to bitpay alongside the options and criteria discussed below.
BitPay has long been the go-to name when merchants think about accepting crypto payments. But rising fees, limited coin support, and rigid settlement options have pushed many businesses to explore other options. The good news is that the landscape has matured significantly. Today there are several platforms that handle on-chain complexity so you can accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and dozens of altcoins without running your own node infrastructure.
This guide covers the most practical cryptocurrency payment gateways alternatives to bitpay, comparing their features, supported coins, fees, and settlement options so you can pick what fits your business model.
NOWPayments
NOWPayments stands out because it lets customers pay with over 100 different cryptocurrencies while giving merchants the flexibility to auto-convert into whatever base currency they prefer. Unlike traditional processors that lock you into a single settlement coin, NOWPayments acts as a non-custodial router — funds never sit in a company wallet longer than necessary.
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported coins | 100+ cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, USDT, LTC, DOGE |
| Merchant payout | Auto-convert to any supported coin or keep original payment |
| API | REST API with webhook support for automation |
| Platform plugins | WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart |
| Custody | Non-custodial — funds pass through instantly |
The non-custodial architecture means less counterparty risk compared to hosted wallets used by older gateways. Payments flow directly from customer to merchant-controlled addresses, with optional automatic conversion handled at the moment of transaction. This setup also eliminates the need for separate bank account integrations since settlements happen entirely on-chain.
Fee structure starts at zero percent for self-custody payouts, which undercuts virtually every competitor on price. When you opt into auto-conversion to a different coin, the fee rises to roughly 0.5 percent — still competitive against the 1 – 3 percent range common in the industry.
Coinbase Commerce
Coinbase Commerce brought institutional-grade infrastructure to the crypto payments space before regulatory pressure reshaped the broader Coinbase product line. Its merchant-facing product remains straightforward: generate a checkout page or embed a payment button, and customers pay from any wallet that supports the accepted coins.
What It Offers
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported coins | BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, DAI, plus select stablecoins |
| Settlement | Direct to merchant wallet in payment currency |
| Integration | API, hosted checkout pages, CMS plugins |
| Fees | 1% per transaction |
| KYC requirements | Standard identity verification |
The main advantage here is brand recognition. Customers who recognize the Coinbase name tend to feel more comfortable completing transactions, which can reduce cart abandonment rates for new stores that lack established trust signals. The hosted checkout option also works well for businesses that do not want to manage their own payment flow UI.
However, coin selection is narrower than some competitors. If your customer base includes holders of smaller altcoins, Coinbase Commerce will not capture those transactions. The 1 percent fee sits in the middle of the market — cheaper than BitPay but more expensive than NOWPayments for certain configurations.
CoinGate
CoinGate operates across both B2C and B2B segments, offering everything from simple checkout widgets to subscription billing and multi-signature wallet management. The platform supports over 200 coins and provides settlement in 35+ fiat currencies through banking partners, making it a strong choice for merchants who want crypto acceptance with traditional payout rails.
Core Capabilities
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported coins | 200+ cryptocurrencies |
| Fiat settlement | 35+ fiat currencies via partner banks |
| Subscription tooling | Recurring billing with automated retry logic |
| Multi-sig wallets | Built-in multi-signature support |
| Transaction fee | 0.5% standard, 0% for payouts in crypto |
Subscription billing is where CoinGate pulls ahead of several competitors. Businesses that rely on recurring revenue — SaaS products, membership sites, content platforms — can set up automated crypto subscriptions without building custom solutions. The multi-signature wallet feature adds an extra layer of security for organizations that manage treasury funds and require multiple approvals for outgoing transactions.
Fiat settlement is convenient but introduces a delay. If you want instant on-chain settlement, CoinGate supports direct wallet payouts at lower effective costs. The platform’s API documentation is thorough, though integration requires more development time than drop-in plugins offered by simpler services.
Crypto.com Pay
Crypto.com Pay leverages the massive existing user base of the Crypto.com exchange and card ecosystem. Merchants integrating Crypto.com Pay gain access to customers who already hold assets within that ecosystem, reducing friction for repeat transactions. The service handles payment routing, settlement, and reconciliation automatically.
Platform Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported coins | BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT, CRO, and major tokens |
| Settlement | USD, EUR, or native crypto |
| Fee | 1.5% standard rate |
| Payout speed | T+1 for fiat, instant for crypto |
| Integration | API, SDKs, POS terminal support |
The POS terminal integration is distinctive. Physical retailers can accept crypto payments at point-of-sale with hardware that mirrors traditional card terminals. This matters for brick-and-mortar businesses that want to offer digital asset payments alongside traditional methods without requiring staff to navigate complex software interfaces.
Settlement in fiat through Crypto.com Pay is straightforward — funds convert at the point of sale and land in your account the next business day. However, the 1.5 percent fee is on the higher end compared to newer entrants. The trade-off is convenience if you already operate within the Crypto.com ecosystem and value unified reporting across exchange and merchant activity.
Stripe Crypto (Legacy Comparison)
Stripe exited its direct Bitcoin custody operations in 2022 but continues to support crypto-related payment processing through partnerships and indirect integrations. Understanding Stripe’s position helps explain why merchants actively seek dedicated crypto gateways rather than adapting general-purpose processors.
General payment processors like Stripe were among the first to offer crypto acceptance, but their implementations typically involve converting crypto to fiat immediately upon receipt. This approach defeats the purpose for merchants who want to hold digital assets, benefit from network effects, or serve communities that prefer native crypto transactions. Dedicated gateways preserve the properties that make crypto payments valuable in the first place.
How to Choose the Right Gateway
Selection depends on three factors: your settlement preference, your customer base, and your technical capacity.
If you want maximum coin variety and lowest fees, prioritize platforms that support self-custody payouts with minimal markup. NOWPayments and CoinGate lead here with sub-1 percent pricing and broad asset coverage.
If brand trust matters more than cost — for example, in markets where consumers are unfamiliar with crypto — Coinbase Commerce’s recognizable interface can reduce purchase hesitation enough to justify slightly higher fees.
For businesses that need fiat settlement built in, CoinGate offers the widest range of supported currencies and banking relationships. Crypto.com Pay works well if you already use their exchange services and want consolidated financial reporting.
Physical retailers should evaluate POS capabilities alongside online checkout. Only a few providers offer integrated hardware solutions, and having unified systems for both channels simplifies accounting considerably.
Implementation Considerations
Regardless of which gateway you select, there are practical steps that improve the customer experience and protect your business.
First, decide whether to accept payments in volatile assets or stablecoins. Stablecoin acceptance eliminates price exposure but may limit your addressable market. Many merchants accept both and let customers choose at checkout.
Second, configure webhooks reliably. Payment confirmation should trigger order fulfillment automatically rather than relying on manual checks. All the gateways listed above provide webhook endpoints, but implementation quality varies. Test your handlers with sandbox environments before going live.
Third, maintain clear records for tax purposes. Every crypto transaction is a taxable event in most jurisdictions. Export transaction histories regularly and reconcile them with your accounting software. Automated export tools built into these platforms save hours of manual bookkeeping each month.
Finally, monitor blockchain network conditions during peak traffic periods. Even the best gateway cannot prevent delays caused by network congestion. Communicating expected processing times to customers reduces support tickets during busy periods like major sales events or market volatility spikes.
The transition away from legacy gateways is not about finding a perfect solution — it is about finding one that aligns with how your business actually operates. The platforms covered here represent the most viable paths forward for merchants who want to accept cryptocurrency without the limitations that drove many to seek alternatives in the first place.