Research library
Crypto payment gateway comparisons
Independent, source-linked research to help merchants choose the right crypto payment gateway. We compare fees, custody, settlement, checkout, integrations, developer experience, and business fit.
Reviewed July 28, 20266 comparisonsResearch by MakePay
Featured comparison
MakePay vs Cryptomus
A fixed-fee direct-settlement checkout compared with a business-wallet ecosystem offering plugins, conversions, withdrawals, and mass payouts.
Quick verdict
MakePay is the stronger fit for merchants who want direct wallet settlement and a 0% merchant-side MakePay fee when customers cover the 0.5% checkout fee. Cryptomus is stronger when a merchant wants its business-wallet ecosystem, mass payouts, auto-withdrawal, auto-conversion, or negotiable pricing tied to volume and integration.
All provider comparisons
| Provider | Published fee | Settlement model | Best for | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MakePay vs NOWPayments | 0.5% / 1% | Wallet settlement plus optional custody and payout APIs | Teams deciding between checkout focus and PSP breadth | Read |
| MakePay vs Coinbase Commerce | 1% | Direct wallet route versus Coinbase-hosted business account | Former Commerce users choosing their next stack | Read |
| MakePay vs BitPay | 1-2% + $0.25 | Direct wallet settlement versus crypto or fiat processor payout | Merchants weighing lower fees against fiat operations | Read |
| MakePay vs CoinGate | 1% | Processor balance with crypto or fiat payout options | Stores evaluating plugins and recurring billing | Read |
| MakePay vs CoinPal | 1% | Merchant account balance and supported withdrawal routes | Merchants validating wallet and plugin compatibility | Read |
| MakePay vs Cryptomus | 2% default | Business Wallet with automated withdrawal and payout tools | Teams choosing between wallet control and payout tooling | Read |
Our methodology
Every guide uses official provider pricing, product, help, and developer sources. We compare fees, settlement, checkout, integrations, operations, and merchant fit—and state where the competitor is the stronger choice.
Information is current as of July 28, 2026 and may change. Verify important commercial terms with the provider before production use.
Buying guide
Compare the operating model, not the longest feature list
Work through these four questions in order. The answer usually removes more providers from the shortlist than a generic feature matrix.
- 01
Price the complete payment route
Record who pays each fee and calculate the cost on your real order-value mix.
Model the published percentage together with fixed charges, network fees, conversion, payout, withdrawal, and any monthly minimum.
- 02
Set the custody and settlement boundary
Write down who controls funds after confirmation and which treasury jobs the provider performs.
Choose whether proceeds should reach a merchant-controlled wallet, remain in a provider balance, or settle through a bank account.
- 03
Test the customer payment states
Make support explain every visible state before the route receives production traffic.
Use the wallets and networks customers actually prefer, then test expiry, underpayment, overpayment, refunds, and mobile handoff.
- 04
Audit the integration around checkout
Verify the exact platform version and pilot one representative product or invoice.
Plugins and APIs must preserve order states, durable webhooks, reconciliation, accounting, and ownership when a payment needs attention.
FAQ
Questions before choosing a gateway
What is the best crypto payment gateway?
There is no universal winner. MakePay fits merchants prioritizing hosted or embedded checkout, direct wallet settlement, and a customer-paid fee by default. Other providers can be stronger for fiat settlement, custody balances, mass payouts, specific ecommerce plugins, or regulated account operations.
Which crypto payment gateway has the lowest fee?
MakePay publishes a 0.5% checkout fee. NOWPayments publishes 0.5% when no exchange is required and 1% for autoconverted or fixed-rate payments. CoinGate and CoinPal publish 1%, BitPay publishes volume tiers from 2% plus $0.25 down to 1% plus $0.25, and Cryptomus says new users start at 2% with negotiated rates as low as 0.4%. Network and route costs can apply, so always verify current terms.
What is a self-custody crypto payment gateway?
A self-custody-oriented gateway keeps the merchant in control of the destination wallet rather than holding completed payment proceeds in a provider balance. The merchant also accepts more responsibility for wallet security, refunds, accounting, and treasury operations.
Can I switch payment gateways without replacing everything at once?
Yes. Pilot one product, invoice type, domain, or higher-intent customer segment. Map payment states and webhooks, verify settlement and refund handling, reconcile the pilot, then move more traffic only after the new path is stable.
How often are these comparisons updated?
The provider pages show a visible review date and link to official pricing, product, help, and developer sources. Competitor terms do not update automatically, so the linked sources should be rechecked before signing a contract or changing production payment flows.