Crypto payment gateway comparison
Coinbase Commerce alternative: MakePay vs Coinbase Business
Coinbase made the Commerce portal inaccessible after March 31, 2026 and moved eligible merchants toward Coinbase Business. This guide compares MakePay with that current replacement path, including geography, custody, fees, payment links, and API migration.
Reviewed July 28, 202615 min readIndependently researched
This comparison starts with a product transition, not a normal vendor shortlist. Coinbase made the Commerce portal inaccessible after March 31, 2026 and directed eligible businesses toward Coinbase Business. Merchants therefore need to compare MakePay with the replacement operating account—not with the historical Commerce product alone.
Eligibility is the first filter. Coinbase Business currently centers on qualifying US and Singapore companies and combines payments with custody, fiat rails, accounting connections, and business-account controls. MakePay is the alternative path when a merchant needs broader geographic access, direct self-custody settlement, more payment assets, or an embedded checkout outside that account model.
Quick verdict
MakePay is the practical Coinbase Commerce alternative for merchants who need global onboarding, direct self-custody settlement, broader payment-asset choice, or an embedded checkout outside Coinbase Business eligibility. Coinbase Business is stronger for eligible US and Singapore companies that want custody, bank offramps, accounting integrations, and an all-in-one Coinbase operating account.
At a glance
MakePay vs Coinbase Commerce, side by side
Start with Business eligibility and migration urgency, then compare the custody, asset, checkout, and banking model that remains after Commerce.
| Category | MakePay | Coinbase Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Default merchant-side checkout cost | 0% when customers cover the MakePay checkout fee | Coinbase lists Coinbase Commerce at a 1% transaction fee and Coinbase Business at 1% for migrating merchants. |
| Customer-paid fee mode | 0.5%** shown at checkout by default | Coinbase fee handling is tied to Coinbase Commerce or Coinbase Business account flows rather than a MakePay-style customer-paid default. |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/mo for core checkout | No monthly fee listed for Commerce transition pricing |
| Settlement posture | Direct merchant wallet settlement positioning | Coinbase states Commerce was self-custodial, while Coinbase Business is custodial with direct bank offramp for eligible markets. |
| Fast launch path | Payment links, hosted checkout, embeds, deposits, and subscriptions | Payment links through UI and API, plus Coinbase Business invoicing and operating-account features for eligible merchants. |
| Where each is strongest | Wallet-first checkout with direct settlement positioning and no Coinbase account or eligible-market dependency for the core flow. | Coinbase brand trust, Coinbase account rails, and Business platform features for US and Singapore eligible merchants. |
** MakePay payment gateway routes connect to liquidity providers and decentralized exchanges. Network fees, exchange fees, or swap fees may apply for currency conversions.
Fees compared
Migration cost is bigger than the published 1% fee
Coinbase Business publishes a 1% fee for crypto payments, while MakePay charges 0.5% and places it on the customer by default. The material cost for former Commerce users also includes rebuilding APIs, replacing unsupported assets, changing settlement, and meeting Business eligibility requirements.
Illustrative cost at the published comparison rate on $50,000 monthly volume: about $500 for Coinbase Commerce, before fixed or route-specific charges.
- MakePay merchant-side fee
- 0% when the customer covers the checkout fee
- MakePay customer-paid fee
- 0.5%** shown transparently at checkout by default
- Coinbase Commerce published fee
- Coinbase lists Coinbase Commerce at a 1% transaction fee and Coinbase Business at 1% for migrating merchants.
- Monthly platform fee
- MakePay: $0/mo · Coinbase Commerce: No monthly fee listed for Commerce transition pricing
Competitor pricing and availability can vary by geography, risk profile, product type, monthly volume, currency, network, and negotiated plan. Review the linked sources before making a production decision.
Detailed analysis
A replacement decision shaped by eligibility
The useful comparison is MakePay versus the current Coinbase Business path: who can open the account, where funds are held, how customers pay, and which Commerce integrations must be rewritten.
01 · Fees and transition pricing
The published comparison is 0.5% versus 1% for migrating merchants.
MakePay charges 0.5% per completed payment. Customers cover that fee by default, leaving the merchant-side MakePay fee at 0%, or the merchant can absorb it for selected flows. Network, liquidity, exchange, or swap costs can apply when conversion is involved.
Coinbase's transition guide lists the old Commerce price at 1% per transaction and says migrating merchants keep 1% pricing on Coinbase Business. New Coinbase Business commercial terms should be confirmed during application. The larger cost question is operational: Coinbase Business combines payments with custody and bank offramps, while MakePay routes toward a merchant-controlled wallet.
- MakePay: 0.5% completed-payment fee, customer-paid by default.
- Coinbase Business: 1% listed for merchants migrating from Commerce.
- Compare custody, offramp, and conversion costs alongside transaction fees.
Sources: Coinbase Commerce transition
02 · Custody and eligibility
Coinbase changed the product from self-custodial Commerce to custodial Business.
Legacy Coinbase Commerce wallets were self-custodial. Coinbase Business is explicitly custodial: Coinbase holds the funds and provides bank offramps and related account features. Coinbase currently lists Business availability for legal entities in the United States and Singapore, with expansion planned.
MakePay's core checkout does not depend on a Coinbase business account or that two-market eligibility. It is positioned around direct settlement to a wallet configured by the merchant. The deciding question is whether the business wants a custodial operating account with bank connectivity or direct wallet control after checkout.
- MakePay favors global, wallet-controlled settlement.
- Coinbase Business favors custodial operations and direct bank offramps.
- Confirm Coinbase Business eligibility before planning a migration.
03 · Payment links and APIs
Both offer payment links; the integration and asset models differ.
MakePay supports hosted payment links, embedded checkout, subscriptions, deposits, API-created checkouts, and webhooks. A merchant can pilot a shareable link before moving the same checkout model into a product or ecommerce flow.
Coinbase Business offers payment links through its UI and API, plus invoicing. Coinbase requires former Commerce API merchants to create new Business credentials, adopt JWT authentication, update endpoints and schemas, test, and then switch production traffic. Its current payment direction is stablecoin-first rather than the legacy Commerce model that accepted hundreds of assets.
- MakePay supports hosted and embedded checkout from one payment model.
- Coinbase Business adds invoicing but requires a Commerce API migration.
- Audit accepted assets and networks rather than assuming Commerce parity.
04 · Merchant operations
Coinbase Business is an operating account; MakePay is a checkout layer.
Coinbase Business combines payments with custody, trading, payouts, bank connectivity, USDC balance features, and accounting integrations. That can simplify finance operations for an eligible company already committed to Coinbase.
MakePay deliberately keeps a narrower boundary: create and brand checkout, track payment status, connect webhooks, and settle toward the merchant's wallet. It is a better fit when the business already has treasury and accounting systems or does not want its payment provider to custody proceeds.
- Choose Coinbase Business for an integrated custodial finance account.
- Choose MakePay for a wallet-first checkout that can sit beside existing systems.
Migration plan
Treat the Commerce shutdown as a product migration
Do not port the old integration mechanically. Use the deadline to decide whether the future stack should be a Coinbase operating account or a self-custody-oriented payment route.
- 01
Document the legacy Commerce surface
List charge creation, webhooks, hosted pages, asset assumptions, reporting exports, and every workflow still tied to the retired portal.
- 02
Resolve Coinbase Business eligibility first
Confirm entity location, account availability, required fiat operations, and whether the hosted business-account model is acceptable.
- 03
Rebuild one checkout against the chosen future model
Pilot MakePay when direct wallet settlement and broader reach matter, or Coinbase Business when custody, banking, and accounting integration are the priority.
Merchant fit
Choose the post-Commerce operating model
Choose MakePay when
- You want payment links and embedded checkout managed through the MakeCrypto ecosystem.
- You want direct self-custody settlement paths for merchant wallets.
- You want stablecoin, subscription, deposit, and API landing pages under MakePay.
Choose Coinbase Commerce when
- Your US or Singapore legal entity is eligible for Coinbase Business.
- You want a custodial account with direct bank offramps and accounting integrations.
- You are already committed to Coinbase treasury, trading, or payout tooling.
Methodology
How this comparison was researched
This guide separates historical Coinbase Commerce behavior from the current Coinbase Business offer. It relies on Coinbase's shutdown, Business eligibility, pricing, and developer material so discontinued functionality is not presented as a live alternative.
- MakePay focus
- Hosted links, embedded checkout, subscriptions, deposits, webhooks, and merchant wallet settlement.
- Current Coinbase path
- Coinbase Commerce closed after March 31, 2026; eligible merchants are directed to custodial, stablecoin-first Coinbase Business.
- Merchant evaluation
- Compare wallet requirements, settlement flow, dashboard operations, and customer payment UX before choosing.
Official sources
Product terms can change. Verify the linked sources before making a production decision. MakePay is not affiliated with Coinbase Commerce.
Frequently asked questions
Questions from former Coinbase Commerce merchants
Is Coinbase Commerce still available in 2026?
No. Coinbase says the Commerce portal became permanently inaccessible after March 31, 2026 and merchants can no longer create Commerce charges. Eligible US and Singapore businesses can apply for Coinbase Business.
Is MakePay a Coinbase Commerce alternative?
Yes. MakePay is a relevant replacement for merchants that need payment links, embedded checkout, direct wallet settlement, or availability outside Coinbase Business's current US and Singapore eligibility.
Which is cheaper, MakePay or Coinbase Business?
MakePay charges 0.5% per completed payment and places it on the customer by default. Coinbase lists 1% for merchants migrating from Commerce. Verify Coinbase Business terms and the full cost of custody, conversion, and bank offramps for your account.
Is Coinbase Business self-custodial like Coinbase Commerce?
No. Coinbase states that Business is custodial. MakePay is positioned around direct settlement toward a merchant-controlled wallet, which is closer to the self-custody requirement many Commerce merchants valued.
Can I reuse my Coinbase Commerce API integration?
Not unchanged. Coinbase instructs API merchants to create Coinbase Business credentials, move to JWT authentication, update endpoints and schemas, test the new integration, and then switch traffic.
How should I migrate from Coinbase Commerce to MakePay?
Export legacy records, map products and open invoices, create one MakePay payment link or API route, connect webhook states, test settlement and refunds, then communicate the new checkout path before moving all traffic.
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