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Choosing the right cryptocurrency payment gateway is one of the most important technical and financial decisions an online business can make. The wrong provider can eat into margins through hidden fees, slow settlement times, or limited coin support. The right one processes payments smoothly while letting merchants keep more of their revenue.
Four providers dominate the current landscape: NOWPayments, BitPay, CoinGate, and Comet Payment. Each targets slightly different use cases, and their fee structures reflect those priorities. This guide breaks down exactly what each platform charges, how settlements work, and which coins they support so you can make an informed choice.
NOWPayments
NOWPayments positions itself as a developer-friendly, non-custodial crypto payment processor. Merchants retain control of funds throughout the transaction flow, and the platform supports over 150 cryptocurrencies across multiple blockchains.
Fee structure
NOWPayments charges a flat base fee of 1% on standard transactions. Certain promotional campaigns or high-volume partners may access reduced rates starting at 0.5%. There are no monthly fees, setup fees, or chargeback fees — since crypto transactions are irreversible by design, chargebacks simply do not exist in this model.
| Transaction type | NOWPayments fee | Settlement time | Supported coins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard checkout | 1% | Instant to wallet | 150+ |
| API integration | 1% | Instant to wallet | 150+ |
| Recurring payments | 1% | Per billing cycle | 150+ |
| Donation widget | 1% | Instant to wallet | 150+ |
Key features
The platform offers a straightforward REST API, pre-built plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and PrestaShop, and a self-hosted option called Storekit for businesses that want full infrastructure control. Auto-conversion to stablecoins is available as an optional feature, protecting merchants from volatility during the payment window.
Payouts go directly to customer wallets or exchange addresses. There is no holding period and no minimum payout threshold, which means capital moves immediately after confirmation.
BitPay
BitPay is one of the oldest names in crypto payments, founded in 2011. It handles billions in annual volume and serves large enterprises alongside mid-market merchants. Settlement typically goes to bank accounts in fiat currency, though crypto payouts are also possible.
Fee structure
BitPay charges 1% per transaction for most merchants, with enterprise-level contracts often negotiating rates between 0.5% and 0.9% depending on monthly volume. Settlement to a US bank account usually takes one business day. International bank transfers may require additional time and incur wire fees.
Unlike some competitors, BitPay does not publish its full coin list publicly. Supported coins include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, USD Coin, Tether, and several stablecoins. The selection is narrower than NOWPayments but covers the assets that matter to most mainstream operations.
Key features
BitPay’s strength lies in its compliance infrastructure. It holds MSB licenses in the United States and provides detailed reporting tools that accounting teams appreciate. The dashboard includes real-time analytics, subscription management, and refund processing. Integration options include hosted checkout pages, APIs, and official plugins for major e-commerce platforms.
One notable limitation: BitPay acts as a custodian during the payment flow. Funds pass through BitPay’s systems before settling to the merchant’s bank account. For businesses that prioritize regulatory comfort over direct custody, this is a feature rather than a drawback.
CoinGate
CoinGate, launched in 2017, operates in over 160 countries and supports 80+ cryptocurrencies. It targets both small businesses and larger merchants with flexible integration paths and competitive pricing.
Fee structure
CoinGate’s standard transaction fee is 0.9% when settled in crypto and 1.5% when auto-converted to fiat. The difference matters significantly for high-volume stores processing thousands of transactions monthly. There are no hidden costs, withdrawal fees, or minimum thresholds.
| Settlement option | CoinGate fee | Payout method |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto (on-chain) | 0.9% | Direct wallet transfer |
| Fiat auto-convert | 1.5% | Bank transfer or PayPal |
| CoinGate balance | 0.9% | Internal wallet |
Key features
CoinGate provides a Point-of-Sale application for physical retail locations, which sets it apart from many purely digital-first competitors. The platform supports recurring billing, invoice creation, and a donation button widget. Integration plugins cover WordPress, WooCommerce, OpenCart, Shopify, and PrestaShop.
The platform also offers a proprietary token, CGToken, that gives holders a 50% discount on transaction fees when used to pay for services. This incentive structure rewards platform loyalty.
Comet Payment
Comet Payment is a newer entrant focused on providing a streamlined experience for merchants who need reliable crypto acceptance without complexity. It emphasizes fast onboarding, clean APIs, and transparent pricing.
Fee structure
Comet Payment charges approximately 1% per transaction, aligning closely with industry averages. The exact rate depends on the merchant category and expected monthly volume. Settlement to bank accounts typically occurs within two business days, while crypto payouts to external wallets process after blockchain confirmations.
Key features
The platform supports 40+ cryptocurrencies including major coins and popular ERC-20 tokens. Comet Payment’s dashboard provides real-time transaction monitoring, automatic address generation, and multi-user access controls for team collaboration. API documentation is comprehensive, covering webhooks, authentication flows, and error handling patterns.
Integration is straightforward with plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, and custom API implementations. The platform also offers a hosted payment page for merchants who prefer not to embed anything on their site.
Fee Comparison Summary
Across all four providers, the effective cost range sits between 0.5% and 1.5% depending on settlement preferences and volume discounts. Here is a side-by-side overview:
| Provider | Base fee | Best case fee | Fiat settlement | Coin count | Monthly fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOWPayments | 1% | 0.5% | Via third-party converter | 150+ | None |
| BitPay | 1% | 0.5% | Yes (bank deposit) | ~15 | None |
| CoinGate | 0.9% | 0.45% | Yes | 80+ | None |
| Comet Payment | 1% | Volume-dependent | Yes | 40+ | None |
All four platforms charge zero monthly fees and zero setup fees. The real differentiation comes from coin selection, settlement speed, and compliance posture.
Which Platform Fits Your Business
If your operation needs maximum coin variety and direct wallet custody, NOWPayments provides the broadest support with the lowest friction. The non-custodial model means you control every step of the payment flow.
Enterprise merchants prioritizing regulatory compliance and fiat settlement convenience should look at BitPay. Its decade-long track record and licensing make it a safe choice for businesses operating in heavily regulated jurisdictions.
Merchants running both online and physical storefronts benefit from CoinGate’s POS application and flexible settlement options. The CGToken discount also provides meaningful savings for loyal users.
Comet Payment works well for businesses that want a clean, modern interface and quick setup without sacrificing core functionality. It is ideal for teams that value simplicity over feature bloat.