Accepting crypto payments for your online business comes down to two main options: CoinPayments (hosted) or BTCPay Server (self-hosted). Here's the full comparison.
CoinPayments
Hosted service. Create account, get API keys, integrate. Supports 100+ cryptocurrencies.
Pros: Quick setup (1 hour), no server to maintain, 100+ coins supported, built-in conversion and forwarding, merchant dashboard.
Cons: 0.5% fee per transaction, KYC required above certain volumes, third-party custodian risk, account can be suspended.
BTCPay Server
Self-hosted, open-source. You run the software on your own VPS.
Pros: Zero fees on transactions, no KYC, no third-party risk, Lightning Network support, full control, cannot be shut down or frozen.
Cons: Requires VPS setup and maintenance, sync time for full node (~500GB storage for Bitcoin), more complex initial setup.
Direct Comparison
- Fees: BTCPay = 0%, CoinPayments = 0.5%
- Setup time: CoinPayments = 1 hour, BTCPay = 4–8 hours
- Coins supported: CoinPayments = 100+, BTCPay = BTC, LTC + plugins
- KYC: CoinPayments = required, BTCPay = none
- Maintenance: CoinPayments = none, BTCPay = VPS updates
Which to Choose?
Choose CoinPayments if: You want to accept many different cryptocurrencies, quick setup matters most, you're not technical.
Choose BTCPay if: Bitcoin is your primary focus, you want zero fees, privacy and self-custody matter, you're handling significant volume (0.5% adds up fast).
ZeroPhantom uses CoinPayments for its digital tools →