NOWPayments Alternatives: Top 5 Payment Gateways

As cryptocurrency payments gain traction, more merchants want to accept crypto on their platforms. NOWPayments has emerged as a popular crypto payment gateway, but there are several alternatives worth considering. This article evaluates the top 5 NOWPayments alternatives based on fees, usability, mobile support, customer service, security, supported coins, and other key factors.

How we evaluate alternatives

When comparing NOWPayments to other crypto payment gateways, we assess the following criteria:

1. Transfer Fees - The fees charged for processing crypto payments. Lower fees are more appealing.
2. User Interface - The ease of navigating and using the platform's dashboard and tools. An intuitive interface improves usability.
3. Mobile App - Availability and functionality of iOS and Android apps. Mobile apps make management more convenient.
4. Customer Support - Quality and responsiveness of support teams via live chat, email, phone, and other channels. Good support is essential.
5. Security - Use of encryption, cold storage, insurance and other measures to protect user assets and data. Robust security is a must.
6. Supported Coins - Number and diversity of cryptocurrencies available for acceptance and settlement. Broader support provides more flexibility.

Top alternatives & competitors

PassimPay

PassimPay is an emerging cryptocurrency payments solution focused on providing intuitive integrations, robust security, and multi-asset support.

• Fees - PassimPay has low fees starting at just 0.5% per deposit. There are no monthly minimums or hidden fees.
• Interface - The PassimPay dashboard enables easy monitoring of payments, wallet activity, fees earned and other metrics through data visualizations. The UI promotes management simplicity.
• Mobile App - iOS and Android apps are offered to track payments and sales volumes on the go.
• Support - Self-help resources include documentation, API references, and a knowledge base.
• Security - PassimPay utilizes Cloudflare protection, SSL encryption, high-grade data centers, and other security layers to safeguard merchant assets and transactions.
• Coins - With support for over 50 major crypto assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Ripple, Litecoin and various altcoins, PassimPay provides expansive coin flexibility for merchants.
   

Pros: Ultra-low fees, intuitive dashboard, broad multi-coin acceptance.

Cons: As it continues maturing, bulking up direct support teams, augmenting mobile apps, and compiling a longer-term security profile, PassimPay must prove it can grow into its promises and match the more holistic merchant solutions offered by top incumbents.

BitPay

Founded in 2011, BitPay is a crypto payments pioneer. It serves industry leaders like AT&T and Twitch, along with thousands of merchants globally.

• Fees - BitPay charges a 1% settlement fee but no network fees. There are no monthly fees or charges for multiple wallets. Very competitive pricing overall.
• Interface - BitPay's interface is clean and user-friendly. Management and reporting features make usage straightforward for merchants.  
• Mobile App - iOS and Android apps enable monitoring, payment approvals, and other functions on the go. The BitPay Wallet app also facilitates convenient crypto storage and spending.
• Support - Phone and email support is responsive. BitPay also provides a chat widget, support center resources, and dedicated account management.
• Security - BitPay leverages high-grade encryption, two-factor authentication, multisig wallets, and bank-grade security rules. It meets global regulatory requirements as well.
• Coins - BitPay supports Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Shiba Inu, Wrapped Bitcoin, DAI, XRP, and 4 USD-stablecoins.

Pros: Very low fees, top-notch security, responsive customer support, feature-rich apps.

Cons: Less than 15 coins supported currently.

Coinbase Commerce

Owned by Coinbase, Commerce provides crypto payment services directly integrated with a Coinbase account. Over 10,000 online merchants use the gateway.

• Fees - At 0.5% + network fee per transaction, Commerce is costlier than some competitors. No monthly fees for merchants.
• Interface - The dashboard incorporates visual tools for managing transactions, generating reports, tracking payments and more with ease.  
• Mobile App - Coinbase's main app enables monitoring Commerce activity, while development of a dedicated app is underway.
• Support - Phone, email and in-app messaging provides trader support. Merchants rely on self-help content through docs and API reference.
• Security - Coinbase applies bank-level standards and insurance safeguards for asset storage. Commerce leverages superior fraud prevention as well.
• Coins - Over 120 cryptocurrencies are supported, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin and many DeFi tokens.

Pros: Broad coin support, seamless Coinbase integration, robust security.

Cons: Relatively high fees, lack of dedicated mobile app.

CoinGate

Established in 2014, CoinGate serves merchants across industries in over 45 countries by facilitating crypto acceptance.

• Fees - At 0.5% - 5% per transaction based on volume, plus network costs, CoinGate's fees are potentially high depending on merchant processing volumes. Discounted enterprise plans available.
• Interface - CoinGate's dashboard enables transaction monitoring, refund issuance, payouts scheduling, notification settings and other management in a straightforward layout.
• Mobile App - iOS and Android apps mainly provide sales and volume data. Lack of transaction tools and notifications limit utility.
• Support - Support options consist of email ticketing, merchant FAQ and API/integration documentation. Phone and chat support are currently unavailable.
• Security - CoinGate requires traders to enable 2FA and uses hosted wallets with multi-signature cold storage security mechanisms to safeguard funds.
• Coins - Around 60 cryptocurrencies are supported, including all major coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum Litecoin, Ripple and Cardano in addition to numerous altcoins.

Pros: Broad coin support, robust security for holdings.

Cons: Potentially high fees, limited mobile apps, lack of phone/chat suppor

Cryptomus

Hong Kong-based Cryptomus caters to merchants in Asian markets while expanding globally. It delivers quick crypto integrations.

• Fees - At just 0.1% + network fees per transaction, Cryptomus offers possibly the lowest rates in the industry. No monthly fees required.  
• Interface - The dashboard provides real-time transaction monitoring along with tracking of payments, fees earned, wallet activity and more. Simple to navigate.
• Mobile App - Cryptomus offers an iOS mobile app for checking payments on the go. An Android app is not available currently. The app lacks transaction tools as well.
• Support - Email-based tickets, documentation and API references provide self-service assistance. Direct support channels are not available.
• Security - Cryptomus uses hosted wallets with multi-signature mechanisms. Traditional security practices like firewalls, SSL encryption and DDoS protection are applied as well.  
• Coins - Approximately 40 major cryptocurrencies are supported, including top players like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, and Cardano.

Pros: Extremely low fees, clean interface and reporting.

Cons: Sparse support options, limited mobile app availability.

NOWPayments

NOWPayments delivers easy cryptocurrency acceptance using no-code plugins and APIs for popular platforms like Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop and WooCommerce.  

• Fees - Fees are 0.5% per transaction plus network costs. There are no monthly fees or minimums for using NOWPayments.
• Interface - The dashboard centralizes transactions, wallet oversight, payouts, DApps and other management functions through a clean, responsive UI.
• Mobile App - iOS and Android apps enable monitoring account activity plus receiving notifications on the go. BUT the apps lack transaction controls available on the desktop dashboard.
• Support - NOWPayments provides email ticketing, an online knowledge base, documentation, and Telegram community chat for inquiries. Phone and live chat are not offered currently.
• Security - NOWPayments leverages SSL encryption, Cloudflare protection, high-security data centers and regular auditing by regulators. Cold wallet storage is also applied.  
• Coins - Around 60 coins are supported, including majors like Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, Dash, Binance Coin, and newer additions like Avalanche, MATIC and Solana.

Pros: Easy integration, 0% code payments, growing coin selection.

Cons: Mobile apps lack transaction features, no phone/chat support.

 

While NOWPayments is a solid crypto payments solution, the alternatives reviewed also have unique strengths on key criteria like fees, coin support, security protections and ease-of-use.  

BitPay shines for rock-bottom pricing and robust apps. Coinbase Commerce provides seamless integration with Coinbase accounts and DeFi coins. CoinGate allows extensive coin integrations but has high fees. And Cryptomus delivers ultra-low rates at 0.1%, outweighing its lack of dedicated support and undeveloped mobile apps.  

For the right merchant profile, one of these five gateways could be more advantageous than NOWPayments. Carefully weigh priorities around functionality vs pricing to determine the best fit.

What are the advantages of crypto payment services using PassimPay as an example?

As a newer crypto gateway, PassimPay provides several advantages over more established players in terms ease, convenience and functionality.

Instant connection and no moderation

For starters, PassimPay enables near instant account setup and integrations without lengthy identity verification procedures that delay payment activations. 

Wide range of supported cryptocurrencies

It also supports over 50 cryptocurrencies - a wider range than many peers at this early stage. From majors like BTC, ETH and LTC to trending tokens like Cardano, Avalanche and Solana, extensive coin flexibility exists.

Safety precautions

PassimPay prioritizes security by leveraging Cloudflare protection, SSL encryption, and other precautions to guard merchant assets. It provides helpful guides and references as well.

Convenient functions

In terms of features, PassimPay allows merchants to easily accept payments on mobile apps, web platforms, and popular plugins like WooCommerce and Prestashop through its open-source payment gateway.

Guarantee of anonymity

Additionally, PassimPay neither holds nor has access to trader keys - upholding commitments to anonymity and privacy. The wallet remains controlled solely by the account owner.

Multi-cryptocurrency wallet function

And PassimPay enables multi-currency support in a single wallet. Merchants can conveniently monitor real-time payments across integrated blockchains through a unified dashboard.

For newcomers that want instant, secure and coin-flexible payment acceptance, PassimPay delivers on the most essential capabilities for integrating crypto. As it continues enhancing support channels, mobile apps and ancillary tools, PassimPay will become an even more formidable option versus leading incumbents.