PayCryptoHost vs BitPay: Which Crypto Payment Gateway Should You Use?
BitPay is the oldest custodial crypto processor, focused on enterprise merchants and fiat settlement. PayCryptoHost takes the opposite approach: every invoice address is derived from your own extended public key, so the coins move from your customer to your wallet with nothing in between. Here is the honest comparison, including when BitPay is still the better choice.
PayCryptoHost vs BitPay at a glance
| PayCryptoHost | BitPay | |
|---|---|---|
| Custody | Self-custodial — addresses derived from your xPub, funds land in your wallet. | Custodial — BitPay receives the crypto and settles to you. |
| Fees | Free to start; flat, published pricing with no volume negotiation. | Published processing fee on transaction volume, plus settlement/bank fees. |
| Merchant KYC | None on the platform — we never hold your funds. | Full merchant KYC/KYB onboarding and approval required. |
| Settlement | On-chain, direct to your wallet on first confirmation. No payout schedule. | Fiat bank settlement on a payout schedule, or crypto settlement to a designated wallet. |
| Assets | BTC, ETH, USDT and more, all settling to your own addresses. | BTC, ETH, stablecoins and a curated list of supported assets. |
| Integrations | REST API, webhooks, WordPress/WooCommerce and BigCommerce apps, hosted invoices. | Varies by plan — see BitPay's documentation. |
| Best for | Merchants who want to keep custody of their revenue and be live the same day. | Large enterprises that specifically want fiat in their bank account and accept custodial risk. |
BitPay details reflect their publicly documented product behaviour and can change — check their current pricing page before deciding.
Why merchants move from BitPay to PayCryptoHost
- •PayCryptoHost is self-custodial: every invoice address is derived from your own xPub, so funds land in your wallet on the first confirmation — nothing to withdraw and nothing to freeze.
- •No merchant KYC on the platform, because we never hold your money.
- •No payout schedule, no minimum payout, no rolling reserve.
- •Flat, predictable pricing instead of volume-tiered enterprise contracts.
- •Same-day setup: paste an xPub and send an invoice — no approval queue.
When BitPay is still the better choice
- •You need automatic conversion to fiat and a bank deposit without touching crypto.
- •Your finance team requires a regulated custodial counterparty on the contract.
We would rather you pick the right tool than churn in a month. If any of the above describes your business, BitPay is a reasonable choice.
How to switch from BitPay in a day
- 1. Create your account. No approval queue, no business verification to take your first payment.
- 2. Add your xPub. Paste the extended public key from your hardware or software wallet. PayCryptoHost derives a fresh receiving address per invoice and never sees a private key.
- 3. Point your store or API at us. Install the WordPress or BigCommerce app, or call the REST API and subscribe to webhooks.
- 4. Run both in parallel. Keep BitPay live until your first PayCryptoHost invoices confirm, then cut over.
Frequently asked questions
Is PayCryptoHost a good BitPay alternative?
PayCryptoHost is a self-custodial alternative to BitPay. Every invoice address is derived from your own extended public key, so payments settle straight into your wallet with no payout schedule, no minimum withdrawal and no merchant KYC on the platform.
How is PayCryptoHost different from BitPay on custody?
Custodial — BitPay receives the crypto and settles to you. PayCryptoHost never takes possession of your funds — addresses are generated from your xPub and the coins go directly to you on the first confirmation.
When should I still use BitPay?
You need automatic conversion to fiat and a bank deposit without touching crypto. Your finance team requires a regulated custodial counterparty on the contract.
How long does it take to switch?
Most merchants are live the same day: create an account, paste your xPub, and either send an invoice or install the WordPress/WooCommerce or BigCommerce app and point it at your API key.
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