PayCryptoHost vs NOWPayments: Which Crypto Payment Gateway Should You Use?
NOWPayments is non-custodial-branded processor with very broad coin support and auto-conversion options. 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 NOWPayments is still the better choice.
PayCryptoHost vs NOWPayments at a glance
| PayCryptoHost | NOWPayments | |
|---|---|---|
| Custody | Self-custodial — addresses derived from your xPub, funds land in your wallet. | Funds route through NOWPayments infrastructure before reaching your wallet. |
| Fees | Free to start; flat, published pricing with no volume negotiation. | Per-transaction fee plus network and conversion fees on auto-convert flows. |
| Merchant KYC | None on the platform — we never hold your funds. | Light onboarding, with verification triggered at higher volumes or on conversion. |
| Settlement | On-chain, direct to your wallet on first confirmation. No payout schedule. | Forwarded to your wallet address, often after an internal conversion step. |
| Assets | BTC, ETH, USDT and more, all settling to your own addresses. | Very large asset list — hundreds of coins and tokens. |
| Integrations | REST API, webhooks, WordPress/WooCommerce and BigCommerce apps, hosted invoices. | Varies by plan — see NOWPayments's documentation. |
| Best for | Merchants who want to keep custody of their revenue and be live the same day. | Merchants who want to accept the widest possible range of tokens. |
NOWPayments details reflect their publicly documented product behaviour and can change — check their current pricing page before deciding.
Why merchants move from NOWPayments to PayCryptoHost
- •Addresses are derived from your own extended public key, so there is no forwarding transaction and no second network fee.
- •Clean invoicing with clients, recurring billing, and a hosted checkout — not just a payment widget.
- •Team accounts with per-member permissions, activity reporting, and shared client address book.
- •Transparent on-chain trace for every invoice: amount detected, confirmations, and the exact transaction id.
When NOWPayments is still the better choice
- •You need to accept a specific long-tail token we do not list.
- •You want automatic conversion of every payment into a single stablecoin.
We would rather you pick the right tool than churn in a month. If any of the above describes your business, NOWPayments is a reasonable choice.
How to switch from NOWPayments 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 NOWPayments live until your first PayCryptoHost invoices confirm, then cut over.
Frequently asked questions
Is PayCryptoHost a good NOWPayments alternative?
PayCryptoHost is a self-custodial alternative to NOWPayments. 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 NOWPayments on custody?
Funds route through NOWPayments infrastructure before reaching your wallet. 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 NOWPayments?
You need to accept a specific long-tail token we do not list. You want automatic conversion of every payment into a single stablecoin.
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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