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Home/Categories/Finance & Fintech/Btcpayserver
icon of Btcpayserver

Btcpayserver

Open source alternative to BitPay, NOWPayments, CoinGate, OpenNode and Coinbase Commerce

  • 7.9K stars
  • MIT
  • Active this week
  • Last commit today

Last verified Oct 31, 2026

Run a self-hosted Bitcoin payment processor that settles funds directly to any connected wallet with zero fees and no intermediaries.

Visit websiteGitHub7.9K starsDeploy on Hostinger
image of Btcpayserver
TL;DR

Btcpayserver BTCPay Server is a self-hosted, MIT-licensed Bitcoin payment processor that routes funds directly to a merchant's wallet with zero fees and no intermediary. It replaces commercial processors like BitPay and Coinbase Commerce, which charge fees and require account approval. Active since 2017, it supports on-chain Bitcoin and Lightning Network transactions, with built-in apps for point-of-sale, invoicing, and crowdfunding. Best for merchants, developers, and community organizations who want full control over their payment infrastructure without per-transaction fees.

Read the full breakdownHide the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ
who it's for

Who Btcpayserver is for#

E-commerce merchants accepting Bitcoin payments

WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and over a dozen other platforms have native BTCPay Server plugins. The merchant installs the plugin, points it to a BTCPay Server instance, and checkout generates an invoice the customer pays. Funds settle directly in the merchant's connected wallet with no fee deduction.

Skip if:

Skip if the store needs multi-cryptocurrency support beyond Bitcoin and Lightning. BTCPay Server's altcoin coverage is limited; a managed processor like CoinGate or NOWPayments handles broader currency options.

Nonprofits and community organizations raising funds

BTCPay Server's crowdfunding module lets organizations set a fundraising goal, display a progress bar, and receive Bitcoin donations directly. Bitcoin Jungle used it to onboard 200 stores in Costa Rica. Bitcoin People built a mobile app on top of the Greenfield API to reach 270 merchants.

Skip if:

Skip if the organization needs automatic fiat conversion and fiat-denominated reporting. BTCPay Server settles in Bitcoin; converting to local currency requires a separate exchange process.

Developers building Bitcoin payment integrations

The Greenfield REST API provides programmatic access to stores, invoices, users, payment methods, and webhooks. Developers can run a BTCPay Server instance as the payment backend and interact with it entirely through the API, building custom checkout flows or mobile apps without using the web interface.

Skip if:

Skip if the integration requires a hosted API with an SLA guarantee. BTCPay Server's reliability depends on the operator's own infrastructure; a managed service may be more practical when uptime guarantees matter more than fee control.

Privacy-focused merchants and freelancers

BTCPay Server operates without KYC, account registration, or a terms-of-service agreement with any payment processor. The operator runs the software on their own infrastructure with no commercial entity involved in the transaction flow. Payment records stay on the self-hosted server.

Skip if:

Skip if server administration is not feasible. For low-volume use cases where the setup and maintenance burden outweighs the privacy benefit, a community-hosted BTCPay instance or a simpler wallet may be more practical.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Commercial cryptocurrency payment processors sit between merchants and their funds, taking fees on every transaction and adding account risk. Processors like BitPay, CoinGate, and Coinbase Commerce require identity verification, impose settlement holds, and operate under terms that allow account restriction or closure without appeal. Merchants in specific geographies or privacy-sensitive industries often fall outside the processors' supported jurisdictions entirely.

Fees accumulate too. A processor charging a percentage on each transaction becomes a material cost at high volume. For merchants who accept Bitcoin specifically to avoid credit-card fee drag, routing through a commercial processor partially negates that advantage. Every transaction also creates a record with the processor, adding a third party to what would otherwise be a direct payment between merchant and customer.

how Btcpayserver solves it

How it solves it#

Direct wallet settlement with zero fees

Payments land directly in the connected wallet when the transaction confirms, with no processor intermediary and no deduction. BTCPay Server does not hold funds or custody assets; the wallet key stays with the operator at all times.

On-chain Bitcoin and Lightning Network support

Accepts both standard on-chain Bitcoin transactions and Lightning Network payments in the same invoice flow. Lightning settlement is near-instant and carries lower on-chain fee pressure, which helps merchants with high transaction volume or small payment sizes.

Built-in Point-of-Sale, payment links, and crowdfunding

Includes a Point-of-Sale app for retail or event settings, an embeddable tipping button for websites, shareable payment links for remote invoicing, and a crowdfunding module for fundraising campaigns. Each runs inside the same BTCPay Server instance with no separate configuration.

E-commerce plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, and more

Official plugins cover WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart, and Odoo, among over a dozen other platforms. Each plugin handles checkout invoice creation, payment confirmation monitoring, and order status updates through the platform's standard extension interface.

Greenfield REST API for programmatic control

The Greenfield API provides full programmatic access to stores, invoices, users, payment methods, and webhooks. Developers can automate invoice creation, monitor payment status, and build custom checkout flows without using the BTCPay Server web interface. Bitcoin People built a mobile app on top of this API to reach 270 merchants.

Hardware wallet support in the native wallet

The built-in wallet connects to hardware wallets for transaction signing, keeping private keys off the server. Merchants who self-host can combine BTCPay Server's payment processing with hardware-level key security without using third-party wallet software.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

  • No transaction fees on any payment volumeBTCPay Server charges nothing per transaction. The only expense for a self-hosted instance is the server infrastructure the operator runs it on. Commercial processors charge fees per transaction; BTCPay Server does not, regardless of volume.
  • MIT license with no commercial use restrictionsThe MIT license permits any commercial use, modification, and redistribution without royalties. Merchants and developers running BTCPay Server in production face no licensing fees and no restrictions on commercial operation, unlike projects under AGPL or source-available licenses.
  • Proven at production scaleNamecheap processed over $73 million in Bitcoin revenue and 1.1 million transactions through BTCPay Server. Bitcoin Jungle enabled 200 stores in Costa Rica to accept Bitcoin payments. These figures come from the official BTCPay Server case studies, not marketing estimates.
  • Active development with a large contributor communityThe GitHub repository was last pushed on October 30, 2026. With 7,872 stars, 2,053 forks, and 34 open issues, the project shows a healthy ratio of activity to outstanding work. The contributor list runs over 100 named contributors.

Trade-offs

  • -Self-hosting requires server setup and ongoing maintenanceBTCPay Server is not a managed service. The operator provisions a server, installs the software, and handles updates and monitoring. Teams without server administration experience will find the initial setup takes time, and ongoing maintenance is the operator's responsibility.
  • -Bitcoin and Lightning only; limited altcoin supportBTCPay Server focuses on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. While community plugins add limited support for a small number of other currencies, it is not a multi-currency processor in the way that CoinGate or NOWPayments are. Merchants who need Ethereum, USDC, or broad altcoin coverage need a different tool.
  • -C# codebase limits the contributor and integration developer poolThe C# codebase is less common in the Bitcoin open source community than Go, Rust, or JavaScript. This narrows the pool of developers who can contribute code changes or build deep integrations without learning the language.
versus alternatives

Btcpayserver vs alternatives#

BTCPay Server vs BitPay

BitPay was one of the first commercial Bitcoin payment processors and is the reference comparison for BTCPay Server. Both support merchant invoicing, point-of-sale, and e-commerce platform integrations.

FeatureBTCPay ServerBitPay
LicenseMITProprietary
Self-hostingYesNo
Transaction feesNoneFee applies
Wallet custodyNon-custodialCustodial settlement
Lightning NetworkYesLimited
KYC requiredNoYes

BTCPay Server is the better choice when fee elimination, non-custodial operation, and no KYC requirement matter. BitPay charges per-transaction fees that BTCPay Server does not. BitPay is worth considering for merchants who want a fully managed service with no infrastructure responsibility and formal business support contracts.

BTCPay Server vs Coinbase Commerce

Coinbase Commerce targets developers and online merchants who want cryptocurrency checkout without managing infrastructure. It supports multiple cryptocurrencies and integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce.

FeatureBTCPay ServerCoinbase Commerce
LicenseMITProprietary
Self-hostingYesNo
Transaction feesNoneFee applies
CustodyNon-custodialCoinbase custody
Multi-currencyBitcoin + LightningMulti-currency
KYC requiredNoYes (Coinbase account)

BTCPay Server is the better choice for Bitcoin-focused merchants who want direct wallet settlement with no Coinbase account dependency. Coinbase Commerce is the more practical starting point for merchants who need multi-currency support or integration with the broader Coinbase ecosystem and do not want to run their own server.

BTCPay Server vs OpenNode

OpenNode is a Lightning-first managed payment processor aimed at merchants who want instant Bitcoin settlement without running infrastructure.

FeatureBTCPay ServerOpenNode
LicenseMITProprietary
Self-hostingYesNo
Transaction feesNoneFee applies
LightningYes, self-managedYes, managed
Setup complexityModerateLow

BTCPay Server is the better choice when fee elimination matters at scale or when the operator needs full control over the Lightning node configuration. OpenNode charges per-transaction fees; BTCPay Server does not. OpenNode is the better starting point for merchants who want Lightning payments immediately with no server setup or node management.

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
C#JavaScript
frequently asked

FAQ#

Does BTCPay Server charge transaction fees?

No. BTCPay Server is self-hosted software with no per-transaction fee. The only cost is the server infrastructure the operator runs it on. Commercial processors like BitPay or CoinGate charge a percentage or flat fee per transaction; BTCPay Server does not.

Does BTCPay Server support Lightning Network payments?

Yes. BTCPay Server supports both on-chain Bitcoin transactions and Lightning Network payments in the same invoice flow. Lightning is built into the default configuration and handles near-instant, lower-fee payments without a separate service or third-party integration.

Can I run BTCPay Server without technical server experience?

The self-hosted path requires server administration skills to provision the server, install the software, and handle ongoing maintenance. Operators who do not want to manage infrastructure can use a third-party BTCPay Server host or a community-operated shared server, which keeps payments wallet-direct without the self-hosting overhead.

What e-commerce platforms does BTCPay Server integrate with?

BTCPay Server has official plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart, Odoo, Wix, and over a dozen other platforms. The Greenfield REST API also allows custom integration with any platform that can make HTTP requests.

Is BTCPay Server really free to use?

Free means no software or transaction fees, not zero infrastructure cost. Operators pay for the server they run it on. The MIT license imposes no licensing fees and no restrictions on commercial use. For merchants running a server they already maintain, or using a community-hosted instance, the software cost is genuinely zero.

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Hostinger

Self-host Btcpayserver on a Hostinger VPS

Keep it running 24/7, even when your laptop is off. A Hostinger VPS gives it a server of its own.

  1. 01

    Choose a plan

    Starts from $6.49/mo

  2. 02

    Apply

    Extra 10% off yearly plans

  3. 03

    Install Btcpayserver

    On a server that stays on

  4. 04

    Start building

    Focus on the app, not the server

Deploy on Hostinger

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