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Adult Crypto Payments · Editorial review

BTCPay Server review: a self-hosted bitcoin processor

btcpayserver.org

BTCPay Server is free, open-source bitcoin payment software that merchants run on their own server or rent from a host. It takes no fees, and payments land directly in the merchant’s wallet.

Open sourceSelf-hostedZero feesLightning

Our verdict on BTCPay Server

BTCPay Server suits an adult webmaster who mostly takes bitcoin and wants a tool with no provider account to open. The software is mature, translated into dozens of languages and plugged into most online store platforms.

The merchant runs the server and the updates. Help comes from the community.

BTCPay Server home page, an open-source bitcoin payment processor
BTCPay Server

Coins BTCPay Server supports

Bitcoin, on-chain and over the Lightning Network, is the project’s focus. Other coins are opt-in and maintained by their own communities: Litecoin, Dogecoin and Dash, plus Monero, USDT on Tron and Zcash through plugins. Exchange plugins also swap other coins into bitcoin, with fees paid by the buyer. Fiat conversion is likewise handled by plugins.

How BTCPay Server works

BTCPay Server is an open-source payment processor under the MIT licence, with no fees and no subscription. Payments go straight to the merchant’s wallet with no middleman, and the private key is not needed to receive them. The merchant becomes its own processor and pays only for hosting and network fees.

Deploying BTCPay Server

BTCPay Server runs in the cloud, on your own hardware such as a Raspberry Pi, or with a third-party host. A shared server suits non-technical users, who then rely on its admin. Updates, security fixes included, are the job of whoever runs the server.

Built-in apps

Every instance includes a point-of-sale app, a tipping button, payment links and crowdfunding campaigns. Invoices can be exported for bookkeeping. A built-in wallet supports hardware wallets, and an API automates stores, invoices and users.

Store integrations

BTCPay Server plugs into WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, Drupal, WHMCS, XenForo, Ghost and some twenty other tools. Namecheap has taken more than $73 million in bitcoin through it, over 1.1 million transactions.

Getting support

BTCPay Server describes itself as an open-source project with no company behind it, so there is no email, live chat or phone support. Help comes through GitHub and Mattermost, and some community members sell paid support.

Strengths and limitations of BTCPay Server

Strengths

  • No fees or subscription.
  • No account to open.
  • Lightning built in.
  • Many store integrations.

Limitations

  • Server to keep updated.
  • Community-only support.
  • Non-bitcoin coins less maintained.

BTCPay Server vs Bitcart and BitHide

Bitcart is also free and open source, with more native tokens, especially on Tron. BitHide is self-hosted too, but sells a paid licence and manages team access. A bitcoin-first merchant looks at BTCPay Server first, one selling in USDT looks at Bitcart.

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