Choose the payment path that fits your business.
The right solution depends on what you already run, how you want to settle and whether Bitcoin needs to work at a physical counter, online checkout—or both.
| Provider | Headline processing fee | Lightning | Physical merchant path | Settlement | Good fit to evaluate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 SquareDetails → | 0% through Dec. 31, 2026; 1% after | Yes | Native eligible Square POS flow | USD or BTC | Existing eligible U.S. Square sellers wanting native checkout |
 SpeedReview → | 1% external-wallet payments; 0% Speed Wallet payments | Yes | Browser terminal, QR checkout and integrations | BTC / supported conversion flows | Physical merchants adding Bitcoin without replacing a legacy POS |
 CoinGateReview → | 1% standard merchant processing | Yes | Primarily gateway/API/invoice/plugin workflows | Crypto or supported fiat conversion/payout | Ecommerce and businesses that value fiat settlement options |
 NOWPaymentsReview → | 1% without conversion; 1.5% converted/fixed-rate flows + network fees | Bitcoin support; implementation varies by flow | Gateway/API/payment-link orientation | Wallet/custody and conversion options | Online merchants wanting broad crypto and integration flexibility |
Pricing checked September 25, 2026. Sources: Square, Speed, CoinGate, NOWPayments. Network, conversion, payout and other fees can apply in addition to headline processing rates.
How to use this comparison
1. Start with your existing stack
If your POS already supports Bitcoin natively, that may reduce operational change. If it does not, evaluate a browser terminal or separate payment layer before replacing hardware.
2. Decide what you want to receive
Some merchants want BTC. Others want dollars or another fiat currency. Settlement preference can eliminate options quickly.
3. Model the whole cost
Processing rate is only one component. Include conversion, payout, network and operational costs where they apply.
Commercial relationships
Speed, CoinGate and NOWPayments publicly offer merchant referral or affiliate programs. Bitcoin4Retail may participate in payment-provider affiliate programs as relationships are established. Compensation is disclosed and does not change the comparison framework.
Why this site exists
Merchants should not have to become Bitcoin experts—or replace a working POS—to make a sound payment decision. Our job is to translate the fragmented provider market into business terms.
Read our comparison methodology →