BTC Pay vs OpenNode

Updated: October 2025

Quick take

BTC Pay supports self‑hosted payments that settle to your own wallet without platform intermediaries. OpenNode suits teams preferring custodial, turnkey checkouts, plugins, and managed payouts. Compare custody expectations, KYC posture, supported networks, settlement behavior, and ecommerce integrations.

BTC Pay vs OpenNode — full comparison (Accept Bitcoin as a merchant)
Platform	Hosted payment gateway Payment Processor
Supported Networks	Bitcoin + Lightning Bitcoin + Lightning
Features	Decentralized payment processor 0% fees & no third-party Lightning Network support Technical setup Self-hosted maintenance Turnkey payment processor Fraud protection Custodial until funds are withdrawn Fees can add up for high-volume businesses No self-custody
Fees Processing fees	No fees 1% fees
Subscription Fees	No fees 1%
Conversion Fees	No fees 1%
Settlement Time	Blockchain confirmation time 1-2 days
Integration & Compatibility	Big Commerce, Drupal, Ecwid, GiveWP, Grandnode, Invoice Ninja, Magento, Nopcommerce, Odoo, OpenCart, PhocaCart, PrestaShop, Pretix, Shopify V2, Shopware, Ghost, Smartstore, VirtueMart, Wix, WooCommerce, Xenforo, Zapier, Custom Integration text
POS integration	Yes text
Custody & Control	Non-custodial Custodial (until withdrawal or automatic settlement)
KYC Required	No Yes
Open Source	Yes No
User Experience	0.0 out of 5 rate (0) 0.0 out of 5 rate (0)
Profile Founder(s)	Nicolas Dorier Joao Almeida & Afnan Rahman
Company description	BTC Pay Server, developed by a community-driven open-source project, is a self-hosted Bitcoin payment processor designed to empower merchants and individuals to accept Bitcoin payments securely and pr... BTC Pay Server, developed by a community-driven open-source project, is a self-hosted Bitcoin payment processor designed to empower merchants and individuals to accept Bitcoin payments securely and privately without intermediaries. All payments go directly to the user's own wallet—private keys stay under user control, greatly enhancing privacy and censorship resistance. BTC Pay Server, developed by a community-driven open-source project, is a self-hosted Bitcoin payment processor designed to empower merchants and individuals to accept Bitcoin payments securely and privately without intermediaries. All payments go directly to the user's own wallet—private keys stay under user control, greatly enhancing privacy and censorship resistance. Unlike other payment solutions, users can create online stores, point‑of‑sale systems, tipping buttons, crowdfunding campaigns, or invoice links—all within a single interface. It avoids KYC, middleman fees, and personal data collection, appealing to anyone seeking financial sovereignty with seamless integration to hardware wallets or custodial services. Users highlight its open‑source, self‑hosted nature and flexibility, commenting on how easy it is to connect a cloud‑hosted or home server, link a Bitcoin wallet, and enable Lightning payments—empowering them to accept Bitcoin anywhere, anytime, though some note the initial setup complexity for beginners. BTCPay Server's mission is to democratize Bitcoin payments—removing fees, intermediaries, and technical barriers. Their vision for the future includes releasing a mobile app to enable non‑custodial Lightning payments for merchants, refining multisig and fee‑acceleration tools, and expanding e‑commerce integrations. OpenNode is a Bitcoin-first payment processor that empowers businesses to accept and send Bitcoin—either on-chain or via Lightning—using simple plugins, hosted checkouts, or its developer-friendly API... OpenNode is a Bitcoin-first payment processor that empowers businesses to accept and send Bitcoin—either on-chain or via Lightning—using simple plugins, hosted checkouts, or its developer-friendly API. Organisations that want a turnkey, compliant solution—especially mid-sized to large enterprises—can onboard easily with KYC and achieve global scale without building complex node infrastructure. OpenNode is a Bitcoin-first payment processor that empowers businesses to accept and send Bitcoin—either on-chain or via Lightning—using simple plugins, hosted checkouts, or its developer-friendly API. Organisations that want a turnkey, compliant solution—especially mid-sized to large enterprises—can onboard easily with KYC and achieve global scale without building complex node infrastructure. It offers instant, low-cost microtransactions with a focus on liquidity management, channel operations, and protocol support. For merchants, this means accessing Bitcoin payments both instantly and economically, alongside automatic settlement options in fiat or BTC. By abstracting away technical complexities like node handling, liquidity, and channel balance, OpenNode allows businesses to plug-and-play and scale efficiently. It holds US regulatory licenses, manages KYC requirements, and maintains automated fiat conversions and payouts. This makes it ideal for businesses—especially blue-chip and enterprise-level—that require solid legal and financial backstops. Their long-term vision is to see global businesses and platforms integrate Bitcoin payments as seamlessly as credit cards—secure, censorship-resistant, and frictionless—while pushing forward broader adoption of Bitcoin as a unit of exchange across borders and cultures.
Founded in	2017 2018
Website	btcpayserver.org opennode.com
Availability	Available globally Available globally

FAQs

Is OpenNode custodial and does it require KYC?

Yes. OpenNode is custodial until you withdraw or auto-settle, and onboarding requires KYC.

Does BTCPay require KYC or hold my funds?

No. BTCPay is self-hosted and non-custodial, so you control the keys and there’s no platform KYC.

Which is easier for a merchant to start with?

OpenNode’s SaaS and plugins are quickest for most merchants. BTCPay is more hands-on because it’s self-hosted, trading setup time for control.