Best for: Merchants who want a sovereign checkout stack with no processor fees.
Consider if: You already run a node or want to consolidate Lightning, on-chain, and fiat settlement in one dashboard.
Not ideal when: You prefer a hosted PSP that abstracts server maintenance and upgrades.
Initial sync: Depends on your Bitcoin node backend
Gotcha: The first registered user gains admin rights, so finish setup before inviting teammates.
Gotcha: Stores stay inactive until at least one payment method is configured, so finish the wallet hookup next.
Gotcha: Never paste hardware wallet seeds on the server - use BTCPay Vault or PSBT workflows instead.
Gotcha: Leave the invoice screen open until payment settles - closing the tab too soon can hide status updates.
Yes. Manual installs exist, but the docs recommend Docker or a managed host for production uptime.
An instance can host unlimited stores and even process payments for others, so long as your hardware meets the load.
$10–$70/mo depending on VPS size
What happens:
You run the software on your own virtual private server (VPS). That means you pay a flat monthly hosting fee for the hardware, regardless of how many payments you process.
Optimization:
Start on a $10 LunaNode or DigitalOcean droplet and scale up only when invoice volume spikes.
The deployment matrix lists LunaNode, Voltage, and other hosts with their expected monthly bills.
≈1% of the receive amount + on-chain mining fee
What happens:
To receive Lightning payments, your node needs inbound capacity. That means you pay standard mining fees to open channels initially, but subsequent payments are nearly free.
Optimization:
Batch liquidity top-ups during low-fee windows or use third-party LSPs that quote capped fees.
Lightning support covers LND, Core Lightning, and Eclair so you can pick the tool with the fee policy you prefer.
Mining fee you select for each payout
What happens:
Every on-chain payment goes straight to your wallet. That means the only cost is the mining fee you choose to attach when you move the funds later.
Optimization:
Consolidate payouts during quiet mempool periods or route small refunds over Lightning instead.
BTCPay charges no spread - the only cost is the network fee you attach to the transaction.
No. The docs emphasize that there are zero platform fees - only the Bitcoin or Lightning network costs you choose.
Managed providers bill you for compute, storage, and support while you still hold the keys and collect 100% of every payment.
BTC Pay generates new addresses from your wallet's public key for every order. That means funds go straight to your cold storage without ever touching a company's ledger. You verify the receipt on your own node, so you never have to trust a dashboard.
You host the database, so customer names and order details never leave your server. That means no third party can mine your sales data or track your customers. You can wipe the logs whenever you want.
BTCPay is open-source code, not a company, so it exists everywhere the internet does. Your 'jurisdiction' is simply where you put the server—your home, a VPS in Switzerland, or a cloud in New York. You choose the legal environment that fits your business by selecting the physical location of your hardware.
Because you are the payment processor, there is no onboarding department to demand a passport or business license. You can accept payments instantly from anywhere in the world without waiting for approval. You decide which compliance tools (like travel rule reports) to enable based on your local laws.
Sovereignty means the buck stops with you. There is no support desk to reverse a transaction or reset a lost seed phrase. You must secure your backups (wallet seeds + channel states) and admin credentials like a bank vault, because in this model, you are the bank.
Only the data you store on your server is available, so limit invoice metadata to what you truly need.
Yes. Deployment guides cover Tor exposure so you can reach the dashboard without opening ports on clearnet.
Fastest path with managed updates.
Full control on cloud infrastructure.
Host BTCPay beside your point of sale.
No. BTCPay is non-custodial even on hosted plans - payments still settle into wallets you control.
Yes. The docs highlight that you can attach unlimited stores and even process payments for others.
Use the official plugins to route cart checkouts through your BTCPay instance without sharing API keys with a processor.
Privacy: Checkout data stays between your store and your server - no third-party PSP sees it.
Turn any tablet into a Bitcoin register with custom item catalogs and instant invoice generation.
Custody
Data Privacy
Jurisdiction & Availabilityhttps://your-domain.com/apps/pos/{appId}
Privacy: Invoices come from your domain, so customers never leave your environment.
Schedule recurring invoices or automated payouts without spreadsheets.
Privacy: Only the recipients you invite can see their payout link.
Unlimited stores BitPay API compatible
When you host the invoices, the payment logic lives on your server, not a third party's. That means funds settle directly to your wallet, and you can switch from legacy processors like BitPay without rewriting your checkout code.
Gotcha: If you delete a store, its API keys and invoice history vanish - export data before cleaning up.
Point of Sale Crowdfunding
BTC Pay includes apps for Point of Sale, Crowdfunding, and recurring billing built right in. That means you can run your entire storefront from one dashboard without paying for multiple subscriptions.
Gotcha: Apps share the same server resources, so keep an eye on RAM and SSD usage if you enable many at once.
LND / CLN / Eclair Tor ready
You connect your own Lightning node directly to the payment server. That means you control your channel management and liquidity strategy instead of relying on a custodial wrapper.
Gotcha: BTCPay does not manage your Lightning backups - export channel states from the node itself.
Choose: Use this when you outgrow a managed plan and want root access.
Tips: Plan a maintenance window so invoices are paused while DNS propagates.
Gotcha: Remember to move BTCPay Vault connections to the new domain or hardware signatures will fail.
Choose: Use when franchised locations need their own BTCPay servers.
Tips: Rotate API keys after migration so old plugins cannot reach the new host.
Gotcha: Store exports do not include Lightning node credentials - configure them manually.
Choose: Use this when moving from LND to Core Lightning or vice versa.
Tips: Announce the change to your staff so they know which node to monitor.
Gotcha: BTCPay will not back up your Lightning channels - keep the official backup files safe before switching.
Security policy, responsible disclosure, and hardening guide
Security policyBTCPay Server Foundation lists supporters and grants
Foundation siteMIT-licensed open-source project
License
Most payment processors hold your funds and act as a gatekeeper between you and your customers. BTC Pay Server solves this by running on your own hardware, connecting directly to your Bitcoin wallet w...
Most payment processors hold your funds and act as a gatekeeper between you and your customers. BTC Pay Server solves this by running on your own hardware, connecting directly to your Bitcoin wallet without any middleman. That means you receive 100% of every payment instantly, with no risk of frozen accounts or leaked customer data. You can host it yourself for complete independence or use a managed cloud provider to get started quickly.
BTCPay runs on hardware you control, so invoices, stores, and payment history live on your own server rather than a processor's database.
You can deploy on a $10–$70 per month VPS, use a one-click host like LunaNode or Voltage, or install it on dedicated hardware at home.
No platform fees apply - only the Bitcoin network fees you select for on-chain payouts or the liquidity costs of your Lightning channels.
The first account on a new instance becomes the admin, so create it yourself, enable 2FA, and configure SMTP so you can recover passwords later.
Yes. Official plugins cover WooCommerce, Shopify via a bridge, Magento, Zapier, and dozens more, and you can run the point-of-sale or crowdfunding apps directly from BTCPay.
