Stripe vs NowPayments
Stripe and NowPayments serve different payment mixes — direct comparison depends on your business model.
The card processing standard. Strict underwriting.
Crypto-only gateway. No card acceptance.
Rate card
Published list rates per supported rail.
| Rail | Stripe | NowPayments |
|---|---|---|
| Card payments | 2.90% + $0.30 | Not supported |
| Crypto payments | Not supported | 0.50% + $0.00 |
| Chargeback fee | $15.00 | None |
| Payout delay | T+2 | T+1 |
Monthly fee scenarios
What each provider would charge on $100,000/month, $75 average ticket, with fiat settlement enabled.
| Payment mix | Stripe | NowPayments |
|---|---|---|
| All cards | $3,300.00 | Doesn't serve this mix |
| 80% cards / 20% crypto | $2,640.00 (covers 80%) | $200.00 (covers 20%) |
| 50% cards / 50% crypto | $1,650.00 (covers 50%) | $500.00 (covers 50%) |
| All crypto | Doesn't serve this mix | $1,000.00 |
Want different numbers? Run the full calculator →
Feature comparison
| Feature | Stripe | NowPayments |
|---|---|---|
| High-risk friendly | — | ✓ |
| Accepts cards | ✓ | — |
| Accepts crypto | — | ✓ |
| Same-day payouts | — | — |
| No chargeback fees | — | ✓ |
| Auto-fiat conversion (no markup) | — | — |
| Global tax & compliance handled | — | — |
| No monthly minimum | ✓ | ✓ |
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Talk to a specialist →Frequently asked questions
What's cheaper — Stripe or NowPayments?
Stripe and NowPayments serve different payment mixes — direct comparison depends on your business model.
Can Stripe and NowPayments both process card payments?
Stripe accepts card payments. NowPayments does not accept card payments. If your business runs primarily on cards, this is the first filter.
Do Stripe and NowPayments support high-risk merchants (iGaming, adult, forex)?
Stripe is not high-risk friendly — it won't onboard merchants in regulated or sensitive categories. NowPayments is high-risk friendly. Run the eligibility quiz on the calculator page for a tailored answer.
How fast are payouts with Stripe versus NowPayments?
Stripe typically pays out at T+2. NowPayments typically pays out at T+1. Faster payouts reduce your working-capital cost — quantify it with the Payout Timing tool.