BitPay vs Opayo
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Payment Gateways fits you best.
💰 Pricing
- Transaction fee for pay-as-you-go: 1% per transaction (domestic and international cards same rate).
- Monthly plan transaction fee: 0.8% per transaction.
- No setup fee.
- No monthly fee unless on Monthly Plan.
- No chargeback fees for crypto payments; disputes handled by blockchain.
- Bank wire fees for payouts (typically $25 per wire).
- ACH payout may have a small fee (e.g., $0.25 per payout).
- If you opt for settlement in a different fiat currency, the FX spread may be higher.
- Enterprise custom pricing may include volume discounts but often requires substantial monthly minimums.
🔧 Features
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- BitPay has been around since 2011, making it the most established name in crypto payments. This longevity means it has weathered regulatory storms, refined its security protocols, and built a large ecosystem of third-party integrations. Merchants can trust that the platform isn't a fly-by-night operation, which is crucial when handling financial transactions.
- The automatic conversion of crypto to fiat is a standout feature. When a customer pays in Bitcoin, BitPay immediately converts it to your chosen fiat currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.) and deposits it into your bank account. This eliminates volatility risk entirely — you never have to worry about the price crashing after a sale. For businesses that don't want to speculate on crypto, this is a game-changer (in a practical sense, not a marketing sense).
- BitPay supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and several stablecoins like USDC, PAX, and GUSD. This flexibility allows customers to pay with their preferred asset, and stablecoins offer a checkout option that's less volatile for the payer. The multi-currency support increases your potential customer base.
- The Mass Payout feature is a unique tool for businesses that need to pay many people — freelancers, affiliates, or employees. You can batch upload a CSV with payment details and send crypto or fiat to hundreds of recipients at once. This saves hours of manual work and is particularly useful for companies operating in the gig economy or with global contractors.
- BitPay integrates seamlessly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and PrestaShop. For a small monthly fee (or free with the basic plan for online payments), you can add a 'Pay with Crypto' button to your store. This lowers the technical barrier, making it accessible even for merchants with limited coding skills.
⚠ Watch out for
- The fee structure is a major drawback for low-price items. BitPay charges about 1% per transaction with a minimum fee of $0.50 (domestic) or $1.00 (international). For a $5 digital good, that's a 10-20% fee, which is exorbitant compared to card processors that charge a flat 2.9% + $0.30. Small-ticket merchants will feel the pinch immediately.
- Fiat settlement is not available globally. BitPay's bank deposit service is limited to a specific list of countries, which excludes many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. Merchants in unsupported regions are forced to hold their earnings in crypto, which defeats the purpose of using BitPay for volatility protection. Check their website to see if your country is covered before signing up.
- The settlement process is not truly instant. While BitPay brands it as 'settlement in minutes,' the reality is that blockchain confirmations take a few minutes (sometimes longer for Bitcoin) and the bank transfer typically arrives the next business day. If your business relies on immediate cash flow, this delay might be an issue, though it's comparable to traditional card settlement cycles.
- Customer support has historically been a weak point. BitPay offers email and ticket-based support, but phone support is not available. Response times can be slow, especially for merchants on the free plan. Many users have reported delays in getting issues resolved, which can be stressful when money is involved.
- The dashboard and API are powerful but have a learning curve. For a non-technical merchant, setting up the API or navigating the settlement reports might be daunting. While the e-commerce plugins simplify checkout, understanding the backend—like how to initiate payouts or reconcile transactions—requires a time investment.
🎯 Best for
Businesses that want to accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins and convert them into local fiat with minimal volatility risk, especially online stores and platforms that need to pay out multiple recipients.
🚫 Who should skip
Merchants that need same-day fiat settlement, operate in a country where BitPay's bank settlement isn't supported, or require a conventional credit-card payment gateway to cover non-crypto customers.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate — basic plugin setup is easy, but custom API integration, invoice creation, and understanding crypto confirmation times require some technical knowledge.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
BitPay is a solid choice for established businesses that want to accept crypto without the volatility risk, especially if you invoice in higher amounts and operate in supported fiat settlement countries. However, small-ticket merchants and those in unsupported regions should explore alternatives wit
💰 Pricing
- Standard plan: 2.75% + 20p per transaction for UK debit/credit cards; 3.75% + 20p for international cards.
- Plus plan: £19.95 per month; 1.75% + 10p per transaction for UK debit/credit cards; 2.75% + 10p for international cards.
- Chargeback fee: £25 + VAT per chargeback.
- Transaction fees are not refunded on refunded/cancelled transactions.
- Corporate, commercial, and premium cards often incur higher merchant fees (included in the percentage).
- International card cross-border fees can be significantly higher than UK card fees.
- Chargeback fees of £25 + VAT apply even if the chargeback is won.
- Corporate/commercial card surcharges may apply above the standard rate.
- Optional add-ons like advanced fraud screening or PCI compliance services may carry separate charges.
🔧 Features
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Strong UK/Irish focus is a genuine advantage. Opayo's acquiring and settlement are native to the UK and Ireland, meaning local businesses get smoother onboarding, domestic currency settlement, and local customer support. This is particularly beneficial for SMBs that want a partner that understands the local regulatory landscape (e.g., GDPR, PSD2) and can offer in-person support if needed.
- Tokenisation is built-in and robust. Opayo securely stores card details, allowing for one-click payments and seamless recurring billing. This is a critical feature for subscription businesses (like gyms, SaaS, or membership sites) because it reduces cart abandonment and simplifies the customer experience. Unlike some gateways that charge extra for token vault, Opayo includes it in the core offering.
- Advanced fraud screening tools give merchants control. These include 3D Secure (including the newer 2.0 version), custom rules, and AVS/CVV checks. You can set up rules to block high-risk countries or flag suspicious patterns, which is essential for fraud-sensitive retail. This level of customisation is more powerful than what you get from basic gateways like PayU or RedSys, and it can reduce chargebacks significantly.
- Reliability and trust are proven. With over 50,000 businesses, Opayo has a long track record of processing payments reliably. The platform is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, and its 99.9% uptime is well-documented. For merchants who can't afford downtime, this stability is a major plus.
- Flexible integration options. Opayo offers a REST API (with SDKs in PHP, .NET, and Java), plus ready-made plugins for major e-commerce platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, and Shopify. This means you can get started quickly even if you're not a developer, yet still have room to customise for a bespoke build.
⚠ Watch out for
- Pricing is opaque. There's no public rate card; you have to contact Opayo sales and go through a quote process. This makes it difficult to compare costs upfront, and you might be hit with additional fees (e.g., setup fees, monthly minimums, international fees) that aren't clear until you read the fine print. For a small business, that's a frustration point.
- The admin dashboard and API feel dated. The interface is clunky compared to modern, developer-friendly platforms like Stripe or Adyen. Developers have to deal with older documentation and more manual configuration. This means slower onboarding for dev teams and a steeper learning curve, especially if you're used to more streamlined systems.
- International expansion is limited. While Opayo supports multi-currency and offers some international acquiring, its core is firmly in the UK and Ireland. If your business plans to expand to Europe, the US, or beyond, you'll likely need to switch to a global payment processor like Adyen, Checkout.com, or Stripe, which adds an unwelcome migration later. For global e-commerce, Opayo is not a long-term fit.
- Customer support is inconsistent. While Opayo provides phone, email, and live chat, some users report slow response times during peak hours. The knowledge base is extensive but a bit scattered, and finding specific solutions sometimes requires digging through forums. For a business that needs immediate help during a payment outage, this can be stressful.
- No flexible pricing for startups. Opayo doesn't offer a self-serve, pay-as-you-go plan. You have to negotiate a contract, which often includes monthly fees and longer-term commitments. This is off-putting for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs who want to test a gateway without a heavy upfront commitment.
🎯 Best for
UK and Irish SMBs, particularly former Sage Pay users, who need a dependable gateway for online, recurring, and fraud-protected payments without chasing global scale.
🚫 Who should skip
Early-stage startups or international e-commerce companies that want self-serve onboarding, transparent pricing, and built-in multi-currency support should look at more modern, globally focused gateways.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate — setting up hosted payment pages is straightforward, but understanding the full admin interface, fraud rules, and contract terms requires time, and developers may need to adjust to using the older API.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Opayo is a solid choice for UK and Irish SMBs focused on domestic sales, especially those needing robust tokenisation and fraud prevention for subscription or omnichannel retail. It's less suitable for tech-forward startups or businesses with global ambitions—those should look at Stripe or Adyen. Bo
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose BitPay if...
- You are: Businesses that want to accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins and convert them into local fiat with minimal volatilit
- 👍 First mover and established name in crypto payments, with a track record since 2011 and a large ecos
- 👍 Accepts multiple major cryptocurrencies plus stablecoins, while allowing merchants to receive fiat s
- 👍 Automated conversion and local-bank settlement removes crypto volatility exposure, making accounting
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: Per-transaction fees are around 1%, plus a minimum fee per payment, which can be
Choose Opayo if...
- You are: UK and Irish SMBs, particularly former Sage Pay users, who need a dependable gateway for online, recurring, and fraud-pr
- 👍 Strong UK/Irish focus with local acquiring and support, especially beneficial for domestic businesse
- 👍 Built-in tokenisation enables secure recurring billing and one-click payments.
- 👍 Advanced fraud screening options, including 3D Secure and custom rules.
- 💰 From $20/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Pricing is opaque—no public rates, so you must go through sales to get a quote,
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does BitPay charge a monthly fee or only per-transaction fees?
BitPay doesn't charge a monthly fee for its standard gateway; you pay per transaction instead. The typical processing fee is about 1% per transaction, with a minimum fee per payment. Signing up is free, but it's not a free payment processor.
Which cryptocurrencies can I accept with BitPay?
BitPay supports Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and several stablecoins like USDC, USDP, and Euro Coin. You can also accept Litecoin, Dogecoin, and other popular assets depending on your merchant country. The exact list varies by region and is set by BitPay's compliance rules.
How does fiat settlement work and how fast is it?
When a customer pays in crypto, BitPay converts the amount at the current rate and settles the fiat equivalent to your bank account. That protects you from volatility, but bank settlement is usually not instant and arrives on the next business day or per your settlement schedule. The 'instant' part refers to locking the conversion rate at the time of payment.
Does BitPay integrate with e-commerce stores like Shopify or WooCommerce?
Yes, BitPay offers official plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, and more. It also has a REST API and webhooks for custom integrations. Non-technical users can quickly add a crypto payment button or checkout link.
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