NOWPayments vs Paystack
NOWPayments
nowpayments.ioPaystack
paystack.comSide by side
| Figure | NOWPayments | Paystack |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | 1 NGN/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 10 |
| Spec score · Payment Gateways | 8.5 (#11) | 8.7 (#9) |
| API | Its payment API supports instant payment notifications and allows one order to be paid using multiple cryptocurrencies. | The public API is RESTful and JSON-based, uses HTTPS, and provides separate test and live keys. |
| Company profile | LinkedIn lists NOWPayments as privately held, founded in 2019, headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, with 11–50 employees. | LinkedIn lists Paystack as a privately held software-development company founded in 2015 with 51–200 employees and primary headquarters in Sunnyvale, California. |
| Integrations | NOWPayments names WooCommerce, WHMCS, Magento 2, OpenCart, Zen Cart, PrestaShop, and Ecwid among its ecommerce plugin integrations. | Paystack advertises more than 50 integrations spanning ecommerce, accounting, invoicing and CRM platforms. |
| Rating on G2 | 4.5 out of 5 from 13 reviews | 4.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews |
| Rating on Trustpilot | 4.5 out of 5 from 1,100 reviews | 1.5 out of 5 from 249 reviews |
| Security controls | The homepage lists two-factor authentication, role-based access and withdrawal address whitelisting. | Paystack describes encrypted card storage, TLS 1.2 or newer, HSTS, mutual TLS and an independent vulnerability-reporting program. |
| Support | The pricing page advertises 24/7 support. | Paystack says its Customer Success team is available around the clock. |
| What it does | NOWPayments is a non-custodial gateway for accepting cryptocurrency payments, donations and payouts through websites, stores and social accounts. | Paystack is a payment service provider for African businesses supporting online and in-person payments. |
Plans
NOWPayments
- Standard payment processingFree
- Autoconverted or fixed-rate paymentsPrice not published
- Off-chain conversionsPrice not published
- Payments without conversionPrice not published
- Withdrawals and mass payoutsPrice not published
Paystack
- AccountFree
- Paystack transaction pricing (Nigeria)Free
- Dedicated virtual accounts1 NGN a month
- Nigeria local transactions1.51 NGN a month
- Nigeria international transactions3.91 NGN a month
- Nigeria transfers up to NGN 5,00010 NGN a month
- Nigeria transfers NGN 5,001–50,00025 NGN a month
- Nigeria transfers above NGN 50,00050 NGN a month
- Test SmartPeak P1000 terminal85,000 NGN, paid once
- Live SmartPeak P1000 terminal100,000 NGN, paid once
In their own words
NOWPayments
NOWPayments lets businesses accept cryptocurrency payments on websites, online stores, and social media accounts. Its homepage says the gateway supports 350+ crypto coins and 75+ fiat coins. Payment options include invoices, subscriptions, buttons, donations, point of sale, widgets, plugins, and a white-label option. The API supports instant payment notifications and allows one order to be paid with multiple cryptocurrencies. Named ecommerce integrations include WooCommerce, WHMCS, Magento 2, OpenCart, Zen Cart, PrestaShop, and Ecwid. NOWPayments describes its service as non-custodial and says it does not hold or store customer funds. Received crypto can be converted automatically into a chosen cryptocurrency using ChangeNOW. Account security controls include two-factor authentication, role-based access, and withdrawal whitelisting. The company presents the service for businesses including ecommerce, gaming, SaaS, marketplaces, charities, payroll, and travel. It advertises 24/7 support. NOWPayments was founded in 2019 by the team behind ChangeNOW and identifies FD Transfers LLC as its operator. The listed standard payment processing plan is free; blockchain network fees are excluded, and enterprise pricing is available on request.
Paystack
Paystack helps businesses in Africa accept online and in-person payments from customers around the world. Listed channels include cards, bank accounts and transfers, USSD, POS, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa QR, and mobile money. Its APIs support one-time and recurring payments through an app or website, instant transfers, and customer identity verification. The dashboard provides reporting, alerts, exports, transaction reports, customer search, and purchase insights. Listed integrations include WooCommerce, Shopify, Chargebee, Zapier, Wix, and Xero; developer materials include an API and SDKs for Android, iOS, and Flutter. Paystack says its automated and manual fraud systems help protect against fraudulent transactions and related chargeback claims. It states that it is PCI DSS Level 1, ISO 27001:2022, and ISO 27701 certified. The pricing page lists no subscription, integration, or maintenance fee, but transaction fees apply. In Nigeria, local transactions cost 1.5% plus NGN 100; that NGN 100 is waived under NGN 2,500, with local fees capped at NGN 2,000. Automatic settlement is free and generally reaches the merchant's bank account the next working day.