Comparison

Qvard vs BTCPay Server: what to choose for accepting crypto payments

TL;DR: These solve the problem in fundamentally different ways. BTCPay Server is free, open-source software you self-host — 0% platform fee, full control of your Bitcoin private keys, but you run and secure the server yourself with community-only support. Qvard is a hosted, custodial service you don't have to operate — a processing fee applies, but there's a merchant dashboard, broader asset coverage beyond Bitcoin, and a support channel.

Get started with Qvard Create test invoice Chat on Telegram

See for yourself:

Feature by feature

Qvard vs BTCPay Server

QvardBTCPay Server

Processing fee~1% (0.8%/0.65% at higher volume)0% platform fee (self-hosted software); on-chain miner fees or Lightning routing fees still apply

Custodial modelCustodial: Qvard tracks a merchant balance per asset until withdrawalNon-custodial: payments go directly to a wallet you control; private keys never leave your instance

Coins & networksUSDT (TRC20, ERC20, BEP20), BTC, LTC, ETH, BNB, TRXBitcoin on-chain and Lightning Network by default; altcoins require manual node configuration or third-party swap plugins

KYC for merchantsNot requiredNone — self-hosted software with no intermediary requiring verification

Hosted checkoutYes, hosted by Qvard — customer picks asset/network on the payment pageYes, but self-hosted — the checkout page is served by your own BTCPay instance

Payment linksNo — created via API, customer gets a hosted checkout linkYes — Pay Button and a point-of-sale app

API & webhooksYes — create payment, get paymentUrl, receive final-status webhook with retryYes — Greenfield REST API with webhooks

PluginsNo ready-made plugins yet — REST API integrationWooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, WordPress, Drupal Commerce and 30+ others

WithdrawalsManual and automatic withdrawals from the merchant balanceNot applicable — funds settle directly to your own wallet since BTCPay never holds them

SupportTelegram botCommunity: GitHub issues and Mattermost chat; no official paid support line

Self-hosted vs. hosted is the whole story

BTCPay Server is software, not a company: you deploy it yourself (on a VPS, home server, or a third-party BTCPay host) and it never touches your funds or your private keys — payments go straight to your own wallet. Qvard is a hosted service: you don't run any infrastructure, but Qvard holds a merchant balance you withdraw from, and charges a processing fee for that convenience.

0% platform fee, but you pay in setup time

BTCPay Server's own site states 0% fees for accepting Bitcoin payments — you only pay Bitcoin network (or Lightning routing) fees, which BTCPay doesn't control. In exchange, you're responsible for deploying, securing and maintaining the server yourself, or paying a third-party host for that. Qvard's ~1% fee (stepping down at volume) buys you a ready-made hosted setup with no server to run.

Bitcoin-first vs. multi-asset

BTCPay Server focuses on Bitcoin on-chain and Lightning by default; other coins need manual node configuration or third-party swap plugins, so it isn't a quick fit for a merchant that wants to accept USDT or several EVM chains out of the box. Qvard is built around USDT across three networks plus BTC, LTC, ETH, BNB and TRX without any self-hosting.

Support model

BTCPay Server has no official paid support line — help comes from the community via GitHub issues and Mattermost chat, since it isn't a company selling a service. Qvard offers a Telegram-bot support channel alongside its lead-capture form.

When BTCPay Server is the better choice

Pick BTCPay Server if full control of your Bitcoin private keys matters more than convenience, you're comfortable running (or paying someone to run) your own server, you mainly need Bitcoin/Lightning rather than stablecoins, and a 0% platform fee is worth the operational overhead.

When Qvard is the better choice

Pick Qvard if you'd rather not operate any server, need USDT across several networks plus a handful of majors out of the box, and want a support channel and merchant dashboard rather than community-only help.

FAQ

Does BTCPay Server really charge 0% fees?

Yes, per its own site: "0% Fees" for the software itself. Network fees (Bitcoin miner fees or Lightning routing fees) still apply and are not controlled by BTCPay Server, since it doesn't handle the payment itself — it just generates the invoice and checkout page.

Is BTCPay Server custodial?

No — it's explicitly non-custodial: "your private keys are never uploaded to the server" and payments go directly to your own wallet. Qvard, by contrast, tracks a merchant balance you withdraw from — a custodial model.

Do I need technical skills to run BTCPay Server?

Some, yes. BTCPay Server needs to be deployed — self-hosted on your own hardware/VPS via Docker, or through a third-party BTCPay hosting provider — and kept running. Qvard needs no server at all; you sign up and use the hosted checkout, invoices and API directly.

Can BTCPay Server accept USDT like Qvard?

Not out of the box. BTCPay Server defaults to Bitcoin on-chain and Lightning; stablecoins or other altcoins require manual node configuration or third-party swap plugins, which is a meaningfully different setup from Qvard's built-in multi-network USDT support.

Who do I contact if something breaks with BTCPay Server?

There's no official company support line — help comes from the open-source community through GitHub issues and the BTCPay Server Mattermost chat. Qvard instead offers a Telegram-bot support channel.

More comparisons

Qvard vs CoinPayments

Qvard vs Cryptomus

Data on BTCPay Server verified 2026-09-17 from official sources. Fees, features and policies can change after this check — confirm current details directly with the provider before deciding.

Sources checked: https://btcpayserver.org/ · https://docs.btcpayserver.org/FAQ/General/ · https://docs.btcpayserver.org/FAQ/Wallet/ · https://docs.btcpayserver.org/FAQ/Altcoin/ · https://docs.btcpayserver.org/API/Greenfield/v1/ · https://docs.btcpayserver.org/BTCPayServer/greenfield-development/ · https://docs.btcpayserver.org/ShopifyV2/ · https://docs.btcpayserver.org/FAQ/Integrations/ · https://docs.btcpayserver.org/Deployment/