What is the cheapest option to accept Bitcoin?

If you're a merchant looking to accept Bitcoin, the biggest question is usually: how do I keep fees as low as possible?
This guide compares popular crypto payment gateways and explains why Blockonomics is currently one of the cheapest options available.

Why Merchants Care About Bitcoin Payments

Lower fees than credit cards

• Credit card processing: 2%–4% per transaction
• Typical crypto processing: 0.5%–1%

No chargebacks
Bitcoin transactions are irreversible once confirmed. That means no chargeback disputes and no fraud fees.

Global payments without banks
Customers can pay from anywhere in the world. No currency restrictions, no blocked payments, no bank intermediaries.

Fast settlement and optional fiat conversion
Depending on the provider, you can keep funds in crypto or convert them to fiat automatically.

Network fees still apply
Every Bitcoin transaction includes a blockchain fee, regardless of which gateway you use.

Cheapest Option: Blockonomics

Why it matters:

• 1% is lower than most other crypto gateways
• No withdrawal fees because funds never sit in a hosted wallet
• You keep full control of your Bitcoin (no third-party custody risk)
• The free trial lets you test without spending anything

Things to Know Before Choosing Blockonomics

• You still pay standard Bitcoin network fees
• If you need fiat currency, you must handle the conversion yourself
• Make sure your ecommerce platform supports their plugin or API

Other Gateways (Higher Cost)

BitPay

• Fees: ~1–2% + $0.25 per transaction (varies by volume)
• Custodial service with automatic fiat conversion
• Supports more cryptocurrencies and business features, which increases cost

CoinPayments

• Advertised fee: 0.5%
• Real cost is often higher due to withdrawal fees, conversion fees, and network charges
• Custodial system — funds must be withdrawn to your own wallet

Why Some Gateways Cost More

• Extra fixed fees per transaction
• Withdrawal or conversion fees
• Custodial storage costs (provider holds the crypto for you)
• Support for many coins and compliance features (KYC, AML, etc.)
• Add-ons like fraud checks, invoicing tools, and automatic settlement

How to Choose the Cheapest Payment Gateway

✅ Compare % fees and fixed fees
✅ Look for hidden fees (withdrawals, conversions, network costs)
✅ Decide if you want custodial or non-custodial storage
✅ Confirm plugin/API compatibility with your store
✅ Decide if you will hold crypto or convert to fiat
✅ Balance cost with reliability and support

Final Recommendation

For most small and medium-sized merchants, Blockonomics is the cheapest Bitcoin payment option right now.
It charges 1%, includes 20 free transactions, has no setup or withdrawal fees, and sends funds directly to your wallet.

If you need multi-currency support, automatic fiat conversion, or enterprise features, services like BitPay or CoinPayments may make sense — but expect to pay more.