Want to take Bitcoin as a merchant? Here's an overview of the self-custody options available to you. A simple wallet may suffice for some merchants, but if you need product management, e-commerce integration, or a web interface, these are your three main options. All of these are fully self-custody.
BTCPay Server:
- 100% free software, fully sovereign
- Must run own full node, even pruned node will cost you $20/month in VPS hosting
- Extensive plugin ecosystem, most well-known software, integrates with every ecommerce platform
- Full lightning support
- Funds live on the server
- Payment server/donate page with basic native e-commerce functionality
https://btcpayserver.org/ BareBits
- Open source software, relies on block explorers for confirmation, runs on any web hosting (no VPS required)
- Full lightning support, connect to your lightning wallet via CLINK, NWC, or LNURL. No port forwarding required.
- Integrates with Strike for instant fiat conversion in 100+ countries
- Optional cashu mint support so you can receive payments with no native inbound liquidity
- Funds never live on the server unless Cashu mint is enabled, they stay safely in your off-server wallet
- Integrates with all BTCPay-compatible e-commerce platforms (WooCommerce, Magneto, etc)
- Basic product management, shareable links to pay for a specific product of basket of products, but not a web store
- 1% fee on incoming transactions
https://github.com/BareBits/cashupayserver Bitcart:
- 100% free software, runs Electrum in backend (thin client/SPV for payment verification)
- Very limited lightning support, no liquidity management
- Integrates with most common ecommerce platforms (Woocommerce but not magneto)
- Must run on VPS, approx $5-$10/month
- Has fully featured built in web store/e-commerce functionality
https://bitcart.ai/ | Solution | Pros | Cons |
| Custodial gateways like OpenNode | Easy setup | Application required, can freeze funds, geographic restrictions |
| BTCPay Server | Full sovereignty | Needs VPS ($20+/mo), Docker |
| Bitcart | Full sovereignty, limited lightning support with no liquidity management | Needs smaller VPS ($10+/mo), Docker, ongoing maintenance |
| BareBits | Works on any web hosting. No application process, trust mint with funds until withdrawal, or go full self-custody | Relies on block explorers for on-chain payment confirmations |
