NOWPayments is one of the most popular crypto payment processors for WordPress - it supports hundreds of coins and has an active presence in the crypto community. But popularity and the right tool are different things. NOWPayments is custodial, charges a fee on every transaction, and requires an account - three things AshePay eliminates entirely.
Quick Verdict
- NOWPayments is worth considering if you need a very wide range of exotic coins or want automatic conversion to stablecoins on settlement.
- AshePay is the better choice if you want zero fees, direct wallet custody, and no third-party account - which covers most WooCommerce stores.
- NOWPayments' 0.5% fee sounds small. On $20,000/month that is $1,200/year - nearly 17× the annual cost of AshePay Pro.
What Is NOWPayments?
NOWPayments is a crypto payment processor that supports over 300 cryptocurrencies. Merchants create an account, integrate via plugin or API, and NOWPayments handles the payment flow. The fee is 0.5% per transaction. Payments can be settled in crypto or automatically converted to stablecoins. NOWPayments acts as a custodian - funds pass through their systems before reaching you.
What Is AshePay?
AshePay is a self-hosted WordPress plugin built natively for WooCommerce. Payments go directly from the customer's wallet to your wallet on the blockchain. AshePay monitors transactions and updates order status automatically. Zero platform fees, no account required, no intermediary.
Fees
0.5% Adds Up Fast
- $5,000/month → $25/month → $300/year to NOWPayments
- $20,000/month → $100/month → $1,200/year to NOWPayments
- AshePay Pro is $69/year flat. No percentage cut, ever. The math is simple - any store doing more than $13,800/year in crypto breaks even instantly.
Custody: Where Your Money Goes
NOWPayments is a custodial processor. When a customer pays, the funds flow through NOWPayments' infrastructure before being settled to your wallet. NOWPayments holds your funds during that window. If their platform has issues, your settlement is delayed. If your account is restricted, your funds are inaccessible until the issue is resolved.
AshePay is fully self-custodial. The customer sends to your wallet address directly on the blockchain. There is no settlement window, no holding period, and no NOWPayments equivalent account that can be restricted. Funds are yours the moment the transaction confirms on-chain.
Account and KYC
NOWPayments requires an account and goes through a verification process before you can withdraw. The level of KYC depends on your transaction volume and jurisdiction.
AshePay needs only a wallet address. No registration, no email, no verification. Install, paste your wallet, go live.
Coin Support
NOWPayments' headline feature is 300+ supported coins. If you need to accept very niche cryptocurrencies, that breadth is hard to match.
AshePay focuses on the coins that drive actual payment volume. The free version covers ETH and BTC - the two most widely held assets. AshePay Pro adds 6 more chains with USDT and USDC:
For most stores, the coins above account for the vast majority of real crypto payments. The 300+ coin list from NOWPayments is impressive on paper - but in practice, 90% of crypto holders pay in ETH, BTC, SOL, or stablecoins.
AshePay
- 0% platform fees
- 100% self-custodial - no settlement delay
- No account or KYC
- 8 chains + stablecoins (Pro)
- Free tier: ETH + BTC, no expiry
- Built natively for WooCommerce
NOWPayments
- 300+ supported coins
- Auto-conversion to stablecoins on settlement
- 0.5% fee (lower than some competitors)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AshePay support as many coins as NOWPayments?
AshePay Pro supports 8 blockchains with native coins, USDT, and USDC - covering the tokens that represent the vast majority of real payment volume. NOWPayments supports 300+ coins, which is useful if you specifically need niche cryptocurrencies.
Does AshePay offer auto-conversion to stablecoins like NOWPayments?
AshePay delivers whatever the customer sends directly to your wallet - ETH, BTC, USDT, USDC, etc. If you want to receive only stablecoins, simply enable USDT or USDC at checkout and disable the native coin options. Customers then choose from stablecoin options only.
Can NOWPayments freeze my account?
Yes - like any custodial processor, NOWPayments can restrict accounts under their terms of service. With AshePay there is no account; funds go directly to your wallet and cannot be withheld.
Is AshePay free?
Yes. AshePay Free supports Ethereum and Bitcoin with no expiry and no cost. AshePay Pro ($69/year) unlocks all 8 chains and stablecoins.
Keep 100% of every sale
No 0.5% cut, no custodial holding period, no account to create. Direct to your wallet, every time.
Get AshePay — free or $69/year Pro →Ashe Labs
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