NOWPayments alternative: GriffNode compared

NOWPayments and GriffNode are closer than most comparisons on this site, because both can route payments to a wallet you control. The real difference is pricing shape and product focus: NOWPayments is breadth, with a very large currency list and a percentage fee, while GriffNode is depth on a small set of major chains with a flat fee.

If you need an obscure coin, NOWPayments almost certainly has it. If you want your processing cost to stop growing every time you have a good month, the flat fee is the argument.

GriffNode vs NOWPayments

NOWPayments figures are quoted from their own published pricing.

Network and gas fees are charged separately by both platforms and are not part of either fee model. NOWPayments advertises volume-based discounts without publishing the thresholds, so treat the rates above as list pricing.

How the main options differ

One clause each, so you can rule things out quickly.

• GriffNode: a flat monthly fee with nothing taken from the payment, non-custodial settlement, and no merchant KYC.
• NOWPayments: a very large currency list with percentage pricing and both custodial and non-custodial options.
• BitPay: custodial with tiered percentage pricing, mandatory verification, and daily fiat settlement to a bank.
• CoinPayments: a long-running custodial processor charging less on coins than on tokens.
• CoinGate: a European, compliance-first processor with merchant verification and euro settlement.
• BTCPay Server: free and open-source, fully self-custodial, and entirely your responsibility to run.

Where the two pricing models cross over

At 0.5%, NOWPayments costs less than GriffNode's Business plan until you are processing about $10,000 a month. Above that, the flat fee wins, and it keeps winning by a wider margin the more you sell. At $100,000 a month, a 0.5% fee is $500 and GriffNode's Professional plan is $129.

That crossover point moves if you use multi-currency or fixed-rate payments, which NOWPayments charges 1% for. Work out which flows you actually need before you compare, then run the numbers in the fee calculator.

Breadth versus focus

GriffNode supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin and Dash, plus ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum including USDT, USDC, DAI, WBTC, LINK and UNI. That covers what the overwhelming majority of paying customers actually hold.

A 350-coin list is genuinely useful if your customers pay in something unusual. For most merchants it is a longer dropdown at checkout rather than more revenue. Pick based on what your customers actually asked for, not on the size of the list.

How to switch from NOWPayments to GriffNode

Nothing here requires downtime.

1. Export your wallet xPub. Take the extended public key from the wallet you want paid into. GriffNode derives a unique address per payment from it and cannot spend from it. See the wallet setup guide.
2. Create a free GriffNode account. Sign up with an email, paste your xPub, and enable the coins your customers actually use. No KYC and no approval wait.
3. Map your payment creation call across. Replace the NOWPayments invoice call with a GriffNode payment call. The request and response shapes are documented in the quick start.
4. Repoint and verify your webhook. Update your callback URL and verify the signature on every event before you trust it. The webhook security docs show exactly how.
5. Run both in parallel, then cut over. Test the full path in test mode, keep NOWPayments live until you are satisfied, then move your traffic across.

Frequently asked questions

What does NOWPayments charge?

NOWPayments publishes 0.5% for a payment without exchange, and 1% for multi-currency payments, fixed-rate payments and payments where the fee is paid by the user. Network and gas fees are charged separately. They also advertise volume discounts without publishing the thresholds.

Is NOWPayments non-custodial?

NOWPayments offers a non-custodial flow that routes funds to your own wallet, and separately offers an optional custody balance feature. GriffNode is non-custodial only, with no custodial option at all, so payments always settle directly to an address derived from your own key.

Is GriffNode cheaper than NOWPayments?

Above roughly $10,000 a month in crypto volume, yes, and the gap grows from there. Below that, a 0.5% fee can work out cheaper than a $49 monthly plan. GriffNode also has a free plan covering 30 transactions a month if you are just starting out.

How many cryptocurrencies does GriffNode support?

GriffNode supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin and Dash, plus ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum including USDT, USDC, DAI, WBTC, LINK and UNI. That is a deliberately shorter list than some processors carry, focused on what customers actually pay with.

Does GriffNode require identity verification?

No. GriffNode does not require merchant KYC. You create an account with an email address and connect a wallet you already control. Your own tax and reporting obligations in your country are unaffected and still apply.