The catalog of payment tools looks overwhelming until you realize the choice comes down to a handful of questions. Answer those in order and the field narrows quickly.
This article gives you that decision path, then points you to the Payment Solutions Center to compare the specific services that survive it.
In this article
First question: who holds the funds?
A custodial processor holds and converts for you, which is the low-friction path. Self-custody sends payments straight to a wallet you control, which trades convenience for independence. This one answer rules out half the options.
Second: do you want dollars or crypto?
If you want dollars in your bank and no price exposure, look for automatic settlement to a bank account. If you want to hold crypto, you need a tool that supports that cleanly. Many merchants pick automatic dollar settlement for simplicity.
The automatic bank-settlement path lists services that do exactly this.
Third: which rail fits your sales?
- Small, frequent sales: you want Lightning support.
- Large, occasional invoices: on-chain is enough.
- Online catalog: look for a plugin or hosted checkout.
Fourth: support, records, and fit
Check that the service works in your country, produces the records your bookkeeping needs, and offers support you can reach. Then confirm it sits beside your existing register rather than forcing a replacement.
The Payment Solutions Center reviews services against exactly these dimensions.
Common questions
- What is the single most important choice?
- Custody: whether a processor holds and converts your funds or you hold your own keys. Most other choices follow from that one.
- Can I change solutions later?
- Yes. Nothing locks you in permanently. Starting with a simple custodial processor and revisiting later is a common, sensible path.