Cloakd vs NOWPayments: Privacy-First vs Low-Fee Gateway
Last updated 2026-07-04 · Facts checked against public sources
NOWPayments is one of the most popular crypto gateways for a reason: ~0.5% base fees, 300+ supported currencies, auto-conversion, and email-only signup for crypto-to-crypto merchants. KYC only enters the picture for fiat payouts or higher volumes.
Cloakd competes on a different axis: payments where the merchant's receiving address is hidden, settlement is non-custodial by design, and Telegram commerce (bot payments, channel paywalls) is native rather than an afterthought. If you're optimizing purely for fee percentage and coin count, NOWPayments is strong; if you're optimizing for privacy and chat-native selling, that's Cloakd's home turf.
Cloakd vs NOWPayments at a Glance
| Feature | Cloakd | NOWPayments |
|---|---|---|
| Signup | Wallet signature, no email needed | Email signup; KYC for fiat/volume tiers |
| Custody | Non-custodial, direct to your wallet | Gateway-managed flow with payouts |
| Fees | Free setup; 1% service fee per transaction | ~0.5% base; ~1%+ with auto-conversion; fiat costs more |
| Coins | 200+ tokens across 45+ chains | 300+ currencies |
| Payer→merchant conversion | Cross-chain swaps built into every payment | Auto-conversion available (extra fee) |
| Merchant address privacy | Hidden from payers by default | Standard gateway flow |
| Telegram commerce | Native bot + channel paywalls | Not a core product |
| Fiat payouts | No — crypto only | Yes, with KYC/KYB |
When NOWPayments is the better fit
- You process high volume and the ~0.5% base fee meaningfully beats 1%.
- You need a long tail of exotic currencies beyond Cloakd's 200+ tokens.
- You want optional fiat payouts from the same provider (and are fine with the KYC that entails).
When Cloakd is the better fit
- You want no account at all — not even an email — and funds that never touch a processor's custody flow.
- Keeping your receiving address hidden from payers matters to your business.
- Telegram is a sales channel: the payment bot and paywalls are native Cloakd products.
- You want dead-simple payment links for invoices, bios, and DMs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NOWPayments cheaper than Cloakd?
On base fees, often yes (~0.5% vs 1% as of mid-2026) — though NOWPayments' auto-conversion adds roughly another 0.5%, and fiat settlement costs more. For most small merchants the structural differences (custody, KYC, privacy) matter more than half a percent.
Does NOWPayments require KYC?
Not for basic crypto-to-crypto merchants — signup is email-only. KYC/KYB applies for fiat payouts and above certain volume thresholds. Cloakd never requires merchant identity verification.
Which supports more coins?
NOWPayments lists 300+ currencies; Cloakd supports 200+ tokens across 45+ chains with cross-chain swaps on every payment, so payers rarely need the exact coin you request.
Can both do e-commerce plugins?
Yes — both offer WooCommerce integration and APIs with webhooks. Cloakd additionally covers Telegram-native selling with its bot and paywall products.
Try Cloakd in Two Minutes
No account, no KYC, nothing to install. Create a payment link, or set up merchant checkout for your store.