Choosing · 5 min read
The trade-off in one line
A hosted gateway is fastest to switch on but charges a per-transaction fee and runs on an account the provider controls. A self-hosted gateway takes an hour or two to deploy but removes the fee, the account, and the custodian.
Neither is universally 'better'. The right answer depends on how much you value control and margin versus convenience.
When hosted makes sense
If you want zero infrastructure, a support desk to call, and you're comfortable paying a percentage for it, a hosted gateway is reasonable. It's the crypto equivalent of using a fully managed card processor.
The costs are ongoing: a cut of every sale, payout schedules, and the possibility that the provider changes terms or restricts your account, particularly if you're in a high-risk category.
When self-hosting wins
Self-hosting pays off when margin matters, when you want funds settling straight to your own wallet, or when you're in an industry that hosted providers keep dropping. You own the software, so nobody can raise your fees or switch you off.
Modern self-hosted gateways have closed the convenience gap. My Crypto Server deploys as a Next.js app on Vercel with Alchemy handling payment detection, so there's no node to run, and it still gives you 0% platform fees and full self-custody.
Key takeaways
- Hosted = easiest, but you pay a percentage and depend on the provider's account.
- Self-hosted = more setup, but no fees, no custodian, and no account to freeze.
- Choose hosted for convenience, self-hosted for margin and control.
- Managed detection (e.g. Alchemy) means self-hosting no longer requires running a node.
FAQs
How hard is it to self-host a crypto gateway?
With a modern stack, about an hour: deploy to Vercel, attach a database, add an Alchemy key, and point it at your wallet. No node, no approval, no underwriting.
Can I move from hosted to self-hosted later?
Yes. Migration is usually swapping the charge-creation call and moving from the provider's callback to a signed webhook. See our alternatives guides for provider-specific steps.
Put it into practice.
My Crypto Server is the self-hosted, non-custodial gateway from this guide. $699 one-time with code MCSINTRO $999.