Marqeta vs NOWPayments Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated Apr 2026 8 min read

Marqeta

0.0 (0 reviews)

Marqeta is a modern card issuing and payment processing platform providing the infrastructure you need to create, manage, and scale customized physical, virtual, and tokenized payment card programs.

Starting at --
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL
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NOWPayments

0.0 (0 reviews)

NOWPayments is a non-custodial cryptocurrency payment gateway that allows you to accept over 300 digital assets as payment for your online store, physical business, or charitable organization effortlessly.

Starting at Free
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL

Quick Comparison

Feature Marqeta NOWPayments
Website marqeta.com nowpayments.io
Pricing Model Custom Freemium
Starting Price Custom Pricing Free
FREE Trial ✘ No free trial ✘ No free trial
Free Plan ✘ No free plan ✓ Has free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment saas saas mobile
Integrations Apple Pay Google Pay Samsung Pay Visa Mastercard Plaid Stripe AWS WooCommerce Shopify Magento PrestaShop OpenCart Zen Cart WHMCS Shopware Ecwid Custom API
Target Users mid-market enterprise freelancer small-business mid-market enterprise
Target Industries fintech ecommerce logistics e-commerce gaming non-profit
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2010 2019
Headquarters Oakland, USA Amsterdam, Netherlands

Overview

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Marqeta

Marqeta provides the modern infrastructure you need to build and launch sophisticated card programs without the legacy constraints of traditional banks. You can issue physical, virtual, and tokenized cards instantly, giving you total control over how payments are authorized and processed. The platform is designed for developers, offering open APIs that allow you to integrate payment capabilities directly into your own applications and workflows.

You can solve complex payment challenges like on-demand delivery, expense management, and digital banking with ease. By using their Just-in-Time (JIT) Gateway Funding, you can participate in the authorization process in real-time to approve or decline transactions based on your own business logic. This flexibility helps you reduce fraud, manage liquidity, and create unique commerce experiences for your customers.

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NOWPayments

NOWPayments is a non-custodial crypto payment gateway that lets you accept more than 300 different cryptocurrencies directly into your own wallet. You can integrate payment buttons, hosted payment pages, or full API solutions into your website to offer customers a modern checkout experience. Because it is non-custodial, you maintain full control over your private keys and funds at all times, reducing the risks associated with third-party holding services.

You can also manage complex financial tasks like mass payouts for affiliates or employees and set up recurring billing for subscription-based services. The platform automatically handles currency conversions, allowing you to accept volatile coins while receiving stablecoins to protect your margins. Whether you run a small online shop or a large enterprise, you can start accepting global payments with minimal technical setup and low transaction fees.

Overview

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Marqeta Features

  • Just-in-Time Funding Control your cash flow by funding transactions in real-time at the exact moment of purchase to minimize idle balances.
  • Instant Virtual Issuance Generate and deploy virtual cards immediately so your users can start spending through digital wallets without waiting for mail.
  • Dynamic Spend Controls Set granular rules for where, when, and how much can be spent to prevent fraud and ensure policy compliance.
  • Tokenization Services Provision cards securely into Apple Pay and Google Pay to provide your customers with a modern mobile payment experience.
  • Webhooks & Real-time Data Receive instant notifications for every transaction event so you can trigger automated workflows and keep your records synced.
  • Physical Card Customization Design and ship branded physical cards with custom materials and features to strengthen your brand identity with users.
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NOWPayments Features

  • Instant Auto-Conversion. Protect your revenue from market volatility by automatically converting received cryptocurrencies into stablecoins or your preferred digital asset.
  • Mass Payouts. Send rebates, rewards, or salaries to multiple addresses simultaneously with a single click to streamline your business operations.
  • Point-of-Sale Terminal. Accept crypto payments in your physical store using a simple web-based interface compatible with any mobile device or tablet.
  • Recurring Billing. Set up automated subscription payments for your customers so you can generate consistent revenue without manual invoicing.
  • Custodial Solutions. Choose to use internal accounts for instant transfers between users within your ecosystem to save on network gas fees.
  • E-commerce Plugins. Connect your store instantly with ready-made plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and other major shopping cart platforms.

Pricing Comparison

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Marqeta Pricing

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NOWPayments Pricing

Standard Gateway
$0
  • No monthly subscription fees
  • 0.5% transaction fee
  • Access to 300+ cryptocurrencies
  • Personal account manager
  • 24/7 technical support

Pros & Cons

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Marqeta

Pros

  • Highly flexible API documentation for rapid development
  • Real-time transaction data provides excellent visibility
  • Superior control over authorization logic via JIT funding
  • Scales reliably for high-volume enterprise payment programs

Cons

  • Significant technical expertise required for initial setup
  • Complex compliance and regulatory hurdles to navigate
  • Pricing is not transparent for smaller startups
A

NOWPayments

Pros

  • Non-custodial setup ensures you keep full control of funds
  • Extensive range of supported coins exceeds most competitors
  • Simple integration process with popular e-commerce plugins
  • Responsive customer support helps resolve technical issues quickly

Cons

  • Minimum payment limits apply to certain low-value transactions
  • Network congestion can occasionally delay transaction confirmations
  • Fiat withdrawal options are limited compared to crypto-to-crypto
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