Paybis Review: Credit Card Crypto Purchases Made Easy (But At What Cost?)

Looking for a cryptocurrency exchange that actually accepts credit cards? You've probably noticed most platforms stick to debit cards and bank transfers only. Paybis breaks that mold by supporting credit card purchases across 180+ countries—but those convenience fees stack up fast. This review walks you through exactly what you're paying for, which payment methods make sense, and whether Paybis fits your crypto buying strategy better than lower-cost alternatives.

What Makes Paybis Different From Other Crypto Exchanges?

Founded in 2014, Paybis carved out its niche by doing something most exchanges won't: letting you buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other popular cryptocurrencies with a credit card. Founders Innokenty Isers and Konstantin Wasilenko built the platform around security and accessibility, and seven years later, they're processing over $250 million in annual trading volume across more than 180 countries.

The company holds licenses from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority and the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), with operating permissions in 48 states. That's the regulatory foundation. But what does that mean for you as a user?

Credit Cards Actually Work Here

Most major exchanges block U.S. credit card purchases. Coinbase? Debit only. Gemini? Same story. Paybis says "sure, use your credit card"—and then charges you accordingly. We'll get to those numbers in a minute, but first, understand this is genuinely rare in the crypto world.

The platform supports debit cards and bank transfers too, giving you three ways to fund purchases instead of the usual two.

Ten Cryptocurrencies (The Big Ones)

Paybis keeps its crypto menu short: just 10 options. But these aren't obscure altcoins—they're the household names. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple (XRP), Tether, USD Coin, Ethereum Classic, Dogecoin, and Cardano. If you're buying crypto for the first time or sticking to established currencies, this list covers you. If you want to experiment with smaller-cap tokens, you'll need a different platform.

The real standout? Paybis supports 47 fiat currencies. That's unusually broad. If you're based outside the U.S. or travel frequently, you can often skip currency conversion fees entirely by paying in your local money.

Fast Identity Checks

Nobody enjoys identity verification. Paybis makes it less painful by promising 15-minute turnaround times on most checks. You'll still need to upload government ID, possibly a selfie, maybe a bank statement—standard KYC stuff. But compared to platforms that leave you waiting days, 15 minutes feels reasonable.

The company takes security seriously. All that verification isn't bureaucratic theater—it's part of maintaining their regulatory licenses and keeping the platform safe from fraud.

Non-Custodial Setup (You Need Your Own Wallet)

Here's something crucial: Paybis doesn't store your crypto. When you buy Bitcoin or Ethereum, it goes straight to your personal crypto wallet. That means you need a wallet set up before you can use Paybis at all.

Why does this matter? You maintain full control of your assets. Paybis can't lose your crypto in a hack because they never held it in the first place. The tradeoff? You're responsible for wallet security. Lose your private keys, and nobody can help you—not even Paybis.

The Fee Structure: Where Costs Add Up

Every crypto platform charges fees. Paybis charges three types, and depending on your payment method, they range from reasonable to expensive.

Transaction Fee (The "Paybis Fee"): This varies by payment method. For ACH bank transfers, Paybis charges 0.99%—that's actually competitive. They lowered it from 2.99% in mid-2025. For card purchases (debit or credit), the fee jumps to 2.49%. Your first trade gets this fee waived, which is nice.

Card Processing Fee: Here's where things get pricey. If you use a debit or credit card, Paybis adds a 4.5% processing fee on top of everything else. That minimum $10 fee hits hard on smaller purchases. Buy $100 worth of Bitcoin with a card? You're paying at least $10 in processing fees alone, bringing your effective rate to 10% before we even factor in the transaction fee.

Miner's Fee: This varies by cryptocurrency and network congestion. It's unavoidable on any platform, but worth remembering it exists.

Let's do the math on a card purchase: 2.49% (Paybis fee) + 4.5% (card processing) = 6.99% before the miner's fee. That's steep. Really steep.

For context, if you're buying crypto because you want exposure to the asset class—not because you urgently need to spend credit card points or lack other funding sources—that 6.99% eats a significant chunk of potential gains before you even start.

Bank transfers (ACH) fare much better. At 0.99% plus the miner's fee, they're priced competitively with standard Coinbase or Gemini accounts. Not cheaper than advanced trader platforms (which use maker/taker fee structures around 0.10%-0.50%), but reasonable for casual buyers.

How Paybis Stacks Up Against Competitors

Coinbase and Gemini both offer more cryptocurrencies—we're talking hundreds of options versus Paybis' ten. If variety matters to you, those platforms win immediately. But neither lets U.S. users buy with credit cards, which brings us back to Paybis' main selling point.

On fees, Paybis' 0.99% ACH rate beats Coinbase's standard 1.49% and roughly matches Gemini's pricing. However, both competitors offer advanced trading platforms (Coinbase Pro and Gemini ActiveTrader) with dramatically lower maker/taker fees. Paybis doesn't have a pro tier, so active traders will find better deals elsewhere.

If you're someone who makes one or two crypto purchases per month and strongly prefers using a credit card, Paybis makes sense despite the fees. If you're dollar-cost averaging weekly or trading multiple times per day, the lack of volume discounts or maker/taker pricing becomes a real problem.

Looking for a platform that combines broad crypto selection with reasonable fees for frequent purchases? 👉 Discover why serious crypto buyers choose exchanges with maker/taker pricing over convenience-focused platforms

Getting Started: The Account Setup Process

You'll need four things before opening a Paybis account:

1. Be at least 18 years old

2. Live in an authorized region

3. Accept Paybis' terms of service

4. Have a cryptocurrency wallet ready

That last one trips people up. Remember, Paybis is non-custodial—your crypto goes directly to your wallet, not into a Paybis account. If you don't have a wallet yet, set one up first. Hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor work great for security. Software wallets like Exodus or Trust Wallet are easier for beginners.

Once your wallet's ready, start the identity verification. You'll upload:

• Government-issued ID (passport, driver's license)

• Possibly a selfie holding your ID

• Maybe a bank statement

• For card purchases, potentially a selfie with your credit card (showing only the last four digits)

Paybis says verification usually takes 15 minutes, though it can stretch to 24 hours during busy periods. Once verified, you're ready to buy crypto.

Security and Safety: What Protection Do You Get?

Paybis takes security seriously at multiple levels. The strict identity verification that feels annoying during signup? That's protecting you (and everyone else) from fraud. The platform's non-custodial model means your crypto never sits on Paybis servers waiting for hackers to target.

All transactions use secure encryption. The company maintains compliance with financial regulations in the UK and U.S., which requires ongoing security audits and standards adherence.

The practical outcome: you're unlikely to lose funds due to a Paybis security breach. The bigger risk? Losing access to your own wallet. If you forget your wallet password or lose your seed phrase, nobody can help you recover those assets. That's the tradeoff of self-custody—total control means total responsibility.

Customer Support: Actually Responsive

Crypto exchanges have a reputation for awful customer service. Long wait times, generic responses, unresolved tickets—it's common enough to lower expectations.

Paybis seems to be different. They offer 24/7 live chat support, which is already better than most platforms. More importantly, they actually use it. Check their Trustpilot page: 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 14,000 reviews. That's not just good for a crypto exchange—it's good period.

You can reach them through:

• Live chat on their website (fastest option)

• Email at support@paybis.com

• Their support portal for common questions

• Twitter (@Paybis) and YouTube for general updates

No phone support, which might frustrate people who prefer calling. But the live chat responsiveness seems to compensate.

Who Should Actually Use Paybis?

Paybis makes sense for specific situations:

You're a good fit if:

• You want to buy major cryptocurrencies with a credit card and can't find another option

• You make occasional purchases (once or twice per month) via bank transfer

• You live outside the U.S. and can pay in your local currency to avoid conversion fees

• You value responsive customer support and don't mind paying a bit extra for it

Look elsewhere if:

• You trade frequently and need maker/taker fee structures

• You want access to smaller-cap altcoins beyond the top 10

• You're extremely cost-sensitive and can't justify 6.99% fees on card purchases

• You prefer exchanges that custody your crypto (though we'd argue self-custody is better long-term)

The credit card support is genuinely useful for some people. Maybe you're earning rewards on crypto purchases. Maybe you need to buy Bitcoin urgently and don't want to wait 3-5 days for a bank transfer to clear. Maybe you're traveling and cards are your most convenient funding source.

But for regular, planned crypto purchases? Bank transfers at 0.99% are reasonable, though still higher than what active trader platforms charge (often 0.10%-0.50%). If you're making weekly or daily purchases, those differences compound quickly.

For someone buying $100 of Bitcoin monthly via ACH, you're paying roughly $1 per transaction with Paybis. That's manageable. For someone buying $100 daily on an active trader platform at 0.20% fees, you'd pay $0.20 per transaction—five times less. Over a year, that's $365 with Paybis versus $73 on the cheaper platform. The math matters.

Final Verdict: Convenience Comes With A Price Tag

Paybis delivers on its core promise: buy cryptocurrency with a credit card when most platforms won't let you. The company backs that up with solid security, responsive support, and regulatory compliance across dozens of countries. For international users or people who specifically need credit card access, Paybis solves a real problem.

But that convenience costs you. Card transaction fees top 6.99% before miner fees, which is painful no matter how you frame it. Even the cheaper ACH option at 0.99% runs higher than dedicated trading platforms.

If you're building a long-term crypto portfolio through regular purchases, those fees eat into your returns month after month. A platform with maker/taker pricing around 0.20% would save you significant money over time. If you're making one-off purchases or truly need that credit card option, Paybis makes sense despite the premium.

The platform shines in situations where its unique features (credit cards, 47 fiat currencies, 180+ country availability) align with your specific needs. It struggles when compared purely on cost to platforms built for active traders.

Know what you're paying for, choose your payment method wisely, and Paybis can work well. Just make sure that credit card convenience is worth the extra few percentage points you're leaving on the table.