MoonPay Review 2025: Security, Fees, & Key Features

What Is MoonPay?

MoonPay is a crypto payments processor that lets you buy and sell 170+ coins using a ton of different payment methods. 

It supports everything from Apple Pay to credit cards, bank transfers, Venmo, and PayPal. With 30+ million users in 180+ countries, it’s a big deal for users who don’t want to deal with complicated crypto exchanges.

Here’s the deal: 

MoonPay makes buying crypto a no-brainer. Only got a spare $20? That’s enough to start. Perfect if you’re just dipping your toes in and don’t want to mess with trading charts and order books—simply pay, and the crypto lands in your wallet.

Oh, and it’s not just for individual users like you and I. MoonPay is integrated with 500+ crypto-related apps including wallets and exchanges, so businesses can let their users buy crypto too. 

It’s also non-custodial, meaning they don’t have access to your coins—only you do.

Sound like a nifty platform? Read on for the full picture.

Fees	Support	Key Features	Payment Methods Accepted	Safety
• MoonPay Balance: Free  • Cards: Up to 4.5% (min $3.99)  • Bank transfers: Up to 1%	• 180+ countries  • US excluding: HI, MT, NV, NY, VI, VA	• Zero-fee MoonPay Balance  • Buy 80+ cryptos  • NFT buying • Crypto-to-crypto swaps (2000+ assets)	• MoonPay Balance • Credit/Debit Cards • Apple Pay • Google Pay • PayPal • Venmo • Bank Transfers • PIX (Brazil)	• 2024 PCI Recertification  • SOC 2 Type 2 Certification • ISO 27018 certification • Non-custodial

MoonPay Key Features

MoonPay’s more than just your typical fiat gateway—it’s got some neat features that make it stand out over its competition. 

Check these out:

• MoonPay Balance: Top up with a bank transfer and buy crypto without any extra MoonPay fees—a solid perk that beats out top platforms like Coinbase. It’s available in the US, UK, and EU.
• Mobile App: Available on iOS and Android. It connects smoothly to your wallets and supports over 80 cryptocurrencies—perfect for buying on the go.
• Recurring Buys: Set up automatic crypto purchases and build your portfolio over time without having to think about it.
• Swaps: Swap between more than 2,000 cryptos with ease. It’s not as advanced as Uniswap, but it’s a solid option for simple, fast exchanges.
• Strong Security: With various security certifications, MoonPay keeps your data safe, not to mention it’s non-custodial. Designed for users who want a straightforward but reliable way to buy and manage crypto.
• 24/7 Customer Support: Get round-the-clock support through email and chat, with dedicated phone assistance available if you’re based in the US.

MoonPay Fees

Fees with MoonPay depend on how you pay, as well as the total value of the transaction.

If your transaction is below a certain amount, MoonPay charges a minimum fee of $3.99 (or the equivalent in your currency). If you’re using a referral, that minimum can go up to $4.50. 

Here’s a summary:

Payment Method	Buy Fee	Sell Fee	NFT Checkout Fee
MoonPay Balance	No fee	No fee	No fee
Payment Cards & Alternative Payment Methods (Apple/Google Pay)	Up to 4.5% (or minimum)	Up to 4.5% (or minimum)	Up to 4.5% (or minimum)
Bank Transfers	Up to 1%	Up to 1%	N/A
PayPal / Venmo	Up to 4.5% (or minimum)	Up to 3.5% (or minimum)	N/A
PIX (Brazil Only)	Up to 2.95% (or minimum)	N/A	Up to 2.95% (or minimum)

More good news is that MoonPay Swaps don’t come with any extra MoonPay fees—only network costs, also called “gas fees”, apply.

Our Expert Review of MoonPay

To get started with MoonPay, simply visit the MoonPay website and click the “Get Started” button to download the app on your device. 

If you don’t want to download the app, you can also click the “Buy Crypto” button directly on the website and get straight to making a purchase.

Account Setup and User Interface

Once you get started, the user flow is super clean and a breeze to use. You can tell t’s designed to be as simple as possible.

This means you can onboard instantly using your Apple account or Google account, or sign up using an email address. 

By default, this account will hold any crypto that you purchase (unless you choose to send it to an external address of your choice. Because of this, I recommend you take extra care of the details you use to sign in.

Identity Verification

Before making a purchase, you’ll need to verify your identity as part of the standard know-your-customer (KYC) process. 

This involves providing some personal information, such as your address and tax details. 

You’ll also be asked to take a photo of a government-issued ID and a quick selfie scan with your phone’s front camera, so that the software can match your face with your ID.

Making a Purchase

After verifying your identity, you can start buying crypto. 

In my trial-run, I chose to purchase $35 worth of Ethereum. This is just one of more than 80 different assets that you can buy, including major cryptocurrencies, stable coins, and various other tokens. 

A search bar makes it easy to quickly find the asset you’re looking for, if you’re looking for something more obscure than the majors like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Solana.

Note: This step is also where you select if you would like to make this a recurring purchase, or a one-off buy. It’s a great way to passively invest in crypto using dollar-cost averaging (DCA), if that’s your thing. This option is currently being rolled out to more countries (it hasn’t reached mine yet, which is why you can’t see it in my screenshot).

Payment and Order Confirmation

Once you’ve chosen your crypto of choice and the amount you wish to buy, you’ll then choose your payment method. 

I used Apple Pay, just because it’s so damn easy. But you can also pay with a bunch of other methods, including bank card, Google Pay, PayPal and more. Just remember, fees vary between each method, as does convenience.

To finish up, double-check the payment total and asset details. If you’d like to send the crypto straight to a specific wallet address, you can also manage that here. The default destination is a fresh address in your MoonPay account.

Once you confirm your choices, finalize the payment.

Order Processing and Details

MoonPay will process your order right after confirming your payment. 

In my case, about $35 worth of $ETH arrived in my wallet within five minutes. The app even shows a live status update of your order, so you never have to guess where your funds are. 

There’s also a details tab where you can review everything about your order—the time of the transaction, the market rate you received, the network fee, and the MoonPay fee.

Being a tiny order, I paid the minimum fee which equated to a pretty large percentage of the order amount. It probably makes more sense to buy at least $100 of crypto on MoonPay at a time using an instant payment method, unless you really don’t care about fees.

MoonPay also provides a few other handy features. For example, you can send funds to a different account if needed. Additionally, the app allows you to swap assets—crypto for crypto—using a simple, user-friendly interface. This makes managing your crypto more flexible and convenient. 

Additional Functions

Now that I’ve acquired some Ethereum, I can check out the MoonPay app’s handy features. 

• Account Overview: The main screen shows your total account value in fiat currency with quick and easy “Buy” and “Sell” buttons for fast transactions.
• Market Insights: Scroll down to view top-performing cryptocurrencies and popular assets, with charts and insights available for each coin.
• Custom Handles: Create a personalized username to send and receive funds easily with other MoonPay users. (I grabbed @milkroad while I could! 😎)

• Send Crypto: Easily transfer crypto to another account directly from the app.
• Crypto Swaps: Manage your portfolio seamlessly with crypto-to-crypto swaps across over 2,000 trading pairs.
• NFT Support: Check out and manage your NFT collectibles directly within your MoonPay wallet.
• Blockchain Wallets: View separate wallets for major blockchains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana.

Overall, MoonPay offers a seamless, user-friendly experience, especially if you plan to make regular purchases.

MoonPay Balance

Of course, we saved the best for last: MoonPay Balance.

MoonPay Balance is available to all users in the US (except HI, MT, NV, NY, VI, & VA), the UK and EU (including the Netherlands and Germany) to manage their crypto buys, with absolutely zero fees! 

MoonPay lets you top up your app balance using bank transfers, PayPal (US), or Venmo, and buy or sell crypto instantly, fee-free. 

Withdrawals are also free, but must go back to the same account you used to top up. 

The difference? It’s just not quite as quick—you have to have topped up your balance first.

Whereas using the standard purchase methods will get you your crypto near-instantly when you want it, a MoonPay Balance typically takes longer to fund, and making a crypto purchase is a separate step.

Transfers can be quick, but ACH transfers in the US sometimes take 3–10 business days. You can also set up recurring top-ups, if you like. 

It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to stay ready for your next trade.

MoonPay Customer Service

MoonPay’s Support Center is a solid starting point if you’re looking for quick answers. 

It covers most topics you’d expect and dives deep into some areas. I found the section on recurring buys especially helpful, offering all the details I needed.

The AI chatbot was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect much (these bots can be hit or miss), but it nailed my question right away—fast, accurate, and hassle-free.

Just to test things out, I also tried connecting with a human representative. It took about 3 minutes to get through, which was pretty damn good. 

Overall, the experience was smooth and way better than I anticipated.

Who’s MoonPay For?

• Crypto Beginners: If you’re new to crypto and find exchanges overwhelming, MoonPay is a great starting point. The process is simple, and you can get started with as little as $20.
• Casual Buyers: Prefer using PayPal or cards for convenience? MoonPay supports both, and using MoonPay Balance helps you avoid extra fees—something platforms like Coinbase can’t offer. It’s a solid choice if you’re buying casually.
• NFT Collectors: If you’re into NFTs, MoonPay makes buying simple, supporting over 100 marketplaces including OpenSea. It’s a rare feature that makes the whole process hassle-free.

Who’s It Not For?

• Advanced Traders: If you’re looking for advanced tools like futures or leverage trading, MoonPay isn’t designed for that—platforms like Coinbase and Binance are better suited for pros. Plus, card fees can get expensive for larger transactions.
• Micro-Purchasers: The minimum fee on most instant purchases means small purchases get eaten up by fees on MoonPay. It would be better to use the MoonPay Balance feature instead, or try another platform.
• Users in Restricted States: Unfortunately, MoonPay isn’t available in Hawaii, New York, Louisiana, Rhode Island, or Texas. If you’re based there, Coinbase might be a better alternative.

MoonPay Alternatives

MoonPay vs. Coinbase

Coinbase is a more advanced platform designed for traders. It offers features like candlestick charts, order books, and various trading options. MoonPay, on the other hand, is all about simplicity—ideal for quick, hassle-free crypto purchases.

While MoonPay’s card fees can reach up to 4.5%, Coinbase isn’t much cheaper, though it doesn’t have a fixed fee for card transactions. However, MoonPay stands out with its fee-free MoonPay Balance feature, letting users top up via bank transfer and buy crypto without extra charges. Coinbase offers a similar option for exchange accounts, but it still comes with trading fees.

	MoonPay	Coinbase
Card Fees	Up to 4.5%	Opaque fee, quoted at time of purchase
Fee-free Purchase Option?	Yes (MoonPay Balance)	No
Advanced Trading Tools	No	Yes (candlestick charts, advanced order types & more)
Where It Works	180+ countries	100+ countries
Payment Methods Supported	• Credit Cards • Debit Cards • Apple Pay • Google Pay • PayPal (US only) • Venmo (US only) • Bank Transfers • PIX (Brazil only)	• Bank Transfers • Debit Cards • PayPal • Apple Pay • Google Pay • Crypto Transfers
Cryptocurrencies Supported	170+	200+

MoonPay vs. Ramp Network

MoonPay and Ramp Network both make buying and selling crypto simple—no fancy trading tools here. While Ramp has lower fees (especially for card purchases) and offers a few more cryptocurrencies, it’s more basic as a fiat on-off ramp.

MoonPay, on the other hand, brings a lot more to the table. It has a mobile app, supports crypto swaps, and even lets you buy and manage NFTs—features Ramp doesn’t offer. In my personal experience, MoonPay often has better conversion rates when buying through app integrations, even with the difference in fees.

Once again, don’t sleep on MoonPay Balance and its fee-free purchases.

	MoonPay	Ramp Network
Card Fees	Up to 4.5%	Up to 3.9%
Fee-free Purchase Option?	Yes (MoonPay Balance)	No. (Bank transfers offer lower fees, starting from 0.9%)
Where It Works	180+ countries	150+ countries
Payment Methods Supported	• Credit Cards • Debit Cards • Apple Pay• Google Pay • PayPal (US only) • Venmo (US only) • Bank Transfers • PIX (Brazil only)	• Credit Cards • Debit Cards • Apple Pay • Google Pay • PayPal • Bank Transfers& Select Local Methods
Cryptocurrencies Supported	170+	110+
Crypto-to-Crypto Swaps	Yes	No
Mobile App?	Yes	No

Is MoonPay Safe to Use? 

MoonPay Team & Investors

In 2019, Ivan Soto-Wright, Victor Faramond, and Max Crown founded MoonPay with a small team in Miami. Ivan, now CEO, brought fintech experience from running Saveable and working in financial advisory. Victor and Max contributed expertise in investments and risk management.

Today, MoonPay serves over 30 million users across 180+ countries. Its leadership team includes industry heavyweights like Asiff Hirji (former Coinbase COO) and Zeeshan Feroz (ex-CEO of Coinbase Europe), adding credibility and depth.

The company has raised over $650 million in funding, including a massive $555 million Series A in 2021 led by Tiger Global and Coatue Management, pushing its valuation to $3.4 billion. In 2022, MoonPay secured another $87 million from high-profile backers like Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, and Drake, highlighting its strong connection to NFTs and Web3.

Licensing & Certification

MoonPay is FCA-registered in the UK and holds licenses in 40+ US states.

The platform also has some solid security credentials that help keep your money and information safe. The 2024 PCI Recertification means they’ve passed strict checks to make sure credit card payments are handled securely, so your transactions stay protected. SOC 2 Type 2 Certification shows they’ve been regularly audited to ensure your data is safe and their systems stay reliable—good news for anyone concerned about trust.

They’ve also earned ISO 27018 certification, which is all about protecting your personal information in the cloud, like your name and email. You don’t have to worry about them mishandling this info. 

To top it all off, MoonPay is non-custodial, meaning they don’t hold your crypto—you do. That gives you full control of your assets and lowers the risk of losing anything if the platform ever goes down or gets hacked.

Online Reputation

MoonPay has a good reputation on Trustpilot, with a 4.2-star rating from over 95,000 reviews—no small feat for a crypto company. 

People like how quick and easy it is to buy crypto, especially for topping up wallets fast, and they often praise how well it works with apps like Trust Wallet. 

Some complaints pop up about fees being confusing or too high, and a few say refunds or customer support can be slow.

Overall, it’s about as solid a crypto platform as you can get.

Final Thoughts On MoonPay

MoonPay is a solid pick for beginners and casual buyers who just want a simple, no-fuss way to buy crypto. 

The app’s easy to use, offering plenty of payment options, and the MoonPay Balance feature lets you dodge extra fees. It also has strong security, supports NFT purchases, crypto swaps, and over 80 cryptocurrencies in 180+ countries. 

While the high card fees and lack of advanced trading tools might not suit serious traders, it’s a convenient, reliable option for anyone looking to dive into crypto without the hassle.

MoonPay Frequently Asked Questions