SettlePactAn Escrow.com alternative built for crypto
Escrow.com is a solid choice for buying cars, domains and goods. For crypto trades, a smart contract can do the same job in minutes, without an account, for a fraction of the fee. Here's an honest comparison.
How they differ
| SettlePact | Escrow.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds the funds | A smart contract that can only pay the deal's wallets or refund | A licensed escrow company |
| Account | None. Just a wallet address | Account and identity check |
| Settlement time | Usually 1–2 minutes after both deposits | Days, including the inspection period |
| If something goes wrong | Automatic full refund when the 30-minute timer runs out | Disputes handled by staff |
| What you can trade | Crypto for crypto, and crypto for a bank transfer (bank transfers paused for now) | Goods, vehicles, domains, services and more |
| Fee on a $10,000 deal | $60 in total | $240 (standard fee) |
Fees compared
SettlePact charges 0.30% per side, or 0.15% per side from $50,000. The SettlePact column below adds both sides together, so it's the total for the whole deal.
| Deal size | SettlePact (total) | Escrow.com (standard) |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $6 | $50 |
| $5,000 | $30 | $130 |
| $10,000 | $60 | $240 |
| $50,000 | $150 | $1,200 |
| $100,000 | $300 | $1,900 |
Escrow.com: standard fee schedule from escrow.com/fee-calculator, checked October 2026. Their fees vary by payment method and transaction type, so check their calculator for your deal. SettlePact: network (gas) fees to send your own deposit are extra, usually a few cents.
Which one should you use?
Choose SettlePact when
- Both sides are paying in crypto
- You want it settled in minutes, not days
- You'd rather not open an account or share ID
- You don't want anyone holding your funds
Choose Escrow.com when
- You're buying a car, a domain or physical goods
- The buyer needs time to inspect what arrived
- You want a person to handle disputes
- You need a licensed escrow company for your records
How a SettlePact deal works
- Create the deal with what you send, what you get back and the wallet you receive into.
- Send the private link to the other person.
- Both deposit to your own deposit addresses, from any wallet or exchange.
- Both payouts go out together once both deposits arrive. If the timer runs out first, everyone is refunded in full.
Read more in our guide to crypto escrow.
Questions
Is SettlePact cheaper than Escrow.com?
For crypto trades, yes. A $10,000 deal costs $60 in total on SettlePact (0.30% per side) against $240 on Escrow.com's standard fee schedule, checked October 2026.
Can SettlePact replace Escrow.com for buying a car or a domain?
No. SettlePact only settles crypto for crypto and crypto for a bank transfer. It can't check that goods, vehicles or domain names were delivered, so for those Escrow.com's inspection period and dispute handling are the better fit.
Who holds the money in a SettlePact deal?
A smart contract. Each deposit goes into a vault that can only pay the receiving wallets written into the deal or refund the depositor. SettlePact can't move it anywhere else.
Is there a dispute process on SettlePact?
There is nothing to dispute in a crypto-for-crypto deal: either both deposits arrive and both sides are paid, or the timer runs out and everyone is refunded. In crypto-for-cash deals, the bank's payment email is checked automatically before the crypto is released.
Trading crypto? Keep the fee.
Create a deal in under a minute. No account, and a full refund if it doesn't complete.
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