Comparison

BitCare vs Plaza BTC

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BitCare

Features
Read full description

Take control of your Bitcoin self-custody with a structured continuity framework. BitCare helps you understand your current setup, improve what matters most, prepare for recovery, and create Family Continuity for the people you trust. Designed for serious Bitcoin holders, BitCare guides you step by step to reduce risks, strengthen your self-custody setup, and prepare for situations where access may otherwise be lost. What BitCare does 1. Assess your setup Understand your current self-custody readiness through a structured assessment. 2. Improve what matters most Get clear, prioritized actions to strengthen your setup and address meaningful risks. 3. Document My Custody Record how your self-custody arrangement is structured so your recovery and continuity plans have a clear foundation. 4. Prepare a Recovery Plan Document how your Bitcoin can be recovered if something goes wrong. 5. Prepare Family Continuity Define how the people you trust can begin the continuity process if you can no longer act. Stay ready over time BitCare helps you maintain awareness of: - custody readiness - recovery preparedness - Family Continuity readiness - plan freshness and review needs So your setup can evolve as your circumstances change. Privacy-first and non-custodial BitCare is fully non-custodial. - BitCare never holds or controls your Bitcoin - no private keys or seed phrases are required - no wallet credentials are requested - no wallet access is required - BitCare does not execute transactions - sensitive recovery material should never be entered into the app BitCare stores only the information needed to provide the planning and continuity features you choose to use. Secure offline documents Recovery and Family Continuity plans can be exported as password-protected .bitcare documents. Encrypted exports are created for offline use and can be opened again through BitCare using the correct password. BitCare does not store exported files and cannot recover a lost export password. Important BitCare is an educational and organizational tool for Bitcoin self-custody and continuity planning. It is not a wallet, exchange, custodian, financial adviser, legal adviser, or tax adviser. You remain responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and security of your own setup and plans. Swiss-based. Privacy-first. Non-custodial. Built with a focus on clarity, structure, security, and long-term responsibility. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Plaza BTC

Discover Bitcoin-friendly businesses on a live map and pay them instantly using Lightning. Businesses can also use it as a free point-of-sale system to accept Lightning payments with zero fees.

Highlights
  • Live map of Bitcoin merchants
  • Instant Lightning payments
  • Free Bitcoin POS for merchants
  • Zero transaction fees
  • Nostr merchant identity
  • Sales analytics and reporting
Features
Read full description

Plaza is where Bitcoin customers meet Bitcoin merchants. DISCOVER Open the app and see a live map of Bitcoin-friendly businesses near you. Tap any merchant to see their details, get directions, or pay with Lightning. The map updates as you move — scroll to a new city and find merchants there too. PAY Connect your Bitcoin wallet and pay any merchant instantly with Lightning. No bank, no card, no middleman. Just scan and done. BECOME A MERCHANT Turn your phone into a complete Bitcoin point-of-sale. Accept Lightning payments at your business with zero transaction fees — not 2.6%, not 1%, zero. Payments go straight to your wallet. Plaza never holds your funds. Everything a merchant needs, free forever: - Full catalog with items, modifiers, and categories - Charge screen with custom tipping - Inventory tracking with sold-out states - Sales history with daily summaries - Blossom receipts with cryptographic signatures - Nostr merchant identity — your business on the open web - Publish to the plaza map so customers can find you - Sales analytics with revenue charts, best sellers, and peak hours - Transaction exports as CSV, PDF, or year-end summary - Low-stock alerts with restock tracking and history HOW IT WORKS Plaza uses Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) to generate Lightning invoices directly from your own wallet. No custodian, no mint, no intermediary. Your keys, your money. Always. BUILT DIFFERENT Most payment platforms take a cut of every sale. Square charges 2.6% per transaction. Plaza charges nothing. No processing fees. No monthly minimums. No hidden costs. Plaza is built on open protocols: Bitcoin, Lightning, Nostr, and Blossom. No vendor lock-in. No proprietary systems. No permission needed. Plaza Technologies LLC plazabtc.com

Screenshots

BitCare4 screens
Plaza BTC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Plaza BTC at none against BitCare's 2. BitCare's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BitCare sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $79.00 per year. Plaza BTC asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BitCare ships an update every 10 days, Plaza BTC every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
BitCare versus Plaza BTC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBitCarePlaza BTC
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB5 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperBitCare AGPlaza Technologies LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BitCare

Subscriptions2
  • Care Plus (Annual)$79.001 Year
  • Care Premium (Annual)$179.001 Year
None

Plaza BTC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BitCare free?
BitCare is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Plaza BTC free?
Plaza BTC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BitCare or Plaza BTC have ads?
Neither BitCare nor Plaza BTC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BitCare or Plaza BTC?
BitCare ships an update every 10 days, and Plaza BTC every 3 weeks. Most recently, BitCare was updated on November 5, 2026 and Plaza BTC on November 5, 2026.

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