FPPS vs PPS+ vs PPLNS: Which Mining Payment Method Pays More?
When you join a Bitcoin mining pool, one of the most important choices you face is the payment method. FPPS, PPS+, PPLNS — these acronyms may seem confusing, but they have a direct and measurable impact on your revenue. Depending on the method chosen and market conditions, the difference can reach 10-20% of revenue on certain days.
This guide explains each payment method in detail, with concrete calculations so you can make the best decision for your situation.
The Basics: How a Pool Distributes Revenue
Before comparing methods, let's understand where the money comes from.
When a mining pool finds a Bitcoin block, it receives two types of revenue:
- Block reward: fixed at 3.125 BTC since the April 2024 halving. Same for every block.
- Transaction fees: variable. Each block contains transactions whose users pay fees for inclusion. These fees range from 0.1 BTC (quiet network) to over 5 BTC (very congested network).
The payment method determines how these revenues are redistributed to the pool's miners. And that's where the differences become significant.
PPS — Pay Per Share
PPS is the most basic method. For each valid share you submit, you receive a fixed amount calculated from the theoretical block reward.
A share is proof of work that your ASIC sends to the pool to demonstrate it's contributing. It's not a full block, but a "piece" of work proving your participation.
How It Works
The pool calculates each share's value based on network difficulty and the block reward (3.125 BTC), then pays you that amount for each accepted share — whether or not the pool actually finds a block.
Pros
- Very predictable revenue — ideal if you need stability
- No risk tied to pool luck
Cons
- Transaction fees are not included — you miss out on a significant portion of revenue
- Pool fees are typically higher (2-3%) since the pool bears the variance risk
Who Still Uses Pure PPS?
Almost nobody. Most pools have moved to FPPS or PPS+ which include transaction fees. PPS is mentioned here to understand the evolution.
FPPS — Full Pay Per Share
FPPS is the natural evolution of PPS. It works exactly the same way, but includes transaction fees in the per-share payment calculation.
How It Works
The pool estimates recent average transaction fees and adds them to the block reward to calculate each share's value. You're paid for every share submitted, transaction fees included.
Pros
- Predictable and complete revenue — you capture both the block reward AND fees
- No risk tied to pool luck
- Very profitable when transaction fees are high — this is the key advantage of FPPS
Cons
- Higher pool fees (1.5-2.5%) since the pool bears both variance risk and fee estimation risk
- Fee estimates may be slightly below actual fees (the pool protects itself)
Main FPPS Pools
- F2Pool: 2.5% fee
- Antpool: 1.5% fee
- Foundry: 0% fee (limited access)
- Braiins Pool: 0% fee (2% referral fee)
PPS+ — Pay Per Share Plus
PPS+ is a clever hybrid. The block reward is paid at a fixed rate (like standard PPS), but transaction fees are distributed using the PPLNS method.
How It Works
- Block portion (3.125 BTC): fixed payment per share, like PPS
- Transaction fee portion: distributed via PPLNS, meaning proportionally to your recent shares when a block is found
Pros
- Good predictability on the block portion (the largest component)
- Variable bonus on fees — potentially more profitable than FPPS if the pool runs lucky
Cons
- The fee portion is variable and unpredictable
- More complex to understand and compare with other methods
Main PPS+ Pool
- ViaBTC: 2% fee
PPLNS — Pay Per Last N Shares
In PPLNS, you're only paid when the pool finds a block. Your share is calculated based on your contributions within the last N shares of the pool.
How It Works
The pool defines a "window" of N shares (N varies by pool). When a block is found, the reward (block + fees) is distributed proportionally to miners who contributed within that window.
Pros
- Very low pool fees (often 0-1%) since the pool takes no risk
- Potentially more profitable long-term if you stay loyal to one pool
- You receive actual transaction fees (not an estimate)
Cons
- Highly variable revenue — some days the pool finds 3 blocks, other days zero
- Penalizes pool hopping: if you switch pools often, your shares fall out of the window before a block is found
- Periods with zero payouts are possible (especially with smaller pools)
Revenue Comparison: 100 TH/s Across All Methods
Here are revenue estimates for a miner with 100 TH/s (e.g., an S19 XP at 141 TH/s in Low Power) and BTC at ~$64,000:
Scenario 1: Quiet Mempool (avg. fees ~0.2 BTC/block)
| Method | Pool | Pool fee | Gross/day | Net/day | Net/month | |--------|------|---------|-----------|---------|----------| | FPPS | F2Pool (2.5%) | 2.5% | $3.15 | $3.07 | $92 | | FPPS | Antpool (1.5%) | 1.5% | $3.12 | $3.07 | $92 | | PPS+ | ViaBTC (2%) | 2.0% | $3.08 | $3.02 | $91 | | PPLNS | Braiins (0%) | 0% | $3.05 | $3.05 | $92 |
Quiet mempool verdict: differences are minimal. PPLNS with 0% fees has a slight edge, but variance is higher.
Scenario 2: Normal Mempool (avg. fees ~0.5 BTC/block)
| Method | Pool | Pool fee | Gross/day | Net/day | Net/month | |--------|------|---------|-----------|---------|----------| | FPPS | F2Pool (2.5%) | 2.5% | $3.42 | $3.34 | $100 | | FPPS | Antpool (1.5%) | 1.5% | $3.39 | $3.34 | $100 | | PPS+ | ViaBTC (2%) | 2.0% | $3.30 | $3.23 | $97 | | PPLNS | Braiins (0%) | 0% | $3.25 | $3.25 | $98 |
Normal mempool verdict: FPPS starts pulling ahead thanks to included transaction fees.
Scenario 3: Congested Mempool (avg. fees ~2 BTC/block)
| Method | Pool | Pool fee | Gross/day | Net/day | Net/month | |--------|------|---------|-----------|---------|----------| | FPPS | F2Pool (2.5%) | 2.5% | $4.80 | $4.68 | $140 | | FPPS | Antpool (1.5%) | 1.5% | $4.75 | $4.68 | $140 | | PPS+ | ViaBTC (2%) | 2.0% | $4.48 | $4.39 | $132 | | PPLNS | Braiins (0%) | 0% | $4.20 | $4.20 | $126 |
Congested mempool verdict: FPPS earns +11% more than PPLNS. A very significant gap.
Scenario 4: Mempool Explosion (avg. fees ~5 BTC/block)
| Method | Pool | Pool fee | Gross/day | Net/day | Net/month | |--------|------|---------|-----------|---------|----------| | FPPS | F2Pool (2.5%) | 2.5% | $7.25 | $7.07 | $212 | | FPPS | Antpool (1.5%) | 1.5% | $7.20 | $7.09 | $213 | | PPS+ | ViaBTC (2%) | 2.0% | $6.50 | $6.37 | $191 | | PPLNS | Braiins (0%) | 0% | $5.95 | $5.95 | $179 |
Mempool explosion verdict: FPPS earns +19% more than PPLNS. This is when payment method choice matters most.
Summary Table
| Criterion | PPS | FPPS | PPS+ | PPLNS | |-----------|-----|------|------|-------| | Predictability | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | | Tx fees included | ❌ | ✅ (estimated) | ⚠️ (PPLNS) | ✅ (actual, if block found) | | Typical pool fees | 2-3% | 1.5-2.5% | 2% | 0-1% | | Miner risk | Low | Low | Medium | High | | Quiet mempool profit | Average | Good | Good | Good | | High mempool profit | Low | Excellent | Good | Average | | Suited for switching | Yes | Yes | Yes | ❌ No | | Best for | Obsolete | Most miners | Balance | Large stable miners |
The Optimal Strategy: Adapt to Market Conditions
The real question isn't "which is the best method," but "which method is best right now?"
- Congested mempool (fees > 1 BTC/block) → FPPS to capture high transaction fees
- Quiet mempool (fees < 0.3 BTC/block) → PPLNS to benefit from lower pool fees
- Normal conditions → FPPS for predictability, or PPS+ for a balanced approach
The challenge: conditions change constantly. Fee spikes sometimes last just a few hours — impossible to capture manually.
The Automated Solution
That's exactly what a smart mining proxy does: it monitors mempool conditions in real time and automatically routes your hashrate to the most profitable pool and payment method.
When mempool fees exceed a threshold, the proxy directs your hashrate to an FPPS pool. When fees drop, it can switch back to a lower-fee pool. This optimization runs 24/7, automatically, with zero intervention required.
With Minent, your ASIC connects to a single endpoint and the proxy handles revenue maximization by switching between pools and payment methods.
For more optimization techniques, see our article on 5 tips to optimize your mining revenue.
FAQ
What payment method does Minent use?
Minent routes your hashrate to FPPS pools (primarily F2Pool and Antpool) since it's the most profitable method under most market conditions. The proxy switches between pools based on transaction fees and effective commission rates.
Can I change payment methods myself?
The payment method is determined by the pool, not your ASIC. To switch methods, you need to switch pools (or let a proxy do it for you).
Is PPLNS risky?
Not dangerous, but more volatile. Over a month, you might see days at $0 and days at 2x the average. Over the long term (6+ months), PPLNS with a large pool converges toward the theoretical average. But variance can be stressful if mining is your primary income source.
Why do FPPS pools charge higher fees?
Because the pool bears the risk. In FPPS, the pool pays you for every share even when it hasn't found a block yet. It uses reserves to smooth payouts. That "smoothing service" has a cost — hence the higher fees.
Looking for an ASIC to start mining? Browse our machine catalog on minent.eu.
Conclusion
Payment method is an often-overlooked optimization lever for miners. The difference between FPPS and PPLNS can reach 10-20% on days with high mempool congestion. The most profitable strategy is to adapt the method to market conditions — a task that's difficult manually but perfectly automatable with a mining proxy.
Ready to optimize? Try the Minent demo to see the dashboard in action, then create your free account.