Best PPLNS Bitcoin Mining Pools

PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) pools distribute rewards only when a block is found, proportional to your recent contributions. Lower fees but more variance.

#1 Pick: Pega Pool

Fee

Fee Type

PPLNS|SOLO

Hashrate

400 PH/s

Network Share

0.1%

Min Payout

0.001 BTC

Real Yield

—

Luck

—

View Pool Details

Full Comparison

#	Pool	Fee	Fee Type	Hashrate	Min Payout	Real Yield
#1	Pega Pool	1%	PPLNS\|SOLO	400 PH/s	0.001 BTC	-	View

What Is PPLNS and How Does It Work?

PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) is a payout model where miners earn rewards proportional to their share contributions during the window before a block is found. Unlike FPPS, payouts only happen when the pool discovers a block, making income less predictable but potentially more profitable over time.

PPLNS pools charge lower fees (typically 0–2%) because they pass the luck variance to miners. During lucky periods (blocks found faster than expected), miners earn above-average rewards. During unlucky streaks, payouts drop. Over months, these fluctuations tend to average out.

Key criteria: fee percentage (the main advantage of PPLNS), pool hashrate and block frequency, measured real yield, luck history, and the N-share window size (how far back contributions count).

How We Rank Pools

HashRadar collects live data from the Bitcoin network, public pool APIs, and independent ASIC miners running on monitored pools. We track hashrate, fees, payout models, minimum payout thresholds, luck, and real yield.

Each ranking applies a specific sorting formula. For example, the "Most Profitable" page sorts by measured real yield, while "Lowest Fees" sorts by fee percentage. Partner-verified pools may receive a ranking boost within the same performance tier.

A pool can rank higher or lower based on recent changes in fees, hashrate share, measured yield, or data availability. If a pool stops reporting data or goes offline, it drops in the ranking automatically.

Why Are There Fewer PPLNS Pools?

Most large Bitcoin mining pools have shifted to FPPS or PPS+ models because miners prefer predictable income. PPLNS remains available on pools that prioritize fairness and lower fees. The pools listed here actively offer PPLNS as a payout option.

Who PPLNS Pools Are For

PPLNS is best for long-term miners who can tolerate income variance in exchange for lower fees. If you are mining consistently (not switching pools often) and have enough financial buffer to handle unlucky periods, PPLNS can maximize your total earnings over time.

What to Check Before Connecting to a PPLNS Pool

Understand that your income will fluctuate — some days will be above average, others below.
Avoid pool-hopping: PPLNS rewards loyalty, and switching pools frequently means you lose accumulated shares.
Compare the pool's luck history on its detail page — consistently unlucky pools may have issues.
Check the N-window size: a larger window smooths payouts but dilutes the benefit of recent contributions.
Verify the fee is genuinely lower than comparable FPPS pools — if the fee is similar, FPPS may be better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PPLNS and how does it work?

PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) is a payout method where miners are paid proportionally to the number of valid shares they submitted during the window before a block is found. Unlike FPPS, payouts only happen when the pool actually finds a block, meaning earnings fluctuate with the pool's luck.

Is PPLNS more profitable than FPPS?

Over the long term, PPLNS can be more profitable because the fees are typically lower (0-2% vs 2-4% for FPPS). However, short-term earnings are more variable — during unlucky periods, you may earn less than expected. PPLNS rewards patience and suits miners who can tolerate fluctuations.

What happens during pool hopping with PPLNS?

PPLNS is specifically designed to discourage pool hopping. Since payouts are based on your share contributions over a window of recent shares, miners who switch pools frequently will have fewer qualifying shares when a block is found. Long-term loyal miners benefit the most from PPLNS.