When you sign up for a mining pool like Gokby or compare settings, you will inevitably stumble upon these acronyms: PPS, FPPS, PPS+, or PPLNS.
Many miners simply select "something" without knowing that the wrong choice can cost them real money.
Let's decode these models so you understand how you get paid.
1. PPS (Pay Per Share) – The Safe Haven
This is the simplest model. You get paid immediately for every "share" (every valid proof of work) your miner sends to the pool.
- Advantage: You get money whether the pool finds a block or not. Your income is extremely stable and predictable.
- Disadvantage: Since the pool bears the risk (it has to pay you even if it finds nothing itself), fees here are usually higher (often 2-4%). Also, transaction fees from blocks are often not passed on to you.
2. PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) – For Loyal Miners
Here, you only get paid if the pool actually finds a block. Then the pool looks back: "Who did the work in the last few hours?"
- Advantage: Fees are usually very low (often under 1%). Long-term, miners often get the most out of this model.
- Disadvantage: High volatility (variance). If the pool has "bad luck" for a day and finds no block, you earn nothing that day.
- Important: This model punishes "pool hoppers" (people who constantly switch pools). You must stay loyal to build up your payout.
3. FPPS / PPS+ (The Modern Hybrid Model)
Gokby and many modern pools use variants like PPS+ (Pay Per Share Plus).
This is the best of both worlds:
- You get a guaranteed base payment for your work (like PPS).
- Additionally, the transaction fees from the found blocks (like PPLNS) are distributed to you.
Which Model Should I Choose?
Scenario A: The Small Home Miner
Do you have only one or two miners?
->Choose PPS or PPS+. You want to see regular income to pay your electricity bill. You cannot afford to wait days for a lucky hit by the pool.
Scenario B: The Large Mining Farm
Do you have hundreds of devices and can weather financial fluctuations?
->PPLNS might be interesting because the lower pool fees can mean a few percent more profit in the long run (calculated over months).
Conclusion
For 90% of all miners, a model like PPS+, as offered by leading pools, is the ideal choice. It offers the security of fixed income combined with the bonus of transaction fees. So when choosing a pool, don't just look at the fee percentage, but at what that fee covers. At Gokby, we strive for the most transparent and profitable model for our users.
