Overview
Braintree is PayPal's processor for businesses that want a full card integration rather than just a PayPal button. One SDK covers cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo in the US and local methods, with a vault that stores cards for repeat and recurring charges.
Standard US pricing is 2.89% + 29¢ per card or wallet transaction, with an extra 1% when the card is issued outside the US and another 1% when you charge in a currency other than USD. ACH direct debit is 0.75% capped at $5. PayPal wallet payments taken through Braintree are billed at PayPal's own merchant fees.
Access is by application and approval rather than instant signup, and larger merchants can negotiate interchange-plus or discounted rates. The site now presents Braintree as PayPal Enterprise Payments, which signals its focus on larger merchants.
Braintree's sandbox is open before approval, so you can build and test the integration first. Chargeback protection tools start at 0.4% per transaction and fraud lookups at $0.05 each if you want PayPal to carry more of the risk.
Pricing and plans
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (US) | 2.89% + $0.29 | Cards and third-party wallets; chargeback $15 |
| Charity (US) | 2.19% + $0.29 | Verified 501(c)(3) organizations |
| ACH direct debit (US) | 0.75% | Capped at $5 per transaction |
| Custom | Custom | Flat, interchange-plus or discounted rates for established businesses |
What it does
- Cards plus PayPal and Venmo
- One integration accepts cards, wallets, PayPal and (in the US) Venmo.
- Vault and recurring billing
- Stored payment methods for one-click checkout and subscriptions.
- Drop-in UI and SDKs
- Prebuilt payment UI meeting SAQ-A PCI validation, plus client and server SDKs.
- Sandbox
- A test environment you can use before applying for a merchant account.
- Chargeback protection
- Optional coverage from 0.4% per transaction.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- US headline rate slightly below 2.9% + 30¢
- PayPal and Venmo in the same integration as cards
- Interchange-plus pricing available for established businesses
- Validated PCI DSS Level 1 service provider
Limitations
- Requires application and approval by PayPal
- Foreign cards and non-USD pricing each add 1%
- Fees for refunded transactions are not returned
- Positioned for enterprise merchants, with less self-serve tooling than Stripe
Who it suits
Good for
- US businesses that want cards, PayPal and Venmo from one processor
- Subscription businesses storing cards in a vault
- Growing merchants ready to negotiate custom rates
Look elsewhere if
- Hobby projects that need instant signup
- Sellers who want a merchant of record to handle tax
Alternatives to PayPal Braintree
| Tool | From | Free option | Stages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe Payments Payment processor (API-first) | Usage-based | ||
| Paddle Merchant of record for software | Usage-based | ||
| FastSpring Merchant of record for software | — | ||
| Stripe Billing Subscription billing | Usage-based | ||
| Chargebee Subscription and usage billing | Usage-based | ||
| Recurly Subscription billing (DTC and consumer) | $249/mo |
Questions
What does Braintree charge?
In the US, 2.89% + $0.29 per card or wallet transaction, plus 1% for foreign cards and 1% for non-USD currencies.
Is Braintree the same as PayPal?
Braintree is a PayPal company, now presented as PayPal Enterprise Payments. It processes cards and also accepts PayPal and Venmo.
Can I try Braintree before applying?
Yes. The sandbox can be used to test before applying for a merchant account.
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