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Braintree

  • What it is:Braintree is a PayPal-owned global payments platform and gateway that enables businesses to accept online payments via credit/debit cards, PayPal, Venmo, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
  • Best for:E-commerce businesses using PayPal ecosystem, Mobile-first apps and marketplaces, Growing SaaS platforms with subscriptions
  • Pricing:Starting from 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction
  • Rating:92/100Excellent
  • Expert's conclusion:For organizations that need a simple-to-implement payment gateway that securely processes payments across many countries and seamlessly integrates with PayPal and Venmo, Braintree is the way to go.
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Reviewed byMaxim Manylov·Web3 Engineer & Serial Founder

What Is Braintree and What Does It Do?

In 2007, Bryan Johnson created Braintree, an e-commerce based company that provided mobile and web based payment processing for merchants using a variety of payment processors (credit cards, PayPal etc.) as well as offering currency conversion for multi-national companies. The company has been based in Chicago, Illinois since its inception and was later acquired in 2013 by PayPal (which was then a subsidiary of eBay) for $800 million.

Active
📍Chicago, IL
📅Founded 2007
🏢Subsidiary
TARGET SEGMENTS
StartupsOnline retailersMarketplacesMobile appsE-commerce businesses

What Are Braintree's Key Business Metrics?

📊
$50B+ annually
Payment Volume
💳
154M
Cards on File
📊
45+
Countries Supported
👥
Thousands (Uber, Airbnb, GitHub)
Customers
💵
$4.5M
Revenue (2010)
Rating by Platforms
4.5/ 5
G2 (200 reviews)
Regulated By
PCI Compliant(Global)Visa, Mastercard, Amex(USA/EU)

How Credible and Trustworthy Is Braintree?

92/100
Excellent

A fully scaled payment processor for large enterprise clients which provides a secure and compliant platform for over 180 days of payment processing history.

BREAKDOWN
Product Maturity95/100
Company Stability98/100
Security & Compliance95/100
User Reviews88/100
Transparency90/100
Support Quality85/100
TRUST SIGNALS
PayPal subsidiary since 2013 ($800M acquisition)Used by Uber, Airbnb, GitHubProcesses $50B+ payments annuallyPCI compliant with data portability standards

What is the history of Braintree and its key milestones?

2007

Company Founded

Bryan Johnson established Braintree in Chicago focusing on transparent merchant payment services.

2011

Series A Funding

Braintree raised $34M in a Series A round led by Accel Partners. The company ranked #47 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies.

2012

Series B & Venmo Acquisition

Braintree raised an additional $35M in a Series B round of funding. It also acquired Venmo for $26.2M and launched operations in Australia.

2013

PayPal Acquisition

Braintree was acquired by PayPal (the parent company of eBay) for $800M. After the acquisition, Braintree expanded into Europe and Canada.

2015

Global Expansion

Braintree expanded to include support for Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. It now processes over $50 billion annually.

Who Are the Key Executives Behind Braintree?

Bryan Johnson— Founder & Chairman
Bryan Johnson founded Braintree in 2007 with a focus on transparent payments. He was a University of Chicago graduate who drew inspiration from Zappos' service model.
Bill Ready— CEO (joined 2011)
Bryan Johnson led Braintree through the rapid growth period, which included major rounds of funding and the eventual sale to PayPal.

What Are the Key Features of Braintree?

📊
Full-Stack Payment Platform
The company offers a complete payment platform that includes merchant accounts, payment gateways, vault storage and recurring billing capabilities all in one platform.
💬
Multi-Payment Method Support
Braintree accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo and even Bitcoin and allows for transactions across 130+ different currencies.
🔗
Quick Integration
Braintree's SDKs and APIs are designed to allow developers to integrate payment capabilities into their applications quickly, often in less than a minute, compared to what would take months.
✨
v.zero SDK
One-touch payments can be supported without requiring customers to create an account or enter their card information repeatedly.
✨
Transparent Pricing
There are no monthly fees to use Braintree. The first $50k of transactions per year are free, with a fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction thereafter with no hidden costs.
✨
Global Reach
Braintree supports payments in over 45 countries worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia.
✨
Data Portability
The company uses the Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant credit card data portability standard, making it easy for merchants to switch between different providers.

What Technology Stack and Infrastructure Does Braintree Use?

Infrastructure

PayPal global infrastructure, PCI compliant data centers

Technologies

SDKs (iOS, Android, Web)REST APIsv.zero SDK

Integrations

PayPalVenmoApple PayGoogle PayShopifyMagentoCustom carts

AI/ML Capabilities

No AI/ML features; focuses on payment processing APIs and fraud prevention through PayPal integration

Inferred from product documentation and historical announcements

What Are the Best Use Cases for Braintree?

Fast-growing Startups
Developers can get started integrating Braintree into their application within 20 minutes and can scale the payment processing capabilities to accommodate rapid growth from launch to enterprise scale.
Online Marketplaces
The system accepts a transaction with split payments to the merchant and the platform using the Venmo/PayPal system for P2P.
Mobile-first Apps (Uber, Airbnb)
The system has optimized mobile SDKs that allow for "one touch" payments and "vault" storage of customer information which makes it easy for customers to check out from within an app.
Subscription Businesses
The system has the ability to create recurring charges and store a customer's card number in a secure environment at no additional charge to the developer for subscription-based and membership based applications.
High-volume Enterprise Retailers
The system has processed over $50 billion per year and supports multiple currencies which will help developers expand their business globally.
NOT FORBrick-and-mortar POS Systems
The system is primarily designed for online and mobile commerce platforms and does not have the capability to integrate with the point-of-sale hardware for in-person purchases.
NOT FORUltra-high Risk Merchants
The enhanced risk assessment by PayPal may block some approvals for specific high-risk industries.

How Much Does Braintree Cost and What Plans Are Available?

Pricing information with service tiers, costs, and details
☐Service$CostℹDetails🔗Source
Cards and Digital Wallets2.59% + $0.49 per transactionVisa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, digital wallets (US)Rates.fm, Wise.com
Venmo3.49% + $0.49 per transaction—Rates.fm
ACH Direct Debit0.75% (max $5)—Tipalti, HappyFox
Non-USD Currency TransactionsAdditional 1%—PayPal Braintree Fees
Charitable 501(c)(3) Organizations1.99% + $0.49 per transaction—Wise.com, PayPal Fees
High Volume (>$80k/month)Custom discounted ratesLower per-transaction fees, IC+ or IC++ pricingRates.fm, Developer Docs
Chargeback Fee$15 per transaction—Tipalti
Cards and Digital Wallets2.59% + $0.49 per transaction
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, digital wallets (US)
Rates.fm, Wise.com
Venmo3.49% + $0.49 per transaction
Rates.fm
ACH Direct Debit0.75% (max $5)
Tipalti, HappyFox
Non-USD Currency TransactionsAdditional 1%
PayPal Braintree Fees
Charitable 501(c)(3) Organizations1.99% + $0.49 per transaction
Wise.com, PayPal Fees
High Volume (>$80k/month)Custom discounted rates
Lower per-transaction fees, IC+ or IC++ pricing
Rates.fm, Developer Docs
Chargeback Fee$15 per transaction
Tipalti

How Does Braintree Compare to Competitors?

FeatureBraintreeStripeSquarePayPal
Credit Card ProcessingYesYesYesYes
Digital Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)YesYesYesLimited
PayPal/Venmo IntegrationYes (Native)YesNoYes
ACH PaymentsYes (0.75%)Yes (0.8%)NoYes
Multi-Currency Support130+ currencies135+ currenciesLimited100+ currencies
Starting Price (Cards)2.59% + $0.492.9% + $0.302.6% + $0.10 online2.9% + $0.30
Monthly Fees$0$0$0 (Free plan)$30 (Payments Pro)
Custom Enterprise PricingYesYesYes (Premium)Yes
API AvailabilityComprehensiveComprehensiveLimitedComprehensive
Security CertificationsPCI DSSPCI DSSPCI DSSPCI DSS
Global Availability45+ countries40+ countriesUS-focused200+ countries
Credit Card Processing
BraintreeYes
StripeYes
SquareYes
PayPalYes
Digital Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
BraintreeYes
StripeYes
SquareYes
PayPalLimited
PayPal/Venmo Integration
BraintreeYes (Native)
StripeYes
SquareNo
PayPalYes
ACH Payments
BraintreeYes (0.75%)
StripeYes (0.8%)
SquareNo
PayPalYes
Multi-Currency Support
Braintree130+ currencies
Stripe135+ currencies
SquareLimited
PayPal100+ currencies
Starting Price (Cards)
Braintree2.59% + $0.49
Stripe2.9% + $0.30
Square2.6% + $0.10 online
PayPal2.9% + $0.30
Monthly Fees
Braintree$0
Stripe$0
Square$0 (Free plan)
PayPal$30 (Payments Pro)
Custom Enterprise Pricing
BraintreeYes
StripeYes
SquareYes (Premium)
PayPalYes
API Availability
BraintreeComprehensive
StripeComprehensive
SquareLimited
PayPalComprehensive
Security Certifications
BraintreePCI DSS
StripePCI DSS
SquarePCI DSS
PayPalPCI DSS
Global Availability
Braintree45+ countries
Stripe40+ countries
SquareUS-focused
PayPal200+ countries

How Does Braintree Compare to Competitors?

vs Stripe

Braintree offers slightly lower rate for the standard processing (2.59% + $.49 vs 2.90% + $.30) along with native PayPal/Venmo integration advantage; however, Stripe has more options for customization and allows for more third party integrations (over 300+) than Braintree (primarily PayPal). Both systems offer discounts for large volumes of transactions.

Developers should use Braintree if they are part of the PayPal ecosystem; developers should use Stripe for the extensive integrations and customization.

vs Square

Square is cheaper for online purchases (2.60% + $.10) and has a strong focus on POS; while Braintree is better suited for online/mobile purchases with PayPal/Venmo. Square is better for brick-and-mortar stores, and Braintree is better for companies that are purely eCommerce.

Developers should use Square for physical retail locations; developers should use Braintree for digital first companies.

vs PayPal Payments Pro

Braintree offers the same base pricing as PayPal, but does not have the $30/month fee and offers better international rates; also, Braintree allows for the customer to stay on the site and not be redirected like they would when using basic PayPal.

Braintree is best for creating a seamless checkout experience compared to the traditional PayPal checkout process.

vs Adyen

Braintree is more cost effective for small/medium-sized businesses (SMB) due to flat pricing; Adyen is geared towards enterprise clients with complex global requirements and higher upfront costs. Braintree is better for startup companies.

Braintree is best for developing a company that is rapidly growing; Adyen is best for multinational companies that require complex global capabilities.

What are the strengths and limitations of Braintree?

Pros

  • There are no setup or monthly fees with Braintree – you only get charged per transaction.
  • Braintree natively supports PayPal and Venmo – so integrating into the PayPal ecosystem is very simple.
  • Braintree has a "vault" where you can securely store your customers credit card numbers; this is a PCI compliant way to create recurring charges. The following is a revised version of the provided text written as if you were speaking the words yourself. "Beginning Text:
  • Multi-Currency Processing — Supports 130+ Currencies
  • Volume Discounts Available — Reduces Costs As Your Business Grows
  • Mobile Support — Ready For Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo
  • Has the Trust and Enterprise Infrastructure Of The PayPal Network

Cons

  • Charges More Per Transaction Than Square — 2.59% + $0.49 vs 2.6% + $0.10
  • IC+ Pricing Unpredictable — Interchange Fees Vary By Card Type
  • Does Not Have An Independent Standalone POS — Focused On Online And Mobile; Poor In Brick-and-Mortar
  • Is Dependent Upon The PayPal Ecosystem — Less Neutral Than Stripe
  • Charged $15 For Chargebacks — Standard But Adds Risk For High Dispute Businesses
  • Only Integrates With 300+ Third Party Apps — While Stripe Has Focus On Integration
  • Price Opaque When Using Custom Pricing — Requires Sales Contact To Get Quote For Large Volume Customers

Who Is Braintree Best For?

Best For

  • E-commerce businesses using PayPal ecosystem — Has Native PayPal / Venmo Integration That Increases Conversion Rates
  • Mobile-first apps and marketplaces — Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo and Vaulting
  • Growing SaaS platforms with subscriptions — Offers Recurring Billing and Volume Discounts to Reduce Long-Term Costs
  • International online stores — Competitive Cross-Border Exchange Rates for 130+ Currencies
  • Startups avoiding monthly commitments — No Setup/ Monthly Fees; Scalable Pricing Model

Not Suitable For

  • Brick-and-mortar retail stores — Has Weak POS Capabilities Compared to Square Or Clover; May Want to Use Square POS
  • Ultra-high volume enterprises needing transparency — IC+ Pricing Is Unpredictable — Will Need an Enterprise Contract; May Want to Look at Adyen
  • Businesses avoiding PayPal association — Tied Into the PayPal Ecosystem — May Want to Look At Stripe Or Checkout.com Instead
  • Budget-conscious micro-merchants — Has Higher Base Rates Than Square — May Want to Look At SumUp Or PayPal Zettle

Are There Usage Limits or Geographic Restrictions for Braintree?

ACH Maximum Fee
$5 cap per transaction
Non-USD Currency Fee
Additional 1% per transaction
Volume Discount Threshold
$80,000+ monthly processing required
Geographic Availability
45+ countries (check merchant agreement for restrictions)
Custom Pricing Requirement
High-volume merchants must contact sales
PCI Compliance
Level 1 PCI DSS required (vault reduces scope)
Prohibited Businesses
High-risk industries per PayPal terms

Is Braintree Secure and Compliant?

PCI DSS Level 1Fully PCI Level 1 compliant with card vault eliminating card data storage
Data EncryptionTLS encryption in transit, tokenization for stored payment data
Fraud ProtectionAdvanced fraud tools included, part of PayPal fraud prevention network
PayPal Security InfrastructureEnterprise-grade security from PayPal's global payment infrastructure
Access ControlsMerchant dashboard with role-based permissions and API key management
Audit & MonitoringTransaction monitoring and dispute management tools included
GDPR ComplianceData processing compliant with EU regulations (PayPal DPA available)

What Customer Support Options Does Braintree Offer?

Channels
AvailableAvailableAvailable

What APIs and Integrations Does Braintree Support?

API Type
REST API for payment processing and integration
SDKs
Multiple language SDKs available for integration
Webhooks
Supported for transaction events and payment method updates
Integration Methods
Drop-in UI method (minimal code) and custom integration (full code control) available
Documentation
Available at PayPal Developer portal with guides for payment method configuration and integration
Sandbox Environment
Available for testing before production deployment
Third-Party Integrations
BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Shopify, Invoiced, Barametrics, Zapier, and 150+ other platforms supported

What Are Common Questions About Braintree?

Accepts Credit & Debit Cards, PayPal, Venmo (US only), Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bank Transfers (ACH) and Local Payment Methods; Operates in Over 45 Countries; Supports 130+ Currencies

Uses Flat-Rate Pricing: 2.59% + $0.49 for Cards and Digital Wallets, 3.49% + $0.49 for Venmo, 0.75% for ACH Transactions; No Monthy/Setup/Minimum Transaction Fee; Custom Pricing Available for Businesses Exceeding $80,000 in Monthly Processed Transactions End Text"

The owner of Braintree is PayPal. Braintree will be best suited for users who have an interest in Venmo or PayPal as Braintree has built-in Venmo and PayPal functionality. Additionally, Braintree will provide more flexibility for users who are interested in integrating their platform to other systems as opposed to Stripe which provides additional functionalities and accounting tools for users and provides a more simple process for secure payment processing in addition to having many benefits associated with being part of the PayPal ecosystem.

YES. Braintree is PCI level 1 compliant; uses AES data encryption; tokenization; and two factor authorization for transaction security. Braintree also includes advanced fraud protection tools and allows users to choose from basic (no cost) and premium fraud management options.

Braintree will make payments into your bank account via direct deposit usually within 2 – 5 business days.

YES. Braintree has made integration easier with many popular platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and more than 150 others, and they offer a full REST API so that you can create your own custom integrations.

YES. Braintree has a robust set of features to help you manage and bill customers on a recurring basis. This means you can simply set up a recurring charge and Braintree will take care of charging your customer’s credit card each month.

Braintree processes transactions in more than 130 different currencies and is supported in more than 45 countries. In addition, Braintree supports a wide variety of local payment methods in multiple regions of the world to allow you to expand globally without having to implement a number of different gateways.

Is Braintree Worth It?

Braintree is a mature, PayPal backed payment gateway that is designed to give you easy and seamless access to Venmo and PayPal in addition to standard card processing. In addition, Braintree has strong security, worldwide availability and is easy to implement through their drop-in user interface method. However, Braintree may not be as comprehensive as some of the competitors out there in terms of advanced functionality, however, Braintree’s focus on trusted payment methods and PCI compliance, gives you peace of mind and reliability for your business regardless of size.

Recommended For

  • Businesses that want to accept PayPal and Venmo along side cards
  • Global eCommerce companies that need to accept transactions in more than 130 currencies
  • Subscription based and recurring billing businesses
  • Companies that use Shopify, WooCommerce or BigCommerce
  • Merchants who want to prioritize security and PCI compliance

!
Use With Caution

  • Companies using complex accounting software need lots of choices from Stripe
  • High volume teams are looking for more than just average fraud protection and therefore will have to buy premium upgrades
  • Businesses with extremely high volumes of transactions per month have the option of custom pricing; however, you will have to contact sales to find out what that price would be

Not Recommended For

  • Companies based in regions where Alipay is an essential component of their business (Stripe is better)
  • Teams with a huge need for built-in coupon/promotion tools
  • Organizations that require on-premises solutions for deployment
Expert's Conclusion

For organizations that need a simple-to-implement payment gateway that securely processes payments across many countries and seamlessly integrates with PayPal and Venmo, Braintree is the way to go.

Best For
Businesses that want to accept PayPal and Venmo along side cardsGlobal eCommerce companies that need to accept transactions in more than 130 currenciesSubscription based and recurring billing businesses

What do expert reviews and research say about Braintree?

Key Findings

Braintree has been around since it was purchased by PayPal in 2013 and is a top-tier global payment gateway that allows for payment processing across over 45 countries and support for over 130 currencies. With a variety of built-in features such as PayPal/Venmo integration, Level 1 PCI Compliance, and Advanced Fraud Prevention Tools, Braintree can help organizations process one-time and recurring payments via various payment methods and connect with hundreds of other third-party apps through its API.

Data Quality

Excellent — comprehensive information from official PayPal Developer portal, Braintree website, and multiple independent review sources including Website Planet, Business.org, and BigCommerce. Pricing and features verified across multiple current sources.

Risk Factors

!
As a subsidiary of PayPal, Braintree’s strategic future is dependent upon its parent company
!
There is a competitive marketplace and there are many alternative solutions similar to Stripe that provide more options for integration
!
To get custom pricing for your organization’s high transaction volume, you will need to contact a sales representative
!
If you use premium fraud protection tools, they will cost you extra above and beyond the base fee for each transaction
Last updated: January 2026

What Additional Information Is Available for Braintree?

PayPal Integration Advantage

Since Braintree is a PayPal subsidiary, it allows for a direct connection into the PayPal and Venmo systems. For organizations that serve customers who prefer to make purchases through PayPal or Venmo, this connection expands their potential customer base and could improve their conversion rate.

Fraud Prevention Tools

Braintree comes with some basic fraud protection tools at no additional charge, but if you need more protection, you can purchase the Premium Fraud Protection Tools. These tools protect against fraudulent activity by utilizing advanced fraud detection techniques, machine learning algorithms, and customizable filter parameters to lower the risk associated with each transaction.

Global Expansion Support

As a result of Braintree's presence in over 45 countries and its ability to process 130+ currencies, it was made for business owners who are looking at expanding internationally; It provides fast and dependable payouts to 200+ marketplaces across 50+ currencies allowing for an easy way to operate cross border.

Compliance and Security

For each transaction, Braintree has achieved level one PCI compliance which is the highest level of compliance that can be obtained from a payment processor. Braintree protects sensitive information regarding a customer's payment by using tokenization, AES encryption, as well as two factor authentication.

What Are the Best Alternatives to Braintree?

  • •
    Stripe: Braintree is the leading payment gateway provider with over 5,000 integrations and many tools for developers. This platform has more accounting software integrations, better documentation, and support for Alipay. This platform is much more feature rich, however it does lack integration for PayPal and Venmo. Best for Developers and Teams needing the most flexibility and number of integrations available. (stripe.com)
  • •
    Square: Braintree is an all-in-one payment and POS system that allows for both online and offline payments. Very strong for brick-and-mortar businesses that have both an online and offline presence for customers. Not ideal for e-commerce and subscription based businesses. Best for Omnichannel Retailers. (squareup.com)
  • •
    Adyen: Adyen is an enterprise payment platform that supports 150+ currencies and global payments. Much more powerful for larger enterprises that require very complex solutions. Will cost more and will be more complicated. Best for Fortune 500 Companies and High Volume Processors. (adyen.com)
  • •
    PayPal Payments Standard: PayPal is a direct solution to provide PayPal to your customers without the need for the Braintree layer. Simple to implement but not nearly as customizable as Braintree. Less options for payment methods and less flexibility when it comes to integrating into other platforms. Best for simple checkout experiences where you want to maintain the familiar look and feel of the PayPal button. (paypal.com)
  • •
    2Checkout (Verifone): 2Checkout is a multi-currency payment platform that offers a global reach. While 2Checkout and Braintree offer similar levels of support for currencies they do differ in their features and functionality. 2Checkout focuses on digital goods and subscription billing. Best for SaaS and Digital Product Companies. (2checkout.com)

What Are Braintree's Transaction Metrics?

45+
Countries Supported
130+
Currencies Accepted
200+
Global Payout Markets
50+
Payout Currencies
Level 1
PCI Compliance
99.99% SLA
Uptime

What Supported Payment Methods Does Braintree Support?

VisaMastercardAmexDiscoverPayPalVenmoApple PayGoogle PayACHBank TransfersLocal Payment Methods

How Are Fees Structured for Braintree?

Transaction Fee
0.75-3.49% + $0-$0.49 per transaction
Pricing Model
Pay-as-you-go, no monthly fees
Non Paypal Fee
Custom transaction pricing
International Support
Multi-currency conversion included
Fraud Tools
Included at no extra cost
Recurring Billing
No additional fees

How Does Braintree's Settlement Times Compare?

Payout TypeTimelineAvailability
Standard Payout2-5 business daysAll accounts
Instant PayoutWithin minutesEligible markets
Global PayoutsFast and reliable200+ markets
ACH PayoutsStandard banking timesUS accounts

How Developer-Friendly Is Braintree?

REST APIComprehensive API documentation
Official SDKsMultiple languages supported
Sandbox EnvironmentFull test capabilities
WebhooksReal-time notifications
Vault StorageEncrypted customer data storage
Third-party IntegrationsShopify, WooCommerce, Salesforce

What Fraud Prevention Features Does Braintree Offer?

Advanced Fraud Tools

Use of machine learning algorithms and actionable filters

3D Secure 2.0

Buyer authentication and liability shift

Braintree Vault

Tokenization of customer data for encrypted security

Risk Analysis

Real time monitoring of transactions

Data Encryption

PCI compliant security measures

Adaptive Fraud Management

Evolving threat protection

What Is Braintree's Payment Compliance Status?

PCI DSS Level 1Certified compliance
Data EncryptionEnd-to-end encryption
TokenizationBraintree Vault secure storage
Two-Factor AuthenticationAccount security
Global PCI Compliance45+ countries

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