PayPal vs Braintree: Payment Gateways Compared (2026)
PayPal and Braintree are two widely compared payment gateways. PayPal provides online checkout with PayPal, Venmo and cards, used by merchants to offer a familiar, trusted payment option. Braintree is a PayPal-owned payment gateway for cards, PayPal and Venmo, with developer SDKs for web and mobile checkout.
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 1 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
PayPal vs Braintree: the short answer
PayPal provides online checkout with PayPal, Venmo and cards, used by merchants to offer a familiar, trusted payment option. Braintree is a PayPal-owned payment gateway for cards, PayPal and Venmo, with developer SDKs for web and mobile checkout. Both are payment gateways, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus.
On pricing, PayPal is described as: per-transaction fees; Braintree as: per-transaction flat rate; custom at volume. Neither documents a permanent free plan in the sources reviewed. PayPal is positioned for ecommerce stores where buyer trust lifts conversion, and Braintree for businesses wanting cards plus PayPal and Venmo in one integration.
Everything below is drawn from the two sourced profiles and the 1 dated sources listed at the end. Where a source does not document something it is marked Unknown, and third-party estimates are labelled. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on your size, budget and requirements.
PayPal and Braintree at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
PayPal
PayPal · Payment Gateways
PayPal provides online checkout with PayPal, Venmo and cards, used by merchants to offer a familiar, trusted payment option.
- Pricing
- PayPal Checkout 3.49% + 49c; standard cards via PayPal ~2.99% + 49c (US).
- Best for
- Ecommerce stores where buyer trust lifts conversion
Braintree
PayPal · Payment Gateways
Braintree is a PayPal-owned payment gateway for cards, PayPal and Venmo, with developer SDKs for web and mobile checkout.
- Pricing
- 2.89% + 29c (US); custom rates above $100,000 a month.
- Best for
- Businesses wanting cards plus PayPal and Venmo in one integration
PayPal vs Braintree: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  PayPal |  Braintree |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Product typeDiffers | YesConsumer-trusted checkout | YesPayPal-owned card processing |
| Vendor | YesPayPal | YesPayPal |
| Best forDiffers | YesEcommerce stores where buyer trust lifts conversion | YesBusinesses wanting cards plus PayPal and Venmo in one integration |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | YesPer-transaction fees. | YesPer-transaction flat rate; custom at volume. |
| Pricing summaryDiffers | PartialPayPal Checkout 3.49% + 49c; standard cards via PayPal ~2.99% + 49c (US). | Yes2.89% + 29c (US); custom rates above $100,000 a month. |
| Free plan | NoNo monthly fee | NoNo monthly fee |
| Free trial | NoNot applicable | NoNot applicable |
| Payment Gateways criteria | ||
| Pricing model | YesFlat rate | YesFlat rate |
| Card fee fromDiffers | Partial~2.99% + 49c | Yes2.89% + 29c |
| Monthly fee | YesNone | YesNone |
| Merchant of record | YesNo | YesNo |
| Best forDiffers | YesBuyer trust | YesCards + PayPal |
| Fit and platform | ||
| Team size | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises |
| Platforms | YesWeb, API | YesWeb, API |
| IntegrationsDiffers | YesShopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, eBay | YesMagento, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud |
| API | YesDeveloper APIs available; specifics not reviewed. | YesDeveloper APIs available; specifics not reviewed. |
PayPal vs Braintree pricing.
Plan names, prices and billing terms as reported in each profile's sources. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded unless stated.
PayPal pricing
Per-transaction fees.
- PayPal Checkout3.49% + 49c per transaction · Pay as you go
- Card processing~2.99% + 49c per transaction · Pay as you go
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Dupple (June 2026). Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All PayPal plans and sources
Braintree pricing
Per-transaction flat rate; custom at volume.
- Standard2.89% + 29c per transaction · Pay as you go
- CustomNegotiated · Pay as you go
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Dupple (June 2026). Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Braintree plans and sourcesPayPal vs Braintree: pricing model, ecosystem and fit.
Pricing model and cost drivers
PayPal: per-transaction fees. Dupple (June 2026). Braintree: per-transaction flat rate; custom at volume. Dupple (June 2026). Model costs at your real seat count, usage and contract term before comparing headline prices.
What sets each apart
The PayPal profile highlights: consumer trust; higher wallet fee; venmo support. The Braintree profile highlights: PayPal-owned; venmo support; custom rates at volume.
Integrations and ecosystem
PayPal integrations named in its sources: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and eBay. Braintree: Magento, BigCommerce and Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Check that the connectors you rely on exist on the plan you would buy.
Deployment and team fit
PayPal runs on Web and API and is documented for small teams, mid-size teams and large enterprises. Braintree runs on Web and API and is documented for small teams, mid-size teams and large enterprises. We did not test setup or migration.
PayPal and Braintree: each option, in balance.
Each point is linked to a dated source on the product's profile.
PayPal
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Trusted by shoppers.
- Can lift conversion.
- Venmo support.
- Higher fees than card-only processors.
- Account holds and freezes.
- Dispute process favours buyers.
Braintree
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Cards plus PayPal and Venmo.
- Slightly lower than Stripe US rate.
- Custom rates at volume.
- Account holds reported.
- Developer experience lags Stripe.
- US-centric figures in source.
PayPal or Braintree: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose PayPal if you are…
- Ecommerce stores where buyer trust lifts conversion
- Small online sellers
- International buyers
Less suited to: businesses needing low fees; complex platforms.
See the PayPal profile
Choose Braintree if you are…
- Businesses wanting cards plus PayPal and Venmo in one integration
- Mobile apps
- Growing ecommerce
Less suited to: merchants wanting tax handled; very small sellers.
See the Braintree profileSwitching between PayPal and Braintree.
Moving off PayPal or Braintree means migrating saved cards and subscriptions (often via a secure token transfer), updating checkout integrations, webhooks and reconciliation, re-registering for local methods and planning for payout timing changes. Run both gateways in parallel and route new customers first. Route a share of real traffic through each shortlisted gateway and compare authorisation rate, effective fees and payout timing.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Compare total cost at your real volume, including add-ons and services.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
PayPal vs Braintree: questions and answers
What is the difference between PayPal and Braintree?
PayPal provides online checkout with PayPal, Venmo and cards, used by merchants to offer a familiar, trusted payment option. Braintree is a PayPal-owned payment gateway for cards, PayPal and Venmo, with developer SDKs for web and mobile checkout. Both are payment gateways, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus. PayPal is positioned for ecommerce stores where buyer trust lifts conversion; Braintree for businesses wanting cards plus PayPal and Venmo in one integration.
Is PayPal cheaper than Braintree?
It depends on your volume and plan. PayPal: PayPal Checkout 3.49% + 49c; standard cards via PayPal ~2.99% + 49c (US). Braintree: 2.89% + 29c (US); custom rates above $100,000 a month. Compare both at your real seat count, usage and contract term.
Do PayPal or Braintree have a free plan?
Neither documents a permanent free plan in the sources reviewed. PayPal free trial: Not applicable. Braintree free trial: Not applicable.
PayPal or Braintree: which is better for small teams?
PayPal and Braintree are both documented for small teams. PayPal suits ecommerce stores where buyer trust lifts conversion; Braintree suits businesses wanting cards plus PayPal and Venmo in one integration. Neither is best for everyone.
What are the main limitations of PayPal and Braintree?
PayPal: Higher fees than card-only processors. Braintree: Account holds reported.
How much does PayPal charge merchants?
PayPal Checkout is 3.49% + 49 cents in the US, per a June 2026 guide.
How much does Braintree charge?
2.89% + 29 cents, with custom rates above $100,000 a month, per a June 2026 guide.
What are the alternatives to PayPal and Braintree?
Stack18 has alternatives guides for both: PayPal alternatives and Braintree alternatives, each comparing at least four other payment gateways on pricing, free plan, features and fit. The Payment Gateways category lists every profile.
Where this comparison comes from.
- The 8 Best Payment Gateways in 2026 (16 June 2026) Dupple Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
This comparison summarises the PayPal and Braintree profiles and their sources. Third-party figures are labelled; confirm current pricing and terms with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested these products.
Ready to test PayPal and Braintree?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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